Road Trip Rookies

London, Ontario - Marienville, Pennsylvania Nov. 11 - Nov. 13 2016

This was the trip that started it all.

Most people get the travel bug from lush beaches, week-long treks in the Outback, historical excursions in Europe — you get the idea. But for me, all it took was a three day road trip with the right people.

GPS set, car packed full, and music blasting, we left the city for a cabin in the Pennsylvania woods. At first, the mindset was simple — a quick trip to get away from school, work, and all the troubles of our twenties — but that soon changed.

As we crossed the border Friday afternoon, the excitement all but fading, the road led us to dinner at an American classic, The Cracker Barrel. We Canadians had to experience it, at least. For those that don’t know the chain restaurant, it screams home cooking and easy-living. The restaurant front is a wooden porch lined with rocking chairs, making one feel as if they’re down in the deep South. Inside is a store full of gifts, “old-time candy,” and the smell of biscuits and gravy greets hungry visitors. With this restaurant, there is no wrongdoing for meal choices. But whatever you chose, it’s recommended you get the “white gravy.” You’ll thank us later.

Stomachs full, we headed back on the road and almost instantly something sparked inside all of us. Our route brought us through multiple small towns, mesmerizing us with their charm. Sounds cliché right? But it was true. Houses with white porches and swings, proudly displaying the American flag, lined the streets. Old trucks filled up at gas stations. Couples sat outside of store fronts, watching traffic. Community centres with parking lots full of vehicles left towns empty as we drove through. Everything so simple seemed so incredibly beautiful.

The “small town charm” feel continued once we reached our cabin at Forest Ridge in Marienville, PA. We were greeted by the owner, Brian, an older gentleman who took care of the cabins and campgrounds with his wife, Lynn. He excitedly told us of all the local destinations and hiking routes for us to tackle, showed us to our cabin, and made sure everything was perfect (whether he realized it or not). Exhausted and excited for the morning to come, we unpacked and planned for the next day.

Waking up Saturday morning felt like waking up in a new life. The smell of a gas stove and crisp November air filled the cabin as the sun snuck in through the windows and wooden cracks. Living on a farm surrounded by woods, I thought I was accustomed to the beauty and stillness the morning brings, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Experiencing the Pennsylvania sunrise in the forest, having no worries other than “what are we going to do first,” breathing in crisp air, and watching deer graze was exhilarating.

After some brief exploring, we ventured into the neighbouring town, Kane, for lunch. “The Shamrock” served not only home cooking but friendly faces, as well. The locals knew right away we weren’t from their small town, so they were sure to tell us all about the National Forest and the adventures that came with it. Who better to take travelling advice from than the locals?

And it definitely paid off. We were sent to the Cooks Forrest in the Allgheny National Forest. We hiked the trails and found a Fire Tower and look out point for the sunset. From the top of the tower, mountains flowed behind rows and rows of trees, seemingly going on for miles. Lakes dusted the horizon line in the distance, making you feel so small but so blessed to be standing in front of such beauty.

And at that moment, my conscience spoke up. “You’re only 20. You have so much more beauty to experience. Life is so much more than due dates, definite answers, and stress. Look what’s been in front of you this whole time, waiting for you to discover it.”

That was all it took for the travel bug to have my heart and soul and spark my adventurous spirit. This trip hadn’t even ended yet and I was already planning the next.

We ended the night surrounded by the fire, eating the classic hot dogs and s'mores, reminiscing on the memories made earlier that day. It seemed that time had already flown by as we were mapping out the route home for the next day.

The Sunday drive was full of stops in the small towns we passed through on our way to Pennsylvania. One of the best stops, and most recommend no matter what your travel type may be, is High Valley, in Ellicotville, New York. Known for their ski lodges and laid back lifestyle, the little town is full of amazing modern restaurants, small gift shops, art galleries, and plenty of gear shops for the slopes.

Although the trip was short, it made us realize that it’s not the destination, but the adventure getting there and the people you meet along the way that matters most. Since that trip ended, we’ve decided it will be the first of many, letting the travel bug lead the way to the next destination.