Planning a Winter Road Trip

A winter road trip is a fantastic family holiday. The scenic views, skiing, skating and exploring the wintery wildlife are all wonderful ways to escape and relax. But winter trips bring challenges you don’t face during the summertime, and some extra planning will go a long way. Here are some top tips for planning your next winter road trip.

Plan Your Route

Once you’ve decided where you want to go on your winter road trip, it’s time to plan out your route. Here are some things to plan out:

• Exactly which roads you’ll take 
• Where the gas stations are 
• Where the motels are 
• Where the emergency services are in each town 
• Safe places to stop in case of emergency

As well as knowing your route inside and out, it’s important to plan for challenging conditions. Before you leave, make sure to check on weather reports and traffic reports. If there are any areas that suffer from bad weather, have back-up routes planned out so you don’t get held up. 

When you go on your trip, take a GPS system with you as well as physical maps which will keep you on track and safe on your journey.

Plan for Snow and Ice

No winter road trip would be complete without snow and ice. And although they make any winter road trip magical, they can pose a serious challenge when driving. Make sure to plan ahead by packing de-icer, a shovel, sand, tire chains and other essentials that will make driving a little easier.

Plan Lots of Breaks

If you’re going on a long road trip, make sure to plan lots of breaks along the way. These breaks are good for both you and your car, and will keep your family from getting restless. There are many sno-park stops across the US that are perfect break points on a winter trip. Go online and search for these on your route to decide the best places to stop.

Plan an Emergency Car Kit

It’s difficult to think about an accident happening on a fun family road trip, but preparing for the worst is important, especially in the winter months. Make sure your car is fully stocked, should you break down far from help. Think about packing a first aid kit, flares, extra food and water, warm clothing and blankets. An emergency car kit will come in handy and keep your family safe in an emergency.

Prepare Your Car

Getting your car ready for the winter drive is essential. Carry out some basic checks including checking your battery, oil, brake fluid and tire tread to make sure your car is prepared for the journey. Think about switching to all-weather tires to give you the best chance of driving safely on snowy roads.

This complete guide shows you exactly how to prepare your car for a winter road trip, as well as giving useful tips on how to pack and prepare for your journey.

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The Perks of Having the Right Family Car

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We spend most of our holidays and summer breaks on faraway places for our vacation and church camp meetings. Thus, it’s important that we have our own car to travel in comfort and safety. We have three big kids and going to different places is not that easy if you only commute through public vehicles. Sometimes we venture on places where public vehicles are not available so it’s really vital. Nowadays having a car is not a luxury but a necessity especially if your family is big like us as we travel not only with the kids but with my younger sister and my Mom. 

We had two cars in the past which are slightly small for us so for our third one we bought a big pickup with camper shell to accommodate more people and baggage too. We love our Mazda pickup which we fondly called Mazy because we were able to go to a lot of beautiful places without worrying about our heavy baggage. We were able to share it also to our church mates who don’t have cars of their own. Now that our Mazy is getting old and showing some signs of mechanic issues we’re thinking of buying a new one. 

Finding the perfect car for the family is never a problem with cars.com  where you can browse over branded cars and search for whatever type of car you need. They offer all car brands with complete specifications and features so you can decide which will fit your specific car requirements. I just visited the site now and discovered that they also offer used cars which are more affordable for those who don’t have funds for the new models. Hope that we can buy our new car soon also just in time for the school break.

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7 Ways to Keep Your Older Refrigerator Running

The idea of getting a brand new refrigerator might be tempting, especially with all the new smart technology. If money is tight, it might make better sense to stick with the older faithful appliance for the time being. Below are seven ways you can help your older refrigerator keep running smoothly and use your cash on other household needs.

Set the Temperature Sensibly

You might have the freezer temperature set too frigid if you open the door and cold air billows out in clouds of icy fog. You can get by with a temperature a little less than those found in Antarctica. Set freezers at zero degrees and the refrigerated part at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Allow Leftovers to Cool

The US Food and Drug Administration says it is safe to leave non-dairy foods out of the refrigerator for an average of two hours in normal temperature conditions and one hour for ambient air temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You can allow the leftovers to cool some before refrigerating. The lower temperature will put less strain on an older refrigerator.

Move Refrigerator Away from Other Appliances

Any appliance that throws out heat can stress your older refrigerator. Keep it away from the dishwasher, stove, and microwave.

