Florida... 12 days until takeoff

Ok, so takeoff isn't the right word, but "12 days until backing out of the garage" doesn't sound as good. Yes, we drive to Florida, and yes we know people think we are crazy. Yes, I have looked at a map and I know we live way up in New Hampshire at the tippy top and my parents are in Florida way down at the bottom. Yes, it's a lot of advance planning and the ride itself takes 27 hours to get there of straight driving. So why do we do it?

There really are two main reasons. The first is obviously the money. We require five round trip plane tickets which if we were lucky a few years ago we could get for under a thousand dollars. Not anymore. Then once we are down there we need to rent a car as the five of us can't all fit in my parent's car, so that is about another $500 for the week. For just getting there, that's a lot of money, particularly if we like to go down every winter. When the kids were little we tried skipping a year, but we missed it too much. Our week in February in the sun does so much for our emotional health, we won't give it up. When we drive, we figure we can get there for about $500. Last year we paid around $3 a gallon for gas, and spent around $200 on fuel. On the way home, we get a hotel room in North Carolina and do the drive in two days, so another $100 for that. Tolls, about $100 roughly. And we'll throw in another $100 for stops for food, Starbucks, and more Starbucks. (How do you think we get there in 27 hours without stopping?)

We've heard the arguments about the cost of wear and tear on the car, and knowing Jason he has worked up a spread sheet on it, but in reality, what the heck is a car for if you don't drive it?

The other reason we like to drive has to do with the time it takes to get there. We know we "lose" days of our vacation when we are in the car instead of sitting on the beach. But the trip itself has become part of the vacation. When was the last time you sat with your husband and kids and just talked for hours? Or played word games? Or sang songs? Or did crosswords together? When was the last time you and your husband told each other your dreams while your kids snored quietly in the back? Those hours are special too. Jason said he actually prefers to drive because he has 27 hours to leave work behind, and when he finally sits down on the beach, he is ready to enjoy it.

Yes, getting on a plane is convenient and quick and we do like to fly. But there is something about the drive that does something for our family. We find each other again.

Coming soon... Laura's road trip survival list!