You have quarantined long enough. The pandemic has turned you into a home buddy. And while you’re not one to complain, given you completely understand how social distancing matters in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, you are itching to go out and see the world.
Dear, the long wait will soon be over. As of the latest reports, 26.5 million Americans have already been inoculated against COVID-19. In no time, the majority of the country will have been vaccinated. By then, herd immunity will have been achieved, and things will slowly creep back to the old normal.
That means you and your trusty Subaru can once again go on an epic adventure. That is, of course, after you put it through a reliable Subaru routine maintenance. Chances are that vehicle of yours has been stuck in your garage the way you’ve been stuck in your living room wearing nothing but pajamas in the past months. Both of you need some tuning up before going on a road trip.
Once you’re both back in perfect shape, it’s time to gas up and see the world. Thankfully, you live in a beautiful country where there’s so much to see. Such as these:
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is not beautiful. It is sublime. It’s one of those places that make you reckon with life’s biggest questions. For instance: what to have for lunch? That is after a morning of gawking at a vast expanse of awe-inspiring topography.
In all seriousness, you can’t help but get serious once you’re in the presence of The Grand Canyon. And you can’t allow any plague to claim your existence without having seen this place first.
New Orleans’ French Quarter
This place is an amalgam of Southern, French, and Spanish cultures that dates back to the 1700s. It also goes by the moniker “Vieux Carre.” If you want to feel alive for consecutive nights of partying after being deprived of it for the past year, New Orlean’s French Quarter is where you should go.
Enjoy the architecture of the 78-square block area while bar and restaurant hopping. Join the Mardi Gras. Bask in some of the greatest music you’ll hear throughout your life. Meet some of the happiest people in the world.
While your Subaru’s parked at your hotel, join free walking tours of the city. They typically last two hours. You can pay what you want. Pay generously if you like the experience. It’s no time to penny-pinch.
The Windy City
When people from rural America or smaller cities decide to see the country’s big cities, they usually head to New York. That’s understandable given the Big Apple’s quite tasty and chewy. But you should not neglect The Windy City, too. That’s the city of Chicago for you. Oprah made this city her long-running but now-defunct talk show’s primary residence for a reason. It has everything you’ll want from a metropolis and more.
If you’re a foodie, you’ll have your fill of the most delicious food here. Chicago’s pizza can rival New York’s, especially those served in the family-run restos like Pizzeria Uno and Spacca Napoli. Partner your pizza with some of the city’s best craft beer. FYI, GQ once dubbed Chicago as the “Greatest Drinking City in America.”
Just make sure your blood’s alcohol level stays within legal limits when you drive to your next destination. Your trusty Subaru won’t like it if you drove it drunk. Nor will the police.
Lake Tahoe
You haven’t skinny-dipped for a long time. This is the best place to do that. But at least wait for when other tourists have departed and it’s just you and the lake and the birds chirping encouragement from surrounding trees.
Lake Tahoe is Northern America’s biggest alpine lake. Aside from skinny-dipping, here you can also try rock-climbing, windsurfing, and kayaking.
If you come in wintertime, you’ll get the chance to ski or snowboard with the most beautiful sights in all directions. Afterward, get warm with a mug of beer from one of Lake Tahoe’s popular watering holes like the Fox & Hound and Riva Grill.
The places included in this list are just the tip of the magnificent iceberg of destinations at your disposal. So do a little more research and come up with the best road trip plan. More than the destinations you single out to see, also consider immersing in communities and local cultures along the way. And no matter what happens, do not let your plans get derailed. Life’s been derailed long enough. It’s time to take it back.