4 Best Toyotas for Water Enthusiasts
Whether you prefer the lake or the ocean, you’ll need just the right vehicle to get you there. Toyota offers a wide range of vehicle with features that you can use to get yourself, your passengers, and all your gear to the water. Here are some of the best Toyotas for water enthusiasts.
The Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 compact SUV is a great choice for almost any adventure. You can choose either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive to get you up over the back roads to the lake or cruise along the coastal highway to the beach. There is plenty of cargo space in the 2017 RAV4 as well — 38.4 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 73.4 cubic feet when you lay the rear seats flat. This space gives you plenty of room to load up your beach chairs and beach toys for the kids for a day of fun in the sun.
6 Beautiful Hiking Spots in Chesapeake
Nature lovers, take note! Chesapeake and the surrounding area are home to top-quality nature trails that offer year-round outdoor entertainment. Featuring elevated scenic overlooks and endless acres of forests, wetlands, and wilderness, you will experience something unique along each and every trail. Plus, many of these trails also feature picnic areas, playgrounds, volleyball nets, and more. Below we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite trails! Read on to discover your next adventure.
Deep Creek Lock Park
Named after the Corps of Engineers’ lock that separates the salt water of Deep Creek and the fresh water of Dismal Swamp Canal, this park encompasses 25-acres of history. Here you can walk along the pedestrian bridge and elevated walkway, hike through the woods, canoe, and play volleyball. Once you’re done being active, you can grill some hotdogs and burgers and enjoy a nice picnic in the designated area.
What to Do if You Get in a Car Accident
It’s never something you really expect to happen, but there are millions of reported car accidents in the United States every year. In almost every case, the driver didn’t expect anything to happen then, either. So even if you don’t think the following information about how to handle an accident will come in handy, it can pay to remember it anyway.
1. Stay Calm
Take a deep breath and don’t rush yourself. You may need to act quickly before and during an accident, but once things stop moving, stay calm and think things through.
3 Reasons to Make the 2017 Prius Your Next Vehicle
Since 2000, the Toyota Prius has been the benchmark for hybrid engineering in the United States. It’s continued its run for the past 16 years as the highest-selling hybrid of all time, and 2017 looks bright. The car doesn’t get a huge overhaul or makeover this year, but it does gain a few extra features coupled with the efficiency you’ve come to know and love. If you’re wanting to upgrade to the latest model or looking to become more eco-friendly in your travels, look no further than the 2017 Toyota Prius.
1. The Efficient Engine
For most people, the hyper-efficient engine is the No. 1 reason to buy the Prius. This year’s engine is an upgraded version of the prior year, offering the best fuel economy yet. Under the hood, the Prius sports an Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter engine paired with a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor to power the front axle. Together, this powertrain provides 121 horsepower and up to 105 pound-feet of torque. It goes from zero to 60 in 10.5 seconds, while topping out at an impressive 115 mph.
Fuel economy is better than ever in the 2017 Prius, with the base model offering 54 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. If you want even better mileage, opt for the Eco trim, which provides you with a whopping 58 mpg in the city.
How to Prep Your Car for Winter
With summer long gone and fall rapidly fading into the rear view, winter is looming in the distance. That means it’s time to prep your car for the added stress of winter weather and driving. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t fret. Here are some simple tips to get your car prepped for the coming season.
Check the Coolant
In summer, fall, and spring, you can get away with putting water in your radiator to save money, but when winter comes, it presents a potentially disastrous problem. When temperatures plummet below freezing, this water can freeze, causing damage to your radiator and engine, as well as causing the components to overheat. To keep your engine from freezing, consider a coolant flush. This removes the sediment that’s built up in the coolant. Also consider adding new antifreeze to keep your car running smoothly all winter long.
4 Places to Watch Some Football in Chesapeake
Although Virginia doesn’t have a professional football team of its own, it does have two major college programs and the nearby Washington Redskins. No matter your favorite team, Chesapeake, Virginia, has some awesome places to catch all the action. The next time you’re looking to track your fantasy football team or watch the big game, check out a few of these great Chesapeake hot spots.
