My muse, my delightful and demanding guiding spirit, is greedy--thank goodness, as I'll take any excuse for a road trip.
At the end of August 2010, hubby and I started a journey from the Midwest to Montana. Loved wide-open North Dakota, were amazed by Montana, stumbled into Idaho, headed back by way of Wyoming and raced for home through South Dakota and Minnesota. Presto, fourteen days, 4557 miles, several hundred photos, and only minor spatting.
I like to believe travel adds texture to my fiction:
Driving along the highway at night and having cattle noses appear our of the darkness so quickly and so close to the passenger window, the grown man beside me yelps and I laugh because--well--I can't help myself.
Reading the tales of terror and triumph on the roadside dedications and suddenly feeling the people's fear of facing the unknown or a fierce enemy, and as quickly feeling their joy at having accomplished something few, if any, of their contemporaries ever would.
Seeing casinos in almost every town, each with a nearby pawn shop. My favorite, First National Pawn.
Mountains, rivers, falls, forest extending over the hill and the next and the next, sometimes brown from beetle damage, sometimes nothing but green.
Reflecting lakes. Tiny diving birds. Fields stretching from the roads to the mountains and dotted with bales of winter fodder or buffalo. Green, gold, purple, white, and of course, the blue of the big Montana sky.
While I don't believe you need to go there to write about a place, I like to think having been there adds a sense of reality to my fiction.
Wondering where I'll go next. Hmmm.
Leave a comment (1/25) and tell me where you went on your favorite road trip and I'll enter you in a drawing for a copy my books set in Montana, "Promise to Boy" and "He Calls Her Doc" along with a set of 3 Toss On elastic bracelets.
Thanks for reading.Mary Brady
68 comments:
My favorite road trip was driving historic Route 66 with one of my best friends. We met in Chicago and drove to Santa Monica, finishing by riding the ferris wheel on the pier!
We spent 9 days driving places we'd never been before, visiting every ticky-tacky tourist stop that caught our eye, staying in great old motels -- even a wig wam one in AZ!
To this day I remember it fondly.
I love the mountains too. We drove from our home in Ontario to my sister's home in Alberta, 2000+ miles away. Of COURSE the mountains are beautiful and majestic; that goes without saying. During our visit, we all bundled into two vehicles and headed for Edmonton (3.5 hours away), where we had an absolute blast at West Edmonton Mall (where it was known as the biggest mall in the world). We didn't shop; nay nay! We swam in their indoor wave pool, we floated in tubes down slides, some went down actual water slides (I did it once and it was enough for me!), there's skating at an indoor park, and then there's the hundreds of restaurants available! One time, we stayed overnight in their hotel, also inside the mall. They have themed rooms available but they were out of our price range at the time. Anyway ... it's a great place to spend a day relaxing. We try to go there as often as possible - mostly for the swimming, but really we just want to spend fun time with family!
Hi, Mary! Thank you for the wonderful imagery you provided in your words and the beautiful photo. I had a little mixed mini-dachshund named "Max", who lived to be almost 20 years old. He was the light of my life. He never thought small--he thought he was a Rottweiler! As a matter of fact, one of his many, many nicknames was "Baby Rottweiler" : ) He had a "radar ear" which seemed to rotate in many directions. He communicated his feelings with that ear! He was a "go" dog. I have an old Chevy Blazer, and I kept the back seat folded down and built up a platform bed so that Max could reach the window and hang his head out, "ears to the wind". Mom and I had five dogs at one time, and they were all rescue and abuse cases. We took those dogs almost everywhere we went. We logged a lot of miles together. I live in the beautiful mountains of Virginia, close to the West Virginia border. Mom and I always had limited funds, so we had a 60 mile driving radius, but there was always something of interest. My favorite time of the year is Autumn, and our trips during the Fall were the best! Those were golden days!
I always had fun when we would drive down to Texas to visit my Mom's family. It was so fun to see and meet new people. We moved to Texas about 5 years ago and I still love the openness of the small town we live in. I still love road trips but don't take as many. So I travel to all kinds of places in the wonderful books I read. Love your picture!
I love road trips and have taken many that are memorable. My husband and sons and I have driven thousands of miles together. When we started traveling with the boys we began a tradition of listening to books on tape. Now some of my roadtrip memories are defined by the books we listened to on the drive.
