As a travel photographer and writer, I spot so many signs along the roads I drive that lead to the most interesting places. The world is filled with crazy roadside attractions, historic sites, amazing cities and towns, incredible restaurants, an abundance of natural beauty and so much more. I try to fit in as many of these places as possible since I am always intrigued by what could be waiting for me when I get there.
I tend to be a wanderer when I travel, and have often found that the next spot I stop is more amazing than my last. I find so many interesting places as I explore while making my way to my next destination that I really am the person behind the saying, “Not all who wander are lost”. I could never be lost if my next exit takes me to something incredible.
Could you be a “Take the Exit” explorer? I admit that the concept of just stopping at random sites on the way to your destination may sound a little crazy and not appeal to everyone, but just imagine what you might miss. Doesn’t everyone want to see the world’s largest Strawberry, taste some incredible wine, learn amazing history or be wowed by a beautiful town or city? Today’s blog includes a random set of sites I have seen while traveling to give a taste of the types of places that I have found while just taking the exit. I’ll also include some tips and tricks to becoming a take the exit explorer.
A geologists paradise with millions of years of the earth’s history is found in the Early Castle Valley and the San Rafael Plateau and Swell in Utah!
Small Towns are the best! You never know what crazy sites you may see or the incredible history that lies behind the making of a small town.
Strawberry Point, Iowa has the world’s largest strawberry! This15 foot fiberglass sculpture sits in front of city hall for a town named after its abundance of wild strawberries in the area.
How do you like to take trips and explore? Are you a planner or do you fly by the seat of your pants? It really doesn’t matter if you like to plan your “Take the Exit” trips or if they are just random stops. You may want to see as many road side attractions or visit as many cities as you can, just be sure that you keep your childlike wonder alive and explore!
Are National Parks your thing? The National Park Service includes an amazing array of places to visit and includes historic sites, parkways, battle fields, monuments, sea shores and many others. You can search by type, by state or region or as you are driving down the highway keep an eye out for the brown National Park Service signs and just “Take the Exit”.
There are many memorials and monuments that can be found along the roads throughout the United States. Some of these have signs, some may not, but all are worth stopping at. These tend to be spur of the moment spots for me as I notice them as I pass by. I have learned so much about an area or its’ people by just stopping for a minute and exploring the site.
Blackfeet Indian Memorial outside Glacier National Park in Babb, Montana
Do you love history as much as I do? I take every exit I can that leads me to explore more about our country and the people who live here. From coast to coast there are amazing stories that we can learn by just taking the exit and discovering what our history is about.
Has all this exploring gotten you hungry? One of my top “Take the Exit” destinations will lead you and your stomach to amazing restaurants, coffee shops, food trucks, wineries and tons of other places to satisfy your hunger.
I found some wonderful treats at Ferch’s Beachside Grille on the shores of Lake Michigan
Still wondering if you could be a “Take the Exit” explorer? Here are a few tips and tricks to help you make the most of your roadtrip travels.
- Don’t be in a hurry– Make the most of your side trips by giving yourself enough time to enjoy the exit you have taken. You won’t discover anything new or exciting if you feel hurried.
- Be curious– go into an area with an open mind and the desire to discover something new.
- Don’t research an area before you take the exit– Having the opportunity to see something for the first time is a gift, let yourself be wowed by the moment.
- Listen to the other people in your car– So the exit doesn’t sound that exciting to you, but if it has drawn the attention of someone else give it a chance.
- Take along a “Take the Exit” notebook– I always have a notebook in the car to write down signs that I pass that interest me. I may not be able to stop at everyplace on this trip, but I know that on a return trip I will have plenty of places to explore.
I encourage you to always “Take the Exit” for the next sign that intrigues you, because where you end up may be the most amazing place you have ever been.
Do you have a favorite “Take the Exit” location you have visited? If so, please leave details of your trip in the comments below. I look forward to seeing where your travels have taken you.
Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, at mile marker 317, we found a wonderful surprise. After driving along the parkway for the day, we needed a break and saw that there was a winery nearby. We decided to search out this “little place” and see what it was like. We were so surprised to see that what we assumed was a “little winery” was a large and beautiful estate. 
Carrie Hanrahan Photography 