Adventures in road tripping travel with Cory Pagett

Welcome LGBTQ traveler, Cory Pagett. He’s the founder of CMDP Communications and offers French/English services, including translation/transcription. He also loves food, running and all things travel.

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Cooling your jets with a road trip

As summer draws to a close and vacation travel turns to business travel, it’s normal to feel a tinge of jealousy about the coworker or neighbor jetting off to an exotic location - even if it is for business.

But what about a road trip?

I recently went on a good old-fashioned road trip to Ottawa and Montréal (from Southern Ontario) and must admit there were many benefits to this type of travel. Before even getting on the road, there was one clear advantage: no luggage restrictions. If you’re like me and want to be prepared for every type of weather/wardrobe requirement, it’s a definite plus to be able to bring a larger part of your closet with you. And should you find a sale that’s too good to resist (like at Simons in Montréal, let’s say), you don’t have to fret about jamming your purchases into a suitcase.

Another pro to traveling by car is food options. While flights limit you to a bag of pretzels, a road trip can offer a smorgasbord of options. Some people stick to the classic truck stop or fast food, others pull off for a proper sit-down meal. Lately, I’ve opted for a visit to the grocery store. Freshness increases and in this particular case, I even got to taste cheese curds from a local dairy farm.

Ruling the road from the passenger seat

I have to admit that my experience in the passenger seat has changed. Gone are the days of being navigator (GPS, thank you very much), but this really just means less awkward moments (read fights) due to wrong turns. I sometimes even get to opt for food requiring a fork and knife or, if needed, focus on some work.

Now, I know many flights come equipped with deluxe entertainment consoles, but it’s still nice to have even more options in a car, especially if you’re the passenger like me. Gone are the days of mixed tapes, but a flip through satellite radio can help you release you inner DJ.

I would have been happy to have extended the trip in order to enjoy more time in both provinces. But even amongst all the happy memories, the practical side of me thought of the freedom of having driven. Should we have needed to depart early, it would have been a simple matter of adjusting lodging – not dealing with flights.

Cory’s road trip rules

Are you a road trip junkie? Here are my lucky 7 tips for making your next road trip epic:

1. Because there's no limit on baggage, bring a duffel bag or small suitcase to help with any shopping you enjoy along the way.
2. When packing the car, ensure that items that you might need while traveling are easily accessible.
3. Depending on the time of year, layer your clothing for pit stops.
4. Windows don’t block the sun’s damaging rays, so apply sunscreen.
5. Load in destinations to GPS prior to departure to avoid doing it while driving.
6. Bringing a few snacks with you will help you avoid stopping unnecessary and potentially unhealthy pit stops.
7. Make sure your roadside emergency kit is well-stocked.

Wherever your travels take you and however you get there, I wish you safe and happy travels!

Got some road trip rules to share with us? We’d love to hear them! Find us on Twitter or Facebook and let’s start talking!

About Cory Pagett

After spending his childhood in southwestern Ontario, travelling mainly through the magic of theatre, Cory was fortunate enough to spend a year on exchange in France and ventured around Europe. Thus began a true love of exploring the world around him, as well as an even deeper appreciation for the experience of food, which he writes about for Fellowship of Food. Professionally, he shares his love of communication by offering bilingual services at CMDP Communications. He is engaged in the LGBTQ community as a volunteer and mentor with SOY (Supporting Our Youth) and a board member at Fife House. He is equally involved in the running community, leading a weekly group for GET Out! Canada and as a past mentor with Team In Training and current digital champion for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

You can connect with Cory in the following ways:

LinkedIn: Corey Pagett