I absolutely love being in the car with the family--all that concentrated time for talking is such a luxury.
Mary what wonderful descriptions! You've put me in the mood for a road trip, lol. Maybe somewhere south since I'm sick of snow.
I have to agree with your thoughts on the mountains. I'd never get tired of the sight.
Thanks for the awesome post!
Laura
Barbara, a wigwam, I love it. Route 66 is an historic treasure many people don't even know about any more. Glad you got to drive it.
Laney4, Ontario to Alberta must be a beautiful trip and the West Edmonton Mall sounds Canadian large and a lot of fun. I feel like I'm on the road today.
Virginia C, I've only breezed through your state. Some day I will road trip there and give it a good look, so many historical sites. Thanks for the Max story.
L2RR - Laura, I'd love to be in Texas right now. It has to be warmer. Glad you still get out on the road a bit.
Ellen, you are so so right. Short or long, I always find a trip with the family in the car is a treat.
Laura, you're awesome! Thanks for visiting and hope you find warm soon.
One of my favorite memories of being out west was when I went to the Sturgis motorcycle rally with my wife, our kids, a friend (another red head) and her kids. We were in the elevator of the hotel and people just thought we were a "multiple-spouse" family!!!
I love mountains, too, and love your photo. That would certainly inspire some writing!
We have done many road trips through the years, but my favorite is actually a rail trip on Amtrak my husband and I took last January for our anniversary. We started in Chicago and rode to Sacramento. We stayed a couple days in Sacramento with friends. Then we headed north to Seattle on the Coast Starlight. We were about 9 hours late into Seattle so we only saw my husband's sister for breakfast before we boarded the Empire Builder and traveled back to Chicago. My husband doesn't usually slow down, but he had to on the train. We kept a journal together, played cards, talked and just enjoyed the scenery. So much fun!
I have never been on a road trip due to health issues. But I always thought it would be fun. Especially after I saw this movie Elizabeth town, do you know it?. He goes on a roadtrip he plannned with his father who died shortly before. Such a celebration of love and so much emotion involved. It made me dream of touring myself.
Great post, Mary. I've been on many a road trip and each one has been unique. I have to agree...life experiences, whether it's travel or otherwise, can't help but add depth to the words I put on paper.
South Dakota was memorable.
I love road trips. I have been on so many that it is hard to pick a favorite. I think one that stands out is our move back to Calgary, Alberta from Montreal, Quebec. This was in the 70's before a lot of the now present border restrictions were in place. We had Tiger, our black cat who loved to travel, and a backseat full of houseplants. We stopped around Ann Arbor Michigan the first night. We put up our tent in the dark and discovered that Tiger had to sleep in the car as he could escape from the tent. We took side trips to see a few places. Some of them that stand out are the Mitchell Corn Palace, Wall Drug Store and Mount Rushmore. Loved going across Iowa which seemed like it was covered in cornfields until oh my gosh there's a potato field.
When we travel nowadays, we stop and get out of the car and walk into the ditch every so often. It's amazing what you can discover just ten feet off the road.
What a terrific road trip, Mary! A couple of years ago, DH and I took the kids out in that direction to visit my brother, who lives in Cody. We had a blast. After reading your blog, I'm ready to go again!
We're a big road trip family. Not sure we have a favorite, maybe to the Badlands, or when we went to Memphis and had the world's best fried chicken? I'm not sure I've ever written about a trip, maybe I should! But it definitely refreshes the brain and gets us writers out of our little worlds and into the big one.
Cheers,
Isabel
www.IsabelSharpe.com
Beautiful picture!
I love road trips. I love my children. I DO NOT love road trips with my children!
So we usually fly. Hopefully, as they get older we will be able to take trips in the car. We drove the Disney World last year because airfare was so blooming high, but we swore we'd rather stay home than do that again.
One day...
Tim, Sturgis hmmm. The whole family must have worn leather. The elevator story is great--gives a new meaning to the term extended family.
Jan, the Amtrak trip sounds like a cool idea. Lets one say "Look at that!" without the other person driving off the road. Journal, cards, etc. great fun.
Kirsten, I love Elizabeth Town and Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom. I'm glad you have DVDs and travelogues to give you the feel of traveling.
Hmm--my comment was eaten. Let's try again.
Sounds like a wonderful trip, Mary, that led to some equally wonderful books.
