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One of the questions I get asked the most frequently, hands down, is "how do you take so many trips to random places?" There isn't really a single answer for that, but a combination of things that come together to allow it to happen frequently. There isn't some secret to it or anything, you just have to decide that it's a priority and be willing to jump into situations without worrying about being 100% prepared all the time.
That being said, here are a few tips and tricks I've picked up along the way to help get you on the road more often. I'm by no means an expert, and I'm still working on these things myself, but I've gained a lot of experience over the past few years and these are the things that work for me.
The first thing is to be ready for a day trip or overnight adventure at any point. If you're pretty much packed and ready to go at all times, it makes it a lot easier to make spontaneous trips a regular thing. I have a little "car kit" that I always keep in my trunk, which allows me to pretty much just throw some clothes in my backpack and hop in the car at any time and go. The kit is made up of some essentials, such as a sleeping bag, a flashlight, a box of matches, a knife, some propane canisters, a little stove, a blanket, a towel, a gallon of water, a rain jacket and some extra socks. I keep it all in a sealed plastic tub so I can grab it all and move it around easily. I also keep a small tent and my hiking boots in my trunk, but they don't fit in the container. Having these essentials with me all the time means that I don't have to worry about forgetting them at any point, and I'm always prepped and ready for the next thing to come my way.
The second thing I do regularly is research the places I want to go far in advance. Whether you're finding spots you want to go on Instagram or through word of mouth, it's a good idea to keep a list of them in the notes of your phone and look up how long it will take you to get there, what the road conditions are like, and any extra stuff you should bring with you when you go ahead of time. Screenshot those directions so you can still access them even if you run out of service and get lost. Also, don't get lost. I spend most of the days that I'm working checking out new places and finding directions to them. I chat with friends who have been there before about what they recommend I bring along, or what to be careful of. It takes the difficult part out of the days when you're actually headed there, and frees up a lot of your time to focus on enjoying it.
Being on the road is not comfortable. It's super fun, yes, and it's incredibly rewarding, but it's not like you're staying in a 5-star hotel. Nobody is going to do your everyday shit for you, and you should never expect the people you're with to cover your mistakes. I've slept in the back seats of cars more times than I can count because we couldn't find anywhere better. I've gone days without showering, a hot meal or even phone service. I've forgotten essential pieces of equipment for the trip and had to turn around and just go home. It's not glamorous to be on the road at all - in fact it's usually pretty frustrating if you're used to things being convenient and easily accessible. The whole point is that you're living alternatively, and if you can't embrace the discomfort in the process of having the time of your life, it's probably not for you.
(This isn't me bragging or trying to give off some "holier-than-thou" mindset, I just don't want people getting upset when they realize it's not easy to do this all the time.)
On the other hand, there is an immense feeling of freedom in setting off with just a semblance of a plan and a few days of time to do whatever you want ahead. One of my favorite ways to travel when I don't have a place in mind that I'm going is to just flip a coin. I'll say heads is north, tails is south - and let chance decide. Same thing with east vs. west. It's liberating in that you don't have to make a decision, you can just see where the road takes you. Some of my favorite experiences and photos have come from this method and I highly recommend you try it at least once. It can be a little scary sometimes but as long as you keep track of how you got wherever you are, you should be totally fine.
That actually leads me to a very important point - don't place too much emphasis on having a detailed plan. Sometimes just having a destination and a timeframe is plenty. Having fun on the road is key, and sometimes having an agenda that you feel like you need to stick to constantly can ruin that experience. Don't be afraid to hop in the car on your day off and just drive until you don't recognize any of the roads you're on. See something cool on the side of the road? Pull over and go check it out. It's not exploring if you know exactly where you're going, and who wants to just copy everyone else anyway? Go blaze your own trail, find stuff that nobody else has seen before. That's the best part of any of this - making it your own.
Your personal safety in all of this is a priority. Please don't go running off by yourself into the woods unprepared because "Aaron told me I'd be fine without a plan." You won't. People die doing this stuff every day. If you're going somewhere alone, you tell people exactly where you're going to be. You make sure you bring bear spray or a headlamp or a sword if you think you're going to need it. There have been times where I've been scared for my safety, and there are always stories about people who die in places that I go regularly because they weren't prepared for something or they were being mortally stupid. You know Thor's Well, that giant hole in the ground where the ocean pops out during high tide? No? I'll post a photo of it below. Some dude died there just last month the day after I went, because he was being an idiot and fell in. If you want to do this stuff regularly you need to be safe. Don't become another statistic because you NEEDED to get a certain photo or show off for your friends.
That's pretty much it. No secret method to make it work, just a willingness to go with the flow and get the proper preparations done in advance. Once you've got that down, going places at the drop of a hat is simple. Some of my best memories are from just getting in my car and winging it, so don't be afraid to go somewhere you've never been or take a few random roads that you think look cool just for the hell of it. You might not get exactly what you were looking for, but I promise you won't regret the decision when you look back on it in the future.
