My Top 3 Reasons Why I Recommend Taking The "Backroads" While Traveling

If these past years have taught me anything it’s, always be open to taking the backroads in Virginia! While the interstate is typically the option for the quickest and most efficient route, in times where there is no hard deadline or place to be at a particular time, the backroads are the way to go.

Here are my Top 3 Reasons why Taking the “Backroads” is tops while traveling!

Reason #1: The Sights!

-Backroads are called backroads for a reason. Instead of an endless sea of brake lights, I recommend trading that for winding roads lined with trees, fields, or even waterways. No matter the season, I’m cracking my windows to enjoy a rush of fresh air. I love the sweet smell of spring flowers, petrichor from the summer rain, or my favorite, the cool crisp breeze on a sunny fall day.

Coming up on a farm, if you don’t shout “COW!” to let people know about cows on the side of the road then you aren’t road-trip worthy. I personally like telling the boys that the black/brown cows with white spots are the ones that make chocolate milk.

Lastly, I don’t know about you but every time I see a sign for a bridge I do a little celebration. The anticipation starts to build… “are we going over a train track, a creek, or even better… a river?!” Talk about sights, some of my favorites are those from bridges looking over waterways.

Reason #2: Downtowns and quaint main streets!

- As convenient as the interstates are it’s unfortunate that with this modern convenience, we drive right past some of the areas that make Virginia so beautiful. In my travels, I have come across some of the most beautiful places in Virginia just because I chose to toggle the “avoid interstate” option in my GPS. Similarly to bridge signs, I also celebrate when I see a sign for a Downtown, Mainstreet” or “Business District” especially one that is on the current route. But driving a couple of miles out of the way has never stopped me in the past. Whether there is a railroad or river flowing through that downtown it was or in some cases is still an integral part of that small city or town.

Not only do you have to option to hop out of the car to stretch your legs but you can oftentimes support a small local business! Want to grab a bite to eat or do some light shopping? downtowns are usually the heartbeats and boast tons of options you might otherwise not even know are there.

Reason #3: PEACE Of Mind!

-Sure in some cases “The quicker the better” is preferred but, there is something about taking time. Slowing down and really getting a chance to soak in the scene is never a bad idea anywhere you go no matter what you are doing. One of the obvious advantages that a back road possesses over a highway is that the back roads have lower speed limits. There is an extra level of comfort in knowing that people are driving slower, which means that they tend to have more time to react if something were to happen on the road.

Photos Taken by Jarrell Williams & Heidi Joy Delacruz in Danville, Clarksville, Harrisonburg, Pilot, Culpeper, Waynesboro & Afton, Virginia.