1. Wild Wing Cafe
To some football enthusiasts, going to a chain sports bar is a blasphemous venture. However, they probably haven’t been to the Wild Wing Cafe. This restaurant has 30 locations throughout the Southeast, and the Chesapeake location offers delicious food, drink specials, and plenty of televisions with all the games you want. As you might have guessed, the name of the game here is wings, which come in a variety of flavors ranging from mild to frighteningly hot. Regardless of what you choose, you can probably get out of here for under $25. You can find the Wild Wing Cafe at 1437 Sam’s Drive.
How to Keep Your Sanity If Your Car Gets Stolen
According to recent statistics, the FBI estimates that a car gets stolen once every 44 seconds in the United States. Hopefully, this never happens to you, but if it does, try to stay calm. If your car gets stolen, here are some easy-to-follow tips to help you keep your sanity and maybe even get your car back in one piece.
Remember Where You Left It
One of the worst things you can do is stress out if you can’t find your car. For example, parking garages contain several levels, so there’s a chance that you just forgot where you parked. After a long night out, it can be difficult to remember just where you parked. Fortunately, several smartphone apps can come to the rescue. Apps such as iFind My Car and Augmented Car Finder locate your vehicle and are available on both iOS and Android operating systems. You might also want to search the area to see if there’s a no parking sign. If so, you might have been towed, which, although annoying, is far less stressful than a stolen vehicle.
4 Best Places to Grab a Bite to Eat in Norfolk
The Hampton Roads area might be one of the best places in the world to get seafood, but that’s not all you’ll find to eat at the many restaurants in Norfolk, Virginia and beyond. Here are just a few of the best restaurants to check out if you live in the area or even if you’re just visiting.
Freemason Abbey Restaurant
Sitting near the Elizabeth River waterfront at the corner of Freemason and Boush, Freemason Abbey Restaurant is exactly what the name claims: it’s an old church which is now a fashionable and very popular restaurant. The menu is just what you’d expect from an American coastal town: salmon, lobster tail, crab cakes, steak, and plenty of pasta meals. You can also find a very reasonable list of vegetarian meals, including a fried green tomato sandwich, but the house specialty is the She Crab Soup.
4 Ways to Monitor Your Teen’s Driving
As a parent, there’s nothing like getting to see your child grow up before your very eyes. This time comes with its ups and downs and its triumphs and follies, but nothing’s as scary as seeing your teen get behind the wheel on his or her own for the first time. Even if you’ve taught your teen everything you know, there’s still no substitute for experience. Use these tips to monitor your teen as he or she enjoys a new-found freedom.
1. Old-School Tips
If you’re worried that your adventurous teen is driving around more than you’d like, there are old-school ways to prevent any shenanigans. The easiest way is to check the odometer before your teen leaves home and check it again when he or she returns. This gives you a general idea if your teenager is heading out on excursions you don’t know about. You should also check the car for any remnants such as food wrappers, as you probably don’t want your teen scarfing down fast food while driving 80 mph on the interstate. You shouldn’t be overbearing or nosy, but these little steps go a long way to preserving responsibility and trust.
4 Amazing Ski Fields to Hit Near Chesapeake
The western part of Virginia is flanked by the Allegheny Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains, making skiing and snowboarding obvious winter pastimes. If you live near Chesapeake, most of these ski fields are within a short drive. The next time you feel the urge to hit the slopes, don’t miss out on these amazing ski resorts and all they have to offer.
1. Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Located 300 miles from Chesapeake, Snowshoe Mountain Resort is an excellent choice for a weekend or week long trip. Several nearby towns offer a variety of accommodation options, ranging from budget to extravagant. There’s also an on-site hotel that provides you with top-notch amenities. When you’re ready to hit the mountain, all you have to do is strap on your skis and let gravity do the rest. If you’re looking for a challenge, Snowshoe Mountain has five extreme terrain parks, as well as some of the best downhill skiing in the state. Beginners will love the bunny hills, and ski lessons are always a great option to get you started. Lift passes start at $38 on weekdays.
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