Melanie and I woke up bright and early to start our 10-hour drive to Park City, Utah – home of Olympic Park. We had a cup of joe and took one last look at our surroundings and bid Mammoth Lakes adieu.


We were happy to have our sporty Subaru with its all-wheel drive standard for improved handling.

The major lesson of the day was that on a road trip – without good music – WE ARE LOST! Thankfully, we had 3 jammed packed iPods and a satellite radio to make our ride to Park City a fun one! (Check out the Top 10 Tunes for Travel list below.)

In order to pass the time, Melanie and I came up with the Things to Remember for a Road Trip list, so you guys never have to learn these lessons the hard way…

1. Fuel up any and every chance you get. Nothing like getting stuck without gas in a one-horse town!

The one gas station on barren Route 6

2. Have your camera ready in case of random wildlife, amazing scenery shots and impromptu silliness…

3. Make sure you have a GPS – and actually charge it.

4. Wake up early and drive during daylight hours to avoid ‘dark desert highways’.

5. Be friendly to the locals – they may just tell you where to get the best milkshakes in town.

6. Plan at least one stop at a car wash – it’s amazing how many bugs, flies, and who knows what hit the windshield!

7. Bring yoga mats! Nothing gets the blood flowin’ like some downward dog on the side of the road. (Safely out of the way of the oncoming traffic, of course)
We stopped along the way, rolled out our yoga mats and did a little Ashtanga to improve our minds and bodies for the pending road trip! There is something to be said for doing a workout in the great outdoors and not in a gym. Doing a few sun salutations, especially in the am, can keep you calm and centered all day!

8. If you are the driver, try to stay focused on the road – America’s landscapes are beautiful, but you’ll get your turn in the passenger seat – safety first!

9. Always travel with a fun friend – good conversation always makes the ride go quicker!

10. Limit your liquid intake...stopping every 5 minutes isn't fun!

Three hours into our trip we saw a sign indicating “man with flag”... Sure enough, there he was straight ahead, standing in the middle of the road, with a stop sign. He told us we had to wait about 1 hour because of the road construction ahead. We had to pull over to the side of the road and wait in the middle of the desert – nothing around but the mountains and the man!

This would never happen in New York

The hardest thing about this long drive was keeping myself from doing mindless munching…thank goodness we had our Back To Nature bars to curb our hunger and provide a great, filling snack!

Top 10 driving tunes ever in the history of driving (according to Mel & Sue)

10. Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive”
9. Police “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”
8. Pearl Jam “Better Man”
7. Modest Mouse "Float On"
7. Lynryd Skynrd "Sweet Home Alabama"
6. The Doors "Blood in the Streets"
5. Madonna “Like a Prayer”
4. U2 “Pride”
3. Michael Jackson “Man In the Mirror”
2. Johnny Cash “Folsom Prison Blues”
1. Ike & Tina Turner “Proud Mary”

Check us out manana when we go to Olympic Park in Park City, Utah for some zip-linin' and alpine slidin'!