Preparing Your Vehicle For Summer Family Fun

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It's hard to believe that in just two short weeks, summer will officially be upon us. Where has 2017 gone?! Despite the calendar still reading spring, the outdoor adventures that come with the glorious summer season have already begun in our house. 

Summer time is travel time. During the warm and sunny months, we love to get outside. Camping, hiking, swimming and exploring our own backyard are some of our favourite activities. We also love a good road trip, usually to visit my parents or our family cottage, both on Lake Huron.

After saying goodbye to our faithful ultimate road trip companion in the fall, we look forward to making new road trip memories with our new crossover. We can't wait to load up the car and hit the open road to create some amazing summer family memories.

But before doing so, we must first make sure our vehicle is prepared to get us to and from our summer adventure destinations safely. Especially with a little one in tow.

Extreme heat and long drives can be tough on cars, so here are 6 tips for preparing your vehicle for a successful summer family road trip.

6 Tips to Prepare for a Successful Summer Family Road Trip

1. Check your brakes. 

Your brakes are the single most important safety feature in your car, so its important to maintain their condition. Don't put your or your family at risk this summer by driving on worn or even faulty brakes.

2. Inspect all lights and bulbs. 

Having properly working head lights, tail lights and brake lights is important, especially at times when visibility is reduced, whether during rain or darkness.

3. Maintain clean air filters.

It is important to change both your engine and cabin air filters to improve airflow and prevent dust, dirt and allergens from entering both the engine and cabin. 

4. Maintain your air conditioning.
If you've ever driven a car with no air conditioning during the hot summer months, then you what a big difference a little cool air makes. Air conditioning systems are complicated, so if you think there is a fault in yours, take it to the professionals. 

5. Create a summer emergency kit.

A well stocked kit can be a lifesaver if you find yourself stranded, even in the summer months. For the summer, items to include are jumper cables, flares, flashlights with extra batteries, first aid materials, snacks and water. If you're traveling with children, adding an extra supply of diapers and wipes, a few toys, sunscreen and extra snacks and water is key. Make sure to store your kit in an easily accessible place. 

6. Top up your fluids.

In the summer months, important fluids for your vehicle include windshield washer fluid, coolant and motor oil. Remember to keep all topped up, and carry extra in your vehicle just to be safe. 

As a family on a budget, we opt to change our own motor oil. Not only is it cost effective, it is also super easy. Working on our own vehicle also gives us a sense of accomplishment when hitting the open road. 

Quaker State® Ultimate Durability™ Full Synthetic Motor Oil is the perfect motor oil for your summer road trip adventures. Not only do the fuel-saving additives give the oil more durability and help keep the oil fresh, but as engine temperatures increases, heat-activated viscosity improvers and anti-wear additives kick in to maintain oil thickness to help extend your engine life. Quaker State® gives you more durability and more honesty.

Changing you oil is easy! First, we opened the hood and located the dipstick to check your motor oil level. We removed the dipstick and wiped it with a clean, lint-free cloth. The dipstick was then replaced and removed once more to re-check the level (left photo above). When completing this step, make sure the level is between the minimum and maximum level marks. If it is below, add oil immediately. To add oil, we removed the oil filter cap, which is usually located beside the dipstick. Remember to add oil that meets the correct specifications of your vehicle. This information can be found in your owner's manual. Once oil was added, we rechecked the oil level using the dipstick. If the oil level is correct after completing this step, simply replace the dipstick, replace the oil filler cap, close the hood and you're good to hit the road!

Remember to take all necessary safety precautions to protect you, your vehicle and your family.

Quaker State® Ultimate Durability™ Full Synthetic Motor Oil is a great oil at a great price. It can easily be located in the Automotive Department at your local Canadian Tire. Just look for the gold bottle!

Whether we're hitting the road to visit the wilderness, family or even the local pool, having a vehicle that is prepared to handle our adventures is key to a safe and fun summer season.

Where will your summer adventures take you? Have you ever used Quaker State® automotive products? I’d love to hear about it!

Road Trip Reminiscing

It's hard to believe that 3 years ago we were just a few days in to the ultimate road trip - a 4000+ mile journey from Anchorage, Alaska home to Toronto, Ontario.

I'm a sucker for a good road trip, and this one definitely tops the list of most memorable. Let's take a drive down memory lane...

