While a good family road trip has no shortage of precious memories to make and bonds to foster with the kids out there on the open road, there’s no denying that bringing the whole family can limit things somewhat. It’s worth it to take the opportunity to get out, just you and your partner, your friends, or your other adult family members, to really experience everything that a good road trip has to offer.
Enjoy Some Real Culinary Adventures
One of the real downsides of traveling with children is that they often don’t exactly have the most exploratory palates. You might end up stopping in McDonald’s more often than not. When it’s just the grown-ups, you can skip the fast-food joints and plan routes that take you to the best eateries of the area, be it seafood towns, BBQ capitals, or wine country. Apps like Eaten make it much easier to find the best dishes in your area, no matter where you go.
Skip The Family Accommodation
Finding accommodation for your kids also typically means finding accommodation for families in general, which can mean mess, loud noises, and plenty of fussing. Adults-only RV parks like Cedar Meadow offer a far cry in terms of atmosphere and comfort. It can be a lot more relaxing to enjoy communal areas like clubhouses and outdoor picnic areas where you can enjoy some peace, or strike up a conversation with your fellow travelers without having to worry about keeping an eye on kids running all around the place. They can offer the rare feeling of turning a road trip into a real retreat.
Embrace Some Spontaneity
Lastly, when your schedule isn’t governed by snacks, naps, and catering to your kids’ needs for entertainment, you can get a lot more free-form with your route planning. You can take more scenic detours, linger at spots of natural beauty without worrying about bored kids, or stop at places that would only interest you, such as antique stores. When it’s just the adults out together, you can be less rigid with your itinerary. It’s still a good idea ot plan some highlights and options to hit up along the way, and sites like the Atlas Obscura can help with that. However, you can change your plans easily if something more interesting comes along.
Real Relaxation In Your Evenings
While you should certainly plan to enjoy your time with whatever other adults are on the trip with you, you can also make time for everyone to enjoy a little peace and quiet alone. You can enjoy relaxing by the coast with your feet up, having a relaxed read in your own space, or just taking photos of the scenery without having to constantly think about how the kids are doing.
Family road trips are most definitely worth the effort and even the stress (though the are plenty of tips to help deal with that), but if you’ve never had a grown-ups-only trip across the great roads of the country, it’s time to consider one.
