Get ready for summer trips

It's officially my favorite time of year - summer.

Many think I am crazy because the heat in Florida is unbearable. Honestly, you start to get used to it. Summer means more outdoor events, no clunky sweaters and my ultimate favorite - less traffic.

The first Monday after school was out equaled bliss. I managed to shave 15 minutes off my commute. Already I feel my driving stress fading away.

I am also looking forward to the in-state trips I want to make with my daughter over the summer. Some of them include heading to Tate's Hell State Forest in Carrabelle and Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka. I may choose some other parks south of Tampa, but I haven't decided yet.

Of course, all this additional driving means I have to make sure my Volkswagen, named BeeBee by my daughter, is taken care of.

In fact, I was reminded of this by my car when the coolant light went off last week.

I found a handy website, http://tinyurl.com/
summerdriving, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that provides useful information on how to make sure you and your car are ready for road trips.

The summer driving tips were put together in 2006. They include vehicle safety tips such as checking your tires, wiper blades, fluid levels and lights. The site also details emergency items we should have in the car, such as a flashlight, first-aid kit, maps, flares and jumper cables.

Tips on how to stay focused while driving and traveling with children also are provided.

If you are planning any road trips this summer, it might even be worth printing out the PDF and keeping it handy.

I also think it's helpful to know some things about your car, especially if you don't have some type of road assistance service. If you are able to do something small such as change a tire, that might save you some money while being out on the road.

I will keep you posted as my trips come to fruition. If you make any trips of your own, feel free to send me photos and a short write-up so that I can include the information in an upcoming issue of the paper.