Road trips cannot be taken too seriously. Â 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. Â Every night when we have stopped for the night, I pour myself a little drink and toast the day’s safe travels. Â It’s best to have something that can be consumed without mix and does not require refrigeration. Â A case of something doesn’t work; it has to be one bottle. Â 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? Â 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. Â And I have had a ton of pizza. Â It’s a good thing I like pizza. Â A lot. Â That’s all part of the fun.