Hazardous winter road conditions and the constantly changing midwest winter weather can be nerve-wracking to commute in. Keeping your car prepared for whatever comes your way this winter, will help keep you safe. Here at Cable Dahmer Buick GMC of Independence, we thought of 5 car care tips and essentials to keep in your that will help you be prepared to adequately handle the winter roads!

Phone Charger

If you don’t already have a phone charger in your car, get one! This could be a literal lifesaver if you get in an accident, stuck in a ditch, or in any other situation where you need to call for help. Cold weather can rapidly drain your phone’s battery causing it to power off quicker than normal. To help avoid this, make it a habit to plug your phone into the charger whenever you get in your car to ensure you will be able to use it in an emergency.  

Water and Non-Perishable Snacks

 If you get stuck waiting for a tow truck or can’t leave work for lunch due to inclement weather, having some extra snacks and water in your vehicle could be useful. Granola bars, trail mix, or a box of crackers are all affordable options to keep in your car. Keeping water in your vehicle will help keep you from getting dehydrated if you’re in a situation where you’re waiting for help. Keeping a case of bottled water in the back of your vehicle will also help add more weight to your vehicle to prevent sliding.

Create an emergency kit

Preparing your car so you’re ready for whatever comes your way this winter can be essential to your safety. Some of the bare essentials we suggest keeping in an emergency kit are blankets, an ice scraper, Tylenol or Ibuprofen, and a first aid kit. All of these items will help you if you’re stuck waiting for a tow truck and other inconveniences that might occur while commuting in hazardous conditions.

Sand or Kitty Litter.

 This one might seem odd, but hear us out. We suggest you keep one of these items in the back of your vehicle for a couple of different reasons. One of the reasons is, sand and kitty litter are coarse materials, if you were to get stuck you can easily spread the material on the ground by your tires, so your tires have something to help them grip onto to help get you unstuck. The other reason we suggest keeping these materials handy in your vehicle is to help weigh down the back of your vehicle to reduce fishtailing and sliding. Specifically in the back of compact or sedan cars, and trucks with a light bed.

Jumper Cables.

 Being in a situation where you need jumper cables is never a fun one. However, keeping a set in your vehicle will help eliminate at least one step to get your car going again. A dead battery is a common car issue so, you can easily find jumper cables at most stores that have an automotive department. Our service techs at Cable Dahmer Buick GMC of Independence suggest having your battery tested whenever you come in for routine maintenance. Knowing the current condition of your battery will help you be proactive and get your battery replaced if it needs it. If you’ve recently had your vehicle serviced but would like your battery tested, no worries! We will test your battery for free!

 We hope you find these 5 winter car care tips and essentials helpful while you navigate the hazardous conditions. If you have more suggestions let us know in the comments!

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Winter can feel like it’s longer than just a season, some love to watch snowflakes lazily drift down from the sky and land on the Kansas City landscape. Others, when they see snow they see hazardous roads and bitterly cold days. At some point, we all need a bit of a pick-me-up to help us finish winter strong. At Cable Dahmer Buick GMC of Independence, we thought of some easy winter date ideas around the Kansas City metro area that will help cure your winter blues!

Mav’s game

Kansas City is home to many professional sports teams. One of them is the Kansas City Mavericks, Kansas City’s local hockey team. The Mav’s games are played exclusively at Cable Dahmer Arena and are some of the best sporting experiences we have ever had. There is never a dull moment during a Mav’s game. From the fast-paced game and the typical (but entertaining) hockey fights that break out, to the excellent crowd participation and games, you will stay entertained the whole time! Going to a Mav’s game will be one of the best sporting experiences you’ve had in a while. Go Mavs!

Brunch at Union Station.

Union Station is host to a plethora of businesses that could keep you busy all day! A favorite at Union Station is Harvey’s. Enjoy a casual dining experience that is located right in the heart of Union Station, Grad Hall. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and the perfect view of Union Station! Our breakfast suggestion is their iconic Thick Sliced French Toast, on Farm to Market challah. For lunch we suggest, Mr.B’s Fried Chicken, the perfectly fried chicken will melt in your mouth and leave you in food heaven. After your meal, enjoy your time exploring Union Station at one of their free or paid exhibits. Happy Exploring!

Axe Throwing

Looking for stress relief or something different to do for a date night? We have a suggestion for you, Axe Throwing! We love this unique activity at Blade and Timber, it’s a great way to destress after a long week or something out of the ordinary to try. There are two Blade and Timber locations in the Kansas City Metro area. One of the locations is in Leawood, Kansas. The other location is in the Power and Light District, in Kansas City, MO. We love that both of the locations have a variety of dining options nearby to help keep the date night! 

Top Golf

Top Golf isn’t local to Kansas City, however, everyone loves it! It has something for everyone, great food and drinks, music, and casual golf-based games. You don’t have to be a golf pro or know anything about golf to have a good time at Top Golf. This is a great place to bring a group of friends (you can split the cost of the bay to make it even more affordable)! Each group gets its own bay that overlooks a huge outfield that has a variety of different size targets making it fun for advanced players and those who are there just for a good time with friends. Although the space is outdoors, you won’t notice the cold because of the covered bays and heaters placed around the area. Don’t worry about bringing golf equipment, they have you covered, just arrive ready to have a good time!

Up-Down Kansas City Arcade Bar

 The Up-Down isn’t your regular bar. It’s packed with 50+ arcade games, pinball machines, four skeeball alleys, and much more! Up-Down is located right in the heart of the Kansas City Crossroads district, home to some of the best artists and makers in the city. The Up-Down is a laid-back bar experience that will surely bring back nostalgic memories. They have all childhood arcade games and classics like Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. This is a great place to go for a fairly inexpensive date night, girl’s night out, or a unique place to go with a group of friends!

 We hope you enjoy these Kansas City winter date night ideas! If you have any suggestions, let us know in the comments!

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