Who's planning a road trip this summer? If you must go, here's what I learned. A thread

1. Stick close(r) to home. If you were to get sick, you can easily return home & not be a burden in another community. It's really not fun being sick when you are away from home either 1/10

2. Know before you go. Mask mandates are even stricter than when I drove across 10 states. Investigate the area you are going to be in or driving through so you can comply with any special rules or laws. Don't be that traveler who isn't prepared. 2/10

3. Think before you go into small communities w/ limited or no medical resources. If you find yourself there, go the extra mile to avoid contact with people. Don't travel to Native American areas that have been so hard hit. Many have closed the roads but they can't monitor 3/10

4. Don't count on anything. If they are even open, many parks, businesses, grocery stores & chains, are operating at reduced hours to accommodate needs. Google does not have the correct info! If there's some place you especially want to go, call or check directly. 4/10

5. Shop local. When you spend money or need to eat, try to spend it where it will count the most. Spend it at local & small businesses. A lot of restaurants are open, but they only have carry out. This doesn't mean they aren't happy to see you there! They need $. Tip well! 5/10

6. Be nice & kind. If this means you have to have a little pep talk with yourself every morning before you head out then do it. Be warned: people will try your patience! But I believe we are all just trying to do our best. Some people just do better than others. 6/10

7. Find alternative less crowded places. It is possible to avoid crowds but you have to know where to look. Try obscure & lesser known sites. Everyone doesn't have to go to the big name places. This just isn't the year for it, imo. Employees are are dealing with a lot. 7/10

8. Be patient. Things just take longer. I can't stress this enough. The road trip you took before or the way you did it before, it just isn't the same this year. Factor this in when you make your plans. Don't over plan & set yourself up for disappointment. 8/10

9. Carry what you need. This means hand sanitizer, wipes Lysol, soap, yes real soap, even food. While it is easier to get these things now, in some areas, it might not be. You could be taking away the resources in a small community. So plan accordingly. 9/10

10. Did I mention be patient, nice and kind? Above all, be grateful. Grateful that you are there and traveling. A lot of people aren't so lucky. Just remember that we are all just trying to get through this #Travel #TravelTuesday #RoadTrip #RoadTrip #RecreateResponsibly 10/10

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