Road trips cannot be taken too seriously. To keep from losing sight of why we drive, I have created my own set of rules:
- NO CHAIN RESTAURANTS
- Avoid Interstates
- Stop where and when we want to
- Don’t plan too far ahead (if at all)
- Listen to the radio until there is no signal
- There must be a road trip bottle
I’m not sure where the idea for the road trip bottle came from but this is it: the road trip bottle must be sealed when you leave home and has to last the entire trip so the last mouthful is finished upon returning home. Every night when we have stopped for the night, I pour myself a little drink and toast the day’s safe travels. It’s best to have something that can be consumed without mix and does not require refrigeration. A case of something doesn’t work; it has to be one bottle. Sometimes I pick a bottle based on where we are going: bourbon seemed to be a natural fit in North Carolina.
As far as not eating at chain restaurants, I figure that if I’m going to drive for days on end, why would I eat at a place that I pass day in and day out? Following this rule, I have had some amazing foods that I might have otherwise passed. I’ve had a few not so great meals too. And I have had a ton of pizza. It’s a good thing I like pizza. A lot. That’s all part of the fun.
