The premise is simple get in the car and drive. As the key is turned, the first question that pops to mind .... where to go? Before we start, there are a couple things that a road trip needs....... a destination and a theme. These could be anything really. For example if we take a look at the movie "the wizard of oz" you'll see this is really a road trip movie. Here Dorthy's theme is to find a way home. Her destination the Emerald city, OK maybe that's a stretch, never the less you get the idea. To me it doesn't really matter where it starts. Road trips by their nature usually take on a life of their own fairly quickly, but taking just a moment to think about how the theme/destination ratio will effect your trip may be well worth it. I'd always wanted to see the country, travel out west, go through all the parks, grand canyon, Yellowstone etc. So years ago our family set off across the country in an ancient RV. At the time we sold jewelry at craft fairs. In order to fund the whole excursion we had a craft show booked every weekend in a different state. So we had the theme of seeing all the parks and we had our craft show destinations. Now this worked out well in some ways and I certainly enjoyed it, however what we had was a rather rigid trip. Not only do you have a very specific place you have to be but you also have a time table. I think, looking back on it, that a looser schedule would have been better. Some structure is undoubtedly helpful, for example I took a road trip with a couple of friends in the Dominican Republic. Now here the theme was to at least once a day find someplace to eat fresh fish. The destination was "lets see what the other side of the island is like" Now that was an admirable goal however if your not careful a trip like that might end up getting only a few miles from town before it becomes seriously sidetracked for a week at the local tiki bar. This current trip does have some structure and purpose. The theme is to look for a warm place that I might like spending the winter months. I have been living for many years in Vermont and frankly while it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful states in the nation it also has a long and brutal winter. I for one am ready to spend winters in a place that has sunny and mild days. So that will be the theme, "look for a place to spend the winter" The destination I have generally mapped out as a big circular loop through the south. Starting and ending in New Orleans. This will be a brief one. I am flying in to New Orleans on march 3/21/09 and flying out 4/1/09 As I travel I'll try to post my thoughts and photos on the places I go. More to follow