My favorite road trip was one we took last summer to visit the college in Eau Claire for youngest son. Then we went on to a family reunion in Minnesota. Gorgeous weather. A car load of relatives. We had a ball.
I've had many wonderful trips across the US so it would be hard to pick just one. The longest~and the coldest~was from my part of Texas to Glacier National Park by way of Colorado, Wyoming, the Dakotas and a few other states and a different route on the way back. I love car trips because of all the interesting places along the way to stop and enjoy that you would miss otherwise.
PS. Don't enter me for the books as I have them and have read them.
Hi Mary~ I have many wonderful memories of our trips to the Rockie Mountains in both the US and Canada, but the most romantic ones were at Mt. Cook in the Southern Alps on the lower island of New Zealand and the awesome fjords with their dramatic views and wonderful waterfalls. By coincidence we celebrated out 35th wedding anniversary. This may be the only time we have a two day celebration; one day was the US celebration day and the other was the day in New Zealand due to time changes. We, especially my romatic husband, thought this occurred just for us! Traveling is great!
I am so proud of you!
My favorite trip, next to the one Mary Brady mentioned in the blog, was a fly/drive to San Jose and then touring the California coast. Staying in the "caveman" suite at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo (sp?) The rest of the country was plunged into the worst cold snap in decades. Really though, it's all about the company you keep.
Linda, thanks for the backup. It's helpful for a first time blogger. Your travels and road trips are impressive.
jcp, South Dakota is extraordinary. I was sad to have to breeze through this time.
Kaelee, ah the good old days. There's a village in Yellow Stone that wasn't there the last time I was. Tiger sound like a great kind of traveling companion.
Ann Voss Peterson, Cody was a buzz through for this trip. We always say we're going to save time to saunter home, and we never do. I guess we just need more practice. Hmmm, intriguing.
Isabel Sharpe, I can see you all blazing a trail south for the fried chicken. Yum. Sorry in advance, just in case... I made anybody groan.
Liz, LOL. Thanks for the laugh and the comment about the picture. I loved being in Glacier Park.
Sounds like a wonderful trip, Mary! For the past few years our road trips have been on the Harley. The last time we went West we went through Yellowstone. You haven't lived until you've given the right of way to a humongous bull buffalo that crossed the road about 3 feet in front of the bike. Memorable :).
I love road trips. We drove from CA to Yellowstone on our honeymoon 17 years ago, hitting Great Basin, Dinosaur, Grand Tetons, and Glacier National Parks along the way. We took our kids on a similar trip a few years back and last summer we did Capital Reef, Bryce, Zion and The Grand Canyon. We used to have a portable DVD player for the kids, but it stopped working so now the kids read (or play slug bug)My 12 year old read the 7th Harry Potter in 5 days.
I can only read for a little while before I start feeling woozy, then I sleep or think up stories in my head. A lot of my characters are developed on long stretches of highway.
Mary, I've loved road trips since I was a child, and it's hard to choose a favorite. Some of the most memorable are ones I've taken in England. On my first trip there, my sister and I had a very ambitious itinerary and our first night's B&B host cautioned us that "In America 100 years is a long time, and in England 100 miles is a long distance." He wasn't kidding! There is nothing quite like driving on the left down two-way roads barely wider than my dining room table, lined on both sides with hedges except where sheep or cows wander onto them. But when the landscape does open up, it's amazing.
We, um, returned the rental car minus a hub cap on that trip. Fortunately, my British driving has improved since then!
Lori Handeland, of Night Creature fame, thanks for the visit. A car full of relatives, an adventurous romp in itself.
Ellen, "have them and have read them." You're a doll. Hope you have many, many more road trips and read a lot more SuperRomances.
Sandy, wow, two 35ths I didn’t know that one. Maybe it mean you two are heading for seventy and beyond. New Zealand would be a great place to trip around in. Thanks for visiting my blog, sis.
Joe, my real life hero. Thanks for taking time from your busy day to come and visit. I'm thinking about our next trip.
Hi Mary! I love road trips. I have done the cross country trip 3 times now. But my favorite road trips have all been with my hubby. We always have fun telling stories and joking with each other. This summer we are hoping to drive from our home in Indiana to visit my family in California. It will be the first time we do such a long road trip with all three kids, but I am looking forward to it none the less, lol!
Have a great day!!!
