This summer, we’ve filled a lot of our time off with some exciting road trip adventures. Since we live within proximity to great beaches, mountains, and desert areas, a couple of road trips were the perfect way to enjoy the time together.
Road trip prep and packing has changed over the years. Gone are the times of loading up the car with pillows, blankets, snacks, and paper maps for a road trip. Do you remember watching your parents use actual map books? (and even squabbling over which route to take?) I do. I don’t even think kids nowadays know what paper maps are. I mean, with technology, the need for those kinds of maps seems obsolete.
One thing that was so helpful to have on our road trips was our Navdy HUD (Head-Up Display System). I already have this system installed in my vehicle and use it all the time for city and highway driving. I recently shared about Navdy on my blog and how convenient it is for everyday driving. Now I need to tell you just how useful Navdy can be on a road trip, too.
If you aren’t familiar with Navdy, it’s a Head-Up Display system you install on your vehicle’s dashboard. Navdy has many convenient features for you to access, all while remaining hands-free and keeping your eyes on the road thanks to hand gestures, voice control, and the dial attached to your steering wheel. With smartphone information like texts, maps and calls projected directly in your line of sight, you never have to look down at your actual phone.
Let’s face it, cell phones and distracted driving are a big problem nowadays. Navdy also has these other technological features:
- directions
- music control
- speed limit
- read and reply to texts
- make and receive phone calls
Watch this brief video that shows how Navdy works:
Just watching that video makes me wonder why I didn’t install one in my car sooner, especially for road trips. Here are 3 ways that Navdy helped our road trips.
Keeping your eyes on the road, especially in a road trip situation, is the most important thing. With the projections right in front of you on the screen, it minimizes the distractions because you don’t even have to look away to do such things as use maps or voice command to call one of your contacts. Navdy is set up to project into the distance with transparent images, so the road stays in focus at all times.
Navdy is projected onto the screen right in front of you and is clearly visible to the driver whether it’s bright and sunny outside, cloudy and grey, or there’s a dark, nighttime sky. There was no need to feel like I was rushing to beat the daylight to still be able to use it. I also didn’t have to worry if it was cloudy or even if it rained outside. Navdy has the capability to be visible to the driver regardless of the lighting situation and the weather outside, and that was reassuring.
I already mentioned that maps is one of the basic features on Navdy. However, the part I really appreciated the most about using Navdy on a road trip was the fact that no matter where we were driving, especially in the middle of nowhere, Navdy still had capability to navigate. Thanks to its onboard GPS, Navdy has a clear line of communication with the satellites above. Since its access comes from offline maps stored within the device, it didn’t matter if there was cell reception or not. How many times have you been on a road trip and had your “maps” go out because your phone had “No Service”? That’s scary! Being able to access maps through Navdy, regardless of where we were, was the ultimate win on our road trips.
In addition to these things, being able to make phone calls, receive and reply to text messages, and control the music in the car ― all while remaining hands-free ― was very convenient and something that helped our family on our road trips. You can customize your Navdy’s display system ahead of time, too. 
Whether you’re going someplace local or are out on a road trip, you want to avoid distracted driving at all costs because it isn’t safe and can result in dangerous, unsafe situations for all of those on the road. Navdy technology was an immense help on our road trips and I highly recommend it for everyone! .
Now if Navdy could just come up with a feature that stops kids from asking “How many more minutes?”, that would be the ultimate dream!
For more information about Navdy, please go here. You can also watch more informational videos on their YouTube channel here.
I’m sometimes distracted while driving. You’ll never find me putting mascara on while driving with my knee or brushing my teeth in the car, and I don’t text and drive. However, because I’m such a busy mom, I am forced to “multi-task” and do things while I’m on the road. Some of my distractions include: drinking my coffee, eating on-the-go, or making phone calls (using Bluetooth, of course). Regardless of the type of distractions, no distractions are the ideal situation when it comes to being safe while driving.
Have you heard of 
I was all over that opportunity. Navdy sits on your car’s dashboard, right in front of you, allowing you to stay connected to your network, your car, and the road, all at the same time. It’s the first device of its kind, projecting information into the distance so the road remains in focus.
Navdy was very simple to set up and install in my car, with the HUD installed on the dashboard and the Navdy dial, your main tool for interacting with the device, easily accessible on your steering wheel. The system is compatible with both iPhone and Android, and you begin by downloading the Navdy app. Using the app, you walk through installation, in addition to looking through the illustrated installation guide.
Not only do I feel like Navdy is the best new solution for busy adults like myself, but it also seems like something I would insist my teenage driver utilize in the car. Don’t you agree? We want the safest possible scenario for our children, especially when they are new drivers and there are so many possible distractions that might take away from their eyes staying on the road.
