- New Lamborghini featured at swanky Beverly Hills gala
http://t.co/DMOjzVZ92011/12/01 13:52 by HootSuite - Honda's natural gas Civic named Green Car of the Year
http://t.co/NNCNiTsf2011/11/30 13:55 by HootSuite - Amazing ICON redesign of the classic Ford Bronco.
http://t.co/kkvQcwpW2011/11/30 08:10 by HootSuite
Archive for July, 2010
Anyone who has pets knows that they are furry family members. They are rewarded, disciplined and loved almost as if they were children in the average American household. But for some reason, when preparing for a long car trip, not everyone remembers to ensure they have everything to secure their pet’s safety and enjoyment during their long car rides. It’s not that their pet’s comfort isn’t a priority; it’s just that they’re not always thought of as having similar needs that humans do while traveling.
We already talked about planning for road trips with your pet. When you’re taking a road trip your pets need to be provided for, too. Here are some basic essentials to make sure you’ve got for your favorite furry friends:
- Food and water – food is a given, but you might only worry about picking up water for your pet when you hit a pit stop. It’s a fine idea until you break down, and with hot summer weather, your pet needs to keep as hydrated as you do. A jug of water for an emergency and a bowl for your dog(s) to drink from are both essential.
- Vet records– any time you’re away from your local vet and easy access to your pet’s records, you should take proof of vaccination with you. There are a number of reasons to have these handy including crossing the border into another country, your pet coming into contact with other animals, or the decision to board them along the way. Your travel plans could be seriously compromised if you don’t have those records when you need them.
- Car harness or restraining system – you take the time to ensure that your human family is buckled up; the same rule should apply to your pets. A harness or restraining system ensures that your dog is secure in an accident and it also stops them from wandering around the car and distracting the driver. Pet travel center has a few options of dog seatbelts and harnesses for you to choose from.Â
There are more things that you can do to make sure your dog is happy and safe during your summer road trip and they can depend upon the personality and the needs of each animal. Here are more tips that focus on the essentials for each and every dog and will start your summer vacation off right!
Summer is traditionally travel season, and the tradition remains strong even in these days of job losses, housing foreclosures and manufacturing downturns.
The upside to families visiting that favorite vacation spot, be it Grandma and Grandpa’s house or a to-die-for cabana on the Pacific near Mazatlan, is that gas prices remain well below 2008’s astronomical $4 a gallon or more.
These prices, which are also sparking a renewed interest in bigger vehicles (think crew-cab trucks and family-sized SUVs like the Ford Flex reviewed on Roadtripsforfamilies.com), average $2.72, offering hope that the family road trip is not a thing of the past (we weren’t all that fond of staycations anyway, were we?). Read more
Summer is here and now that you’re loading up that SUV and hitting the freeway for your family road trip, planning is surely on your mind. There’s no doubt 
that you’ve planned entertainment options for your children, mapped out where you’re planning on a pit stop for food, restroom breaks or to let the kids run wild. But while you’ve organized endlessly for your children, have you thought about those furry members of your family and included them in your specific travel planning?
Here are some guidelines for planning out the actual trip with your pet. These tips will make your pet more comfortable and help you avoid unneeded travel complications.
- Map out your road trip for a dog-friendly journey – if you’ve never traveled with your dogs before, you might not realize that there are a limited number of hotels that will take them. If you stop overnight during the journey with dogs, you need to plan ahead. You can’t just stop whenever the need to get off the road hits you because the majority of accommodations won’t welcome pets. You might love your car but after a long day in it, the last thing you want to do is crash in it.
- Make dog-friendly pit stops – as parents, you’ll plan breaks on a long road trip that allow your children to run wild and get their beans out. Do your dogs have the same luxury? They should! Make a stop at a park during each leg of your journey where they can stretch their legs – a rest station parking lot just isn’t enough. Many stops have pet areas that are gated. Do some research before you travel. PetsWelcome has some great information for hotels, parks, and rest stops.
- Know where your dogs are welcome once you reach your destination – you’ve brought them with you, so they deserve a little fun, too! Pick dog-friendly activities regularly, don’t just leave them in the cottage, house or hotel. (Remember some hotels won’t let you leave the dogs unattended too!) If you’re planning a family trip to the beach, look for one where your furry friends are welcome. If you’ve left them where you’re staying for the day, make sure you get them out for some exercise as soon as you’re back. You may be on vacation, but your pets still have needs!
Following these guidelines will make for a happier pet but you’ll also avoid undue vacation stress. Start your journey off smoothly, and the trip is sure to continue on the same note!
Need more ideas? Visit Bestfriends.org to download some ideas for fun activities to do with your pet. Or leave us a comment with your best idea for traveling with your pet!
Parents out there are likely counting down the days until the family vacation. As you prepare for your road trip, you might be worried about making the journey with small children. If you’re taking a long drive, keeping young kids entertained for hours is no easy task. If you have your car equipped with a great DVD system, you’ve got built-in entertainment.
Pioneer is a great electronics company that has a few options available for car DVD systems on any budget. Families with small children often have two main concerns when making a major purchase: cost and kid-friendliness. We picked a couple of Pioneer’s options that get great marks in those areas and the Pioneer folks were kind enough to send us a few details. Read more
By Jeanne Roberts
So you’ve decided to go “green†right down to your choice of an auto repair specialist. How do you know if the mechanic or garage you have chosen is as “green” as you would like? Read more
CarHelp.com is sponsoring a 47-day road trip featuring the Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Pacific Northwest. Check out Sheri talking about her trip on Fox 13 in Seattle yesterday!
Want to find out more about the road trip? Visit RoadTripsforFamilies.com
Oops.
Across the country, cell phone laws that prohibit drivers from texting or talking while driving are being enforced. In the past there may have been some leniency with enforcement but now police are cracking down. Recently, even superstar Beyonce got handed a $100 ticket in New York for texting and driving.  Unfortunately, according the Pew Research Center, many more adults are engaging in this risky behavior. Media attention from campaigns like Oprah Winfrey’s “No Phone Zone” is putting pressure on lawmakers demanding that their roads become safer. As drivers, we should do our part too.