Hi Mary,
Beautiful book cover, Mary. Love your Glacier Park pic, too. We toured Glacier Park on our honeymoon, have taken many family trips west with our three kids, a few with our dogs. Now, one of our sons lives in Cody, Wy., so we get personal tours of his favorite discoveries when we visit. Gorgeous part of the country.
Mary, your photo and most excellent blog gave me a hankering for some travel. Our good friends are in Death Valley this week. We really wanted to go but are juggling elder care--the sort of elder who really doesn't care to get in a car and travel any more. Sigh.
Thanks for getting me out of my rut for a few minutes, at least.
Deb
Shari Anton, bull buffalo on a Harley at three feet. Sounds exciting, like something I'd want to "read only." You are very brave. Yellowstone on a Harley must be awesome though.
Kristina, you have seen some incredible scenery. Hope you get to see more and get a chance to create many more characters in your head.
Carrie Bebris, you are also very brave to drive on those roads even for research on Jane Austin. I've heard the signage in England is also a challenge. Hope your foot gets 100% and you get to go back soon.
alinaduffer, Indiana to California with all five of you? “Wow” is all I can say to any of you who do such a courageous thing. I hope the kids love it because you and your husband are giving them a great gift.
Carol Voss, Cody was a brief glimpse on our last trip. We saw a gunfight in progress there. We didn’t stop, but I made my husband drive around the block so we could see the guys in black with the guns from the other side. It was such fun. Inspirational you might say.
Debra Salonen, I feel like I know you ever since my first book “He Calls Her Doc” was piggybacked to your “Picture-Perfect Mum” for publication in Australia/New Zealand. It is so easy to get the travel hanker. Sorry you missed the Death Valley trip.
My favorite trip would be traveling cross counrty to Milwaukee to see my favorite cousins. Then we boarded a boat (which our fathers drove) and set out down the Mississippi River for a week. With 4 adults and 4 chldren we made it with only on thunderstorm and I am sure a few temper tantrums. What a week.
Sounds like a wonderful trip, Mary!
I love road trips, too. My favorite one was to Utah. I loved, loved, loved the scenery - stark, beautiful, and so vast. Bryce National Park was amazing, as was Zion. We hiked up the river in Zion, wading through chest-high water at some points. The smaller parks, like Arches and Canyonland, were beautiful as well, and there were hardly any people. Utah was the inspiration for five connected books I did for Silhouette a long time ago. I'd go back there in an instant.
One of my favorite road trips was with my father in a triumph spitefire. We traveled from Wisconsin to California. Left here in Jan. and had snow all the way to New Mexico. Lots of fun memories. I have also gone on a few fun road trips with you Mary. Lots of great memories.
I've always loved road trips. My favorites are the California coast and any time I've had the chance to catch a couple concerts in a row of a favorite band in different cities.
Ann, I've heard so many of the riverboat stories. It sounds like it was often an adventure. It's funny to think of the "fathers" driving the boat from the cocktail hour perspective.
Margaret, I think you should go back to Utah as soon as possible. It is such a contrast to the Midwest, I found myself almost always agog. Glad you got to go when you did.
Diane, we have spent some fun miles and hope to do so again in the near future. The Spitfire with your dad had to have been totally cool (or whatever the 20 somethings say today). Hope you get to travel more and more in the days to come.
Hi Mary,
I love your picture. I have been on many road trips. I grew up in Southern California in a Beach town (so I was very spoiled) We would drive to Mexico and camp on the beach. We also would drive up the coast to Monterrey and Big Sur. One of my favorite road trips was in the North Carolina mountains on my honeymoon. We would hike and see the most beautiful waterfalls
Darn, the system ate the brilliant responses I had composed. We’ll have to settle for these.
Ann, I’ve heard a lot of stories about the riverboat trips. They sound like a great adventure for the kids. Has me wondering about the “fathers" driving. If one of them drives a racecar now, they had to be silly young men at the time.
Margaret, I found Utah to be everything you said it is. It’s so full of angles and wonders. It sort of makes the Midwest seem so smooth and green and usual. I hope that made some sense and hope you get to go back soon, but am glad you got to go when you did.
Diane, we have done some unforgettable miles together. I wonder if I would have written Montana stories if we hadn’t gone there on, of course, a road trip. I hope you get to ride/drive for many, many more miles and that I get to do some of them with you.
