Depending on where you live in the United States, spring is here! Yes, the calendar says it arrived on March 21st, but if you ask a local Minnesotan if they are enjoying their spring, they are likely to throw a snowball at you made from the back yard.

So spring is here and its time to clean out the closets and garages. Dust off the patio furniture and check the sunscreen expiration date in the cupboard. Summer will be with us before we know it, which means the time is now to prepare for outdoor adventures and summer travel.

Let’s take a refresher on safe practices when it comes to summer travel. Sunscreen is a no-brainer…but I’m talking about security this time.

As you are going through files and paperwork, create a list of emergency contact information for when you are on the road. This should be a list of people that emergency personnel can contact should something happen to you.

Prepare your travel documents. Make sure everything is current, like your insurance card. And, make photocopies of everything (passport, driver’s license, credit cards, health insurance card) in the event you lose your purse or it is stolen.

Consider travel insurance. Some seasoned travels believe that travel insurance is just a scam, but you can make that decision yourself. Do your research. And lastly, check the laws about entering another country if you are traveling outside of yours. Even if you know them, something might have changed since your last adventure.

Happy trails!