Why Taking the Scenic Route Makes a Better Trip

The scenic route of a trip makes more sense to take if you have the time. There are such sights to see when on your way to a new destination, making the journey the star of the show. From making memories to exploring for an adventure, here are some reasons to take a detour.

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Enjoying the Slower Pace

Unhurried travel meandering through stunning vistas, stopping off at small towns, and savoring the journey is more fulfilling than pushing past unmissable destinations. Discovering heartwarming places that become part of you is what makes a scenic tour worthwhile, especially when cruising through and stopping off at an RV park. Stopping means you can take in more of the local scenery and discover something magical no matter where you are on your journey.

A More Memorable Journey

If you aren’t paying attention, the world will pass you by, and what a waste that can be. On the road, it can be a little boring, but you never really know what is beyond the next pass or around the corner. Scenic routes can make a journey far more memorable with all that you can discover. Coming over the horizon, you can witness a golden sunset across fertile farmland. You never really know what you will see, and they can make a lasting impact you will never forget.

Taking the Scenic Route is Great for Photos!

Further to never forgetting, there could be remarkable photo opportunities just beyond the next corner on a scenic route. Photography is a hugely enjoyable hobby when you learn about lenses and photographic techniques. However, even phone cameras are pretty decent these days. You can also share from your phone instantly. 95 million images are shared on Instagram every day, and there are other apps for travelers to show off their scenic images.

A Little Bit of Exploration

Getting from point A to point B is the journey most people take. But what about everything in between? There is an entire world waiting to be discovered, and all it takes is a willingness to stop every now and then and consider exploring more than usual. Taking the scenic route encourages your inner explorer to heed the call of the wild and stretch your legs. Along the way, there will be new things to experience and unexpected opportunities for a fulfilling adventure.

Engaging the Senses

While you can enjoy a cold breeze on your face just as much as the dog with its head out the window, there is so much more to experience on the road. The land between cities is littered with glorious sights, aromas, and other sensory experiences that make a scenic trip worth the extra time and effort. Experiencing new things and engaging the senses are more likely to forge unforgettable memories that help you appreciate the journey in a much more profound manner.

A calmer and more relaxing experience is possible when taking the scenic route on your travels. There’s also the opportunity to feed your inner shutterbug and get some stunning shots along the way, all while engaging all your senses with the sights, sounds and smells of nature.

3 Ways to Get a Cheaper Flight

The U.S. dollar is weakening a bit and with travel already being expensive, that's not going to do you any favors. We're all out here trying to visit cool places, while also not going broke in the process, so how do you even accomplish that when things are so uncertain? Well, luckily, the dollar only dipped slightly, so unless that changes drastically, we're all still pretty okay. 

If you don't want to travel within the U.S., and I certainly can't blame you, even though there are amazing things to see and do in this country, here are 3 ways you can a cheaper flight. Don't worry, you can also use these tips domestically:

Travel during off- or shoulder-season

Everyone wants to go to Paris in the Springtime or Germany in September or Greece in the Summer, but what that means is that everyone is there. It's crowded, it's expensive, and it's kind of a nightmare. You can't see everything you want, your flights and hotels are going to cost more than you want to spend, and you'll have to stand in All. The. Lines. Instead, go during less in-demand times, because not only will you save money, you'll also save time and sanity. You may have to pack a light sweater or enjoy shorter opening hours, but it may ultimately worth it. 

We almost always take our big trip in September/October, and while the weather may be cooler and things aren't open as long, we get more things done, don't have to contend with massive crowds, and we save money overall on our trip.

Use your points

If you use the same airline(s) for your trips, chances are you have a lot of points built up. Get online and book all or even just part of your flight with points. I've used points to go round-trip to Vegas, we've used points to travel one way and paid for the way back, and we've also covered one person's flight and paid for the other. Maybe you have frequent flyer miles through a credit card or have accumulated a bunch of cashback through one. That's free money for your flight.

Book mid-week flights

More people want to be at their destination on the weekend, so they're flying on Thursday or Friday, the most expensive days to fly. Friday and Saturday are also the most expensive nights at hotels. Aim to fly Tuesday or Wednesday and early in the day. Sure, you may hate getting up at 4am to take that first flight of the day, but you'll also get to your destination earlier and you have a much lower chance of your flight being delayed or cancelled by something other than weather.

I'd much rather sleep on the plane or take a quick nap when I arrive than take a later morning flight that then gets delayed due to late flights and then I lose a good portion of my first day. Suck it up and take that first flight and you could save hundreds sometimes. Learn how to make your trip more comfortable so you can get some rest and enjoy your time right off the plane.

Did you find an awesome deal on a flight for any of your trips?

What's Everyone Doing for Their Summer Travels?

Summer travel is fast approaching and with the economy kinda tanking and people having problems of all kinds, 2025 is shaping up to be different than other years, especially in terms of travel. I know we aren't spending as much as we usually do on travel, and definitely not as much as we did in 2024, where we took 3 trips over the summer. This year we'll be heading back to Vegas, but we will probably do less or eat at less expensive places (or both).

So, how do your travels stack up to other Americans?

While we won't be going to any of the most popular destinations

this summer, we will be headed to France in the fall and will be staying in both a vacation rental and hotel.  Tell us where you're going and if you're spending more or less than average.