Have you heard? I’m going on a two-week road trip for Christmas with my boyfriend, Mike. This is a far cry from the traditional Christmas, but it will be an adventure to say the least! Traveling from central Texas to explore Louisiana along the Mississippi onto New Orleans and finally making our way to the tropical Florida coast line – this will be a holiday to remember.
I will admit the idea of spending the holidays on the road was something I had to get my head wrapped around at first. Usually the holiday season is spent running from one Christmas party to the next, overeating a big Christmas day meal my mother had spent all day making and then of course eating leftovers for days. But it in the spirit of keeping an open mind and trying new things, I was ready to shake things up a bit and go on this epic holiday couple’s road trip with Mike.
Although this will be an awesome way to spend the holidays together, the thought has crossed my mind – “how will we keep the holiday traditions alive on the road?”
My first thoughts were create a fun holiday play list, find a travel size Christmas tree, decorate the car with battery powered festive Christmas lights, but then I realized it’s not about the stuff. It’s really about the person you are with and the experience of driving across country and making memories with the person or people you love.
Here are the top 5 ways Mike and I are keeping the Holiday tradition alive and creating our own traditions during our epic holiday couple’s road trip:
- Immerse ourselves in a culture outside of ourselves. We will be completely open to driving down a road we have never traveled before, talking to locals about their city and making new friends along the way on our road trip. Experiencing a holiday tradition different from our own, Bonfires on the Levee in Louisiana will kick off this goal of experiencing a new culture.
- Create new memories and a new tradition. As I said this will be Mike and I’s longest road trip together and our first Christmas … that’s a lot of pressure, but going with the flow and starting our own tradition, as a new couple, will make our relationship stronger.
- Keep our friends and family engaged on the road. I want to take everyone on this trip and show how traveling can open your mind and can heal your soul. So in addition to the new norm of social media, Mike and I will be sending a post card to family members and friends at every city. Sure we may arrive back home before anyone gets their post cards, but seriously who doesn’t like getting snail mail! (note to self…pack stamps)
- Tell stories. Similar to our first road trip, reminiscing of our favorite childhood memories, Mike and I will share our favorite holiday stories. And hey maybe one day we will be able to tell our children about the time we spent our first Christmas together.
- Ok ok…I’m still buying the little travel Christmas tree… but don’t tell Mike.
So, we’re hitting the road! And we want you to follow along as Mike and I tell our Holiday travel story this December. Some of the highlights you can look forward to are:
- A tour and night spent at Oak Alley Plantation on the Mississippi
- The lighting of the Bonfires on the Levee
- A jazzy New Orleans Christmas Day
- Ringing in the New Year on the tropical beaches of Key West
Have you ever spent the holidays on a road trip? If so, how did you keep holiday traditions alive? Leave me a comment, I want to hear from you!
Happy and Safe Travels, xx Jennifer
