“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.”
When was the last time you hopped in the car and drove? No destination in mind, not activities planned. Just a drive in the car with your kids and your thoughts?
As a single mother, time alone is something that is almost unheard of in my house. Trips to the store alone are what I look forward to most; sadly, I linger in the aisles a little longer than I should, all for the sake of that elusive ‘alone time’.
With the holidays coming up and the kids still reeling from our family changes this year, I decided that we all needed to just get away- even if it was just for a day. Afterall, kids get stressed and need a break just as much as adults do. So why not let them relax as well.
Several weeks ago, I took a scenic drive through the country. The Palmetto trail is a hiking trail that goes the length of our state. There are many spots throughout the state that you can use to access the trail, so I decided that I would wake up early one morning and hit the trails.
I plopped the kids in the backseat and we hit the road for a cozy drive through our state. Thanks to Driveshop we headed for the South Carolina upstate to take in the sights and sounds.
We also visited a farm located in Due West, South Carolina.
If you lived in the country you know about the plethora of deer that roam that countryside, so having one come right up to us
While there, we grabbed our Charlie Brown Christmas tree for some photos in the woods.This was the kids favorite part.
Spending these moments with the kids is what it’s all about. That weekend the kids and I grew a little closer and I got the opportunity to learn a lot more about them. That may sound weird, but if you look back to when you were a kid: Did you tell your parents EVERYTHING? Probably not.
This time alone in the car really allowed them the opportunity to open up to me in ways they hadn’t before.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Take the Road Less Traveled in the 2017 Toyota Highlander
Traveling as a family can have it’s ups and downs. But one thing is for certain, the 2017 Toyota Highlander made coming and going a breeze.
We have a family of six and this vehicle offered us just the right amount of space that we needed to make this trip comfortable for everyone (for a max seating of 7). The captain’s chairs were great since we still have two kids in car seats. (A major shout out to Toyota for the cupholder console, EVERY vehicle should have one!) This made it easy for the older kids to easily get in and out of the car with no issues. Plus Aly & Drew had the entire back row bench to themselves. There was still plenty of space for my mother-in-law to squeeze as when we decided to take a quick shopping trip as well.
If you travel with an obscene amount of devices like we do, then you will absolutely love how convenient the charging tray is. It was more than enough space for us to sit our collection devices and not worry about them sliding all over the car while hitting these never-ending winding country roads. (We loved how powerful the 3.5 L V6 engine was while driving on the country backroads!)
The 2017 Toyota has an amazing navigation system that lets you know which lanes to get into so that you will know when to exit. Couple that with the blind spot navigation feature, the Highlander has plenty to offer in regards to keeping your family safe. Another great safety feature is how the car reduces speed if you are approaching another vehicle. On the interstate cruise control is a lifesaver, however, having to reduce and pick up speeds constantly can be a bit of a pain. Of course, Toyota thought of everything. The Highlander will stay at a safe distance at a reduced speed from the car in front of you.
If you are looking to upgrade your current vehicle (and want to stay away from the minivan), then I highly suggest heading to your local Toyota dealership to test driving (and purchasing) the Toyota Highlander!
The 2017 Toyota Highlander starts at $30,630 for the LE up to $38,520 for the XLE. You can learn more about the Toyota Highlander here.
How do you and your family enjoy the road less traveled?
Thank you to Driveshop, for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Water, melanin, bones, blood. In route to death, while I’m here, might as well get shit accomplished.
Photographer, fitness enthusiast, blogger, and mother of two.
