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As twilight fades into darkness, you realize you are miles off course and hours from your hotel. At least you think so. You’re not entirely sure because you haven’t seen a road sign in a while. Your husband should check the map, but using the overhead light makes it difficult for you to see ahead and the flashlight in the glove compartment holds only dead batteries.
“Are we there yet?”
“How much longer?”
“I’m hungry!”
“Where do you want to eat?” you ask, trying to calm the chorus from the back seat.
“Taco Bell!” they scream in unison.
You take small comfort in the fact that they all agree on where to eat, but have no idea where the closest exit is, much less the closest Taco Bell. You glance at your fuel gauge and notice that it’s less than 1/4 tank. Maybe the next exit is coming soon, complete with a Taco Bell and a gas station where you can fill up and get directions?
You thought you were being clever getting off the main road to avoid a traffic tie up. But the back roads were clogged too and the alternate route took you miles out of the way. You’re lost now and have no idea how long it will take to get to your hotel.
You see a flash of lightning on the horizon. Are you headed into weather trouble now too?
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I hope scenarios like this one are a distant memory for you since tech can solve many of these problems. GPS devices mean you’re never lost. You can see where the closest exit is, find a fuel station and maybe even see traffic conditions. With apps you can tell which restaurants are close by and what the weather conditions are ahead.
This week The Wonder of Tech has discussed lots of tech for you to use on road trips. What tech do you use to make your trips more enjoyable and make the miles roll by with smiles? Vote in the poll below and let us know which tech tools you use (you can vote for multiple choices):
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The Ford car I bought last year when I moved back to the US from England, has Sync which can show a weather map on the dashboard. I use this function a lot when I see storm clouds on the horizon. The satellite image shows me which way the winds are blowing so I can see if I’m headed into a storm or the storm is heading away from me. Very handy.
You don’t have to buy a Ford to get a weather map on the go. Lots of weather apps are available for smartphones and the iPad. I use Weather Bug on my iPhone and iPad, a free app which has live camera images from local areas in the US as well as satellite images. Weather Bug in the iTunes App Store. Weather Bug is also available free on Android: Weather Bug on Android.
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Here’s a reminder of how different road trips were during the days of yore (1039 years ago, to be exact). How far we have come with tech!
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Does tech ever help you to discover new sites? Avoid weather hazards? Help you with roadside service? Entertain the kids? Find favorite restaurants? Get you back on the right track when you’re lost? Let us know in the Comments section below!
* Image by Leonidas Konstantinidis
** Image by rik
*** Image by Luiz Henrique Varga Assunçao
We don’t use a lot on our road trips, but two things are very important to the kids. That’s a DVD player, one each, so they can watch one movie each (and not the same), and their Nintendo DS (one each). I have tried a GPS, but that’s only when I drive to big cities (and there aren’t that many big cities in Norway or close by).
Jens
Hi Jens, I agree, using a GPS in cities is very handy, especially cities with a lot of one way streets. But I also use a GPS when I’m driving along country roads so I can purposely get lost and discover some interesting sites. Last month I took the long way home and discovered waterfalls, colonial barns, a covered bridge and other beautiful scenery. Much better than taking the direct route!
Thanks for your visit and your comment. 🙂
I have never thought about that. I love to get lost on purpose, and with a GPS it’s so much easier to find the path home. Brilliant 🙂
Hi Jens, Yes, I used to get lost a lot and discover great places, which didn’t help because I didn’t know where I was, lol. Now I can get lost on purpose and be able to retrace my steps later. So much fun if you have the time. I find I plan extra time for my local car trips now so I can explore a bit more.
Thanks for your kind comment and tweet!
My family really needs to get on board with GPS systems. It would make road trips so much smoother. At the same time, sometimes getting lost is part of the fun and adventure. =P
During road trips, we usually each have an iPod. We often have a charger system too, so we can run off the energy of the car instead of wasting our batteries.
For common road trips to the States from Vancouver, we don’t usually bring the camera because they’re often shopping trips. =P Otherwise, we would definitely have the digital camera and video camera with us! =)
Hi Samantha, I agree, getting lost is part of the adventure but I feel much more comfortable getting “lost” with a GPS in the car so I can find my way home. The GPS in my car even has a setting for Breadcrumbs so you can see where you’ve been (like Hansel and Gretel!). I love the Breadcrumbs setting.
I love charging my devices in the car so I can arrive at my destination with a full charge.
If you do end up getting a smartphone, let me know so I can let you know about great shopping apps for your US shopping excursions. You may save enough to pay for the phone. Hmm…I think you just inspired me for a new blog topic! 🙂
Thanks so much for your visit, comment and kind tweet!
My family uses them all … except Bluetooth, but add a kindle! Between my boys and I, we trade off with our devices. I’ve been known to have two GPS’s, a “find-food” app, and a map all going at once! Good thing my husband is driving … he doesn’t use any of these … yet!
Hi Carol, Good point, I didn’t include a Kindle because that’s one device our family won’t be using in the car, what with carsickness being epidemic in our household. Thanks for reminding me I should have included the Kindle in the poll.
