I would suggest you not confuse a business trip with a vacation trip. I’ve made too many business trips by an automobile of one type or another to count and I don’t classify those as road trips.
An early road trip
To me a road trip should be enjoyable as in a vacation without the stress of a scheduled time frame. The “hurry up and get there” attitude destroys what a road trip is all about. If that’s the case – fly!
A road trip should be all about stopping and smelling the roses, check out some cool sights, meander through that funky old general store, stop at that scenic picnic/overlook area and enjoy the awesome view.
Some of your stops will be serendipitous wherein you’ll see an historic sign that’s appealing. Stop and snap a couple of pictures, read any accompanying story boards to see what it’s all about. Some road trips are all about planning, some are not.
Personally, I take a lot of road trips in my converted van and do very little planning. I will always have a destination in mind, but no specific route or time frame in which to arrive. If I see a sign of interest about a place off the road I’m on, I may take a detour on a whim because again, I have no schedule and I’m all about enjoying my trip.
Here are some tips that might insure you have your best road trip ever:
Once you’ve determined your destination, try to take back roads as much as possible and stay off the Interstates and highways.
How about a road trip to see sights such as this in Montana?
This is where you will find the most interesting sights. This will afford you the opportunity to see the small towns and all their unique shops, the evidence of the people’s lives there and the best of small-town festivals and various shows that may not be known to you otherwise. This is also where you will find the best roadside stands featuring delicious ripe peaches, apples and farm fresh vegetables.
On a dark desert highway… you can experience this!
You may want to select sights you’d like to see along the way. The key is to be flexible and don’t be afraid to re-route yourself to worthwhile attractions. There are tons of guidebooks and websites to help you find all the great sights all over this great country and don’t neglect larger cities either as they have wonderful sights such as zoos and museums.
If you’re traveling by RV, you may not need reservations for hotels or B&B’s along the way, but you can map out camping resorts along the way if you’re so inclined. You can also find plenty of free camping available as well.
Do you have a destination? Depending on what it is, you may want to stay in one place for several days in order to see and do all you want, thus interfering with your destination arrival time. After all, your destination is why you went on this road trip to begin with. If you’re not pressed for time, you may want to spend a day or more at your destination before heading back so you can rest up and not be too tired before beginning your drive back.
Plan some fun into your road trip with road trip games. There are tons of ideas on the Internet or just make up some of your own. Make sure to find ways to include the driver.
Do NOT text while driving on “The Million Dollar Highway” near Ouray, Colorado. No guardrails, no shoulders, but one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever experienced!
How about compiling a playlist for your MP3 player or CD of songs that reflect your trip. Classic road trip songs come to mind, but also songs about your destination and other places you’re passing through. And how about visiting some great or unique restaurants along the way. Eating regional foods can really add to your road trip and gets you into the groove of the place you’re visiting. For example, there’s nothing like lobster in Maine, Gumbo in Louisiana, Mexican in Southern California and Arizona. Well, you get the idea.
Now, get off the couch, gas up that vehicle and enjoy a great road trip.
Until next time, enjoy the pleasure of getting lost..
