Although Spring Break recently came to a dreadful end as my newly bronzed glow already starts to fade back to a pale Wisconsinite skin tone, the memories of my previous week of freedom will always remain. My week consisted of pure bliss as I let the warmth of the Florida sun transform my skin into practically a new race. But perhaps lying in the sun and being a beach bum wasn’t the peak of my adventure.
Rather, the pinnacle of my Spring Break was actually the 16-hour road trip to Florida with my mom, brother, and my brother’s friend. Before you innately sympathize me for the extremely long car ride I had to endure, allow me to explain how driving to Florida would actually be fun. Although my body naturally started to cramp after the first five hours sitting in the exact same position, it was strangely but undoubtedly one of the best weeks of my life.
For starters, I love to travel. There is something about taking unknown roads, admiring new views and meeting new people that has an enormous effect on me. I must admit driving past corn fields and the bland sights of the Midwest was perhaps a little monotonous, but I instantly perked up when we crossed the border to the South. I guess the temperature change had a small impact on my high spirits, but nonetheless I have always admired the unique culture and breathtaking landscape that the South has to offer.
One place in particular that has always caught my eye, as I always insist stopping there, is Nashville, Tennessee. Ever since visiting Nashville for the first time a couple years ago, I have promised myself that I will one day live there. I fell in love with the luscious green rolling hills and the southern hospitality that every person lives by in this quaint city. The liveliness of the Broadway street lit up at night and the extreme emotion behind each country song sung on the streets by striving artists gave me the chills as I admired the city around me. I couldn’t wait until one day I make this place my home.
Our adventures in the South continued as a traffic jam caused an unexpected change of events while in Kentucky. To maintain our expected time of arrival, our group consensus was to take a back road. While trapped in the endless line of cars, a friendly truck driver next to us gave us off the map instructions to the uncharted road ahead of us. Once on the directed path, we quietly chuckled as wondered if we were on the correct road. This narrow gravel road looked quite unpromising as there wasn’t sign of civilization for miles ahead. We looked at each other, shrugged with curiosity, and decided to take a chance.
And that is the beauty of any road trip you decided to embark on. It is just you and the road ahead, with no sign of promise and no promise of your desired destination. Luckily, the road did indeed take us in the right direction after countless laughs and screaming out the lyrics to our favorite country songs on the radio. We didn’t expect to go off course, but it gave us a new perspective of the South’s beauty. Driving in the sun set on this long, meandering road, I kicked my feet up on the dashboard, put on my favorite shades and embraced this moment as the Southern sun beamed through the car windows.
Needless to say, this road trip opened my eyes to something different than my regular daily life in Wisconsin. Thus, I urge all of you to try something new in your life. Take a road trip. Leave your map behind. Bring along great people and have the time of your life.
