Making Memories: Stories from a Cross-Country Road Trip

When you think of a cross-country road trip, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Unforgettable landscapes? Epic playlists? Pit stops at the sketchiest gas stations along the way? In my case, you could say all of the above lol It all started in September 2018, when a friend of mine who had previously moved to San Francisco, decided to move back to Atlanta and asked me if I could help her. Being the lovely friend that I am, I flew out to Cali, helped her pack up the Honda CR-V, and off we went.

Overall, the drive took about 4 days with some pit stops to sleep. Some obvious things to note: Make sure you have working A/C if you plan on driving across the desert at any point in time…we did not lol Also, try to time out your pit stops/bathroom breaks so you get to enjoy more of the experience of being on the road and marveling at the scenery. Most importantly, DO stop for pictures! Just sharing the story of driving across the country can be entertaining, but having memories/pictures to go with it can be even more fun 🙂 Now, on to the stops, in order:

Arizona

Arizona was probably one of my favorite stops on this trip, albeit very short. The scenery was phenomenal and we couldn’t pass by these cool murals (above) without taking a picture. There are a lot of people out there who would say the desert is just ‘a bunch of rocks,’ but for me it was something more. Those rocks represented a vastness I couldn’t even begin to comprehend in an extremely beautiful part of the country. It could also just be the Earth sign in me (Taurus gang, what’s up?!) lol After about 12.5 hours of driving, we stopped in Tucson for the evening and rested up for the next stretch of our trip.

New Mexico

New Mexico was really more of a pit stop for snacks and a bathroom break. We didn’t see much, but the gas station we stopped at had a cool souvenir shop filled with a lot of Native American memorabilia and sugar skull decor. I got a really cute sugar skull keychain, but sadly, a few years later the clasp broke and it was gone forever 🙁 That was New Mexico in a nutshell haha

Texas

Remember the Alamo! After about another 8 hour drive, we ended up in San Antonio, Texas. As someone who enjoys history, I was really excited to see this historical gem in the heart of San Antonio….until we got there. In my honest opinion, the idea that this 305-year-old building is still standing is pretty cool, but overall, the visit was underwhelming. With all the modern architecture surrounding it, this neat piece of history just seemed so out of place. If you look a few feet to your left, there’s a Starbucks on the corner. Disappointing to say the least (unless you’re a coffee addict, then hooray for you!) haha But if this kind of thing is your cup of joe, you can buy tickets here.

Louisiana

The highlight of the road trip: New Orleans! This was my first time in NOLA and it was only for the night, but it was definitely the most memorable part…mostly. Between the liveliness of Bourbon Street, the music, and the food, New Orleans is definitely a place everyone should visit at least once. Of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a stop at Cafe Du Monde. The beignets are to die for! Just add it to the list.

Another yummy spot I tried was Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco. If you enjoy Peruvian food, definitely check this place out! The food was delicious, and the service was spectacular. *Chef’s kiss*

For breakfast, if you want something a little more savory than pastries, might I suggest the shrimp & grits? I cannot remember the name of the place I got this, but the flavor was immaculate, and you can pretty much find this dish at most restaurants in the South.

But if you REALLY want a good time, head down to Bourbon Street and grab yourself a Hand Grenade drink. You’ll know why it’s called that after you finish it 😉 Just maybe figure out who will be driving the next morning before you do lol It was my turn to start the 7 hour drive back to Atlanta the next morning, but it just wasn’t meant to be hahahaha After a long nap, I was able to get my bearings and finish the last 4 hours home.

Mississippi & Alabama

Not much to say about these two. We just drove….and drove…and drove. Here’s a collage of all the state signs we passed. The end. haha