The weather is heating up, and we literally can’t wait to hit the beach with our besties for (sunscreen-doused) tanning, bonfires, and cooling off in the waves. Unfortunately for us, though, beach season can also mean traffic season, and sweating for hours in mind-numbing bumper-to-bumper traffic is definitely not our jam.
If you’re planning on trekking to the beach — and let’s be real, who isn’t? — you're probably gearing up for a commute that's as dull as your daily drive to work. Um, no thanks.
In an ideal world, our adventure begins the second we climb into the car with our BFFs, NOT when we finally make it to the surf.
To spice up your beach day commute, we’ve teamed up with Cupcake Vineyards to bring you a guide for making your journey as enjoyable as the destination.
Here are 5 ways to turn your commute into an adventure.
1. Stage a dramatic reading of your favorite trashy beach novels
The only thing better than indulging in a saucy beach read? The looks on your friends' faces when you read aloud from it to them in a moving car.
Let each passenger choose one chapter of their fave romance novel to recite in their most ~serious~ tone, then let the driver make the call on which one wins the prize for most ridiculous. You'll be laughing so hard you won't even realize how long you've been stuck in traffic on the same road.
2. Keep your eyes peeled for photo opps
Remember: For the passengers, the photoshoot doesn’t start at the beach. Try to document any social media-worthy moments, including selfies with your BFFs, weird roadside attractions (giant balls of yarn, anyone?), and totally embarrassing videos of whoever falls asleep first.
Want to get even more creative? Arm each passenger with a disposable camera so you can snap super retro shots.
3. Pack your favorite snacks and beverages for the road — and the beach
If you’re not snacking on the road, then what’s the point of even embarking on a road trip? Make sure you and your besties plan ahead to pack a variety of goodies that everyone likes; we’re thinking chips, hummus, veggies, candy, and trail mix. YUM!
Plus, make sure to pack a cooler to enjoy once you get to the beach, and load it up with Cupcake's new wine cans and sparkling water to stay classy and hydrated.
4. Kick it old-school style with road trip games
When it comes to passing the time on a long drive, throwback road trip games are an absolute must. There's the classic license plate game: try to find all 50 state plates — if you live in the continental US, good luck spotting Alaska and Hawaii!
Another great way to stay entertained? The alphabet game. Everyone competes to find all 26 letters of the alphabet from roadside signs; anything on a moving vehicle is totally cheating, though.
If you’re commuting through a rural area, the cow game should be your go-to. Every time you drive past a pasture of cows, roll down your windows and see who can shout, “Moo, cow!” the loudest; every cow that turns to look gets a point. It’s totally silly but so. much. fun.
5. Create the perfect playlist
Real talk: A road trip without a playlist is a road trip not worth taking. Have each of your friends suggest a few of their top songs; bonus points if it’s something you can sing along to (we’re thinking throwbacks from middle school dances).
While we all love discovering new tunes, a road trip isn’t necessarily the time or place to do that. You want to be shouting the lyrics at the top of your lungs to keep the party going all the way to the beach.
This post is sponsored by Cupcake Vineyards.