Day 1: Anchorage to Tok, Alaska
We left Anchorage around 10:30am, with a planned easy six-hour drive ahead of us to Tok, Alaska, just inside the border.  We had done half the drive before when we travelled to Eureka and on our way home from our Valdez adventure. This time around, we couldn’t have asked for better weather for our way out. 

Day 2: Tok, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon
We picked up the Al-Can Highway in Tok, AK. Although an exhilarating and ultimate road trippin' experience lay ahead of us, one of the toughest days I've ever had was crossing that border and not just because of the fun ordeal we had at Customs.

There was a bench sitting right on the border - you could chose which country you wanted to be in. I kept my composure through most of our goodbyes, but it wasn’t until I was standing half in Alaska and half in Canada that the waterworks started.  For three years, we had called both home.  It’s funny how things change – the temper tantrum I threw at the border just then was very similar to the one I threw that day in Walmart when I found out we were moving to Alaska in the first place. After a quick "let's go" from Steve, we were on our way, back to our home and native land. 

The drive to Whitehorse, Yukon was gorgeous, with many wildlife sightings, including a grizzly and a couple of black bears. We spent the night in Whitehorse, catching up with an old friend.

Day 3: Whitehorse, Yukon to Liard River Hot Springs, British Columbia
After grabbing a quick Tim Horton's coffee to start our day, we continued on our adventure. We had a picnic lunch at Watson Lake, Yukon, spending a few minutes walking through the Sign Post Forest to take in the thousands of other travellers that have been on the same exhilarating adventure as us.

We camped at Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park in northern British Columbia, enjoying a much needed soak in the hot springs.

Day 4: Liard River Hot Springs, British Columbia to Grande Prairie, Alberta
After hitting the road for what would end up being a long day, we stopped in Muncho Lake, BC to fill up the tank - a pricey $2/L! When driving the road less travelled, it's important to stop and fill up whenever you can, despite the price, because you never know when the next 'in service' service station will appear. The usual turquoise colours of Muncho Lake were muted by the rain.

We saw wildlife galore - from black and brown bears, to stone sheep, bison, coyote, caribou and more.

We passed the Al-Can Highway Mile 0 sign in Dawson Creek, BC, stopping to only snap a few shots, give a quick high five, and continue on our 4000+ mile journey.

Day 5: Grande Prairie to Jasper, Alberta

The drive from Grand Prairie, AB to Jasper, AB was a fairly uneventful one.  The flatness eventually turned back into the towering mountains we had grown accustomed to. Night number 5 was spent at the Fairmont in Jasper to reward ourselves for making it this far without incident.  

Day 6: Jasper to Banff, Alberta

We enjoyed the Fairmont right up until we had to check out in the morning.  We woke up refreshed and ready to continue the second half of our journey home. On our way out of Jasper, we saw elk and black bear galore. 

We drove along the Icefields Parkways, one of the most scenic drives in the world, and is studded with more than 100 glaciers and numerous small lakes, rivers and waterfalls. We stopped at the Columbia Icefield Interpretive Center, to awe over the Athabasca Glacier.  The Columbia Icefield is a surviving remnant of the thick ice mass that once mantled most of Western Canada's mountains and is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies. At one time the Athabasca Glacier reached the road, however, because of a warming climate, it has retreated almost 1.5 kms, over the past 125 years!

Before arriving in Banff, we made a pitstop at Lake Louise. Of course it was raining. We finally made it Banff and were welcomed with more rain, but a relaxing night catching up with a good friend over some drinks, made the rain not matter.

Day 7-8: Banff to Calgary, Alberta

We spent a few days relaxing in Calgary with family.

Day 9: Calgary, Alberta to Estevan, Saskatchewan

We said goodbye to family and hit the Trans Canada Highway heading East. We welcomed to the prairies of Saskatchewan by rain, and the terrain became as flat as a board. The largest excitement of the day came when we saw this Canadian icon, the television set of 'Corner Gas' while driving through Rouleau, SK. 

Day 10: Estevan, Saskatchewan to Eau Claire, Wisconsin

On day 10 of the road trip we travelled through 1 province and 3 states (Saskatchewan, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin) before reaching our destination for the night. It was a long driving day, so before passing out for the night, we indulged in some Wisconsin cheese and beer, and some smoked salmon from our Alaskan friends.

Day 11: Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Chicago, Illinois

We spent a few days playing tourist in the Windy City, indulging in some craft beer and deep dish pizza and celebrating my 27th birthday a few days early at Shedd Aquarium. It was a hot and humid few days, definitely not the summer weather we were used to in Alaska. 

