What To Do If Your Car Breaks Down on Florida Interstates

Driving on the Interstates around the Florida is pretty stressful.  No matter where you go it seems that you are always in heavy traffic. Between the speeding drivers, the slow drivers and all of the construction you always have to be aware.  But, what do you do if something happens to you on the Interstate?

Of course, if you're in an accident, call 911 immediately.  But if something less severe happens and you are stuck nonetheless, who do you call.  If your car has a breakdown or if you get a flat tire and can't change it yourself or if you run out of gas who should you call?  While any of those scenarios seem like an emergency, they don't really rise to the level of a 911 call. If you are in a disabled vehicle on the interstate system in Florida your first call should be to Florida Highway Patrol at #347 or #FHP.  They will dispatch a Road Ranger to your location.

If you've travelled anywhere on the Interstates in the Sunshine State then you've seen the Road Rangers.  They drive big white pick up trucks with with a large direction arrow on the back to move traffic.  On board, is everything they will need to get you moving again.  From a battery jump start to a tire repair to a little gas to make it safely to the next exit, the Florida Highway Road Rangers are there to help. If you need a tow truck, they can call one for you.  I've even seen them help out officers with blocking off accident scenes.

Recently I was traveling vexing on Interstate 4 east off Tampa, my gas light was on and I knew I was close to empty. I was headed to the next exit.  Then, it happened, I ran out of gas.  Something I always remind everyone is to get well off the vehicle travel lanes.  I was in the grass.  Vehicles of every shape and size were whizzing by at speeds over 85 miles an hour.  I could feel my car sway as the speeding cars passed.  I called #347 and Florida Highway Patrol dispatched a Road Ranger.  There was about an hour wait time, but suddenly, like a knight in shining armor, there he was, my Road Ranger, Kevin.

Kevin has been a Road Ranger for 18, according to him he's helped "thousands of stuck people"  Kevin put about a gallon of free gas in my car and I was back on the road, headed toward the next exit to fill up. Not before I gave him a generous tip, which he greatly appreciated and totally deserved.

Just a reminder, if you see a Road Ranger working on the side of the highway, please move over a lane and give them plenty of room to work safely.

In a new list of family-friendly vacation destinations, four Florida cities were in the top 20. Three of them were ranked within the top 10.

The rankings were put together using a variety of metrics. Those include the accommodations (family-friendly), attractions, dining and many more.

Here are the top 10 cities on "2023’s Best Cities for Kid-Friendly Vacations," as compiled by lawnlove.com.

San Antonio, Texas, has the historic Alamo. There are plenty of other things for kids, however, including the San Antonio Zoo, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. Morgan’s Wonderland, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! It has the 4th most amusement and theme parks in country.

So much of the entertainment world is centered around Los Angeles. For the family on vacation, however, there's the Griffith Observatory, the Grand Central Market, Santa Monica Pier and, of course, Universal Studios and Disneyland. Los Angeles has the 4th most family-friendly accomodations. However, they are tied for having the fewest amusement and theme parks.

Houston, Texas, offers fun for the family at places such as Space Center Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Downtown Aquarium, the Houston Zoo and the Levy Park Conservancy. Houston is tied for having the 5th most amusement and theme parks.

San Francisco is a haven of oddities. The family can still enjoy visiting sites such as Alcatraz Island, the famous cable cars, Chinatown, Exploratorium, Ghirardelli Square and the Walt Disney Family Museum.

Tampa has become the hub of travel of west central Florida. There is so much for a family to experience. ZooTampa, Florida Aquarium, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, Riverwalk, MOSI, Glazer Children's Museum, Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center, Hillsborough River State Park, the Tampa Bay History Museum, plus lots of destinations in just a two-hour drive. Tampa has the most zoos in the nation.

Chicago's family-friendly destinations include Lincoln Park Zoo, Millennium Park and the Shedd Aquarium. Chicago also is tied for the fewest theme and amusement parks, but has the 3td most zoos.

Viva Las Vegas... it's not just for adults anymore. Families can check out the go-karts at the Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix, visit the Discovery Children's Museum, the Mandalay Bay shark reef aquarium, Hershey's Chocolate World and the Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre. Vegas is tied for the 2nd most amusement and theme parks and tied for the 3rd most zoos.

The southern point of this list, Miami has the 3rd most family-friendly accomodations and is tied for having the most zoos. Kid-friendly attractions include the Miami Children's Museum, Puttshack Indoor Golf, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Miami Metrozoo, Everglades Alligator Farm, Miccosukee Indian Village and the famous Miami Seaquarium.

Somehow, Orlando was only able to reach #2 on this list. It's tied for the 2nd most amusement and theme parks? It has the most family-friendly accomodations. Okay, here's the short-list. Universal Orlando, Legoland, Gatorland, Icon Park, Wonderworks, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Madame Tussauds Orlando, Sea Life Orlando Aquarium, Sea World Orlando, Fun Spot America, Peppa Pig Theme Park and, of course, Walt Disney World Resort.

Let's face it, New York City has everything. It has the most amusement and theme park, third most zoos and the most children's zoos. There's the Statue Of Liberty, the Bronx Zoo, Empire State Building, Central Park, Chelsea Pears, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and certainly not to be forgotten, Coney Island. Kids love hot dogs.