As I’ve gotten older, I’ve really come to love road trips. I’ve spent a lot of time driving from place to place, and what used to be a chore has turned into something I really enjoy. Most of my travel involves flying because of time constraints. I enjoy flying, but I’m not a big fan of airports, crowds, and lines. Time and the changes in air travel that have happened over the years have given me a different perspective.

Driving gives you a chance to see everything you pass. If you have the time, you can stop and look at all the beautiful spots, eat at the little diners, and get to know more of this amazing world we live in. As a business traveler, I’ve been to most of the big cities (and many of the small towns) in the US and even a few in Europe. I cherish all of those experiences. Driving through the Alps in Switzerland and Italy is like nothing else. Driving through the Rocky Mountains is its own dramatic experience. Riding through the Appalachian mountains and the causeway across Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana are also special memories. The PCH (US Highway 1) in California is also very special to me. But these are places you can really only experience by car (or motorcycle).

Riding a motorcycle, or even driving with the windows down, lets you smell the places you go. Green trees have their own smell, especially pine and cedar trees. So does rain on the hills in Ireland. Or freshly tilled fields on our own plains in the US. It’s calming. It’s nature. It’s connectedness. I’ve never experienced this traveling at 500 miles per hour in an airplane at thirty thousand feet. That said, I have had a few opportunities to add a boat passage to a road trip and it’s so worth it! Crossing Lake Michigan from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Ludington, Michigan was a wonderful addition to our motorcycle Circle Ride. Likewise, my World War II history tour in Europe included a cross-channel ferry trip from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. The sea has its own smell.  

I can’t stress enough how amazing it is to eat well. Once, I had a layover in Los Angeles that turned into a two-day adventure because of some airline mishaps. If I was stuck, I was going to make the most of it! I rented a car and drove up the Pacific Coast Highway from LA to Malibu. I explored the coast road and the canyon roads, and when I got hungry, I stumbled upon Bob Morris’s Paradise Cove Beach Cafe. I indulged in fresh seafood and sourdough bread, and then I walked along the beach. It was pure California magic, and I was almost glad I had been stranded by the airlines.

My friends Andy, Uly, and others in our group have turned our passion for small local dining into a hobby. We combine it with our love for motorcycle touring. Here in Michigan, we have a treasure trove of amazing places to explore (microbreweries, tap houses, diners, pizzerias, and so much more). And guess what? In neighboring Ohio and Indiana, these incredible places are never more than a few hours away.

Taking on Road Trips has been an incredible addition to my life’s adventures, and I highly recommend it for your next journey.  

Neushwanstien Castle, Bavaria, Photo by Author

The Stelvio Pass, Italy, Photo by Author

Snack Pretzels, Marienplatz, Munich – Photo by Author

On the road to Yellowstone, Wyoming – Photo by Author