Perspective

The lure of the open road

I GET THIS HAPPY, elated feeling when we head out on a road trip. Maybe you do too. As home fades farther into the distance, the details and stresses of daily life fade away too and the lure of the open road pulls me along. Where will we go today? What might we see? What adventures await? It starts with an idea, maybe a suggestion from a friend, maybe a story in a magazine (see below), maybe a random picture on your screen-saver. And for whatever reason, it hooks you, and that idea starts to bake, and maybe you get a little obsessed with it and do some initial planning until one day you say it out loud.

“Honey, I think we should drive down to San Carlos in Sonora.”

“Where?”

“Well, it’s maybe six hours south of Tucson. I think we could be there the next afternoon if we leave at 4am the first day.”

“O…K…?”

“It’s about the closest nice beach and we can get a house on the shore at a good rate and maybe camp in the dunes for a few nights.”

And then you look at some maps and find some pictures on the web and talk to the kids and before you know it, you’re pulling out of the garage at 4am, eating breakfast in Santa Fe and checking into a hotel in Tucson.

The long drive is remembered for the meal stops or the occasional crummy bathroom or outstanding scenery, not the “are we there yet?” grousing. What you do remember is the hike up the hill for the great sunset and paddling around the bay in clear water with dolphins jumping nearby.

Not all road trips have to be life-changing epics. We live in one of the best spots for a quick road trip—a long weekend will do.

We’re kicking off an intermittent series this month that spotlights one family’s road trips along with highlights and recommendations, complete with websites. Katie Harris had been a regular contributor to RM Parent and we’re excited to welcome her back. The first place that she takes us is the Black Hills in South Dakota where she details family-friendly excursions based on what she and her family experienced.

I hope that her stories become those little bits of inspiration, along with some solid information, that help you motivate to head out on a family adventure.

I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes us next.

Bon voyage,

Scott SEPTEMBER 2022 • Volume 26, Issue 4

PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan Harting susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com COVER PHOTO ISTOCK

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson, Lynn U. Nichols, Claire L. Sable

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING PO Box 740 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Voice 221-9210 • Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com

Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not consitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2022 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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