It was 3 a.m., cold and very dark. We were tired. A warm, soft hotel bed was the only thing on our minds.
The exit off the Massachusetts turnpike to our hotel was closed. We took the next one and ended up in a dirty back alley and – crap – driving the wrong way down a very narrow one-way street.
As far as first minutes of a vacation in Boston go, it wasn’t so great. We were having almost as much fun when a drunk man started knocking on our car door as we sat looking at a map in a CVS parking lot.
I couldn’t help thinking how we got here in the fist place. It was a few months ago stuck in traffic on Interstate 95. As we inched along for more than an hour, Rachael suddenly turned to me and said, “We should go on a road trip.”
She’s always saying random things like that, so I didn’t think much of it.
“Yeah, definitely,” I replied. “Where should we go?”
Keep in mind I didn’t think we were actually going. So when she blurted outæ”Boston!” I just shrugged and said, “Sure.”
“What’s in Boston anyway?” I thought. As I found out a month later, quite a lot.
We went from talking about all the things we were going to do to planning them. Three stops – Boston, Washington D.C and Cape Cod – in a week with 3,000 miles to cover and about a grand to spare. Yeah, it was ambitious, but we had some help. Between half a dozen maps, a AAA tip itinerary and a whole lot of trial and error, we made our trip – and enjoyed every minute of it.
Here’s how we did it. Whether you plan to take our trip or go your own route, adapt these tips to help you on your way. Learn from our mistakes, and maybe you can avoid being lost in Boston at 3 a.m.
Tip #1 – PlanningBefore planning your road trip, find out if a family member has a AAA membership. My mom pays about $40 a year for hers and let me borrow her card. AAA will give you maps, tour books and create a personalized trip planner – including arrows and highlights – to get you where you want to go.
Tip #2 – LodgingWhen booking your hotel, use the AAA tour book to find affordable places in the area. The book gives prices, but don’t be afraid to ask for discounts. Don’t be shy – tell the hotel your price range and ask them to check others in the area. Most hotel chains own several in an area and can easily check for you. And when you get a price that sounds good, ask them to hold it – you can always call back and cancel. We called more than 30 hotels and saved over $400. Also keep in mind hotels offer late checkout – just remember to ask.
Tip #3 – DrivingIf you’ve got a radar detector, take it down in Virginia and Washington D.C. Although you might find contradicting info online, it’s legal in all other states. Also, watch your speed in Georgia – there were tons of cops. If you’re driving through Virginia, try to do so during the day. The speed limit varies and the roads curve a lot. There are also strange signs: “Speed limit enforced by aircraft.” We didn’t see any planes, but these winding roads have their share of highway patrol.
Tip #4 – Must-see pit stopForget South of the Border in South Carolina. Keep driving until you hit exit 97 off Interstate 95. JR Discount Outlets in North Carolina is a great place to get cheap roadside souvenirs. This warehouse-like department store sells everything from bed linens and cowboy hats to porcelain dolls, cigars and wine. Don’t worry; you can’t miss it. Billboards for this must-see pit stop dot the side of the road for at least 30 miles.
Tip #5 – Car snacksDriving for hours can be quite mind-numbing. Make sure you have good snacks. Our suggestions: Starbucks Double Shot Espresso cans, Cheese balls (only $1.09 at Winn Dixie and easy to eat in the car), Pringles, Teddy Grahams, sour gummy worms, Nerds and Goldfish.
Washington D.C. tipsStay just outside of D.C. in Arlington, Va. The hotels are cheaper there and you can just hop on the metro for a 10 minute ride into the Capitol. Buy the metro pass for $6.50 and ride all day; it’s more economical than paying for each trip. Keep in mind, the metro closes at 12 a.m. during the week and 3 a.m. on the weekends. If you plan to drive, be sure to study the map before you head out. Most of the New England area has tons of one-way streets, narrow roads, curving highways and rotaries.
Boston tipsYou don’t have to stay downtown to see the sights. There are a lot of hotels within a 3-mile radius and most even have a shuttle service. If you plan to enjoy the nightlife, be sure to go out early. The entire city – including all the pubs and clubs – closes down at 2 a.m. If you want to drink, be sure to stock up early because stores do not sell alcohol after 11 p.m. But don’t fret, there’s a 24-hour bowling alley downtown.
Cape Cod tipsSince you have a car, take advantage of it and just drive along the coast. There are tons of windmills and lighthouses by the water. Pick a good spot, grab a bottle of wine and watch the sunset.
