If Possible, Drive

Cultural Offering has some excellent observations on the advantages of driving, instead of flying, on business trips.

I reached similar conclusions after being stranded in the Yuma, Arizona airport, an experience I do not recommend. With each hour, I calculated how much closer to home I would have been had I simply driven.

Many years ago, while doing some training around the country, I'd fly into one city and then drive to several others before finishing up in one which would be my "fly back" point. On the days when I didn't have to catch a plane, my stress level was considerably reduced. The car was always waiting along with some very pretty parts of the country that otherwise would have been missed.

A few memories and scenes which linger:

• Driving from Boston to New Hampshire as the leaves were changing.
• Feeling the temperature drop as my route went from New Hampshire into Maine.
• Looping through the lush area south of Lafayette, Louisiana and then up to New Orleans.
• Going from Beaumont, Texas along the Gulf to Houston.
• Crossing from Oakland into San Francisco.

There are great experiences out there. If possible, drive.