Travel Tip Tuesday: Road Less Traveled

Well hello there! It is good for you to be here today! Wherever you are today, I hope that you are enjoying this beautiful gift of life we have been given. This morning I was reminded of the importance of gratitude (yet again). Andy and I went back and forth over breakfast naming different things we are grateful for. What a difference this simple exercise made to the beginning of our day! So, I challenge us… as we all go through the rest of today, let’s be grateful, looking earnestly for the blessings in life (no matter how big or small). ‘Nuff said.

Changing gears, it is time now for yet another Travel Tip Tuesday on This Darling Adventure. Today we are going to talk about adventuring off the beaten path. So buckle up. Let’s get started.

Now, those of you who know me well also know that I’ve always been the type of person who usually will stick to the path. This is not to say that I do not love adventures. This is also not to say that I have not had my moments of rebellion. But overall, I never got in trouble at school. I tried my best to not get in trouble with my parents (Hi mom and dad). And I most certainly have never been in trouble with the law (I’ve never even gotten a ticket!). For the most part, I stick to the “beaten path.”

Something started to shift, though, when I began to travel. I began to see the beauty and value in taking the road less traveled. This was especially true when Andy and I visited the Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen, Germany last winter. We had taken a road trip to Munich and on our way back to Rheinfelden we wanted to stop by the 19th-century hilltop fairytale castle to explore its beauty and delve into its history a bit. Upon arrival, though, we discovered that the castle was closed that particular day! Thankfully, the walking trails around the castle were still open and accessible to the public.

We strolled up and around Neuschwanstein enjoying the scenery and the fresh December air. Eventually, we stumbled across a trail leading us to a bridge that crossed over a valley running alongside the castle. We thought that the bridge would be the perfect place to take some pictures from. So, we headed down the path, but to our surprise (again) the bridge was under construction. There was even a massive door bolted closed and some barbed wire put up just to make sure no one could “mistake” the bridge for being open. Discouraged that we would not even be able to take any photos of the castle, we sat down for an impromptu picnic and ate our sandwiches in silence.

After some TLC for our stomachs, we brainstormed about what to do next. Do we turn back? Do we find our way to the bottom of the valley? Do explore something else?

Just then another couple found their way down the path. Seeing that the bridge was closed they turned back around, walked a couple meters, then began to trek up a “path” (that wasn’t really a path) to the top of the hill overlooking the castle. We looked at each other, then at the “path,” then back at one another. Follow them!

When we arrived at the top of the hill, the view was absolutely breathtaking. How good it was to be there in that moment. It made the disappointments of the castle and bridge being closed all worth it. We got to see a view of the Neuschwanstein Castle that we probably wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. We stood overlooking our awe-inspiring surroundings and soaking up the serenity found only off of the beaten path. After a couple minutes and a couple more photos, we decided to head back down the trail, but our hearts were happy and full as we continued our road-tripping adventure.

Perhaps you are like me, not one to usually venture off the beaten path. That is perfectly okay and there is nothing wrong with that at all. To each their own! But also be mindful in your journeys that sometimes the best moments – those moments that will take your breath away and leave you speechless – are found in the detours. For this reason, may we also adventure off the beaten path every once and a while and find the beauty in taking the road less traveled.

Do prefer to stick to the “beaten path” or to take “the road less traveled”? Why? Feel at home to comment below! It is always a pleasure to hear from you! 🙂