Okay, so I was feeling super restless this weekend. You know, that “I need to get out of the house but don’t want to spend the whole day driving” kind of feeling? So I grabbed my phone and typed in “1 hour trips near me”. Let’s see how my little adventure went.
The Planning Phase (aka Google is My Best Friend)
First things first, I needed a list. I started just scrolling through results. I saw a bunch of options pop up – some state parks, a couple of cute-looking towns I’d never heard of, and even a pick-your-own fruit farm.
- State Parks: Always a solid choice, fresh air, good view. But I was feeling less “hike-y” and more “explore-y”.
- Small Towns: Now we’re talking! Antique shops, maybe a local diner…possibilities!
- Fruit Farm: Tempting, but I didn’t really need a giant basket of peaches.
I decided to narrow it down to the small towns. I picked one that had a promising-sounding main street, a place for coffee, and that was it.
The Drive Itself
The drive was pretty chill. I put on some music, rolled down the windows, It was mostly highway, so nothing too scenic, but it was still nice to be out of the city. I even passed a giant cow statue…things you only see on road trips, right?
Exploring the Town
The town was exactly what I was hoping for! It had this classic, old-timey feel, with brick buildings and little independent shops. I parked my car and just started to walk around.
First stop, the coffee shop. Got myself a huge latte, because why not? Then I just wandered. I found this awesome bookstore with all sorts of vintage books and, I spent way too long browsing.
I even stumbled into a little antique shop. I didn’t buy anything, but it was fun to look at all the old stuff. It’s like stepping back in time!
Lunchtime!
By this point, I was starving. I found a local diner that looked like it had been there forever. I ordered a burger and fries – classic diner food, it tasted amazing. Plus, the waitress was super friendly, and it felt like everyone knew each other.
Heading Home
After lunch, I did a little more window shopping. It was getting late afternoon, and I wanted to beat the traffic, so I started heading back.
Honestly, it was the perfect little getaway. I got to explore a new place, I enjoyed good food, and I didn’t spend all day in the car. I’m already thinking about where my next “1-hour trip” will take me. It’s a great way to break up the routine and discover something new, even if it’s just a few miles from home.
