What Are You Waiting For?
Every year my bestie and I plan a girl’s trip. It is an opportunity to get away, experience a different place, and possibly cross something off the bucket list, but mostly create memories.
This year our trip was to Kentucky. We have passed through the state when going on other excursions but we wanted to actually spend some time there.
It was so much more than I had thought it would be. In fact, reflecting on the time and people we met, I learned a lot but I was also reminded of the important things in life that we tend to forget.
You have to make reservations well in advance to schedule tours. Apparently, scheduling a week before you leave is not early enough.
Kentucky is an absolutely beautiful state. The rolling hills and miles and miles of well-manicured farms were breathtaking and it never got old riding past them every day. It makes me want to visit other states to see their beauty.
I forgot how much I love being around horses. I spent many years caring for and working with horses, which feels like a lifetime ago. To have the opportunity to see up close, their beauty, strength, grace, curiosity, and personality was a blessing.
My bestie and I joke about how 50% of us need to be aware and “on it” or we will miss every appointment, lose our keys, forget our glasses or what we are saying. LOL. So when we realized, the night before, that our Airbnb was an hour and a half from Churchill Downs, we laughed. Then it hit us. We would have to get up at 0’dark thirty to drive an hour and a half for the tour. The weather report said it would be cold. It was. But it was absolutely worth it. We were able to stand at the rails and watch the horses enter the track to start their daily warm-up. We were only an arm’s length from these magnificent thoroughbreds. And we not only heard, but we could feel the thunder of their hooves as they raced by us. This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
So while I never wanted to go to a horse race, my time with the horses, learning about the history, and the behind-the-scenes tour changed my mind. I have added to my bucket list to go to a horse track and experience a live race, preferably in Kentucky.
I must admit I have never been a fan of tours because I wanted to “do my own thing”. I now see how much value a tour can offer. We experienced a tour just about every day, something completely new to me. I learned more than I thought possible and had access to areas that are otherwise off-limits.
Before the trip, I was starting to learn about bourbon and came to like it. But now that I understand the history of it, the process, and how to drink it, I have a new appreciation and love for the craft and taste of bourbon. It is something that should be enjoyed especially with others and savored.
Most road trips can be either heavily scheduled or there is limited time. We knew we wanted to learn about bourbon and horses. So the blessing of not being able to make a lot of reservations created margin for us to rest. We embraced the gaps and took time for relaxing on the back deck of our Airbnb, enjoying the beautiful weather. We walked and enjoyed our surroundings instead of rushing from one place to the next. Don’t neglect to take time to rest during your trip.
We love finding hidden places to eat. It is so much fun to find the little out-of-the-way places that really display the flavor of that area. The best way to discover them is to talk to people. Asking our tour guide at a family farm led us to a “hole in the wall” - our favorite kind of place - place for lunch. Delicious! Our conversation with our bartender (which was not in a bar but a small retail establishment with seating for only four people) not only led up to a fantastic dinner spot, but we also learned how simple it would be to tour Keeneland on our own. Keeneland was not an option for us - or so we thought. We would have to get up early again - but we did, and we are so grateful for the experience.
Buc-ee’s. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you’re welcome. I'm about to help you out. It’s a must-stop on any road trip and until you experience it, it’s pretty hard to describe and do it justice. But I’ll try. In fact, my bestie warned me, she was all about stopping there. No ifs, ands, or buts. So, if Disney World + Cracker Barrel + Chick-fil-A had a baby, it would be Buc-ees. It is not your mama’s travel center, or your daddy’s. They embody Disney’s cleanliness and excitement, Cracker Barrel’s product offerings but on steroids, and Chick-Fil-A’s customer service. If you see that cute little beaver logo, you must stop to visit. It will change the way you look at travel centers.
So what are my biggest takeaways?
Don’t wait. Don’t wait for better weather, finances, time, schedule, or other people to live the one life you have.
Be open. Don't discount things because you don’t know about it or haven’t experienced it before. You never know what treasure you may discover.
Be flexible. It may not be “the trip” you want to take or you may not be able to do everything you want to do but you can do something. Make the best of it. You will be making memories.
We don’t know what tomorrow will hold so don’t let excuses get in the way of living. Of course, money, time, health, and family do affect our decisions. And you may not be able to take a big trip, but you can do something.
You can even start in your own city.
What are you waiting for?