If you’ve been with your significant other for a while, then it’s time to kick things up a notch. You’ve probably done the movies, bowling, shopping, dinner, dancing, and all the other cool date ideas, but have you ever considered trying something like taking a road trip? There’s simply something about being out on the open road with the one you love that can bring your relationship to the next level (if, of course, you don’t kill each other along the way…LOL).
Not convinced this would make a great date night? Let me explain my logic.
Gets You Off the Couch
If you’ve already moved in together, then you know how mundane life can get after some time. Wake up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to sleep and do it all over again; if you have kids this, list is even longer but still repetitive. This is one of the fastest ways to watch the flame go out of your relationship. Therefore, getting out on a road trip allows you guys to break the routine and try something new. Road trips bring about excitement, adventure and spontaneity of sorts.
Alone Time to Get to Know Each Other
With all the distractions of life, sometimes it can be challenging to stay connected. You guys are constantly changing and therefore, there are always new things to learn about the person you’re with. A road trip gives you that time to talk with one another and learn new things. Whether you talk about your childhood, past experiences in your relationship or challenges you’ve been experiencing, it allows you to unplug from the world around you and just give each other your full, undivided attention.
Harmonizing Together
Whether you can carry a tune or not, there’s something about music that can really unite people together. With the ultimate playlist on deck, the two of you can spend hours together singing your favorite songs. Music can also help to jog the memory, which can make for great conversations on things that happened to you in the past. Ultimately, you guys get to “let your hair down” and just have fun being you.
Working Together as a Team
As a couple, you guys must work together at everything in order for the relationship to flourish. A road trip can essentially help improve your abilities to work together as a team. Keeping up with directions, watching for pit stops to take a rest and even planning the road trip requires teamwork.
Discover New Things
As I’ve said before, life can get pretty basic, boring and routine. It can quickly cause the flame to dissolve from your relationship, which is why taking a road trip is a great idea. While on the open road, you can discover a lot of things. Whether it’s finding a neat little rest stop or a picturesque overpass during your travels, there’s something about discovering new things that can put the magic back in your relationship. It also allows you to create new memories which make for great stories and reflections later on.
Planning is Key
Now if taking a road trip with the love of your life sounds fun and exciting, I should warn you that planning is imperative. Planning a road trip can make the difference between having a great time and killing each other along the way. Some things you’ll want to plan out and ensure of before hitting the road include:
***Know Where You’re Going: Getting lost or off track is known to cause arguments so to avoid this, it’s probably best that you have some idea of where you’re going and which route you’re going to take to get there.
***Secure Your Documentation: Unless you want to end up being ticketed in another state, I suggest you make sure that all of your legal documentation is in order. This includes having your licenses, ensuring that your car is registered and also has up-to-date car insurance – and if either of you have been labeled a “high risk driver” required to carry an SR22 policy you’ll want to make sure you have that handy as well.
***Get the Car Checked Out (or Rent in Advance): What’s a road trip without having a reliable vehicle. Unless you want to end up on the side of the highway waving the white flag, you’d better make sure you have your car checked out before you leave. If you’re going to rent a vehicle, make sure that you rent in advance to ensure that you get the car you want.
So the next time you’re looking for a date idea that will liven up your marriage or relationship, consider taking a road trip with the one you love. Whether you travel within your state or decide to go cross-country, you’ll find the experience to be captivating. You’ll get to laugh, talk, work together, create memories and spend much-needed alone time together — that is, of course, if you remember to plan ahead of time. When you return home, you’ll find that you’re more in love with your partner than you’ve ever been before.
–Sara Stringer is a freelance writer who most enjoys blogging about lifestyle, relationships and life as a woman. In her spare time, she enjoys soaking up the sunshine with her husband and two kids. Consideration was received for the editing and publishing of this article.
[Photos via We Heart It]