It’s summer, and despite the ridiculously high price of gasoline, nothing is going to stop those diehard vacation junkies from getting into their station wagon or SUV and taking the family on the road. Just like Chevy Chase’s character, Clark Griswold, in National Lampoon’s Vacation, nothing was going to stop this gun-hoe guy from taking his family cross country for the summer! Believe it or not, the Gorilla is not much different than Clark! The Gorilla just loves to get the family together for a great road trip! But the Gorilla, much like Clark, is…well… directionally challenged, shall we say. Yes, there have been many “roadblocks” during these road trips that, at times, were frustrating to the Gorilla’s family, but yet, the Gorilla, like many men, always refused to just pull over and ask for directions. (Yes, folks, it’s not a myth!) However, after the last very frustrating trip, (that took a 2 hour “detour”) the Gorilla got wise and purchased one of those hand-held navigation devices (a GPS), and miraculously, life got a whole lot easier on the road! Incidentally, the Gorilla does in fact, have his own in-car navigation system, but the thing is so complicated and not very user friendly, not to mention, it is not portable. The new portable GPS’s can fit right into your pocket or your spouse’s purse, and if you are pulled over at the rest stop and want to know where the nearest hotels are right then, you can find out right then! It’s all in the palm of your hand, literally. GPS units cost between $200 and $500, but can run close to $1,000 for the fully-loaded and newer models. Two of the more popular GPS units are, TomTom, which runs about $500, and Garmin, which is what the Gorilla just purchased for only around $200. There are currently about nine different portable Navigation GPS units to choose from, so do your research and take your pick. But guys (and gals- but especially guys), do yourself and your family a favor…give it up and get smart. After all, why put yourself through all of that undue stress when you don’t have to? Getting great guidance isn’t the only thing drivers need to be concerned about on those long arduous and sometimes weary road trips. Staying awake is the primary concern for people taking those long trips and it should most certainly be. Another great travel product the Gorilla discovered is the Drive Alert Master. It is a device which is worn behind the ear (much like a blue-tooth head-set) and cleverly sounds an alarm the second a driver starts to nod off. The great thing is, safety doesn’t have to cost a lot! The device only costs around $24. Or you could use the cheaper alternative at only around $12, the Nap-Zapper, which is worn the same way. Both devices also emit a loud sound if the driver’s head dips below a certain angle. These devices are simply genius and a must-have for weary travelers. So the lesson learned here: Don’t drive stupid! Drive smart, and go out and purchase these very handy and helpful tools for travel this summer.