Taking a one-day road trip requires planning, flexibility, and an appreciation for a great sunrise
Blue Highways by Tee Gentry
To me, there’s nothing like a weekend road trip headed to someplace I’ve never been. My trips are usually four hours or less, one way, and I like to leave before dawn. This way, I can be back home by the afternoon, save on lodging, and experience the silent beauty of the sun rising over the horizon I’m moving toward.
I try to stay mostly on the backroads, and I love the drive as much as the destination. There’s something to be said for the comfort that comes from of the sound of your tires rolling along the pavement.
“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The night before I’m online researching my trip. I find it an excellent way to make sure you check out all the interesting places on the way there and when you arrive.
I’m always looking for the best restaurants, unique things to do, and I usually like to find a dive bar to check out while I’m there. A good dive bar can tell you a lot about a town. That’s where you’ll always find the colorful characters of the area.
Before I head home, I try to find a local restaurant with a great burger. The kind of place that looks a little sketchy but the gravel parking lot is full. That’s my kind of spot and I have a pretty good record with these types of places. The small establishment with a gravel parking lot I have to circle twice before I find a spot has yet to let me down.
Taking these trips has taught me a lot about life and taking opportunities when they present themselves. Pause. Take that picture. I’ve spent too much time regretting passing by something I think I’ll catch on the way back and don’t. When you see something cool, pull over. It only takes a minute and you’ll be happier for it. Who knows, that memory could end up in a frame and bring you joy for a long time.
Many of my day trips have been so enjoyable that I end up returning and staying a couple of days to explore more. Some places I have been going back to for years, such as Folly Beach, South Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Make a playlist for your trip. A friend of mine knew I was going to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and she recommended an artist that she thought would fit the trip. It did. I listened to Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” on the way and while I was on the parkway.
When I head to the beach, I love Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney. Bob Marley and the Wailers is on my road rotation as well. Find your music and it will make the ride even better.
“Sometimes the best therapy is a long drive and music.”
– Anonymous
Plan your trip, enjoy the day and all the new discoveries along the way. It’ll be fun and you’ll spend a day living in the moment.
And that’s always a good thing.