The Best 5 Road Trips in the USA!

We wanted to present to you some ideas for a great road trip!

1. The Pacific Coast Highway:
 

1,700 miles along the Pacific Coast from southern California to Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The scenery is breathtaking with stops that include Hearst Castle, Big Sur, San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Olympic National Park. Open the windows and enjoy the fresh air as you drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and watch giant container ships glide underneath. 

 2. Florida State Highway A1A and the Overseas Highway:

 

This 600-mile trip traces Florida's Atlantic coastline from northeast of Jacksonville to Key West. Interesting stops along the way include St. Augustine, the oldest town in the U.S. (sort of); Daytona Beach, where you can drive on the beach; Canaveral National Seashore; and the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Highway A1A meets U.S. Highway 1 in Miami. Thus begins the scenic 127-mile drive on the Overseas Highway that boasts 42 bridges, including famed Seven Mile Bridge.

3. Newfound Gap Road/Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive:
 

This seamless, leisurely drive through three national parks offers some of the East Coast's most scenic landscapes. Newfound Gap Road (32 miles long) cuts across Great Smoky Mountain National Park and connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway (469 miles), which connects with Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive (105 miles). This wonderful drive is void of billboards, traffic lights, roadside trash, and speeding 18-wheelers.

4. U.S. Highway 2: 

The northernmost U.S. highway zigzags through mountain ranges, traverses the northern Great Plains, and swings around lakes as it connects Everett, Wash., with Houlton, Maine. The entire route, including a 700-mile stretch in Canada, covers 3,300 miles. In the West it crosses the North Cascades and the Rocky Mountains. In the East it meets the Green and White mountain ranges. In between it passes through small towns with local museums and inviting coffee shops. 

5. U.S. Highway 395: 

Connecting southern California with the Canadian border, this 1,300-mile drive traverses high deserts and mountain valleys through a large portion of the scenic West. The highway runs in a north-south direction through some of the most beautiful, but uncrowded sections of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The best portion is arguably California's Owens Valley, which bisects two major mountain ranges.  

Courtesy of USA Today: http://usat.ly/1l5LsuP

Three Romantic Desserts for Valentine's Day!

We thought we would give you a few ideas for a tasty Valentine's Day dessert. Let us know if you enjoyed these ideas and if you have any of your own post them!

1. Chocolate Melting Cakes: Top off these warm, melt-in-your mouth cakes with a swirl of caramel sauce and a scoop of ice cream.

2.  Chocolate Pecan Tart: Crunchy toasted pecans sprinkled on top contrast nicely with the smooth, fudge-like filling.

3. Raspberry S'mores: A childhood favorite gets an unexpectedly adult twist with the addition of fresh raspberries.

Courtesy of Realsimple.com

The recipes to these treats and more can be seen by following this link: http://bit.ly/1nunAhg

2014 Jeep® Patriot and 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Receive 5-Year Cost to Own Award from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com!

February 5, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com has named the 2014 Jeep® Patriot and the 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan winners of its 5-Year Cost to Own Award.

For a second consecutive year, the Jeep Patriot has the lowest 5-Year Cost to Own in the compact SUV/crossover category, while the Dodge Grand Caravan has the lowest 5-Year Cost to Own in the minivan/van segment.

“Chrysler Group is honored that Kelley Blue Book has named the 2014 Jeep Patriot and 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan winners of its 5-Year Cost to Own Awards,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales, Chrysler Group LLC. “These awards recognize our commitment to producing quality and reliable vehicles that customers love, while providing great value throughout the ownership experience.”

The 5-Year Cost to Own Awards honors the vehicles and brands with the lowest projected ownership costs, based on Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period.  Kelley Blue Book calculates total ownership costs for new vehicles by applying a sophisticated valuation methodology along with critical financial data from third-party providers.

Jeep Patriot
The 2014 Jeep Patriot offers consumers segment-leading 4x4 capability and excellent fuel efficiency along with rugged exterior styling and clever interior features, all at an exceptional value.

With improved on-road performance compliments of a new-for-2014 six-speed automatic transmission, unmatched Jeep capability in all weather conditions, fuel economy up to 30 miles per gallon (mpg), more than 30 safety and security features and a starting U.S. Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $15,995, the 2014 Jeep Patriot is the best priced SUV in America.        
The 2014 Patriot is unmistakably a Jeep, designed to appeal to compact-SUV buyers who want traditional Jeep styling with best-in-class off-road capability at an affordable price.

Courtesy of Chrysler Newsroom: http://bit.ly/1e6Wlnt

5 Signs You Need Your Brakes Checked

Here are 5 ways to know that it is time to get your brakes checked or replaced!

1) Worn Pads: You'll have to estimate, but generally, your pads should be at least one-quarter of an inch thick. If they're any thinner than that, it's a good idea to get them changed.

2) Strange Sounds: One of the warning signs that your brakes need servicing can come from a small indicator in your braking system that emits a high-pitched squeal when your pads need replacing. And, while this sound is loud enough to be heard even when the windows are up, it might be tough to hear with Lady Gaga blaring from the stereo.

3) Pulling: Has your car ever felt like it has a mind of its own? As if it wants to make right- or left-hand turns while driving or braking? If so, this could indicate a problem with the braking system. Pulling, however, doesn't always indicate a problem with the brakes. The cause could also come from unevenly inflated or worn tires, poor alignment or a problem with your vehicle's suspension.

4) Vibrations: Generally, a vibrating brake pedal indicates warped rotors. Their uneven surfaces will thrum against the brake pads, and you'll feel the feedback through the brake pedal.

5) Temperamental Pedal: A mushy pedal, one that goes practically to the floor before engaging the brakes, could indicate worn pads or a problem with the hydraulic system, such as air in the line, an air leak or a brake fluid leak.

Courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com: http://bit.ly/1fEBTxd

Top 5 Audio Books!

Here is a list of our Top 5 audio books:

1. Imperial Life in the Emerald City

2. The Goldfinch

3. Sycamore Row

4. Lone Survivor

5. Divergent

There are tons of audio books out today, start with these and then check out some on your own! 

Three Easy Tips and Tricks to Maintain a Cleaner Vehicle

It's National Get Organized Month, and we wanted to show you a few ways to keep a clean car!

1. Use a cereal container for a trash can!

2. Use a shower organizer to keep a multitude of items in a safe spot, great for kids!

3. Use a water bottle to make your pizza box safe from potential disaster! Also, you can use your seat warmers to keep any hot meal good-and-ready.  

7 Common Reasons for an Oil Change!

Listed are seven reasons to get an oil change regularly!

1. Longevity - If you want to make sure your vehicle lasts for the long-run, an oil change is something you want to get done regularly!

2. Sludge - Your car parts can be ruined due to dirty cogs and then the engine can build up acidity which can cause further damage.

3. Stress - If you are going up steep terrain or going on a long trip your engine needs as much possible power as you can get.

4. Change - Get your oil changed about every 3,000 miles, especially in a moderate or dusty climate.

5. Driving habits - If you are an aggressive driver, typically you should look to change your oil more often because of driving style. If you are in traffic often, check your oil level.

6. Add more - While driving you constantly burn oil, so make sure that you change it out because sludge and other debris can cause expensive damages. 

7. Friction - Oil reduces friction, so if you hear your engine making noises when you start your vehicle, it is typically due to dirty or low oil in the tank.

 Courtesy of: Star Tech European http://bit.ly/1lFKrFA