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from Vintage VW http://bit.ly/2aVHDbM
via vintagevwcars.com
from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2b9YGtu

Road Trippin Vintage Style

As you know I am a bit of a vintage, well everything nut. Whether it be cars, old trucks, clothing, houses, toys, tea sets you name it. So what would be my dream vacation?

I was just pondering that the other day and I came up with a great idea. How much fun would it be to rent or buy a VW Bus and travel around the country stopping at every antique shop or garage sale you come across. Kinda like an American Pickers road trip!

Let’s face it this is the type of trip I would want to do over and over again. So guess what? That is exactly what I plan to do.

Let’s see, I would need a van with lots of room in the back for all the fun collectibles I come across so some type of cargo van, but then again if I am road tripping a place to sleep right in the bus would be nice so a pop-top Westy would be a good idea to save money on motel says.

So I wonder if there would be a camper van with most of the back seats removed so there would be storage space. Of course if I am honest with myself I would need a couple of semi trailers to haul all of the cool old stuff I would want to keep along the way.

My first order of business then is to find a VW Bus for sale. What I like about finding a bus from a local enthusiast is that they really know their stuff. Plus the guys at Vintage VW Cars are really great guys with lots of fun classic car stories.

But speaking of stories back to my road trip. I’ve been doing a bit of research and came up with a few tips on how to plan a fun, safe and extremely memorable antique road show. errr I mean road trip.

Cross Country or Just Down the Road?

It doesn’t matter if you are staying pretty local or driving thousands of miles cross country a road trip is meant to be fun not just a quick dash to your destination.

You know me I’m pretty wacky so I always look for unusual attractions along the way (largest ball of twine anyone?). Keep an eye out for roadside billboards or do a Google search before your trip
to find one or two unusual tourist attractions along your route. Many of them are near the freeway, inexpensive and just may become the subject of family stories for years to come.

If wildlife is up your alley there are plenty of spots around the US where you can take a scenic or wildlife loop. Every major highway has at least one wildlife or safari driving adventure located near the road. While the animals may be no more exotic than a dear or buffalo, the excitement of watching for animals on a drive through the park effectively breaks up a long trip without breaking the bank.

While we are on the subject of wildlife and exotic animals you can always stop at a park, rest area or hiking trail along the way. Many states have clean, park like rest areas that are perfect for games of catch, tag or even flying a kite. If rest areas aren’t an option, consider driving through a small, roadside town and visiting their playground for a few minutes of active fun.

All this talk of playing and hiking is making me hungry. So what are your food options on a road trip in your classic bus or family van? Sad to say the number one food stop on the road is fast food, but there are other options I like to look for. Small cafes, dinners and even farmers markets are a great alternative to greasy fast food. If you are really hard pressed to find some grub a grocery store is a nice quick option - especially if you find one with free samples…

Road Trippin’ What to Bring

Advance planning is an essential component of a safe and successful road trip. Such plans can add fun and variety to the trip without breaking your budget. Given that the goal is to eventually reach the destination, you could consider a AAA or other vehicle assistance program membership, especially if you have an older vehicle. One tow and the membership pays for itself.

One of the benefits that I love about AAA is their TripTiks which are route maps complete with information such as road work (very helpful during the summer construction season) and rest stops. There are even blurbs on each town passed which is fun to go through while driving if you have a travel partner.

Other emergency items you might want to consider include:

Emergency Items

□   Flares
□   Flashlight and extra batteries
□   Small solar charger
□   Smartphone with GPS
□   Emergency phone numbers
□   Rope or duct tape
□   Jumper cables
□   Motor oil and coolant
□   Spare tire
□   Spare set of keys
□   Small tool set
□   Pocket knife
□   First aid kit

Some great memories are made on road trips even if things don’t always go smoothly (it just might take a few years before you remember them fondly) - be sure to add some fun and adventure to your next travel adventure and make getting there half the fun.

And if you are into collectibles and finding cool “junk” we might just run into each other on the road - look for the old broken down VW bus on the side of the road and lend a helping hand…

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radracerblog: Chevy S10

radracerblog:

Chevy S10

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