Take a Hike: Tips for Hitting the Trail

Taking a nice hike is a great way to exercise and reconnect with nature. Before you go, it's important to know these helpful tips:

1. Tell someone the details of your trip: where you're going, who with, how long, etc.

2. Map out the trail so you know where you're going and how to get back.

3. Check the weather and bring appropriate clothing. Wear brightly-colored clothing so you can easily be spotted.

4. Keep a compass and a first-aid kit.

5. If you get lost, stay calm and find open and high ground.

Make the Most of Family Fun Month

With only few weeks left of summer, spend some quality time with family. After all, August is Family Fun Month.

Use this checklist of inexpensive family-friendly activities to get the most out of summer:

Have a picnic in the park. Bring a Frisbee and all your favorite snacks to spend an afternoon outdoors.

Get sporty. Try a new sport like croquet, or stick with a family favorite like baseball.

Read together. Take a trip to the library and pick out a few new books to read. This is a great way to learn more about everyone’s interests.

Camp at home. Get out your sleeping bags and s’more supplies to turn your backyard into the great outdoors.

Hold a family bake-off. Have everyone make their favorite entrée or side dish and feast like kings.

Back to School Made Easy

Photo Credit: Lel4nd

With a new school year just around the corner, we're sure you've stocked up on all the essentials: backpack, lunch box, writing supplies, new clothes, etc. But what about everything in between to make life a little easier? Here are some tips to keep each week running smoothly:

To break in new shoes, have your child put on a pair of thick socks (or double up on normal socks) and then put on the shoes. Use a blow dryer to relax the tight areas of the shoes for a couple of minutes, then let them cool. Continue this process until your child's feet are comfortable.

Need to quickly iron a hem? No need to lug out the ironing board and wait for the iron to prep. Just use a hair straightener for a quick and effective fix.

Use clear nail polish to seal threat on buttons to keep them from falling off. 

Rubbing beeswax on canvas shoes can prevent water damage. 

Make an ice pack by saturating a sponge, zipping it in a sandwich bag and freezing it. It will freeze well, and when the ice melts, the water will stay soaked in the sponge to prevent spills.

Of course, make sure your Subaru is ready to handle your carpooling responsibilities. Make an appointment with our Service Department today!

2014 Subaru BRZ wins the Top Safety Pick award

For its acceptable performance in a small overlap crash and good ratings for other crash tests, the 2014 Subaru won the 2014 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). With the BRZ’s win, Subaru has earned a total of seven top safety picks from IIHS, making Subaru the brand with more top safety picks than any other. Subaru’s commitment to safety and comfort redefines what a sports car should be: a practical high-performance vehicle.

Hitting the Open Road: What NOT to Do

 Taking a road trip is a great way to celebrate summer and see new places. Here's what you should not do if you want to have a great trip:

Get a speeding ticket. It's more important to get to your destination safely than quickly. Besides, half the fun is getting there, isn't it?

Be on your iPad. Keeping your mobile devices in play may keep you and your loved ones entertained, but it prevents valuable bonding time and opportunities to make memorable moments together.

Be a music snob. You're not going to love every song someone wants to listen to, just as not everyone in the car will love what you want to blast through the speakers. Taking turns listening to everyone's favorite tunes is the best way to keep everyone happy.

Overeat. It's easy to go for the super-size meal so you can snack on leftovers to hold you over until the next stop, but those calories can really add up.

Drink too much caffeine. Staving off sleep can be dangerous. If you're tired, switch drivers or spring for a motel. 

Summer Playlist Hits

Whether the cool summer air blowing through your car or the ice-cold A/C is blasting, you need some good summer hits to help you along the way. Check out a list of our timeless favorites. Do any of them play in your car?

1. "Surfin' Safari" by the Beach Boys

2. "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama 

3. "School's Out" by Alice Cooper

4. "Summer" by Calvin Harris

5. "Under the Boardwalk" by the Drifters

Stay Safe While Driving in the Rain!

With summer showers upon us, it's very important to remember the basics (and not so basics) while driving. Don't let a storm ruin your travel plans. Be prepared and let the adventure continue! 

1) First and foremost: slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather.

2)  Don't follow large trucks too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

3) Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times! Keep all distractions, such as cell phones or even the radio, off and away from you.

4) Allow for more travel time. You should plan to drive at a slower pace than normal when the roads are wet. 

5) Turn on your headlights – even in light rain – to help you see, and be seen.

 

Turn off cruise control. Ironically, on rain- or snow-slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. - See more at: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/auto/safety/5-tips-for-driving-safely-in-the-rain/#sthash.nmhjvbhj.dpuf

Turn off cruise control. Ironically, on rain- or snow-slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. - See more at: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/auto/safety/5-tips-for-driving-safely-in-the-rain/#sthash.nmhjvbhj.dpuf

Turn off cruise control. Ironically, on rain- or snow-slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. - See more at: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/auto/safety/5-tips-for-driving-safely-in-the-rain/#sthash.nmhjvbhj.dpuf

Turn off cruise control. Ironically, on rain- or snow-slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. - See more at: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/auto/safety/5-tips-for-driving-safely-in-the-rain/#sthash.nmhjvbhj.dpuf

Turn off cruise control. Ironically, on rain- or snow-slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. - See more at: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/auto/safety/5-tips-for-driving-safely-in-the-rain/#sthash.nmhjvbhj.dpuf

Turn off cruise control. Ironically, on rain- or snow-slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. - See more at: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/auto/safety/5-tips-for-driving-safely-in-the-rain/#sthash.nmhjvbhj.dpuf