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Omg, What great answers. Kudos to the OP, it really brought back some of the fondest memories of family vacations. Then as an adult I had a really great spouse. We did so much spur-of-the-moment stops and ended up at some of the most interesting places off the beaten path. We see a field of wildflowers, stop, reflect, and enjoy it all. Road trips are where memories are made. But then so are train trips and airplane trips and great meals. All depends on who you're with as to the level of enjoyment.
I travel constantly, for both work and to see family.
Usually I fly. I like flying fine. If you're upgraded or are in an aisle or window seat in premium economy, it's perfectly fine.
I also take Amtrak, both in the Northeast and for long-distance overnight trains. They're extremely comfortable and pleasant.
So flying and trains are both fine.
However, I can't imagine anything worse than a long-distance car trip. Driving isn't significantly faster than a train, and it's a lot less comfortable. And both are usually slower than flying.
So what's the appeal of long-distance road trips? Cost? Flexibility? Something else?
Thanks.
Until you've gone 100+ MPH on the West Virginia turnpike you will never understand.
I live in the Kansas City area. Siblings and my widowed Dad are in SC. I see them twice a year and I vastly prefer driving. Firsts of all, I'm retired so I don't need to count vacation days. I stretch it over 2 days, maybe 9-10 hors the first day, 6-7 the next. Typically I try to get past Nashville the first day, have a good workout in a hotel gym and dinner in the room (maybe a Subway sandwich and sides I've picked up in a convenience store along the way), out after breakfast.
No TSA. No need to fix departure dates in either direction. I can pack whatever fits into the car and the trunk. No airport pricing on the food. When I get there I have a car. A 5- or 10- minute delay on the road means nothing. In an airport it may mean a missed connection.
I have decided that one overnight is enough. Back when Mom and Dad were in Myrtle Beach that was really 2 overnights and it wasn't as much fun heading out the third morning.
I live in the Kansas City area. Siblings and my widowed Dad are in SC. I see them twice a year and I vastly prefer driving. Firsts of all, I'm retired so I don't need to count vacation days. I stretch it over 2 days, maybe 9-10 hours the first day, 6-7 the next. Typically I try to get past Nashville the first day, have a good workout in a hotel gym and dinner in the room (maybe a Subway sandwich and sides I've picked up in a convenience store along the way), out after breakfast.
No TSA. No need to fix departure dates in either direction. I can pack whatever fits into the car and the trunk. No airport pricing on the food. When I get there I have a car. A 5- or 10- minute delay on the road means nothing. In an airport it may mean a missed connection.
I have decided that one overnight is enough. Back when Mom and Dad were in Myrtle Beach that was really 2 overnights and it wasn't as much fun heading out the third morning.
Great points and reasons I consider it.
No waiting for airport shuttles or taxis.
No need to fumble around to tip drivers each way to and from
No chance of lost luggage
No scheduling rental cars
Able to stop by your favorite local food spot in between your destination; Check Yelp for local reviews
Able to pack everything in your car; liquids galore- normal size shampoo, etc.
No excess baggage fees, broken items
No loud families
No people sneezing or drunk behind you on the plane; there's always someone.
Scenery; appreciation of low populated areas and the pureness of nature.
Take your kids on a road trip vacation and they will learn more than during a similar time in school. See the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in Cairo Illinois. Show them the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and the constitution and Declaration of Independence in DC. Take them to Williamsburg or show them the deep ruts in solid rock made by the wagons on the Oregon Trail. Go to Monticello or Mount Vernon or Lincoln’s home in Springfield. Show them a tide pool or a mountain top.
But if I win the lottery, I'm going to do a coast to coast road trip. As in from hear to northern Canada, all the way West to British Columbia, down to Southern California, all the way along south US to Florida, Key West, back up the East Coast. Sounds crazy, but that's just this inner, old side of me that still finds road trips appealing.
You do realize that you don't need a lottery win to fund a trip like that?
I'd bet a summer off and $10,000 could fund that whole trip.
have a good workout in a hotel gym and dinner in the room (maybe a Subway sandwich and sides I've picked up in a convenience store along the way), out after breakfast.
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You lost me with the "subway sandwich" idea...........
When I travel I never eat at any chain restaurant. If they have one at home then why would I eat at an Outback in New Mexico?.........Its the same food!
Look on yelp/trip advisor for the top 10 restaurants in the area you are staying. I do this for hotels also. I was in Atlanta and had lunch at the Porsche Driving Experience Cafe (while watching new Porsches on the racetrack) and then had dinner at this cool beer place about 15 minutes away. Definitely caught me off guard, neighborhood was rougher than I expected. I think I was the only person in the place with no tattoos!
Met the owner, he gave us a tour and the food was ridiculously good.
You lost me with the "subway sandwich" idea...........
When I travel I never eat at any chain restaurant. If they have one at home then why would I eat at an Outback in New Mexico?.........Its the same food!
Look on yelp/trip advisor for the top 10 restaurants in the area you are staying. I do this for hotels also. I was in Atlanta and had lunch at the Porsche Driving Experience Cafe (while watching new Porsches on the racetrack) and then had dinner at this cool beer place about 15 minutes away. Definitely caught me off guard, neighborhood was rougher than I expected. I think I was the only person in the place with no tattoos!
Met the owner, he gave us a tour and the food was ridiculously good.
I enjoy eating at chain restaurants that do not have locations where I live.
Mendocino Farms, Din Tai Fung, to name a few. Chain restaurants are successful for a good reason.
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