5 interesting facts about Thanksgiving that you may not have known!

The American Thanksgiving feast is one of the world's most iconic holidays, but there is a lot most people don't know about it!  Here are 5 things that you may or may not have known about Thanksgiving and its origin in America!

1.)  Of the Mayflower's original 102 passengers, only 40 of them were "Pilgrims" as we would recognize them.  The rest were called the "Strangers", men and women just looking to hitch a ride to the new world.  In fact, the Mayflower wasn't even originally intended to be a human transport vessel; it was supposed to be a wine transport.

2.)  Despite Macy’s being the largest, the oldest Thanksgiving parade was held in Philadelphia in 1920 by Gimbels department store. The parade was very small, with only about 50 people.

3.)  The Pilgrims didn't actually dress in full-black attire with metal buckles on their hats and shoes.  In reality, metal buckles would've been too expensive for the incredibly destitute Pilgrims.  It is more likely that they would've used leather laces and straps instead of the buckles.

4.)  Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, feeling that the eagle was a creature predisposed to "bad moral character".  He wanted to instead pay homage to the bird that had more historical significance to the young country.

5.)  When George Washington advocated for a national Thanksgiving celebration, a number of other founding fathers and statesmen were supportive of the measure. Thomas Jefferson was not one of them. Jefferson referred to the idea as “the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard."  Guess he wasn't a fan of cranberry sauce!

Winter Weather Is Almost Here, Is Your Car Ready?

Have you prepared your car for the winter weather that’s fast approaching? Here are some tips to make sure you are fully prepared for whatever this year’s winter weather decides to throw at you.

Regular Maintenance

Now’s the time to get your car up to speed on all of its regular maintenance. That means taking care of any fluids that may have been neglected while you were out enjoying the summer sun or going in for that 60,000-mile tune-up if you’re due. Check, change and/or top off your oil, coolant, brakes and transmission fluid as needed. In the case of your oil or automatic transmission, make sure you get a high-quality filter, too.

When looking at your car’s brakes, check to see if your rotors are warped or cracked. Do they have deep grooves or are the pads worn close to their minimum clearance? Your vehicle will be experiencing harsher conditions soon, so avoid any potential problems as soon as possible. Make sure all your lights are working properly to ensure good visibility. New bulbs are easy to install yourself or easy to have installed when getting your vehicle serviced. The same goes for windshield wipers. If your blades are more than six months old, odds are it’s time to swap them out for new ones.

Check Your Tires

Go ahead and have your tires rotated and inspected. The last thing you need in cold, wet weather is to be driving on bald or dry rotted tires.

Consider looking into snow (or winter) tires, depending on your location or length of time you’ll be spending in the snow. Winter tires are made with special low temperature resilient rubber compounds and have deep treads that grip unplowed snow and ice.

Don’t forget to make sure your spare tire has enough air in it. Once you’ve made sure everything looks good, take a look at your tire pressure.

Stock Your Car

Stranded by the side of the road can be dangerous in the best of conditions, but when sub-zero temperatures or bad weather is involved, it could become deadly. Carrying these supplies is essential:

- a blanket
- jumper cables
- a flashlight
- chains
- a first-aid kit
- a small knife
- flares
- water gloves
- small shovel
- waterproof matches
- ice scraper
- a bag of sand or kitty litter to help provide traction if your car is stuck in the snow

What your favorite Halloween treat says about your TASTE in cars.

 
Candy Corn: One thing is for certain, it just wouldn’t be Halloween without candy corn!  The classic choice!  You’ve got a timeless sense of style, which means you and the Accord are meant to be. 

Toasted pumpkin seeds: Watch out-- a no-nonsense person like you should be cruising in a truck!  You are sharp, tough, and you don’t sugarcoat anything.

Sugar Daddies:  Looking for a sweet fix that’s sure to “stick around?”  You deserve a ride that you can count on for years to come!  The Civic is the car for you! 

Caramel Apples: Not only are you fashion-conscious, you’re a ton of fun and always up for trying something new!  Your biting sense of humor makes you a treat to be around.  You belong behind the wheel of a Pilot. 

King-Sized Candy Bar: You’ve hit the mother-load!  A busy schedule like yours requires lots of space—See how the Odyssey fits you.

When It Gets Crisp in the Fall: 5 Superb Scenic Autumn Drives

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall." 

With Fall now in full-swing, it's a great opportunity to get out of town and enjoy all the beauty that is the Autumn season. Soon enough, most parts of the East coast will be buried in with snow. If you don't get out now, you may end up with a mild case of cabin fever by Spring. For your convenience, we have compiled a handy list of some of the best Fall drives east of the Mississippi. 



1. Northampton to Dover

2. Beverly Farms to Holderness

 

 

3.  Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

 

 

 
4. North Conway to Mt. Washington, New Hampshire

5. Lewiston to Rangeley, Maine 

We hope these ideas give you some inspiration as to where to go this Fall. Don't miss out! Soon enough, the landscape will be mostly devoid of life.  

Share some of your favorite scenic routes with us on the Day Toyota Facebook page! 

Top 10 Driving Songs

1. Golden Earring - Radar Love (1974)

2. Stealers Wheel - Stuck In the Middle With You (1973)

3. The Cars - Let's Go (1979)

4. Derek and the Dominos - Layla (1972)

5. John Mellencamp - Authority Song (1984)

6. Wall Of Voodoo - Mexican Radio (1982)

7. Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car (1988)

8. Beatles - Drive My Car (1966)

9. Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe (1963)

10. Eagles - Take It Easy (1972)

Going out of town for Labor Day?

Going on a long road trip with the family is a fun time to enjoy an adventure together. However, traveling with children isn't always the easiest task. Some quick tips to make the ride enjoyable for everyone include:

1) Bring Snacks

2) Bring a portable TV or tablet, but limit technology. (It's all about spending time together after all).

3) Have a great playlist

4) Stop periodically to stretch and explore new areas. 

Great App for Avoiding Agonizing Rush Hour Traffic

Did you know that drivers in the U.S. spend an average of 40 hours a year (an entire work week!) stuck in traffic that is unmoving? While time spent in your Kia is fulfilling, if you’re looking to get home a little faster and spend more time with your family or your television, there are some great apps out there to help make your commute both smoother and shorter.

A great app we’ve been using for a while now (before hipsters even) is Waze, which works in conjunction with other drivers in the area to give you real-time traffic and road info to save you time. Check it out in the App Store or on Google Play.

Come visit us with all the time you’ll save and take a look at our new line of KIAs.