One thing we are getting good at is being distracted. Phones, school, work, family, you know, plain old responsibilities, but there is a great way to get away from it all: the road trip. For the last year, I’ve been pretty busy, taking overloaded course-loads, working a few different jobs and being in one or two too many organizations. Was it worth it? Of course. Am I exhausted? You know it. So, here’s why I’m leaving tomorrow.

1. Adventure

This trip should be very different from my usual vacation. When I travel, there are deadlines, reservations, plans that need to be followed. Sure, this road trip has plans, but if they change, it is welcomed. We will be exploring the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., as well as one of the centers of American history, Philadelphia. What’s after that? Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Why? I don’t even know. There are beautiful mountains, large caverns and back-country camping – that’s all I know, but I’m looking forward to it!

2. Catch Up

The passenger on this trip is my best friend from high school and someone who I haven’t reached out to enough since graduating high school. The separation is just distance, when we get together, we pick up from where we left off. This vacation is to explore new cities and country sides together and share stories of the past and dreams for the future.

3. Recharge

Like I said earlier, I’ve been pretty ambitious over the last six months, and it’s taken a lot out of me. I’ve been sick a few too many times, stopped reaching out to high school friends and both look and feel exhausted on the daily. This vacation may not contain much sleeping, but it definitely will be a chance to slow down and relax.

4. Try New Things

It’s not just my parents who are nervous about me camping in the backcountry of a national park or staying in a room with strangers in big city hostels, but people do this all the time, why shouldn’t I? I’ve never been a hiker, but this national park is a hotspot for hiking and exploration. Staying in a hostel and back-country camping are completely new to me. I’ve never stayed in a hostel in the U.S. and am looking forward to meeting other travelers. Back-country camping? I’ve had nightmares of being mauled by bears, but I’m more anxious about all the mosquitoes. Being two broke college kids, my friend and I will be choosing two inexpensive ways of traveling – Hostels: $30/night. Back-country camping: Free (with permit).

In just a few hours, we will leave our hometown and head off for the unknown. With just our first night’s hostel reserved, we will figure it out as we go – surely with changing plans as we move along. Wish us luck as we try to squeeze every mile of gasoline out of the car, and drive just a little too fast down America’s highways on our way to adventure.