Have you noticed there are fewer airline flights and less desire to fly in recent months? It’s no fault of the airline industry, of course, but the Coronavirus has opened up other travel opportunities. In today’s current events, road trips exploring your local region are what’s hot among those looking to get out of the house for a few days.
Because road trips are trending, we have some suggestions for romantic drives in the COVID Era.
Now that we’re in February, many of us start to think about Valentine’s Day. Lucky for us, the Monterey Peninsula offers a host of romantic drives that we can choose from and enjoy in a day or two. But before you set off for romance on the road, here are some things to consider.
Plan ahead for your romantic drive.
Romantic drives don’t have to be lengthy, but in the COVID Era, there are various reasons to plan ahead. Bathrooms may not be open along the route you’re planning, for example. Hotels and cute little inns may be booked solid if you don’t get your reservation early enough. Dining out may not allow for anything but take-out. Auto repair shops may not be operating typical office hours and may not be available if your car breaks down.
If you plan, however, your romantic drive will not have as many unwelcome surprises. Be sure to plot out your trip so you can make sure you can pee when you need to, spend the night at your end destination, eat food from your favorite restaurant, and still enjoy yourselves. Before you hop into your car, for example, make sure your fluids are topped off, your tires are properly inflated, your spare tire is in good shape, and you changed your oil in the recommended time frame. With proper planning, your romantic drive during the COVID Era will be far more pleasant.
Pack the essentials.
Now that you’ve plotted out your road trip, be sure to pack the essentials. Some of these essentials for a romantic drive may include the following:
A corkscrew
First aid kit
Hand sanitizer
Face masks
Toilet paper
Portable pee funnel for ladies
An extra sweater
A rain jacket
Hiking boots
Extra socks
A pair of gloves
Sunglasses
A scarf
A fully-loaded picnic basket
A drink cooler
Extra water
Your toiletry bag
Pajamas and warm socks
Sleeping bag or blanket
Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Zinc for health
Cell phone and power cords
Extra cash in case the places you visit don’t take credit cards
Choose your route.
Those of us who are lucky to live on the Monterey Peninsula has many romantic driving routes in our backyard. Here are a few of our top picks:
Driving from Cannery Row in Monterey down Ocean View Blvd. to Asilomar Beach in Pacific Grove.
Exploring all of 17 Mile Drive in Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach.
Spending a shopping day in Carmel on Ocean Avenue, then driving along Scenic Drive toward Carmel River Beach.
Riding with the top down along the full extent of Carmel Valley Road between Carmel and Soledad.
Visiting the wineries along River Road along the Santa Lucia Highlands between Marina and King City.
Taking a hike in the Pinnacles National Park between Soledad and San Benito.
Driving down Highway 1 toward Big Sur, Hearst Castle, and Morro Bay.
We hope you enjoy these romantic drive ideas. If you have other ideas to add to this list, we encourage you to contact us at CARSTAR Robert’s Collision in Monterey. If you want to remove any dents, dings, or cracked parts on your vehicle before your romantic drive, make an appointment for auto body repairs and service https://www.roberts-autorepair.com//appointments/.