Day-tripping (Part 2)

Travel time without tunes would not be the same.

In my last post, I raved about the joys of family road trips. In contrast to most parents, this music mom loves nothing more than packing up my car with my kids and hitting the open road. Of course, as a mother who is constantly creating and listening to music, the songs we play during our voyages are very important to me. A good soundtrack is the lifeblood of an exciting trip; boring or mistimed tunes, meanwhile, can very easily put a damper on a family expedition.

So what makes for a good collection of road trip songs? I have found that the best soundtracks for our exciting excursions are dynamic roller-coasters that feature ebbs and flows to match the many different moods of me and my fellow travelers. Most often, it’s the upbeat, energetic songs that make for the best travelling tunes. These lively numbers include pretty much everything from the early Beatles, Motown, Johnny Cash, Reba McIntyre, and a whole lot of synthy songs from the early to mid 1980’s.

Of course, a lengthy road trip will (and should) include quiet and more reflective moments. We all know the power of music, so it should come as no surprise that the perfect tonic for kids who are a bit too wound up is to turn down the tempo and the volume of whatever is pouring out of your car’s CD player or radio. Yes, bring down the music, and watch your kids come down off of whatever sugar high or nervous energy buzz they’ve been on. To soften the mood, my favorites include Judy Collins, James Taylor, Mazzy Star, and the occasional hair band ballad from the ’80s.

If you’re at all like me, you probably can’t imagine a lengthy road trip without your favorite tunes. Music has been a constant companion during my life. It only makes sense that I bring it with me as I embark on my most memorable trips along life’s long and winding road.

What are some of your favorite tunes to listen to while hitting the road? Share in the comments section, and thanks for reading!