This article originally appeared in Travel+Leisure.
Editor’s Note: Travel might be complicated right now, but use our inspirational trip ideas to plan ahead for your next bucket list adventure.
It’s an annual summer ritual: piling the car with the kids and snacks for the drive to Myrtle Beach to bask in the sunshine and celebrate the Fourth of July. For one Travel + Leisure editor, that’s the power of a road trip, with its traditions, thrill of anticipation, and comforting sense of the familiar.
The appeal for others lies in setting out for the unknown, with the possibility of discovery and (mis)adventure around the next bend. After all, when the urge to travel strikes, hitting the road is the most spontaneous way to get your fix. Even a day trip can refresh your perspective.