7. Make Unforgettable Memories
I recently embarked on a 1,400 mile-long road trip with my Mom, who is eighty-eight years old, my brother, and my wife. We went to visit my sister who lived in another state and decided to drive instead of flying, just for the fun of it.
Our trip took us along highways we hadn't driven along together for nearly 50 years. It was an adventure for the four of us, and proof that memories made during road trips last for a lifetime.
By chance we stopped at a gas station with a restaurant where my brother and I had met, also by chance, 23 years ago. His daughter was a baby at that time, and his son was on his way, though they didn't know it. We reminisced about the good old days while we had a cup of coffee with my wife and mother.
As we drove on, we remembered road trips we'd taken fifty years ago with Dad at the wheel of our 1960s Valiant, the places we stopped at, the dust, the hot wind blowing in through the vent windows while the old AM radio played. Nostalgia and warm memories flowed while as shared quality time on the road.
Stopping at a roadside motel also stirred old memories of motels we'd stayed at as kids. My Mom was thrilled, and enjoyed the adventure.
I know deep inside of me that I will remember this trip for the rest of my life!
The best things about memories is making them. Unknown
8. Visit New Places
The world is great, and when you fly, you don't grasp its immensity. Driving on the other hand puts it all in perspective. You get the feel of what one-hundred or one-thousand miles actually are.
The world is also beatiful, full of natural and man-made wonders. So leaving home and hitting the road has the added bonus of experiencing new places.
There are so many amazing sights out there, you will come across places you never even imagined you'd see.
Tip: Ask the locals, they know the well kept secret spots. A few years ago, in Utah, my wife and I stopped for a coffee in Escalante, and the owner, seeing me study my Rand McNally Road Atlas came over and marked some spots we should visit. We followed his advice and enjoyed some great scenic spots. We also avoided Greeen River "mosquito infested" he'd said, and stopped furhter ahead at Moab, another amazing place with the fantastic Arches National Park.
Find those hidden gems, take that unexpected turn onto a local road and you will experience America's beauty.
And don't forget, the Health Benefits of Being Outdoors.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Saint Augustine
9. Meet New People, Socialize
Going on a road trip puts you in contact with a whole range of new people, who live different lives compared to yours.
Having breakfast in a cafe in Pinedale Wyoming, my wife and I struck up a conversation with the locals while we ate our bacon and eggs. Chatting we learned about the ranches in the mountains, and horse breeding; it was fascinating.
In Beijing, China, we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning drinking wine and talking to a group of Aussies that felt like old friends.
Different values, culture, food and flavors, and learning about the local history enriches you and is part of the fun of a road trip. It adds value to your trip, and enriches you.
It also has health benefits as shown by a study conducted by Wang, Zheng et al., (2023) (2) that found that "frequent participation in social activity was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in older people [and] only participating in social activity almost every day could significantly prolong long-term survival."
The people you meet on your travels are like chapters in the story of your journey.
10. Just because!
Perhaps the best reason for taking a road trip is that it is fun! A trip is a great excuse to enjoy life, have fun, laugh, share quality time with those you love, sing the songs in your playlist, and do unexpected things.
We live in a society that places a high value on success so we work hard and dedicate many hours every day to be productive and successful. Perhaps too many hours!
But in doing so we forget about having fun. Being competitive at work may be necessary, but having fun is equally inmportant. A road trip gives you the chance to get out on the road and start having fun.
Pressman et al, (2009) (3) analyzed data from four different studies involving almost 1,400 participants and evaluated the effects of enjoyable activities ("ten different types of leisure activities") on their mental states and also on physiological indicators such as blood pressure, cortisol, body mass index, and waist circumference. They found that those with higher scores in the Pittsburgh Enjoyable Activities Test showed higer levels of positive psychosocial states, and less depression or negative feelings. They also had lower blood pressure, total cortisol, waist circumference, and body mass index.
So, having fun improves health and well-being.