It’s been said, ‘It’s the journey, not the destination.”
Similarly, it’s been said that the quickest way between two points is a straight line.
But when taking to the road, the most enjoyable way isn’t necessarily the most traveled. In fact, oftentimes, the opposite is true; back roads offer a unique glimpse of America — sprawling farmland, rolling hills, and timeless buildings only the countryside of America could offer.
Road trips, especially long ones, can be boring and uneventful. But they don’t have to be. Time permitting, they can be an excuse to get away and visit somewhere out of the ordinary or, if nothing else, take a leisurely drive through the countryside.
There are thousands of back roads and country highways offering an alternative to the nation’s thoroughfares. Taking an alternate route to a final destination can make a routine trip a little more enjoyable. And taking time to stop in small towns along the way not only provides a break from the ordinary; it affords the opportunity to visit places that might otherwise go overlooked.
Too often in traveling, we look for the quickest route. Our hurried pace usually dictates a tight schedule, not allowing time to stop and enjoy the sights along the way. But making time to enjoy the sights can better the whole road trip experience.
For example, on a recent trip to an Indiana racetrack, my friend and I took back highways from Lexington, Ky., our starting point. We had time to spare, so why not? At about the halfway point, we stopped for lunch in the small town of Madison, Ind.
And seeing what this Ohio River hamlet had to offer — unique shops and a local culture — was a nice break from the trip. And when else would I ever have visited Madison?
Later, we stopped in Napoleon, Ind. Likewise, we took time to scour the town’s stores and take in its unique culture.
Enjoying photography as I do, I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to document the scenery along the way. I snapped dozens of pictures of the sights and the towns along the roads on which we traveled.
Anyone can take the main roads. If you take them frequently, most interstates look the same. Sure, there are some stretches of interstate that offer nice scenic vistas. But on the whole, they lack the character of back roads.
Taking alternate routes turns a routine trip into an adventure in itself – you’re not bound to stumble upon a country crossroads in the middle of Interstate 75. In particular, the back roads of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana offer breathtaking scenery.
The next time plans call for a road trip, break out the compass and the atlas. And don’t forget rule No. 1 — no interstates.
Though a country highway is likely not the final destination of any trip, taking one can make the whole experience a little more enjoyable.
As Jimmy Buffett once sang: “On another road in another time, like a novel from the five and dime, take another road another time.