Navdy is a truly effective way to minimize your distractions in the car and complies with all of the new hands-free driving laws. This award-winning technology system is currently offered at the great price of $499, or as low as $28/month for 18 months at 0% financing and includes free shipping to the U.S. and Canada. It’s a great price for something that’s helping to ensure the safety of you and your family in the car.
When I was asked if I’d like to spend a week driving around a Toyota Prius Four, I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first. Initially I wondered how I’d fit our entire family in it. I was also concerned that there wouldn’t be room inside for all of our junk, but I decided to give it a try…and boy was I surprised…in a good way!
I’m going to share 5 great reasons why I loved driving around the Toyota Prius Four, even though there are probably way more! 
The Prius Four is adorable. I see them out on the road all the time. I love the sleek design of the vehicle and it just seems so clean in shiny silver. From the stylish wheels to the body shape to the luxurious interior, I just love everything about the way this car looks and was so excited to get to drive one! 
Have you ever been next to a Prius Four when it started? It is so quiet. I wasn’t expecting that and there were actually a couple of times when I had to double check that it was on, even though I knew I’d pushed the power button to start the car.
I loved how quiet this car was to drive. I almost felt like, in a way, it kept me calmer. 
As someone who normally drives an SUV, I’m always envious of other drivers because I know that they’re not pouring (and wasting) a ton of money into their gas tanks, the way I am. Did you know that the Prius Four gets up to 58 mpg in the city and up to 53 mpg on the hightway? That’s amazing! (especially compared to what my regular vehicle gets!)
I don’t think I had to put any gas in it for the entire week I drove it! When you don’t have to spend a ton of money to fill up your “guzzler”, it translates to more money in your pocket. The Prius was definitely developed and designed with fuel economy in mind!
I also appreciated all of the design efforts to keep so much of what a driver needs, within reach and provide the least amount of distractions possible. There’s a great spot to set your cell phone where it can charge wirelessly. In addition, the bluetooth compatibility allows the driver to do everything hands-free!
Some of the features that you’ll find in one, convenient location, which allow for less distraction while driving include Blind Spot Monitoring and Cross Traffic Alert. 
Probably the most surprising thing about driving the Prius Four was the leg and headroom. I honestly thought I’d have to push my husband’s head down to get him into the car but I didn’t! He’s over 6 feet tall and had no issues getting into the car or riding around comfortably inside it.
I get excited for family road trips. It’s the chance to get away, see new places, and explore together. Slowly but surely, we’re checking states off of our map. We’ve visited beaches, deserts, theme parks, farms, and so many other fun places, Some of our road trips are just local ones, but a getaway is a getaway, right?
Right now, through September 28, you can get an oil change with 
It’s a motor oil specifically designed for new or late model vehicles with over 75,000 miles, with the mission of keeping engines running clean and going strong. If your vehicle has less than 75,000 miles on it, you’ll want to 
Stocking up the Car
Here are some of the things I never go on a road trip without:
Kid-Friendly Road Trip Activities 
The thought of a road trip can sometimes be so ideal in your head, before you actually get on the road, but hearing things like, “How many more minutes?” or “Are we almost there?” from the little people in the backseat, can drive you nuts! I sometimes think kids must teach each other these phrases because they all seem to say it. 
In “the olden days”, when I was a kid, our options included: staring out the window or playing the license plate game. I wanted to be a little more creative than that. I suppose this version of “Road Trip BINGO” is just a modernized version of the license plate game, except I’ve upped the game…I added a prize! They have one card to share, which is supposed to promote “working together” and when they get “BINGO”, they get to choose where we stop for our next treat. Seems like a win-win for me, don’t you think? I printed two different cards, so they could play again on the way home! I figure it’ll buy me at least a little bit of time without having to hear those annoying questions. Check out my two favorite parts on the BINGO game. I circled them for you! 
When I heard the announcement that Kia Motors America formed an expanded partnership with B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe), a non-profit organization that provides free, hands-on defensive driving workshops in cities nationwide, I was excited to share the news with my readers!
B.R.A.K.E.S. will use an expanded fleet of vehicles provided by Kia and increase the number of classes offered.
To provide teenagers with the training and tools to be safe and responsible behind the wheel, Kia Motors America (KMA) and the B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) Teen Pro-Active Driving School are bringing the 501(c)(3) 0uycharity’s free advanced driver training to San Diego July 30-31 at Qualcomm Stadium. According to a recent study, the B.R.A.K.E.S. program reduces the accident rate of teen drivers by approximately 64% in their first three years of driving. 
The B.R.A.K.E.S. curriculum includes advanced, behind-the-wheel training from professional driving instructors using Kia provided vehicles.
Connect with Kia Motors American on 
I also loved that she didn’t have to be reminded that “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!“…especially when it means bringing home tons of bags from shopping at places like M&Ms World! All of the shopping we did in Vegas will just remain our little secret!