Day 12: Chicago, Illinois to HOME

4154 miles, 12 days, 7 states, 4 provinces and 1 territory later, we made it HOME.

While this was a trip of a lifetime, it definitely required some pre-planning. If you're feeling adventurous and want to experience it for yourself, I recommend investing in the Milepost. This is the bible of all Alaska/Alberta/BC/Yukon/Northwest Territory road trips and marks every stop, including things to see, gas, lodging, campgrounds, etc.

Plan to visit Alaska? Check out these helpful resources:
Driving the Al-Can Highway
Wildlife Viewing in Alaska
How to Pack for Alaska
Alaska Travel Planning Resources

Do you enjoy taking road trips? What's your most memorable road trippin' experience?

Alaska Travel Planning Resources

Planning a trip to any foreign destination can often be intimidating, especially when that place is commonly referred to as "the Great White North", "the Last Frontier" and my favourite, "Land of the Midnight Sun".

Are you planning a trip to Alaska this summer or in the future? With a bit of advanced research and planning, you'll be better prepared for what you will experience during your Alaska travel. Whether you plan on taking a cruise, going on a fishing or hunting trip, or road tripping it through the great state, here are some of the best tried, tested and true Alaska travel planning resources.

Alaska Travel Planning Resources

1. The Milepost

The Milepost trip planner is the ultimate Alaska travel guide to highways, roads, ferries, lodgings, recreation, sightseeing attractions and services along the Alaska Highway systems within the state and surrounding Canadian provinces. It shares hidden gems along the roadways and bits of history as you explore the last frontier. It is the best $34.99US you will spend if you plan on doing any driving while visiting Alaska. (This 800-page book was a lifesaver on our 2 week ultimate road trip home from Alaska this past summer.)

2. Travel Alaska

Travel Alaska is the official State of Alaska vacation and travel information website. It provides information on things to do, places to go, where to stay, getting to and around, package tours, planning help and maps of cities, towns, villages, parks and public lands. Order a free copy of the official vacation and travel planner to be mailed to you before your trip!

3. North to Alaska

Driving to or from Alaska is the ultimate North American road trip, and North to Alaska is designed to offer planning suggestions as to where to go, how to get there, what to see, and what to do. The website includes maps and routes, points of interest, tips, distances and more! Order a free guide to help facilitate your journey and ignite your sense of adventure.

4. Alaska.org

Alaska.org provides local expert advice for planning your trip to Alaska. From destinations, to things to do, maps, transportation, cruise and land tours, backcountry and more! Order a free copy of the travel planner or check out the Alaska Activity Guide and Activity Map. 

5. The Alaska App

This FREE download brought to you by Alaska.org is the official mobile guide to Alaska's best destinations. Whether you're visiting Alaska or live there, The Alaska App is your ultimate interactive Alaskan discovery guide.  

6. AKontheGO

Visiting the great state with your family? Make sure to check out AKontheGo, the only website dedicated to Alaska family travel. AKontheGO tells the story of Alaska destinations through cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities appropriate for children.

While there are plenty of other resources available online to help plan your trip to AK and get you better prepared for what to expect once you arrive, these are my favourite and ones I've used in the past.

Have you been to Alaska, or are you planning to visit? What resources do you like to use when planning a trip?

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10 Things I Learned Driving Cross-Country

Remember back when Steve and I made that 4000+ mile ultimate road trip from Alaska back to Ontario?  If you need a refresher, I don't blame you, it was a while ago.

Day 1: Anchorage to Tok, AK

Day 2: Tok, AK to Whitehorse, YT

Day 3: Whitehorse, YT to Liard River Hot Springs, BC

Day 4: Liard River Hot Springs, BC to Grande Prairie, AB

Day 5: Grande Prairie to Jasper, AB

Day 6: Jasper to Banff, AB

Day 7 & 8: Banff, AB to Calgary, AB

Day 9: Calgary, AB to Estevan, SK

Day 10: Estevan, SK to Eau Claire, WI

Day 11: Eau Claire, WI to Chicago, IL

Day 12: Chicago to HOME

Ok, memory refreshed? Good.