Two GPS devices. Do you not trust one? Do they ever disagree? If so, how do you decide which way to go? Fascinating. 🙂
Thanks so much for your visit and great comment!
Hi Carolyn,
Yes, I have had GPS’s disagree! The worst was last year in Texas traveling between 2 cities via country roads as there was no freeway options between them. The car rental GPS said one way, my smartphone GPS said another. Had to pull out the old-fashioned paper map to decide, and it still wasn’t clear. Of course, we picked the “no-so-good” way and added almost an hour to the drive.
Hi Carolyn,
On a road trip we have two internet enabled phones using which we navigate especially thru cities.
I always keep digital cameras to take photograph. The more I know the terrain the lesser I use gadgets.
I however also take a printout of the map in case the phone devices do not get the right signal strength.
I also carry a belkin car adapter charger to charge the the mobile phones when the battery is down .
Hope you are having a great day.
Ashvini
Hi Ashvini, It sounds as if you are well-equipped with tech in the car. I will ask you the same question I asked to Carol: do your GPS devices (in your case, navigation-enabled phones) ever disagree? If so, which do you believe?
You’re smart to have maps and a charger with you in the car. A map can give you the “big picture” of the area and a charger is essential if you’re using your phone to navigate. Navigation uses a lot of battery power on a phone so it’s best to keep the charge cord plugged in during the trip!
Thanks so much for your visit and your comment!
Hi Carolyn,
I do not use GPS, just phone based navigation system and both use Google maps. Some people do use GPS but I don’t need it ( not only for cost reasons). I remember the name of towns /cities that come on my way. I tell it to my wife who keeps a track and hence we reach the place.
In the city we start our mobile again and it shows us the right way.
Sometimes we had funny incidents that we ended up at someone’s house because it was shown as the hotel we were looking for. Other than that it serves really well.
So maps are really not updated in real time in India and road changes are frequent ( like making a road one way temporarily) hence no use purchasing GPS( the reason 😉 )
I love my camera too. It is an entry level Nikon and I need to buy a better lens so that I can take better pics .
Hi Ashvini, That is a funny story. I can just imagine arriving late at night to your friend’s house and not realizing it was a house instead of a hotel! It sure doesn’t sound worthwhile to have a GPS in India.
I hope after you get your new lens you will share some of your pictures on your awesome blog! Thanks for the kind shoutout on your blog and the virtual champagne. You rock!
Thanks for your visit and comments!
Hi Carolyn
Getting lost or the time it takes to a certain place does not annoy me. Its my nephews that keeps on asking if we are already there that bugs me. Luckily we have a dvd player in our car and also a psp. It keeps them very busy. Tech really is of great help when on the road.
Hi Glen, So sorry I seem to have missed your comment somehow. I completely agree, having bored kids in the car can be a nightmare. I’m so glad you have tech to help!
Thanks so much for your visit and comment! 🙂
This was interesting. I get lost because I listen to my friend’s directions. After this week, I will probably know better. I haven’t yet used GPS but will soon. I will borrow my sister’s GPS! I live the frugal mentality! It might be useful when I go on the motorway. I’m not convinced about a smart phone yet. I hardly use the phone I have! I use my digital camera and I’m joined at the hip to my laptop – good enough. I have a cold now so not doing much.; I hope to be better in time for a photographic outing on Sunday. 🙂
Hi Mike, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Yes, a GPS can solve a lot of arguments in the car, or cause some new ones! Great idea to borrow your sister’s GPS. You might be able to use it to discover some new sites to photograph in beautiful England!
If you fall in love with a GPS, you may want to consider whether it’s more frugal to get a smartphone (you said in an earlier comment that you can get one for cheap) with navigation than a GPS device. I don’t thing too many people actually use smartphones for phone calls very often, lol!
I hope you feel much better soon. Too bad there isn’t an app that cures the common cold.
Thanks for your visit and your comment!
Too bad my daughter didn’t have those devices years ago when she was trying to find a gas station in a borrowed car and ran out of gas in NJ.
Hi Jerry, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! How frustrating for your daughter to run out of gas because she couldn’t find a gas station! You would think New Jersey would have loads of gas stations… I bet she got a GPS device soon after that (unless that happened in the Olden Days before GPS devices were sold to the public).
I had a similar incident once, but my GPS device took me to a gas station that had gone out of business. It looked like it had been closed since the Reagan administration from the weeds growing up from the cracks in the pavement. It’s important not to rely upon GPS devices too much, they aren’t perfect.
Thanks for your visit and your comment!
Have to admit, i’d be dead without a GPS. I travel a lot and a GPS simply saves time.
How did people manage before it was invented? Don’t know, i can’t remember those times.
Hi Martin, I agree with you. I’d hate to be with a GPS. When I moved to the UK in 2006 I brought along a GPS. It was difficult enough learning how to drive without knowing where I was going. My GPS saved me many headaches as I learned to navigate British roads.