Short cut. PHOTO: VIRGINIA MARSHALL
Pit Stops
Modern rest stops offer a wide variety of amenities but are seriously lacking in culture. Stopping away from the fast food and concrete of commercial pull- offs lets road trippers enjoy the local way of life. Despite bypasses on modern inter-
states and major highways, the fun roadside attractions from the heydays of Route 66 are still out there. Why not stop at the massive mosqui-
to in Komarno, MB, the life-sized Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, MN, or the world’s largest buffalo in Jametown, ND? Drivers can take a deserved break
Tummy Check
Nothing kills the road trip spirit like motion sickness. Passengers prone to car sickness should avoid reading the latest issue of their favorite canoeing magazine—or anything for that mat- ter—while on the road…save it for the campsite. Focusing on a point in the distance
outside of the vehicle helps the brain settle the stomach—a good reason to leave video games and portable DVD players at home. Rotating passengers to make it easier to see out the front
Entertainment
Te first commercially successful car ra- dio rocked dashboards in 1929. On- board sing-a-longs to Queen’s Bohe- mian Rhapsody can be traced back to 1975. Since these milestones, most family
auto excursions
have been made with music. Te best way to share time
with your passengers rather than losing them to their headphones is to listen to
windshield also aids in alleviating motion sickness. Who doesn’t love riding shotgun? Pack ginger snaps, pep-
permints and saltines— all are proven to help with upset
stomachs.
And remember, while it may slow you down, it’s in everyone’s best interest to stop the car before you hear these four words: “Mom, I’m gonna barf.”
something together. Before you depart, gather an equal selection of every family member’s music and make one big play- list or multiple CD mixes. On the road, set the player on random. Hey, at least it’s shared suffering. Looking for some tunes to get you in-
spired for your family canoe trip? Check out our favorite canoe songs in the last issue
of Canoeroots
mag.com/0001). Alternatively, local radio can give road
(
www.canoeroots-
and kids can burn off energy, making the next leg of the journey safer and more comfortable for everyone. Letting children take charge of an inex-
pensive digital camera allows them to join in the fun of recording your family experi- ence on the road and at roadside stops.
Hazelmail.com offers
a wonderful
service that turns your photos into postcards, then prints, stamps and mails them for you. Find a place to stop with wireless Internet connection— plan ahead with listings at Wififreespot. com—and you can easily send a custom postcard from the road.
Hauling Your Stuff
Did you know that it’s illegal to tie a dog to the roof of your car in Alaska? Or that Massachusetts law states that you’ll get pulled over if you have a gorilla in your backseat? With these exceptions, it’s easy to ensure a safe, secure and legal load. Don’t cheap out—a good roof rack
is worth its weight in gold. Getting an aerodynamic, durable system makes hauling canoes and gear safer and easi- er. Many quality systems outlive today’s cars and can be adapted to different ve- hicles when it’s time for a switch. Most aftermarket roof rack manu-
facturers offer lock systems that allow you to secure your gear to your rack and your rack to your car for peace of mind while you’re feasting at Bonanza. A long, steel cable bike lock also works for many applications. Rooftop bag systems are a versatile,
affordable and easier to store alterna- tive to pricey hard-shell rooftop boxes. Bag systems that attach to the rear of many vehicles free up roof space for bikes or boats. Avoid the headache of tangled ropes,
complicated knots or finicky ratchets by purchasing cam straps specialized for tying down boats and other gear. A quick tug to tighten and push-button re- lease make securing your load a breeze.
trippers a taste of the region they’re vis- iting as well as local weather and road condition updates. If trying to agree on music threatens
Windstar warfare, listen to an audio book. It’s amazing how quickly a good story passes the time on a long trip. Tou- sands of titles are now available online. Podcasts are another option. Down-
load Road Trip USA, NPR’s Tis American Life or CBC Radio’s Vinyl Café for family oriented, road worthy entertainment.
www.canoerootsmag.com 31
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