I Took a Solo Road Trip, and Here's What I Learned

No, it's not just a title of a song. It's the truth. Almost everywhere I turned, I was in awe at something. Amazing plains. Small canyons. Mountains. There were so many times that I took mental snapshots to save in my memory because I would probably never see them again. I did stop at some points and take photos when it was safe to do so.

I'm from New York, so let's be real about what I think a small town is. Trust me, it's not small. I spent one night in Custer, SD. It's a town with two stoplights that looked like it came right out of the movie Cars. However, it was quaint. The people were so sweet. And I had the best burger I have ever eaten in my life at Sage Creek Grille. (I went buffalo burger because when in rancher country . . .)

I missed Keystone, a sleepy town just outside of Mt. Rushmore, due to time constraints, and I have regretted not going back. Build in the time. Stop in the small towns.

I knew that this road trip was going to be something that I would only get to do once. So, while part of it was for work and part of it was going to be spent celebrating one of my best friends, the rest of it was for me. I made a list of places I needed to see and made sure I saw them. This included Mt. Rushmore, Boulder, CO, and the White Sands National Preserve. I also made it a point to stop and eat at a Waffle House — someplace I had never been before — and have whatever I wanted.

Eat the alligator. Or the buffalo. Do the adventure hike. Zip-line. Whatever it is that pushes you forward and makes you uncomfortable, do it. It may be the only time you get to experience something new. Just go with every new opportunity you are handed. What's the worst that can happen? You did something that you either loved and will remember forever or will hate and talk about forever. You'll laugh about experiences like this afterward. Pinkie swear.

Let's get something straight — I am not someone who is unaware of my surroundings. However, I am also not constantly thinking that someone is going to jump out and kidnap me. But there were certain situations where I had to be keenly aware of my environment.

For example, I had to drive by a high-security prison at one point (the "Do not pick up Hitchhikers" sign tipped me off) and I knew that if I needed to stop for something, I had to be careful to keep all of my senses in tune. This went for hotel check-ins too. I am a young woman traveling alone and I am from New York — I stuck out like a sore thumb even in a t-shirt and jeans. I needed to be able to gauge who was watching me, who could have been following me, etc., without looking crazy.

Here is something you should know about me. I'm a pretty smart person. I have a master's degree. But sometimes it's hard for me to figure out little details. Like, which side the gas tank is on. This is because someone else — like my father, brother, or then-husband — would handle those things. I was a female, I was traveling alone, and I was in completely uncharted territory. I had to learn how to step back, take a breath, and solve my own problems. I have taken this with me in life.