St Patrick's Day Road Trip Ideas

There's no better way to see Ireland than by car - the rolling green hills and quaint villages are best viewed at leisure. And there is no better time to see Ireland than during the St. Patrick's Day festivities.
First off, drivers in Ireland are required to carry their driving license, vehicle registration document, motor insurance certificate and in most cases a green card. Prudential, a leading car insurance provider in the UK, suggests that drivers keep all their documentation close at hand when in the car. In the event of a fender bender or breakdown, you will want to be able to contact the relevant authorities quickly and easily.
Next up: where to go? Ireland isn't very big, but a well planned road trip means savings on petrol and wear and tear on your car, while you maximise your site seeing options. The whole of Ireland celebrates St Patrick's Day, famously commemorating the patron saint of Ireland, so there will be plenty of options for those looking for some Irish fun this March.
You might want to take part in one of the bigger festivals in the cities of Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Limerick:
The St Patrick's Festival in Dublin is Ireland's official celebration of the holiday, with parties, parades and night time events to entertain visitors and locals alike. In Belfast the St. Patrick's Day Carnival winds through the city and includes a free music concert featuring a mix of pop and traditional music which is suitable for the whole family.
Cork bursts to life for the St. Patrick's Festival, with people, boats and bands from around the world sharing their culture as the city celebrates Ireland's national day. In Limerick there is a parade, the International Band Festival and a Spring Fest to entertain visitors, as well as the much anticipated firework show, Skyfest.
A more leisurely road trip would involve a casual meander through some of Ireland's tiny villages, stopping for a pub lunch or a night in a quaint bed and breakfast. While Ireland might be known for its whiskey and beer, the country has similar drink driving laws to the UK, so it is better to avoid drinking altogether if you will be driving.

Summer Family Road Trip Ideas on Budget

Summer is the classic family vacation time in America. It is the time to cram the vehicle, pack in the gear and snacks, prepare the kids, and pull onto the highway for a family road trip. There are so many things that you can do under the sun this time. Definitely, the pleasure becomes double if you can make extra savings on your trip. Check out these frugal ideas for family road trip this summer:
Take Trips to National Parks
Road trips to park are a common frugal family fun but national parks will give the highest value of your money. You will have a number of entertainment options in these parks like swimming, exploring, camping, hiking, and many more. For example, you can visit the 'Acadia National Park' that simultaneously offers superb panorama and ocean access. On the other hand, 'Shenandoah National Park', which locates near Washington, D.C., is another great place to chill out. The park is within a day's drive for millions of Americans.
Opt for Scenic Drives
In spite of increasing gas prices, scenic drives can still be considered as one of the most thrifty family road trips. New Hampshire's 'Kancamagus Scenic Byway' is one of the most suitable places to take such drives. You can just hang out with nature in general in this Byway entwined through the 'White Mountain National Forest'. It offers you a number of stopovers with chances to hike and experience natural water slides. However, never head out for such family trips without planning beforehand. Make a proper plan and download some travel apps for the trip. It will help you to handle logistics emergencies with ease.
Join Tailgating Events
During summer, it is not very rare to catch up some tailgating events while you are on the way for some inexpensive concerts or for your kids' sporting competitions. Such parties will offer opportunities for pre-game actions and recipe books galore. By bringing your own food to prepare, you can enjoy these events without spending much. To make the process of food preparation easier, you had better learn some awesome tailgate menus before going to the trip.
Waterfront Park Pavilions
Waterfront park pavilions are sources of unlimited fun and water activities. If you do not have a swimming pool nearby, take your kids to a waterfront park that offers rentable pavilions. Your kids will have as much splash, sand, and sun as they want. You can cut the renting cost half by teaming up with another family. Apart from passing quality family time, you can also use these pavilions for arranging your kid's birthday party or a family reunion because these places are less costly than hotel rooms are.
The fresh and vibrant summer season sets the atmosphere for a great road trip. Whether you are visiting a tourist attraction or planning for a beach plunge, this season will let you to appreciate the complete scenery. The sunny and bright weather is also favorable for enjoying the trip to the fullest.

Great Road Trip Ideas - Baseball Road Trip on a Budget

In my humble opinion there is nothing better than a good ol' baseball road trip. A good prerequisite would be that you are a baseball fan, or at least a fan of American tradition. One of the biggest hurdles to roadtripping is the strain it can place on your budget. However a baseball road trip, if done right, doesn't have to cost all that much. There will be more information on that later. Here are some ideas for a great baseball road trip:
Midwest
If you live in the Midwestern United States, Wrigley Field is the most historic ballpark you have easy access to. If you have never visited Wrigley Field, you should make it a point to go there. The second oldest baseball stadium still in use, Wrigley is like stepping back in time. Ivy running up the brick walls in the outfield, and you will notice a lack of a jumbo screen and other amenities that we are accustomed to in newer stadiums. If you haven't guessed yet, I would make sure you plan a Midwestern journey around a visit or two to Wrigley Field.
Another idea for a trip to the Midwest is to take in the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. This is about 5 hours from Chicago, but also a great place to see a game. While in St. Louis, pay a visit to the Gateway Grizzlies minor league team. The tickets are cheap and they have a menu item featured on the Chowdown Countdown and Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel. You can bite into the flavor of a bacon cheeseburger where the bun has been replaced by a Krispy Kreme donut. St. Louis is also home to 3 top 100 heart hospitals; just in case the Krispy Kreme burger puts you over the top.
At this point you are also within driving distance of Kansas City, where you could see the Royals play. You could also go from Chicago to Milwaukee, or just go to the Southside of Chi-town and watch the White Sox play a day or two later. Chicago is also convenient to Cincinnati, with just over a 4 hour commute. The great thing is all of these cities have more to offer than just baseball - as if you need to do anything else.
East Coast
Every baseball fan needs to make a good East Coast baseball trip. Although the classic Yankee Stadium is now a memory, you can visit the New Yankee Stadium - which is one of the nicer ballparks in all of baseball. Love them or hate them, everybody likes to see a Yankee game. If you have gone to New York, you could also take in a game at Citi Field, which is the brand new ballpark of the New York Mets. It is always a good money saving idea to see multiple ballgames when the teams are so close by. Maximizing the baseball while minimizing the gas cost; perfect!
Once you are in New York I would say that Fenway Park in Boston is also a must see. This is home to the Green Monster, the enormous green wall in left field, and is the oldest active ballpark in baseball. Even if you don't like baseball, you will like Fenway. The environment is unique, the fans are intense, and the place is full of character. If you go East Coast on a baseball road trip, go Fenway first.
Other options worth exploring are the very cool Camden Yards ballpark in Baltimore and the brand new stadium for the Washington Nationals in D.C. This is another 2 birds with one stone opportunity. The parks are close enough where you could stay in the same hotel for 2 nights and commute to each stadium each night.