Tuesday, June 8, 2010

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"Backroads or Highways?"

Summer.  Vacation time.  Relaxing. Time to think of jumping in the car and taking off to ... somewhere. Car-travel is my favorite way to go because it allows you to get off the the busy interstates and actually SEE something. Fortunately for me, my husband John also loves to exit the interstates; at least, when we're not on a "we-have-to-hurry" trip.

Back-roads and out-of-the-way places are for me. Don't get me wrong.  I also like the cities with the coffee houses, the little shops, nice places to eat.  It's not an "either/or" question with me.  For some city lovers, though, it IS an "all or nothing" question; meaning all city or nothing!  I like both.  But, I REALLY like to search out those little out-of-the-way places - the unique places.  It's so nice to come upon some little town you didn't know was there until you saw it, and realize, "Hey!  This is a cute little place.  Let's stop and look around ...".

You can still find, in some small towns across America, little shops and cafes that are not part of the "usual" chains of stores and restaurants.  Something different.  Something special to that particular area. It is always exciting to me, when traveling, to come across a place that does NOT have the same old department stores, the same old book stores, the same old eating places.  You can go from one coast to the other in our country and almost think you haven't left home, because the same stores and restaurants show up that you just thought you were leaving behind for awhile!

Oh, but take those back-roads and look for those out-of-the-way places to find something different.  Instead of tensely watching the traffic on the interstates as you drive,  you can relax as you drive and actually SEE things along the way.  So much nicer.  Easier on the blood pressure.

Small towns and country places have often provided me with such interesting and unusual stories, histories of the area, some great photos - and sometimes just plain "oddities" to inspect.  Everything from that tiny and strange Elvis museum-cafe in rural Missouri to the very bizarre small hunting-lodge-cafe in the middle of a forest in Belgium.  There's usually always something worth stopping for in those out-of-the-way places ...something to see, places to eat (which are sometimes not so good, but often are). 

If you never take the back-roads - give it a try this summer. You just may be very pleasantly surprised.  With a choice ... when we don't have to hurry ... when we just want to relax and "meander" ...  then it's the back-roads for me.


"Back-Roads or Highways?"

Give me trees, grass and soil.
Narrow, winding roads -
driving without toil.

Open skies above me,
farms and small home-towns to see -
roadside cafes and locals,
travel that allows me to "be".

-Sandra Mers Clayton- 

"Roses and Onions"

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