We Took the Long Way

(on purpose)

We recently uploaded a vlog of our Route 395 road trip—from Southern California to Reno and back again…and again—and here’s what I loved most about it: we didn’t rush. We didn’t try to cram in every sight, landmark, or must-do activity. We just... went.

The drive from our home to Reno is only 8 hours. But we stretched it out over two days. Not because we had to, but because we wanted to. We drove about 5 to 6 hours each day, with plenty of detours for food, bathrooms, and spontaneous little adventures. We made space for the in-between moments—the ones that don’t show up on an itinerary but always stick in your memory.

Because slow travel isn’t about being lazy or aimless. It’s about intention. It’s about choosing to value presence over productivity—even on vacation. Especially on vacation.

There was so much more we could have seen. The guidebooks and the blogs and the YouTube videos and the travel IGs (I don’t have TikTok) would’ve had us checking off every viewpoint, trail, and attraction along the way. But when you try to do it all, you miss out on the quiet magic of where you are right now.

You don’t need to squeeze the juice out of every second. You don’t need to turn your trip into a highlight reel. Sometimes, the best way to experience a place is to be in it—without rushing to the next thing.

We stopped when something looked interesting. We skipped stuff when we were tired. We let the trip unfold instead of trying to control every piece of it. We trusted that the places we missed would still be there if we ever want to come back.

And honestly? That mindset made the whole experience more enjoyable. More human. More…us.

It reminded me that we don’t need to live like we’re running out of time. No desperate energy allowed, not in travel or in life.

So if you’ve been feeling pressure to make every moment “count” or to maximize your experiences, consider this your gentle permission slip to slow down. Skip some things. Savor others. Take the long way, on purpose.

(And yes, I’ve been watching Ewan McGregor’s newest travel adventure series: Long Way Home. But I highly recommend the first series, Long Way Round.)

You can watch my vlog here if you want to come along for the ride:

And if you're not already subscribed to Cozy Notes, you can do that here:

(P.S. Simple Life Social Club members get real postcards from our travels—yes, in the actual mail. It’s a thing.)

See you soon,
Xuan