How to get the most out of your next trip: plan to stop on the way

Getting the most out of you next trip is super easy! It just takes a little research. In no time you have created your next adventure. To create an adventure, you just need to look between your home and your final destination.

What are the benefits in finding places along the way to stop?.

1. You break up the long drive.
2. You see more of the US.
3. Kids will travel happier with shorter amounts of time in the car.

How I used to travel

Quite simply, I drove to get to my final destination as quickly as possible. I wanted to there, now. Stopping for gas and lunch was a necessary annoyance.

How a change in thinking changed how I travel

It began on a trip out to Colorado for a wedding. We also had to drive to Wichita for my son’s national gymnastics meet. The meet came first then the wedding. We left on a Sunday afternoon and headed to St. Louis for the night. Before we headed south to Kansas City we went up the Gateway Arch. A very cool experience.

In Kansas City we went to one of the top bar b questions restaurants. It was a family style dinner that was out of this world. Kansas is know for their bar b que.

In Estes Park, we climbed Mount Ida and stopped at the hotel inspired by the movie, “Shining.”

On our way home from Mount Rushmore we spent an afternoon in the Badlands NP and stopped at Wall Drug in South Dakota. How could we not? The only thing we saw on the highway were Wall Drug signs. They were about every mile or so.

How I travel now

When we drive to a vacation spot, I check the highway I will be on for things to see, to taste, to experience. Depending on my budget and time, I might plan on taking a couple of days to get to my destination. Here are some examples:

On our way out to Acadia NP we stopped at:

1. Charlie the Butcher and ate Beef on Weck in Buffalo
2. Stopped at the house I lived in while living in Syracuse, NY as a kid
3. Stopped and drove through cover bridges in New Hampshire.

On our way to Texas we stopped at:

1. Mammoth Cave NP
2. Went on a houseboat for a couple days
3. Memphis where we went to the blues street to listen to blues and eat bar b que

Check out some of my other posts about planning a trip! I’m certain you’ll learn something new!

How to Pick the cheapest way to travel

Learn how to plan a budget friendly trip with these 3 basic steps