Planes are a thing of the past. Most people that go on vacations now plan to hit the highway instead. But anyone who has ever gone on a road trip is sure to tell you to prepare the right items, in order to ensure a highly enjoyable and truly entertaining vacation. Maps and snacks just aren't enough anymore for trips on the road. The following tech gear is a must to liven up any road trip:

Since radio tuners can oftentimes be a pain with the static often occurs when moving from one city to another, a satellite radio is your best bet to enjoy ultra-clear music without commercials wherever you go. SIRIUS satellite radio is a great choice as it offers more than a hundred channels of music, sports and other kinds of received to keep you entertained throughout your car ride.

If you wish to choose your own music and play your favorite tunes while on the rod, opt for iPod accessories. The Digital Lifestyle Outfitters TransPod allows you to play your iPod through the car stereo while keeping its battery charged all throughout the trip. The JBL on Tour Portable Speaker will even allow you take your music to any destination along the way, such as the beach or your hotel room. Make sure to avail of accurian skins and cases, as well, so your iPod is kept free from scratches wherever you go.

It is essential to make memories during your trip, but it's even better to document these memories with a good digital camera. A digital photography bundle in the form of the Kodak C340 comes with everything you might need in that department: both on-the-spot pictures and photo printing, so you can share you snaps with others. The camera is very simple to use and can be easily connected to its printer; you can even create fun photo postcards to send! The sleek Casio EXZ60 is great, if you're looking for a whole lot of power in a very slim package. Not only does it offer a high 6.0 MP resolution, but it also comes with an anti-shake feature and will fit snugly into your pocket.

You can even watch movies on the road nowadays with portable DVD Players. Radio Shack has a wide variety to choose from, such as the all-in-one portable TV/DVD player/radio/alarm, which is simply perfect for any road trip. This player comes with a 7" wide LCD screen for optimum and clear viewing of your favorite movies and TV shows. The alarm is a great backup, in case you oversleep on the first wake-up call.

What usually ruins a road trip more than an unfamiliar city is getting lost therein. Bring a portable navigation device, like the Magellan RoadMate 760 Portable GPS Receiver to help you through the tough directions. It comes with a 3-D visual indicator, as well as voice prompting and a SmartDetour feature that can assist you in finding other routes to avoid traffic practically anywhere in the United States of America, Hawaii, Canada, and Puerto Rico.