She smiled at me with an eager, it's not-so-bad look on her face. "It's only two hundred miles, and it's not like the suitcase is heavy. I know, I know, it's hot, so I'll roll the window down for you. Just put it on your lap… there you go, now here's the pillow, I'll just stick that on top of the suitcase…okay, hand me your seatbelt and I'll strap you in."

At that moment, I became the first person to ever wish to be dropped off at the local bus depot. And I was the lucky one: our friends (prior to getting into the car) were in the back seat, buried under mounds of bags and blankets. The sound of muffled cries told me that they had not yet passed out. I began to sob when she asked if we could stop off and buy some groceries, and a fishing license.

Packing. Do it right and enjoy your trip, do it wrong and you may as well take the bus. Here are some tips to help you organize, pack and plan your road vacation.

1. Write out a vacation checklist: Don't pack at the last minute --- plan a week ahead of time. This will help limit the things you bring, and save money while you're on the road. The old adage is true: you will forget one thing. By planning a list, you can keep it to one thing. Organize your list by room or category: bathroom, closet, and personal. Once the list is created, go through and try to eliminate a third of the items. Example: If you're going for a week, do you really need 18 shoes? If you're going camping, do you need slacks and dress shoes?

2. How to pack: Pack your bags tightly and lightly. Excess room creates wrinkles and increases the chance for breakage. And avoid 200 lb. bags. Dad hasn't seen a weight room in 20 years, and your vacation is no time for him to start working on his 'pecs. Most of all, be organized about your packing. By keeping like items together, you can limit access to only the bags you need.

3. What to pack: Check out the weather reports for where you are and where you'll be. Choose clothes accordingly, but also be prepared for weather mishaps --- if you're going to Washington State, for example, it's not a bad idea to bring along one or two rainy weather items. And keep your planned activities in mind while you pack: if you're camping, bring extra run-about shoes, and don't forget the insect repellent! If you plan to go to Las Vegas, sneak in a nice outfit --- you may just win big, or decide to go out to a fancy restaurant.

Keep your most comfortable clothes aside, and wear them when you're on the road. Itchy shirts and tight shoes make for long trips.

4. On your Person: Not everything gets packed. On a road trip, however, the more you pack the better off you'll be, especially on long drives. Clutter makes for crankiness, and it's very dangerous---in an accident, loose items inside a car continue to move, even though the car has stopped. This can cause significant injury. What has to be with you can be stowed inside your car's interior storage space.

5. Get it in the Trunk: Whether you drive an SUV or a compact, careful placement is a necessity. Remember, you have to unpack as many times as you pack! Before you start loading up the car, take a look at your trunk: how is it configured? Where is the largest area of space? Start big and work down to small, lightweight objects. If your bags won't fit, don't force it --- see if you can combine suitcases, or leave something behind. If possible, strap down your cases. During an accident, what's in the trunk becomes a very heavy and dangerous projectile. In most cases, you and your passengers are protected by a removable partition --- not something that will hold back 200 lbs. of suitcase fury! Wherever you're headed this summer, don't get stuck with a suitcase on your lap or a bus ticket in your hand. Plan and pack wisely --- your vacation will be much more enjoyable if you've brought the Right Stuff.