Summer, two venues, same favorite band. Can’t say I’ve done it, but can say it must rock, no pun intended. Hope you keep road trippin’ for a long time. The California coast--dreamy. Okay, I’m done trying to elicit groans, at least for this post.
Very funny blogspot or my computer--because it couldn't possibly have been me, could it? So Ann, Margaret, and Diane got two responses each, not a big deal in the world of deals I hope.
Tammy, you grew up in a Southern California beach town. There are millions of us who dreamed of such a life. The beaches in the Midwest just aren't the same, especially when they are covered with ice and snow. Though I’ve only touched down and taken off in North Carolina, rumor has it, it’s a beautiful place and hiking is such a great way to see such sights.
My favorite road trip was with my DH. We drove from Portland airport to Vancouver, WA,then east along the Columbia and north to Spokane, WA, and further north up eastern BC, through the Yukon Territory all the way to Deanli Alaska and then back down along the western side of BC and WA back to Portland Airport. I found the national parks in Canada 100 x cleaner than any we camped at in the US. We did this trip in July. Our tent got snowed on at Pink Mountain somewhere in BC. We were in a warm springs where moose were chomping away nearby. We did it all in 8 days. It was amazing. Would love to do it again, but not sure I could handle sleeping in a tent on the ground anymore!
Oh yea, forgot to mention, living on an island means we have to fly somewhere to go on a road trip!
I gotta agree with Ann here; the houseboat trips on the Mississippi were beyond memorable. Our parents sure had patience hey?
The only other "road trip" that positively stands out in my mind was driving to Indianapolis for the Final 4 with my darling husband. We made a pit stop for White Castle (and needed every truck stop thereafter....) (thanks, Bill
He and I got into what we call our "Elmer Dinkly" characters and spent the entire weekend speaking with exaggerated deeeeeeep southern accents because we couldn't STOP.
Mary, you make me want to hit the road!
My favourite road trip was to Banff and Lake Louise.
My favorite road trip is the one I did last year- just me and my husband in a teensy tiny campervan. Which wasn't really a campervan at all, it was a van with a weird bed contraption in the back. I got the side nearest the door, with a piece of the mattress support that kept falling out! It was designed for twenty-something backpackers, not forty somethings (well, just turned fifty in my case).
We travelled around a small section of New South Wales in Australia- down the coast, inland, then around in a circle back to Sydney, about 1200 miles. we had great fun and didn't argue once. Well, excpet about which way to go. One of us can read a map and the other can't!
Never been on a real road trip, but my cousin's roommate had to drive his car back from another state and we took the scenic route through Michigan. We drove over the Mackinac Bridge. The view was amazing.
I don't guess i have ever been on a road trip but would love to one day. I would love to go out west just to see what its like.
What wonderful descriptions. I feel I'm experiencing all these trips with you all!
My favourite trip was the time we drove eight hours from Auckland to the topmost point on the North Island, passing beautiful seaside hotels and resorts, towns along the way.
Snookie, Pink Mountain, moose, snow, tent. It all sounds exciting. Everyone should experience that kind of wild and wonderful. I hope you still get out in the natural world from time to time.
Judy, you and Ann must have been the little ones on the boats. That has its advantages. LOL the relaxed demeanor that the southern drawl can elicit is addicting. You just want to slow down to that level of sanity and stay there. Thanks for the visit.
Rogenna, go for it. Sneak out in the middle of the night--but take your laptop with you.
chey, Banff and Lake Louise will always be a favorite of mine. Honeymoon—we had borrowed my parents’ camper and toured that area in luxury—a tent for us newlyweds would have been too hard. I hope you get back there.
I grew up on road trips :-) Well, in Australia you often don't have a choice as we are much more spread out than in the USA. In the state I live in, Queensland, you usually have to drive a minimum of 3 hours between towns on the coast and much more inland.
Road trips never felt complete until my Dad had found a dead end and a dirt road (often in the same place). He loves taking side roads so we never knew what adventure we'd have when we set out.
PS I just heard I was unsuccessful with my SYTYCW challenge entry. Did anyone else enter? How did you go?
waiting for the call, “One of us can read a map and the other can't!” LOL. Ah the twenty-something trips vs. the forty-something trips. They’re all good though. Hope you get the call soon. Australia, one of the places on my list.
