Travel is as popular now as it's ever been – and usually in
the form of vacations to far-flung locales, all across the world. But, if
you're looking for a bit of adventure travel, you don't need to go around the
world to get your adventure fill. Sometimes your neighboring town can be just
as quite of an adventure as a globetrotting across the continents.
The United States is a nation rich in different cultures,
with breathtaking landscapes ranging from the snowcapped peaks of the Pacific
North-West, to the bayous Of Louisiana. I’ve lived in the U.S. my entire life
and there are still so many places I haven’t seen.
Checking out the Upper East coast is on my list, as well as
Nashville, Kentucky, Montana, and Hawaii. All parts of the United States, and
all just as magical as any other foreign land. Sure I can travel to all of
these places separately but I can also make a road trip out of them. Okay,
maybe not Hawaii…
Road trips are a great way to see the land for what it is. In the air, you may get an aerial view but
you’re not up close to the cornfields of Kansas or the sea of the coast.
There’s something a bit more magical about road trips, right? However, most people are turned off to the
idea because it’s too long of a trip or they don’t do well sitting for long
periods of time. Although those are all fair and true there are a lot of things
you can do on a road trip to make it a promising adventure.
Try the local cuisine in each location (it might vary more
then you think)
Say “no way, Jose” to chain restaurants. You can eat off
their menu anytime! Even if you were born and raised in the United States, you
might not quite grasp just how much regional variety there is across the length
of the country, if you haven't done much traveling in your life. Each region
of the country – and sometimes even small towns – will have their own specific
local cuisine that can set your taste buds tingling.
Make a point of trying the local cuisine in each location
you visit. There’s a good chance, you will come across everything from chicken restaurants, to traditional pit-barbecued hog, to coastal fish dishes, and more.
Instagram is a great place to look up a popular spot along the road.
Cut down on social media and Internet use when you're
traveling (it will allow you to really experience the nuances of things)
It's amazing how much you can miss out on when you are
staring at your phone all the time – and especially if you are constantly
updating your social media accounts.
A famous psychological experiment actually proved that when
test subjects were staring intently at a ball being passed between different
individuals, they were capable of failing to see something as dramatic as a man
in a gorilla suit marching right in the middle of the room.
To really take in all the wonders and nuances of your road
trip through the weird and winding USA, try to cut down on the social media and
Internet use for the duration of your trip. My go-to method is to plan out your
photos so you can still immerse yourself in the moment. I know I want a photo
here, nab it and soak the rest of the experience in.
Do a bit of historical sightseeing
On a journey across the United States, you will find
incredible historical sites ranging from the settings of heroic last stands, to
the oldest shops or outdoor markets of a particular type, to mountains, revered
and held sacred by Native American tribes.
If you stick to the cities and use your road trip as an
excuse to go clubbing across the nation, you're likely to get a fairly generic
experience. After all, pop culture is largely the same everywhere.
By dedicating a bit of your time and attention to historical
sightseeing, on the other hand, you can really begin to tease out the nuances
of different locations and get a sense for their rich history and local
character. Plus there are a ton of hidden gems and swanky places hidden between
the walls of history. Go off the beaten path, just don’t stray too far.
What are your road trips tips? I’m always looking for ways to spice up my road trips.
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