We learned a lot while taking that "little" trip - a lot about ourselves, about each other and what makes (or breaks) the perfect road trip experience. Here are my top 10:

1. Audio books will save your sanity, and relationship.  So will a fully loaded iPod.

2. Just because you are traveling, doesn't mean you have to talk to each other.  Hours of silence between you and your captain/copilot are not as awkward as they sound.  In fact, they become very welcomed.

3. Renewing your satellite radio subscription is pointless when most of your drive is through mountains and the middle of nowhere.

4. Mice surprisingly make good copilots.  Unlike humans, they don't complain when they're hungry or have to pee.  They just sleep all day.  (Yes, we drove over 4000 miles with our pet mouse.)

5. When copilot, yelling "STOP" at the top of your lungs, even if for a blatantly obvious black bear on the side of the road, is NEVER a good idea.

6. Likewise, even when you're driving, yelling (in excitement) because you finally spotted something is NEVER a good idea.

7. Don't assume there is an open liquor/beer store in every town you stop. Even if it is late Monday afternoon.  (What kind of liquor store is closed on a Monday?!)

8. An ice cold brew is the best medicine to wind you down after a long day of driving/copiloting.

9. Beef jerky is the best road trip snack EVER.

10. Alaska is intriguing, no matter who you talk to or where you are.

11. Road trippin' with your best friend makes the whole experience!

Have you ever taken a long road trip?  What did you learn from the experience?

(Linking up with A Compass Rose for Travel Tuesdays)

Driving the Al-Can

The Alaska Canada Highway, or Al-Can, traverses a vast wilderness in a remote expanse of North America, from Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, BC all the way through the Canadian Rockies and Yukon Territory, 1422 miles to Delta Junction, AK.

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On our ultimate road trip home last summer from Alaska, we picked up the Al-Can in Tok, AK on our way out of the great state. Although an exhilarating and ultimate road trippin' experience lay ahead of us, one of the toughest days I've ever had was crossing that border...

Day 2: We spent the night in Whitehorse, Yukon with friends.

Day 3: We had a picnic lunch at Watson Lake, Yukon, spending a few minutes walking through the Sign Post Forest to take in the thousands of other travellers that have been on the same exhilartating adventure as us.

We camped at Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park in northern British Columbia, enjoying a much needed soak in the hot springs.

Day 4: We stopped in Muncho Lake, BC to fill up the tank, a pricey $2/L! The usual turquoise colours of the lake muted by the rain.

We saw wildlife galore - from black and brown bears, to stone sheep, bison, coyote, caribou and more.

We passed the Mile 0 sign in Dawson Creek, BC, stopping to only snap a few shots, give a quick high five, and continue on our 4500 mile journey...

And we can't forget about this little guy, who did the entire ride with us, whether he liked it or not.

Some frequently asked questions:

How long will it take?

Plan on driving for about 5 days, at 7-8 hours each day, with limited stops but plenty of scenery and wildlife to view. Make sure you have a good camera to document the adventure.

Is the road paved?

When the road was originally constructed in 1948, it was a mixture of gravel and dirt. Nowadays it is completely paved. But, that does not mean it doesn't still present its challenges. In some parts it is fairly windy through the mountains and there is no guardrail to hold you back. In other parts the harsh weather and freeze/thaw cycle has taken its toll on the road, with frost heaves creating a bumpy ride that can do some damage to your car if you're not careful. In the summer road construction is ongoing, so be prepared for some stoppages.

What kind of car should I drive?

Whatever kind you want. We saw cars, trucks, suvs, trailers, vehicles pulling trailers and motorcycles. The most important thing is to make sure it is in good shape, including the tires. We took ours for a check up before we left to be sure. The last thing you want is to break down in the middle of nowhere.

Do cell phones work?

Be prepared for some stretches with no cell or satellite reception. This also goes for satellite radio. 

How far apart are services?

Fuel, food and lodging can usually be found in the small towns you'll come across. But be prepared to go at least 150 miles without seeing a gas station. Pay attention to your gas tank and fill up when you see a pump, even if it's to top off the tank. Also, be prepared to pay more for services.

Extra tips:

This road trip definitely requires some planning. If you're feeling adventurous and want to experience the Al-Can for yourself, please invest in the Milepost. This is the bible of all Alaska/Alberta/BC/Yukon/Northwest Territory road trips and marks every stop, including things to see, gas, lodging, campgrounds, etc. 

Do you enjoy taking road trips? What's your most memorable road trippin' experience?

Linking up with A Compass Rose for Travel Tuesday.