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

Checked Your Tires Lately?

Summer is just around the corner, and it's time to get your car prepared for the heat of the next few months. The first place to start is your tires. Did you know that only 1 out of ever 10 drivers regularly check their tire pressure? This is important to do as tire pressure changes one to two PSI for every 10-degree increase in outside air temperature. Be sure to check your owner's manual to maintain proper inflation, because the only thing worse than having to stop and change a blown-out tire is having to do so in the heat. While you're at it, it's probably also a good idea to check your tire's tread, as well as alignment, as this can affect stop time and gas mileage. Be sure you've got a properly inflated spare in your trunk as well!

Stay tuned for future summer car maintenance tips!

How to Get a Successful Driver’s License Photo

Once you are old enough to get your driver’s license photo taken, the preparation is essential. Take a look at these tips to take your best photo ever! 

Mr. Bean didn't follow Rule #6

1.  Do not wear white, it tends to make people look sickly under the lighting at the DMV.
2. Avoid wearing t- shirts with slogans, plain shirts with soft colors such as blue, green and pink tend to be the best.
3. If you are getting your photo taken during allergy season or if you have a cold, use eye drops and make sure your eyes wide open.
4. Keep your hair neat and normal, today is not the day to try out a fancy hair do or new hair color.
5. Ladies, know how to wear your makeup. Too much eye shadow tends to make your eyes disappear and too little makes you look like a zombie. Practice makes perfect!
6. Like we said before, practice makes perfect! It may seem silly to practice smiling in the mirror but it can only benefit you in the end.
7. Be on time for your appointment and stay patient. DMV’s are notoriously slow but the wait will be worth a great picture!

A guide to the gas pump

Ever drive up to the gas pump and see all kinds of names of on the pumps and not know the difference? Here is the beginners guide to the most popular ways to power your car.

Gasoline- Gasoline is the most common automobile fuel and is used all over the world to power cars, motorcycles, scooters, boats, lawnmowers, and other machinery. Most vehicles function just fine on the lowest and cheapest gasoline option. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see which grade is recommended for your car.

Diesel- A resurgence of diesel powered vehicles has taken place in the past few years because of the rising price of all fuels, including gasoline and diesel. Diesel powered cars typically get better gas mileage than gasoline powered vehicles and some drivers feel that they get a better value for their money even if diesel is more expensive.

Biodiesel- Diesel fuel that is created using vegetable oils or animal fats is called biodiesel. Some inventive drivers have found ways to recycle used cooking oils into biodiesel that powers altered car engines.