Hit the Road in The USA, Jack (or Jill)

Hit the Road in The USA, Jack (or Jill)

Whenever it comes to vacation time, the question is always, “Plane, train, ship, bus tour or car?” And, nine times out of ten, the answer will be, “Car!” I’ll take a road trip over a pre-booked tour, cruise or plane ride anytime.

It’s all about freedom and flexibility. Think about it. From preparing and packing for the trip to arriving home, it is just so much simpler. No weight restrictions for luggage means no second guessing about whether you really need to pack that sweater or jacket ‘just in case.’ Eat when and where you want to (and save some cash) by packing your plug-in cooler with favourite snacks and drinks. Afraid they won’t have your favourite cereal at the hotel’s included breakfast? Bring your own and use the always-in-the-room mini fridge to overnight your cooler’s perishables. And nothing beats driving down an open road, all windows in the car wide open, tunes cranked up.

Most of my favourite vacations have been driving expeditions. Over the last 40 years, I’ve left my home in the southern most part of Canada and hit the road to explore. Seven cross country treks, taking a different route each time, allowed me to visit all but three of the United States. (Okay, Alaska wasn’t a road trip, but it still counts.) By taking a northern route and not crossing the U.S./Canada border until I reached Vancouver, I experienced the beauty of Canada’s western provinces. From open plains with nary a tree in sight to majestic mountains, my home country really has a lot to offer the road trip traveler.

One of the most memorable tours took me from upstate New York through the New England States and up into the Canadian Maritimes. A quaint little inn in Vermont where I ate Ben and Jerry’s ice cream right out of the container – because you can’t go to Vermont without staying at an inn or eating Ben and Jerry’s ice cream – and who needs a bowl, anyway. Getting lost several times in Connecticut – how can one get lost in such a small state? Whale watching out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Getting my fill of seafood in Maine. Fishing in the Bay of Fundy. All things that I would not have been able to do if I were travelling by plane, bus or train.

Road trips can also mean not sticking to a rigid schedule. They allow you to stop and smell the roses, as it were. Or take an extra day to enjoy the concert along the river that you didn’t know about until you landed in town. On a round-about road trip this past spring to Orlando, Florida, I happened to stop in a little town in Casey, Illinois. Who knew it was the home of some of the largest things in the world? The world’s largest rocking chair (over 56 feet tall), the world’s largest golf tee (30 feet tall), the world’s largest wind chime (56 feet tall), and so much more. It was a great, fun place to stop and fill the tank and have a cup of tea. Taking a break from the open road for even an hour or two refreshes and allows you to continue on your way with a spring in your step – especially if you’ve just visited the world’s largest wooden shoes. It’s all about freedom – and flexibility.

Take this summer, for example. I’m planning a road trip to visit friends who live along the St. Lawrence River between Kingston, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. I’m hoping to do some family history research in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York at the beginning of my trip and then head on up to their place near Morrisburg, Ontario. However, since I’ve never visited the Eastern Townships of Quebec, located between Montreal and the Vermont border, and I’ve been reading a series of great mystery books set in that area, I thought, why not visit this summer when I’m only 2 hours away. I went online to look for what was happening in the area, lo and behold, there’s a pre-launch party for the author’s latest book! If I had been tied to a bus tour – many of which are available – I wouldn’t be able to take advantage of this great opportunity to meet one of my favourite Canadian authors.

I know that many women (and some men) do not feel safe when travelling alone, especially by car. However, I believe that if one takes appropriate precautions – staying in reputable places, leaving quickly when a situation looks iffy, making sure one has an automobile road side service plan – it can be a joyful, freeing experience. Why not hit the road, Jack (or Jill) and discover the freedom?

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About the Author

Maggie Patterson

Maggie Patterson is an inveterate traveler. A very young great grandmother who loves traveling alone, she has explored most of Canada and visited all but three of the fifty States. Genealogy research impelled her to visit England and Ireland while her love of the written word sparked a penchant for chronicling her travels as well as the family history.