Road trips are woven deeply into the fabric of the American experience as this big, open country and the independent spirit of her citizens lend themselves to striking out to explore all the varied landscapes and cities from sea to shining sea. One could say that grand tradition could be traced back to the westward expansion of the country, and that those pioneers in their covered wagons on the Oregon Trail provided a road map (excuse the pun) for all the modern-day road trippers to come.

These days, when our overseas travel has been curtailed and some wish to limit trips by air, more and more Americans are taking the opportunity to explore areas of the country they’ve not yet visited and hitting the road.  Whether undertaken in a well-appointed rented RV or a personal vehicle, they’re discovering there is much to see and do without taking to the skies.

For many years when our daughters were growing up, our school break vacations involved such excursions. For most of that time we lived several hours from close relatives, so most of our road trips consisted of treks from our home to theirs, with little variation in the route and a minimum number of stops. Still, we were fortunate to take in varied terrain and beautiful scenery along the way. On 12-hour drives from Twin Falls, Idaho, to Portland, Oregon, we’d start out along the Snake River, trekking past irrigated farmland, rugged lava fields and high desert. Part of the way we’d even parallel parts of the Oregon Trail and the route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Passing into Oregon took us past wheat fields, mountain rivers and rolling hills. The last hours brought us alongside the mighty Columbia River,  past enormous hydroelectric dams, snowcapped Cascade peaks, towering basalt cliffs and foaming waterfalls,  from desert sagebrush to lush green forests crowded with tall Douglas firs.

Once the girls were older, we enjoyed some longer excursions. Now, to be honest, there were stretches of those trips which certainly were not “enjoyed,” but even the more trying segments later became fodder for inside jokes and stories that elicit laughter. That’s one of my favorite aspects of road trips: Both the trials and the fun provide a chance to bond over those shared experiences and build up memories to be recalled decades later. And, too, we saw so many awesome sights. In Glacier National Park we watched as mountain goats meandered between cars in a parking lot and were awestruck at the steep valleys and enormous peaks along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.   We explored the geysers and thermal pools in Yellowstone,   spotted a wolf in the woods and gazed into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.   We hiked to a beautiful waterfall, spotting grazing moose along the way, in Grand Teton and marveled at the beauty of Lake Tahoe.

Later road trips to explore college options led us to the Midwest, through endless cornfields, to introduce the girls to the great cities of Chicago and St. Louis. We still reminisce about standing in line for Garrett’s popcorn on Michigan Avenue   and having a picnic supper in the shadow of the Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River in St. Louis.

Yes, we miss the ability to hop on a plane to visit far-off lands, but the silver lining here is that we have so much to explore within our own borders. Pack a suitcase, set up your playlist, stock the cooler with drinks and goodies and set off on your own voyage of discovery.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor