Travel Slowly

When traveling between point A and point B, Google Maps will take you the fastest way.

Google Maps doesn’t care about beauty. About going slow. About savoring the journey.

Google Maps wants you to get to your destination, as quickly as possible (and would you please leave a review so that other travelers can know what to expect?).

Google Maps wants to put destinations into little boxes, for you to check off, without even remember how you got there, or why.

But this isn’t my preferred way of travel. I care deeply about the journey, not just the destination.

I want to go slow. I want to stop at the turnouts and take photos. I want to stand still, tears in my eyes, deeply immersed in nature’s beauty.

I want to feel inspired, to feel free.

I want to follow my intuition that tells me to put my phone away. To follow the signs, real-life signs, that point to the scenic route.

This scenic route, in particular: the 17-mile scenic road through Pebble Beach, California. Not recommended by Google as a way to get from Monterrey to Big Sur. It’s out of the way, and it costs $11.

This journey added 2 hours to my drive-time, but held some of the most incredible natural and man-made beauty of my 6-day roadtrip.

The journey is always worth the extra time.