With the weather warming up on the Gulf Coast, why not greet spring on a romantic road trip http://www.roadtripamerica.com/? Just picture it, the car windows are rolled down, the smell of new growth wafts through the air and the CD’s (okay maybe an iPod) is blasting 60’s music as you cruise down the road.

Wait! Don’t start the car engine quite yet. A few preparations go a long way in making your road trip trouble-free. After all, hassling with car issues doesn’t lead to romance. Before leaving home, be sure that you:

• Bring road maps as a backup to GPS units
• Pre-flight the car by checking tire pressures, fluids and belts
• Pack a tire gauge and jumper cables
• Include a cooler for bottles of water or soft drinks
• Bring high energy snacks, such as nuts, for those long driving times between meals
• Research online for unique lodging http://www.selectregistry.com/ such as inns, bed and breakfasts or boutique hotels
• Bring your own music (CD’s or iPod)
• Keep your camera at the ready for impromptu photo stops
• For longer trips, pack a very small bag for nightly stops. Every couple of days, change out clothes from a larger suitcase

How do you find that scenic drive? Start online at America’s Byways http://www.byways.org/.  The comprehensive site catalogs all of the designated Scenic Byways in the U.S., including detailed descriptions, maps and directions plus activity and lodging suggestions.

For Gulf Coast road-trippers, the Natchez Trace Parkway meanders through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, from Nashville to Natchez. But you don’t have to drive the entire road. Map out a section, choose your southern inn or bed and breakfast and start the slow drive to a romantic weekend.

Donna L. Hull is a freelance writer specializing in travel and human interest content for online and print publications. At My Itchy Travel Feet, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Travel, she encourages boomers to get up off the couch and go.