Many people love the idea of an adventure, but not everyone knows how to actually have one. For me, going on an adventure starts with a rough idea of where you want to go or what you want to achieve, but staying open to things going wrong, because often it’s the unexpected moments that create the best memories.

There are two types of road trips. One is meticulously planned with scheduled stops, breaks, and specific arrival times, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that approach. For instance, if you’ve taken two weeks off work to road trip around Europe and you don’t plan your route or stick to it, chances are you won’t cover as much ground as you hoped and might end up still in France when you need to be back at work. So, sometimes a detailed plan is necessary.

The type I’m more excited to talk about, and my favorite, is the unplanned road trip. This is the kind of trip where you’re on holiday or with some friends, you have a free day with no set plans, and you decide to go exploring.

That’s precisely what happened to me not long ago in Croatia with some friends. Knowing we had a spare day, I marked a few places on Google Maps that I’d like to check out. Some destinations were ambitious, and others were nearby, because you just never know what might happen along the way. For example, you might take a wrong turn and get a little lost.

Here’s why I love getting lost on a road trip:

1. You start observing your surroundings more, instead of just following the GPS. Technology has made our lives easier, like using Google Maps to navigate an unfamiliar country. But it has also made us lazier, relying too much on a screen instead of our own senses. When technology fails, you begin to pay attention to road signs, landmarks, and the world around you. You might notice animals, trees, sunsets, and other fascinating sights.

2. You discover random places you weren’t planning to see. Between the wrong turns, detours, and searching for signs, you might find something interesting. For instance, on our Croatian road trip, we were looking for Krka National Park’s famous waterfalls, but our GPS took us to another part of the park. Instead of being annoyed, we stumbled upon a beautiful spot we didn’t expect.

3. You might need to stop and ask for directions. If both your navigation skills and the GPS fail, you’ll have to engage with others. While it might seem like a hassle, talking to strangers is one of life’s simple pleasures. You never know who you might connect with, who might become a friend, or who can suggest cool things to do.

4. You get more singing time in the car. What’s more fun than a road trip mixtape filled with classic songs? Time flies when you’re enjoying yourselves.

5. You take unique, non-touristy photos. Often, other people’s photos inspire you to take the road trip in the first place. While landmarks are great, discovering random spots allows you to take unique photos that tell your own story, making your holiday memories even more special.

6. You create the best memories. It’s easy to say getting lost can be a blessing when you look back on it. At the moment, it can be frustrating, especially if you’re tired or in a hurry. But if you adopt the mindset of “there’s nothing I can do about it,” and think, “what can I do from here?” you might find that these wrong turns become the most talked-about and cherished memories.

So, after all, there are lots of advantages to taking a wrong turn, right? Can you think of any others? Of course, after all the detours, it’s nice to finally arrive where you intended and get those much-desired photos.

Have any of you been on a road trip and discovered somewhere completely unexpected?

Love as always,
Mollie