Pat Attention to the Door Seal

The door seal is the white rubber barrier around the frames of the freezer and refrigerator door that keep a temperature exchange from happening. If this part becomes cracked or worn, you have no protection from the temperature warming up inside. The compressor will continue to run to make up the difference.

Keep the Door Shut

Do not allow anyone to continually open and shut the door. Every time you open the door it affects the internal temperature. The fridge will run more to compensate.

Keep Vents Clear and Coils Clean

Vents are provided on refrigeration units to allow the components to stay cool while in operation. Use the hose of the vacuum cleaner to pull away and dust and dirt that accumulates.Refrigerator housekeeping duties should be done once every week or two.

Provide Routine Inspection and Maintenance

Bring in a technician to have a look at your older refrigerator once a year to make sure it is operating correctly. Preventative maintenance can keep you on top of any developing problems.

Call of refrigeration professionals like Sub Zero Repair Centers for needed Sub Zero refrigerator maintenance today!

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Benefits of Joining a Golf Club

Golf clubs are new alternatives to traditional country clubs that are just as upscale but a little less stuffy. Many of the top clubs today are those that sell membership packages for those who love golfing. In addition to one or more golf courses, most clubs have other amenities like pros who can give you a few lessons and shops that offer equipment and clothing for sale. You'll even find bars and snack shops on-site that let you share a drink after a round or grab a full meal. These clubs offer a number of nice benefits for members.

Free Golfing

Before buying a golf membership, always ask if members receive free golfing passes. These passes let you play a round of golf for free whenever you want. Some courses let members golf for free on weekdays and offer discount rates on weekends. These clubs do not charge any fees for most games because the fee is included in your membership cost. Other clubs charge for golfing but keep the rates low for members. You may have the chance to book tee times well in advance of when you want to play too.

Merchandise Discounts

One benefit of becoming a member is that you usually get a card that qualifies you for discounts on merchandise in the pro shop. The pro shop is an on-site shop that sells equipment and accessories for golfers like new clubs and bags as well as ball markers, hats and shirts. You can get a brand new outfit or purchase the clubs that you always wanted for a low rate. Some clubs offer discounts on special order merchandise too. This refers to any product that the shop does not have in stock but can order for you. You may even receive a discount at the club's bar or restaurant.

Guest Passes

As a member of a golf club, you can usually request guest passes too. These passes let you play with friends and family who do not belong to the club. The club may limit the number of passes that you can request in a year or restrict you on when you can bring others into the club. Guests must follow all the rules of the club during their visits. Anyone who loves golfing and plays regularly will find some great benefits associated with becoming a golf club member.

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Why Race Is a Topic More People Should Be Willing to Discuss

Although the subject of race has the potential to bring tension into an otherwise mild conversation, it is often the elephant in the room that would benefit everyone to discuss. For the most part, the topic is frequently placed in the same off-limits box with religion or politics, but this is often out of fear. The racial equality essay or conversation can displace people from all viewpoints on edge. Here are some reasons, however, that more people should be willing to discuss it.

It Sets the Tone for Meaningful Social Exchange

Sometimes, without even realizing it, people bring many of their preconceived notions about the racial heritage of others to a conversation. There is not too much inherently wrong with this. After all, each person is a summary of his or her experiences. It becomes a challenge when those preconceived notions prevent a person from being open to other points of view, flavor and empower biases or prevent another person from having fair opportunities. This is especially true in situations like job hiring, economic access or equal opportunity allowed by law.

It Diversifies Viewpoints

It is tough to imagine how static the world would be if everyone shared the same point of view. Conversations would be predictable and listeners would bore easily of what they know is coming. When people allow racial equality to enter the conversations, they open themselves to broader perspectives and experience things that might otherwise be lost to them. This kind of exchange makes a more well-rounded person.

It Can Be a Blueprint for Youth

Although it is not something on the minds of people who are engaging in conversation, children are almost always watching. They pick up on cues of what is spoken and unspoken. This includes any tensions around race. As many youth who have carried on the actions and opinions of their parents have proven, this tension is learned behavior and not necessarily inherited. This should be a reminder that the conversation speaks a future into existence. Why should that future not include safe, open conversation about an issue that has affected everyone?

No matter what your racial heritage or background happens to be, race likely has played a factor in your growth and development, even if in ways not always obvious. It is healthy to acknowledge and discuss the impact. Everyone has a stake in the ongoing conversation.

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