Issue #68: Things I Learned on my 18-Day Road Trip
How figs are made, real thoughts on South Dakota, and many more flyover country thoughts
We spent most of April (18 days to be exact) somewhere between our home in Seattle and the Midwest. The plans started as a long weekend in Montana with friends, but then my husband got a new job, and it presented us with a random week of no obligations where we could sneak in a trip back to Minnesota to visit family. That trip was extended when he chatted with his new boss and then decided that meeting in the corporate headquarters in MN would be a better place to kick off his first week. So an 18-day plan was hatched.
Road trips are nothing new to us. We’ve been cruising around the country as often as possible. We’ve made the trip from the East Coast to Minnesota countless times, plus spent the two months leading up to COVID lockdowns, living out of the car and exploring national parks. We are old pros at this point.
Much of our trip this time was catching up with family and spending time with friends, so a full-blown recap seems silly. Instead, I wanted to share some of the lessons I learned (or was reminded of) while we were on the road.
15 Lessons Learned (or Relearned) on our Recent Road Trip
Silence in the car isn’t the worst thing ever.
When I was little, there were times when my brother and I were busy reading or playing games in the backseat, and my parents would just be sitting silently in the front. I always thought it was bizarre behavior—how could they just sit there staring out the windshield? Now that I’m an adult, I love a little silent stretch in the car.
Many figs have dead wasps inside them.
Find friends who constantly surprise you with random fun facts. Our friend Johnny dropped this knowledge on us, and it became an instant deep dive on our devices around the dinner table. These fig wasps aren’t as scary as they sound, but they do cause some debate within the vegan community, and it’s fascinating.
Read more here if you want your mind blown.
High altitude impacts me more as I get older.
This trip to Montana was the first time that I really got sick from the altitude. Sure, the glasses of wine might not have helped, but there was one day when I felt miserable and had to return to town for a few hours. It was an essential reminder of how important it is to stay hydrated.
Espresso martinis cover a wide range.
I didn’t think I had ever had a bad espresso martini, but I also wouldn’t call myself a cocktail expert. Now that I’ve had one at the lodge at Moonlight Basin, I don’t know if I’ll ever enjoy another in the same way. With the fire roaring in the giant stone fireplace, the mountain filling the large picture windows, and a collection of my favorite people, these were just top of the line.
Disposable cameras are fun again.
In an attempt to have our phones around less on the trip, we brought four disposable cameras, and it felt very nostalgic. It was fun to wait until we got home and then have them developed. Using them for special occasions, like trips and celebrations, is totally worth it. Highly recommend.
Cowboy towns are my jam.
We finally got to visit Sheridan, Wyoming, and it was exactly what I hoped for. For some reason, it’s been on my wishlist for years, and we spent a night there exploring on this road trip. It's picturesque, with the Bighorn Mountains in the background and cowboy statues and artwork up and down Main Street. If you are planning a stay, check this hotel out. It’s in the perfect location. And grab a drink at the Mint Bar.
I think I’ve been to South Dakota enough times.
Don’t get me wrong, South Dakota is a great road trip destination. But I have done it probably eight times, and I think I’m over it. The Badlands are incredible, but I’ve visited in multiple seasons. Everything else is really a one-time visit, and I’ve pushed it by visiting each time I’ve driven through. We even returned to Deadwood for lunch and didn’t love it this time. Maybe it was all the “Gulf of America” souvenirs and rude people, but I think I can just call it good on this for a while.
Here are six road trip stops you cannot miss (regardless of how I feel, there are some unique stops here that everyone should see once).
Marty loves prairie dogs and chickens.
Our dog had the time of his life on this trip. He visited multiple national parks (staying in the car and following all the rules) and saw prairie dogs in the wild. He was obsessed. We also brought him to my brother’s house, where they have eight chickens. I don’t know which he liked more.
The United States history class focused so much on wars.
Somehow, in the middle of Wyoming, we realized that we knew little about the late 1800s after the Civil War. So much of the history classes in school were focused on wars and not much else. We dove into the American History Tellers podcast and listened to the season on the Gilded Age. Learning more about the wealthy back then and the formation of labor unions was so interesting. I like that this podcast splits up seasons by topics. It makes great road trip entertainment.
Apps make any food fast food on a road trip.
Let me just state the obvious - fast food restaurants are trash for anyone who doesn’t eat meat. Maybe you think they are trash even if you do eat meat, but at least you have options. We got smarter on this trip and used the internet to place pick-up orders at real restaurants so the food would be ready when we arrived. Some cities didn’t have much, but we could always find something, and it felt like a much healthier road trip than others in the past.
Beekeeping is fascinating.
My sister-in-law became fully certified as a beekeeper this spring and is just getting started with her hives. Two colonies are living in their backyard, and we got to see them up close. Each box has a queen and thousands of bees ready to work. We put on the full beekeeping suits for protection and learned more about her weekly inspections. It’s so cool to learn from her and see how things work.
I listen to a lot of goblincore music.
My Spotify daylists have featured a lot of “goblincore” lately, and I love it. I have no idea how they define that, but I love the idea of listening to something a little strange and spooky.
Packing cubes are great for road trips.
This kind of trip could have been a nightmare to pack for. We needed winter mountain attire, first-week-of-work outfits, leisure hanging with friends and family options, and comfortable road-tripping clothes. Enter the packing cubes. We organized by type of clothing and then only packed the suitcase with the current needs and left the rest tucked under the boards in the trunk. It felt so organized amidst all the chaos. We did laundry at every opportunity and never struggled to find what we needed.
Our luggage and packing cubes are from this incredible company, and you can get $40 off with this link if you’re in the market for them, this link will get you $40 off.
Road trip snacks are like airport drinks.
There are no rules.
Those who don’t road trip are missing some incredible places.
Flyover country is stunning. We love driving through Montana and have seen some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises on I-90. If you’ve never taken a longer road trip, you’re missing out on cool towns, epic scenery, and a side of America that doesn’t get much attention.
One of my favorite US road trips was through New England in the fall. Take this as your sign to plan your own.
We listened to this audiobook on our trip and it did not disappoint.
Tariff prices have me a little scared, so I replaced my sneakers this week with these comfy shoes and a pair of these everyday sandals, so I’m set for summer. I’ll be watching the price because I’m curious how it may change.
Here’s a travel story that is much crazier than anything that’s happened to us. Maybe don’t read this if you are a cruise person.
I have shared a list of our road trip essentials and the US road trips you absolutely cannot miss.
Have you been to Bozeman, Montana? It’s crazy how fast it’s grown. They call it the Bozeman Boom, and it’s a fascinating topic and a study in city planning.
I just started this non-fiction book about happiness and began rereading this American classic. It feels like a good start to my summer reading.
Hope this gave you a little inspiration to plan a summer road trip this year. Let me know if you have any plans.
Cheers!
Steph
**Reminder: Some of the links included are affiliate links. Purchasing through them may give me a few pennies, but it won’t cost you any extra. The pennies help me justify the amount of time I spend watching bad TV to share with all of you. Another way to help is to share this, hit the like button, or even drop a comment with something you have loved this month. And if you’re really inspired, you can pledge your support.