While I was traveling through the Deep South, we drove over the Gulf of Mexico to arrive at Dauphin Island, the site of an old French fort (now called Fort Gaines) protecting Mobile Bay. While there, I was reminded of the geodetic survey markers that the United States Geological Survey has installed throughout the country. These are designed as fixed data points for all manner of uses. For our purposes, though, it is a game of hide-n-seek writ large.
Survey Markers
The USGS has a data map where you can see what is around you and provides all manner of data. We’re more interested in the GPS coordinates and then look on foot.
Basic Find-and-Catalog Game
Objective: Participants simply find and log US survey markers in a basic online or mobile catalog. They can take a photo and record basic details (location, date, any noticeable features).
How It Works:
• Find a marker.
• Take a picture.
• Log it (a journal or Google My Maps).
Screenshot of marker I added to Google My Maps
This gives people a fun excuse to get outdoors and notice things they’d usually walk past.
Personal Challenge or Goal
Make it a personal challenge—how many markers can you find in a month, or on a walk? You could challenge friends or yourself without leaderboards or complicated point systems.
How It Works:
Set a goal (find 5 markers this week or locate 3 markers in new places you’ve never visited). Share progress with a friend or a group. It adds a bit of gamification without being overwhelming or requiring major infrastructure.
Local Exploration
Focus on finding survey markers only in your local area. It doesn’t need to be a nationwide or competitive project—just a way for people to explore their immediate surroundings.
Historical Markers
The same can be done for those Historical Markers that we all whiz by at top speed and ignore. Find a few in your area with a web search and then make it a point to visit on your own time as opposed to whizzing by again. Read the history, absorb it and find a new appreciation for those surroundings. For example, I knew that Ponce de Leon had first explored Florida’s east coast but not the western section, and not too far from me either!
Screenshot of an historical marker 20 miles to the north of us. The year was 1513!
Why You Need a Road Trip Mascot: The Fun and Importance of Bringing One Along
When planning a road trip, we often think about the route, the playlists, and the snacks — but have you ever considered bringing along a road trip mascot? Whether it’s a stuffed animal, a figurine, or something that holds personal meaning, a road trip mascot can add a whole new layer of fun and memories to your adventure.
For the longest time, I had a pet alligator mascot named “Fred.” Fred and I met near Jacksonville, Florida and we went all over the country together. However, Fred and I parted ways somewhere in Oklahoma.
I picked up one of his relatives somewhere along the gulf coast of Mississippi recently. He’ll join me on the dashboard console for the next trips. I’m undecided on a few names but narrowed them down to “Algorithm” or “Gumbo”. I’m leaning towards “Algonquin Gatorade.” Don’t ask, you weren’t there on that road trip with me.
Anyway, here’s why you need one for your next journey:
1. It Adds Personality to Your Adventure
Think of a road trip mascot as an extension of your travel spirit. Whether you choose something cute, goofy, or downright odd, it adds personality to your trip. The mascot can take on its own “character” — a fun companion on the journey who always brings the good vibes. Naming your mascot and giving it a backstory can turn it into a fun member of the road trip crew.
2. Tradition & Continuity
Start a tradition by bringing your mascot along for every trip. Over time, it becomes a symbol of your adventures, collecting memories as it “travels” with you. You can document its journey through photos, videos, or even a travel journal dedicated to its adventures. Before long, your mascot will have its own legacy!
3. It’s a Great Icebreaker
People love unusual things, and a road trip mascot is no exception. At a rest stop or scenic overlook, don’t be surprised if fellow travelers strike up a conversation about your travel buddy. It can be an easy way to meet new people and hear interesting stories along the way.
4. Creates Unique Photo Opportunities
Forget selfies — your mascot is the star of the show! Capture fun and creative photos of your mascot in front of landmarks, strange roadside attractions, or perched on the dashboard while crossing state lines. These unique shots will add a playful twist to your trip photo collection, and they’ll make your social media feed stand out, too.
5. Mascots Help Relieve Stress
We’ve all experienced those frustrating moments on a road trip — whether it’s sitting in traffic, a detour, or an unexpected delay. That’s where your mascot can come to the rescue. Having something silly or lighthearted in the car can ease tension and bring laughter during stressful times, reminding you not to take things too seriously.
6. Road Trip Games and Challenges
Turn your mascot into the focus of a road trip game. Challenge yourself or your travel mates to take a picture of the mascot in as many different places as possible, or have the mascot “collect” something from each stop, like postcards or trinkets. You could even create a mascot scavenger hunt, where certain types of locations or landmarks have to be found and “visited” by your travel buddy.
7. A Symbol of the Journey
Sometimes, a road trip mascot represents more than just a fun object. It can symbolize the essence of your journey. If your trip is about self-discovery or exploring new places, your mascot can be a physical reminder to embrace those themes. It’s a way to stay connected to the meaning behind your adventure, even in the most unexpected moments.
