With the summer coming to a close and the Labor Day weekend fast approaching, how about a fun and healthy activity that will lift your spirit and ad some spice to your weekend. Take a road trip!
This past weekend, a friend and I drove down to Columbia, SC. My friend was interested in the University of South Carolina for grad school and I own a car - so we made a trip out of it. We left early on Saturday and drove down through Virginia, North Carolina, and into South Carolina. The trip was fun and relaxing. We took our time, listened to music, played license plate games and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
The best part of the trip were all the unplanned things that happened. We got lost in Columbia and couldn’t find our hotel. We ate at a diner and chatted with the locals. We ventured off the freeway and saw what the Carolinas had to offer. If you avoid rushing to get somewhere, road trips allow you to leave your troubles at home, break your routine and keep your stress level down.
My one difficulty with the trip was the lack of food choices. I was amazed at the number of Waffle Houses, McDonald's and Cracker Barrel's at every rest stop on the interstate highways. It seemed that all the food choices were unhealthy and it took some searching to find a convenience store that sold fruit, yogurt, low-fat sandwiches and other healthy choices. This is another good reason to get off the highways and explore the small towns. You may just find a great local restaurant with healthier options. Or if you don’t have time for a scenic trip, bring some healthy snacks and load up on water - and don't forget your camera!
So grab a map and look for a destination that you’ve always wanted to see. Or be really spontaneous and throw a dart at a map of your state or the U.S. And head to where the dart lands. Now that's an adventure!
Justin – A Lumen