Jane, that’s a road trip, a short one, but nonetheless a great one. I’ve heard the Mackinac Bridge is one heck of a sight. Also on my list of things to see. If your heart yearns for a road trip, make it happen. Some days we’d travel a couple hundred miles and then come to roost. That’s the great thing about road trips. They are what they are.
Virginia, pack up you undies and your laptop and take off. Start small and take it from there. If you can't, pack a cooler and get travel DVD's from the library and pretend. Invite a friend along on your "trip."
Nas Dean, North Island. Isn’t that one of the “trip of a lifetime” trips? Of course, you probably live a little closer to it than many of us and might be able to do it more than once. Anyway, I hear the trip is gorgeous. Glad you’re enjoying the posts. Me too!
I love road trips! We've traveled west several times to visit my FIL in Sundance, Wyoming. Last summer we went on to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national parks - both are awesome! In the 90s, we took the boys to Las Vegas and the Four corners in July. A bit warm.
Mary,
Awesome blog. Road trips are great if you have the time. I once drove to California in two days. Not cool at all. Keep writing those books. We love them.
My favorite road trip was from Southern Oregon to Northern California, Northern Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Northern Idaho, Washington and back home to Southern Oregon. The trip took 10 days and most nights we camped out.
Anita, “never felt complete until my Dad had found a dead end and a dirt road” LOL I think I like your dad. Hope you still have fun on the road.
Peggy, did you stand on the corner in Winslow, Arizona? Were you such a fine sight to see? (A nod to the songwriters Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, and "The Eagles" who made sure we knew the song). Hope you still get to do road trips.
Denise, California in two days. Sounds like lots of burgers and showers at the truck stop.
Exciting. Thanks for posting.
Estella, camping for almost 10 days in a row. Wow. Campfires smell so good and food cooked over them seems to be so tasty—maybe that’s because of the work that went into the meal… Makes me want to roast weenies in the fireplace.
Ah, you're evoking memories of a road trip I took from Wisconsin out West with my boyfriend when I was in my early 20s. The whole trip was just plain fun, but I'll never forget the blizzard in the mountains that forced us to pull over and sleep in the car because the twists and turns and ups and downs in the snow were way to scary! Thanks for the great post.
Mary, I loved your 1st book. The scene's you described made me want to visit Montana. I am so anxious to read "Promise to a Boy". My favorite activity in Jan. is curling up with my electric blanket, with the cat on my lap & a good book to escape the cold outside.
LOL--Mary, sneaking out! Now wouldn't that be something
Pam, snow in the mountains is best seen from dry ground as far as I’m concerned. The chicken side of me comes out when I’m faced with snow on mountain roads. I don’t want to drive and I sure don’t want to passenger. Glad you had a great time when you weren’t sleeping in the car…wait, boyfriend you say, trapped by a blizzard? Sounds like a book to me, but make the boyfriend the guy she thinks is her evil, sexy boss…
Kathy O, thanks for telling me you enjoyed my book. I do like warm blankies when the snow is flying and a fire in the fireplace and wine and a good man—er—I mean book.
Rogenna, you never know what kind of ideas you’ll get from a blog.
Mary, the place in your heart comes out in your words, and the picture is great, too. Logging 4557 miles anywhere is impressive -- you've got me beat. My own favorite road trip was a six hour trip to someplace ordinary in my first car with my best friend -- no time table whatsoever! But the most picturesque and romantic was from Denver, heading over to the Western slopes of the Rockies, and down all the way to Santa Fe and Taos. Back up north on the eastern side. We saw rural places, a lot of cattle, and great art in Santa Fe. The highlight? Mesa Verde State Park, a place so quiet you can hear the ancestors speak, and reach up and touch the stars one by one.
Anonymous, what a lovely post and a great way to end my day. Thanks.
I'm from Germany, so we do quite a lot of road trips here because it doesn't take us days to go from one end of the country to another. :)
ClaudiGC, hey thanks for commenting. Germany has some very interesting sights. The age of some of the towns and villages makes many a U.S. tourist’s jaw drop. The castles, vineyards, abbeys—so much to see.
I just took a road trip by myself in December to pick up my son from college. I took a bit of a back way because I am not a fan of the turnpike with the crazy speeds that people travel. It was interesting to see the different towns but I didn't have time to stop at different places since I had to pick my son up by a certain time.
Maureen, I agree about turnpikes and backways are almost always more fun. Hope your son is having as much fun in college as mine is.
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