Spending the last four months under quarantine in Mexico, where the only scenery I saw outside the four walls of my apartment was the seven-minute drive to my local Walmart, has been daunting. Yes, yes, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so I’m not complaining, but I’d be lying if I said taking a trip home to Atlanta, for visa purposes, didn’t make me super excited! I was going to make the most out of every minute of it, in the safest way possible.

So, I teamed up with the amazing folks over at Mazda, to highlight how to have a fun summer “safecation” road trip. If you’ve been following along on my journey, you know I’ve tested out some pretty awesome vehicles of theirs, like the super fun Miata. This time I hit the road in the Mazda CX-30 and it did not disappoint! This subcompact crossover was the perfect size for me – small enough to drive with ease, yet spacious enough to not feel cramped. And that trunk space? Love it! It fit my big bulky luggage with space to spare.

This is the summer for the road trip

After polling you guys on Instagram about your summer travel plans, many of you indicated you are more comfortable with taking shorter, domestic road trips versus flying, due to the current nature of the world. I’m here for it! I love a good road trip and with all that’s going on with COVID, it’s an excellent way to still spend time with loved ones while still maintaining safe distances from crowds.

For instance, I took this mini road trip to check out this super cool Laotian temple on the outskirts of Atlanta. I mean, seriously, how cool is this?! Right outside my own city! Also, did you know, the state of Georgia is home to more than 5,000 Laotians? It was so incredible to get a taste of Southeast Asia, without having to leave too far out of my city.

So, whether you are driving near or far, here are a few other tips on how to have a fun summer road trip safecation:

Choose your destination…or don’t

As I mentioned before, I’ve spent the last four months quarantining in Mexico – no car, no just getting up and go, no random road trip explorations. So, I took this time in Atlanta to do all of the above. Often times I’d just get in the car and drive. Drive through the city, drive through the countryside, just….drive. That, in itself, brought a sense of joy.

That’s the beauty of road trips – you don’t necessarily have to have a destination in mind. You can just get in the car and drive – hop off on an exit here, turn left there and see where you end up. And if you get too turned around, you can always use GPS to get you back on track. The Mazda CX-30 built-in GPS system definitely came in handy for me a time or three.

Up Your Sanitation Standards

I’ve always been a stickler about sanitation. I keep sanitizer in my purse, in my home, even on my car door to use after pumping gas. But, in the light of COVID, I’ve definitely upped my methods a bit and have become even more cognizant about keeping things as clean as possible. I’d recommend putting together a little pandemic first-aid kit so that you’re always prepared; including, extra masks, disposable gloves to use while pumping gas, hand sanitizer, even a thermometer to periodically check your own temperature. Another road trip essential I suggest during coronavirus are sanitation wipes to wipe down keys, door handles, the steering wheel and other interiors that you touch. Often times, we don’t pay attention to all the things we touch; like who thinks to sanitize the gear shift, but why wouldn’t you? You’ve likely touched a million other things then touched the gear shift, so germy germs are just everywhere!

Do your research

If you are taking a longer road trip to a specific destination, before embarking on your safecation, you definitely want to do your research. Some states and locations may have travel restrictions in place, so you want to research this before going. Some may require a 14-day quarantine or recent COVID test, so plan and research accordingly.

Minimize Your Contact

Making your trip a summer safecation means, minimizing your contact with others. This means, making only necessary stops, avoiding crowds and things of the sort. Consider packing your own snacks to take along with you, which will cut down on food stops. With up to 45.2 cu ft of cargo space and lots of cupholders in the Mazda CX-30, you won’t find it hard to load up with snacks. Also, with getting 33 highway miles per gallon, you won’t have to make too many stops to fill’r up.

Do Your Part

We can’t control what other people do or don’t do. That’s a fact. However, we can control what we do and we can do our part to the best of our abilities. Wearing masks, social distancing, paying attention to our bodies, getting tested, these are all things we can and should control, whether enjoying a safecation or not. Do your part.

What Else I loved about the Mazda CX-30

• You can remotely start the vehicle or lock and unlock its doors, through the MyMazda app on your mobile device. So cool!
• You have the world at your fingertips with Apple CarPlay™ or Android Auto™ integration
• I LOVE the windshield-projected display, that allows you to quickly access information (like the current speed limit and the speed limit you are driving) without ever averting your eyes from the road
• The Rear Power Liftgate is also a favorite. Being able to open and automatically close the trunk with just one push of a button – CLUTCH!

Have you taken or do you plan on taking any road trips this summer? If so, where to? I’d love to hear about your journey in the comments below!

Special thanks to Mazda for letting me test out the CX-30 for the week. All opinions are my own.