Garrett and I were sitting down to dinner the other night and the first thing I thought was, “It’s so quiet! I miss Julia and Thomas!” Our trip to Alaska was hands down the best trip I’ve ever taken. The closest trip as far as amazingness goes in my memory is when my eighth grade class went to Italy. But we were kids.
This trip to Alaska is the kind of adventure I think every person in their twenties should experience.
It doesn’t have to be Alaska (although, I’m a huge fan now to say the least), but a road trip. With a small, close group of friends. Go with a flexible itinerary– one that will keep you on track but also gives you the freedom to relax and explore at will. And, above everything else, have fun.
The whole time we were traveling, I just kept thinking, “This can’t be real life.” Not only were we in this insanely beautiful setting and venturing through unknown (and sometimes muddy) land, but we were having the times of our lives simply by being together. And you know it’s a good sign when you get back and immediately start scheming/saving/planning for the next trip.
My tips for planning the best friend trip:
1. Get excited | I was actually a little nervous about the trip. Mostly because I didn’t know what to expect and we were traveling with friends we hadn’t yet traveled with before. But having a group text for the weeks leading up with a few Google docs (itinerary, maps, packing lists) allowed all of us to get really excited. Half the fun is the countdown and build up for the trip.
2. Pick some place no one has been before | The four of us decided we wanted to travel together back in February. Julia had visited a friend in Anchorage ten years ago, but hadn’t seen a lot of Alaska and the rest of us had never been at all. I do think trips are fun when someone can play tour guide and take you to amazing places, but there’s something really fun about discovering a place for the first time at the same time. The excitement we each had when we’d pull off the road and see a stunning mountain was really fun to enjoy together.
3. Be on the same page and set expectations | I cannot emphasize this enough… everyone needs to be on the same page. Traveling with friends is different than hanging out with friends. It’s 24/7 friendship! I’ve traveled with friends before where it just doesn’t “work.” We get along perfect for a few hours at a time, but long term? No.
The four of us spent almost every second together, including hours on end in the car, and never got sick of one another. We knew going into the trip that we wanted to pull over as often as possible to take in new sights and take photos. We all knew what kinds of activities we did and didn’t want to do.
4. Eat often | This is a huge huge tip. EAT OFTEN. Be the person who recommends a stop for a snack. Keep sweet and/or savory bars in your purse. Insist on breakfast and a morning coffee. I’m not going to point fingers, but some people (ahem, the guys) would get cranky if we went too long without food. I think 99% of road trip problems can be solved with a little snack or two. We actually stopped at the Target in Anchorage right after we landed at the airport to stock up on snacks for the car. If something’s not going well or moods seem off, suggest you stop somewhere for a little meal.
5. Smile | Traveling with friends is different than traveling with family. With your family, it’s easier (and possibly even expected) for you to be a little short. With friends, it’s almost always worth it to smile, let something go, and remind yourself to enjoy your time together. There will very likely be something that bugs you, rubs you the wrong way, or maybe even frustrates you. Be a good friend and compromise, forgive, and smile. Maybe you don’t make it all the way to the top of a mountain (sorry guys! that wind was freaking me out!!!) or perhaps you end up hiking up a slippery, rocky hill wearing Converse sneakers (happened)… do it all with a smile! The bottom line is that the trip should be fun and often that means you should simply smile.
Have you ever done a road trip with a group of friends? Any tips to add?
xoxo
PS Don’t worry, I’ll be sharing more of the Alaska trip in the next week or so, including where we went and what we did. Please bear with me as I sort through photos!
Such great tips! I really want to do more trips with friends!
Her Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
I've been to Alaska but really want to go again! It's been years. I'm planning a "best friend' trip with a girlfriend this summer (we are going to Iceland!) and I'm stoked!
This post could not ring more true! I took a weekend trip to Poland this past weekend – four friends and I decided to rent a car because it was cheaper than all of us buying bus tickets then finding a taxi to take us all the way to our AirBnB. By the end of the trip, some of us were really short and done with being in the car (and I would agree that the food was a factor and probably could have helped us out a little, haha).
xx, Mikkaela
The Southwestern Prepster
I've seen all the photos on yours and Julia's instagram and this trip looks like an amazing experience! I've never been on a road trip before, but it's definitely on my bucket list 🙂
xx
ALINA ERMILOVA | BLOG
This post has made me so excited to be going to Alaska in July!! I can't wait!
Kendal | Life With Kendal
Wow, Alaska looks beautiful! I'm also incredibly jealous of Julia's awesome giant scarf.
xo
Saltwater Sparkle
Great tips! Your trip looked so fun. Loved watching your snapchat!
http://www.kristajacobs.blogspot.com
Alaska has been on my MUST SEE list for years now. I need to visit it before I die, it is seriously breathtaking and your instagram and blog photos only emphasize this point even more! I plan on attending a week long trip with my boyfriend to Disney World and I'm super excited! But in August I'll be traveling with his family to Minnesota, snacking will be a must or I might go insane!
http://figuringoutmyeverafter.com
I've traveled with friends quite a few times and definetly agree with your tips. Coffee and a positive attitude are the most important traveling essentials (:
I really hope to travel to Alaska after college and do something like you did! It looks like you had an amazing time!
Mallory | hoosierstateofprep.blogspot.com
These are such great tips! Friends are the best people to travel with!
Lauren,
http://www.atouchofsoutherngrace.com/
Yes to #4! The hanger can get so real. Except usually it's me in the travel situations, not the guys 😉 haha I can't wait to see more from the trip!
26 and Not Counting
This article came at the perfect time for me! My childhood best friend came to visit me two weeks ago, and we determined during that time that we, along with our significant others, would travel together. I have been blessed enough to visit 45 states (family road trips allllll the time), but Alaska is one of my 5 states left. This post and all your jaw-dropping pics on Instagram have definitely inspired me to book a trip there in the near future, and possibly with my best friends!
I loved seeing your instas from this trip- can't wait to see more pics!
This Side of Paradise
I so want to go to Alaska now!!
My and two of my best friends took a road trip from our hometown in Illinois all the way to New York City, right after we graduated high school (still don't know why our parents let us, but we were fine!) It was such a fun time, but my one regret was that we almost spent too much time together – everyone needs a breather and some alone time every once in a while!
Your tips are spot on! I recently went on a road trip with people who only ate twice a day and it drove me crazy!
Your tips are spot on! I recently went on a road trip with people who only ate twice a day and it drove me crazy!
These tips are so true – and especially number 3! I would add that it can also be useful to delegate certain tasks to certain people in the group who enjoy doing them. For example, I'm not a big fan of taking and editing a bunch of photos, but I'm a huge foodie who will gladly take the time to research all the best restaurants in the area. This is simultaneously useful for staying organized and efficient while traveling, and also a good way to keep the peace so no one gets overly controlling of the trip.