Our road trip across the USA was one of the most exciting and varied travel experiences I’ve ever had! Every state has its own unique vibe, and spending weeks on the road brought a mix of experiences that you can’t really get any other way.
For those who are curious, we drove from Miami (with plenty of scenic detours) to LA. It was everything you’d imagine and even more! If you ever get the chance to do it yourself, I highly recommend it if you haven’t already. Here are a few unexpected memories from our trip that have become unforgettable highlights for me:
1. Seeing someone play with a real live alligator! That was actually the first time I’d seen one, and I thought they just roamed freely in the wild.
2. Getting the chance to hold an alligator myself. It felt so strange!
3. Meeting someone from TV in California. Any Gossip Girl fans out there might recognize who I’m talking about.
4. Waiting eagerly for Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure in Orlando to open. We were the very first ones in the park and had the chance to explore before it officially opened. It felt like being kids in a candy store!
5. Running across Monument Valley hand-in-hand. If our road trip were to have a cover photo, this would be it.
6. Unpacking and re-packing in the desert. (Let’s just leave it at that.)
7. Fleeing from an impending hurricane. A big one was predicted to hit the southern states while we were there. Even though there was panic, with people evacuating, we decided to stick to our plans, hoping for the best. Fortunately, the hurricane backed off and turned into just heavy rain, which we managed to avoid!
8. Grabbing a drink at Moe’s Tavern!
9. Accidentally crashing a couple’s wedding.
10. Driving nonstop for over 8 hours across Florida! Thankfully, that was only a one-time thing, but it felt like such a long trek.
Other random, unphotographed moments included:
11. Getting a little lost and ending up in Chattahoochee. When we stopped for gas, the attendant, with a strong Southern accent, excitedly asked, “Why, what are y’all doing in Chattahoochee? Nothing ever happens here!”
12. Going tubing down one of Florida’s most pristine rivers and swimming with wild manatees.
13. Searching for Key Lime pie in the Florida Keys and finally finding an amazing slice in Birmingham, Alabama (it still counts, right?).
14. Experiencing a temperature swing of almost 30°C in just a few hours! That’s some extreme weather for you.