This past weekend, I took a road trip with two of my best friends to go visit another one of our best friends. Sure, Delaware to Maine is only eight hours or so, but the sense of adventure and independence still remains.
A road trip, no matter how long or short, is something I believe is essential to letting go of the stress around you. Sure, I was sad those eight hours, having to leave home after only a week of being there. But after hours of blaring music and cruising down the road, it was difficult to stay sad during a road trip.
My friends, amazed by the mountains around them as they brought me back to school today, constantly stopped to take pictures of the scene before them. They weren't used to the trees in Maine as opposed to the much more urban life in Delaware. I laughed because their eyes lit up at the sight of so many trees and mountains. It's a memory I will cherish forever.
The eight-hour trip from Delaware to Maine is what I'll cherish the most. The mutual agreement on when to stop for food and where, the superb music choice and the amount of jokes we made are all memories I wouldn't trade for anything. Some of my closest bonds with friends, family or anyone have been made strong because of a road trip together.
When you're in a car, crammed together with a bunch of people, you're going to want to get to know them. You'll talk, you'll laugh, you'll want to hang out again. Even staring at your phone for a few hours gets boring at some point, and you'll eventually have to talk.
This is just my experience of taking road trips with friends. There are fights over when you need a coffee or when you absolutely have to have dinner. It's not a perfect experience. However, they're some of my fondest memories and have always been a wonderful time.
Road trips are always fun, both the trip and the destination. I love the open road and would encourage anyone who's thinking about packing their car and going for a drive to do it. Even if it's just for a spin around the block, sometimes a drive is all you need to clear your head.