8. Perfect for Group Bonding
If you’re traveling with friends or family, a mascot can bring everyone together. Assign someone to be the “caretaker” of the mascot for each leg of the journey, creating a fun, shared responsibility. Your mascot can be a source of inside jokes, games, and collective memories as the group creates fun stories around it.
9. It Becomes a Cherished Memento
When the trip is over, the mascot serves as a physical reminder of your adventure. It’s more than just a souvenir — it carries the spirit of the trip with it. Every time you see it on your shelf or in your car, you’ll be reminded of the memories you made along the way.
10. Mascots Make Stories
You can create fun, fictional stories about your mascot’s “journey” alongside yours. Perhaps it’s on a secret mission, or maybe it’s a “traveler” from a far-off land. Use your imagination to add a creative narrative that ties into the places you visit. This makes each stop on your trip feel like part of a bigger adventure for you and your mascot.
How to Choose Your Mascot
• Pick something meaningful: Choose an item that reflects your personality, values, or sense of adventure.
• Consider size: Make sure your mascot is easy to carry around and won’t take up too much space.
• Get creative: The more unique and odd your mascot is, the more fun you’ll have with it.
Whether it’s an old childhood toy, a handmade creation, or something you picked up along the way, having a mascot on your road trip can turn any ordinary journey into something extraordinary. It’s the little things that make the experience more memorable — so why not let a tiny companion join in on the fun?
If I leave here tomorrow Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on now ‘Cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see…
— Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
By weaving music into our travel narrative, we can emphasize the role of sound in experiencing different cultures and locations.
For example, the lyrics at the beginning of this post were especially poignant when visiting the band’s airplane crash site and memorial. The song “Free Bird” was a fitting tribute and enhanced our experience as we drove away and listened to a few other hits from the band. The goosebumps were visible on the arm as it steered the car.
Further down the road, I switched the soundtrack to “New Orleans and Dixieland Jazz Essentials” as we drove over Lake Pontchartrain and into N.O. The experience is enhanced with relative music.
Specific songs or genres can evoke memories, reflect the character of a place, and enhance the overall journey.
“El Camino Negro” or, “The Black Road” is a perfect soundtrack while driving through western Texas, New Mexico or the California desert.
And no road trip soundtrack would be complete if you don’t add Johnny Cash’s ultimate travel song “I’ve Been Everywhere”
I’ve been everywhere, man I’ve been everywhere, man Crossed the deserts bare, man I’ve breathed the mountain air, man Of travel I’ve had my share, man I’ve been everywhere
So let me encourage you fellow travelers to be open to discovering new music during your journey. Create a communal playlist where each traveler can contribute their favorite songs related to the locations you visit along the way, fostering a shared experience and making the road trip more memorable.
This idea was inspired by our recent road trip and will be included in the Explore More book, brought to you by the Denbow Modern Classics publishing house.
Tip: Stop at any hotel, small motels, inns, BnBs, etc, and critique the strange, bland, or hilariously bad art that often graces the walls.
Task: Make up elaborate backstories for each piece, imagining who the artist was, their emotional state, and what profound meaning they were trying to convey. Share your critiques in an ironic blog post or social media series titled something like “Art from Room 204.”
Rothko WannabeRequests of IndependenceContemplation Of Distorted Flame BeachStained Depression
Someone close to me yesterday said “I really need to get out of the house more often. You have shown me a lot of different spots I didn’t know about.”
This was from someone who has lived in the same city and state their whole lives and I think it was one of the saddest things I heard.
Look, I know I am wired differently than most and have an insatiable desire for something new and different. Random beats repetition for me every time.
Sometimes I have to lose myself to find a new direction and the only way I can do that is by exploring more.
6th St, Pearl District looking towards downtown Tulsa in the snow
The Dark Web sounds nefarious and scary but with the right tools, and a balls of brass, I can access and browse safely.
The
deep/dark web refers to web sites that hide their web address and is
only accessible by using encrypted tools like the TOR browser, the Tails
operating system designed to boot from a USB flash drive, all from an
ideally new, clean, low-cost computer. And forget about using social
media sites such as Facebook or even Google. Use a search engine that
won’t track you such as DuckDuckGo.
I’ve been exploring the
deepest, darkest parts of the web for awhile now and it is fascinating
in how it reminds me of the early, pioneer days of web 1.0.
This
feels very much like exploring the frontier here because the
possibilities and the risks are both real and exciting. More later.
The Dark Web sounds nefarious and scary but with the right tools, and a balls of brass, I can access and browse safely.
The deep/dark web refers to web sites that hide their web address and is only accessible by using encrypted tools like the TOR browser, the Tails operating system designed to boot from a USB flash drive, all from an ideally new, clean, low-cost computer. And forget about using social media sites such as Facebook or even Google. Use a search engine that won’t track you such as DuckDuckGo.
I’ve been exploring the deepest, darkest parts of the web for awhile now and it is fascinating in how it reminds me of the early, pioneer days of web 1.0.
This feels very much like exploring the frontier here because the possibilities and the risks are both real and exciting. More later.
