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(NAPSI)-"Most of my fondest family memories are from the road trips we have taken over the years," said Rusty Wallace, retired NASCAR driver and Nextel Cup champion. Wallace and his wife and three kids have spent a lot of time traveling on the open road and have learned the do's and don'ts of road trips. The stress and frustration that can come along with highway traveling can be easily alleviated with some planning, creativity and preparation. Americans are expected to take more than 328 million leisure trips this spring and summer (according to the Travel Industry Association); here are a few tips and tricks from the king of road trips to make those getaways fun for the entire family:
• Safety check. "Before the race cars hit the track, the most important thing is to make sure they are in top-notch running condition," Wallace said. "The same thing goes for my family cars." Wallace advises taking your car in for a tune-up before heading out on the road so that you can reach the checkered flags safely.
• Planning your trip. Surprises and unfulfilled expectations can lead to frustrations, but planning ahead can help everyone know what to expect along the way. Wallace recommends using trip-planning software such as Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator to help your family plan the perfect road trip. A reassuring voice along with accurate and simple mapping information will guide you to your destination. It also has easy-to-use tools that allow you to plan a personalized road trip from beginning to end.
• Speed bumps. Even if you plan all the details of your road trip, there are still bound to be some unexpected speed bumps along the way, such as road construction and traffic congestion. But don't let that ruin the fun. Streets & Trips can route you around the delay and get you back on track in no time.
• Pit stops. "On the track, we get in and out of pit stops as fast as we can, but when I'm with my family, we make pit stops fun," Wallace said. Make your pit stops enjoyable for everyone and long enough to allow a break from the road. If one of your road trips ever takes you to Rusty Wallace's home state of North Carolina, he recommends visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Get creative. The next time your family plans on hitting the road, try planning a themed adventure. Wallace suggests taking a trip across the country to visit all the NASCAR races, but if that doesn't suit your family's interests, Streets & Trips can help you customize a trip that will be fun for everyone.
More information about Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator is available at http://www.microsoft.com/streets.