Road Trip Fun

Plan some road trip fun on the way to your next vacation rental.

Everybody's talking about the "drive-to" vacation in these challenging times. Something the 26% of Americans who take take no vacations at all (according to The Families and Work Institute) should seriously consider.

Earlier this year, I took a road trip to Santa Barbara -- seven hours each way -- and here's what I found:

Driving is part of the experience.

Lots of enforced alone time in the car trimmed back the distractions of home. I listened to some audiotapes ... all the way through. (I can never seem to find the time for more than short snatches at home.)

Driving puts me in a meditative state. I wound down from "overwhelm" to a more relaxed and realistic focus.

If my husband had been along, I know we would have had one of our great in-depth talks that always happen in the car on the way to somewhere.


New scenery along the road never traveled.

I covered some new terrain: the Paso Robles wine country, the bright-blue beach towns of Ventura, Carpenteria, Pismo, Shell and Avila Beach. I noticed signs for honey-tasting and navel oranges for sale.


Discovering a new place I adore.

In my 22 years in California, I had never explored Santa Barbara. What an incredible place -- gorgeous palm-lined beaches, top-drawer culture, history, world-class shopping options.

Bottom line?

Renting a vacation home is a perfect fit for these times.

Settling into a home that's not your own can do the same thing a good, long drive does for you. You feel comfortable, but without all the usual distractions.

A home setting makes it more attractive to stay in -- cook together, play games, reconnect. Saving money is fun.

It's so important to remember your blessings and make what really matters in life a priority when things beyond our control bear down so heavily.

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