July 13, 2026
We spend a lot of time trying to get somewhere faster.
Shorter flights. Direct routes. Less time in transit.
But every once in a while, the longer way turns out to be the better one. The road that takes more time. The route that is not the most efficient. The journey that gives you a reason to slow down and pay attention.
Because not every trip is about arrival. Some are about everything that happens along the way.
There is a different mindset that comes with choosing the long way.
You are not rushing toward a destination. You are moving through a landscape, allowing it to change gradually around you.
On California’s Pacific Coast Highway, the road hugs the edge of the continent. Cliffs drop into the ocean. The horizon stays just far enough away to keep your attention. You stop often, not because you planned to, but because you want to.
In Ireland, narrow roads wind through green countryside, past stone walls and small villages where time feels slower. The drive itself becomes the experience. You pull over for a view, a conversation, or a place that was never on the itinerary.
In South Africa’s Garden Route, the journey blends coastline, forest, and wildlife into one continuous experience. Each stretch of road offers something different, and the transitions are part of what makes it memorable.
Even in places like New Zealand or Iceland, the drive is not just a means to an end. It is the structure of the trip itself. Waterfalls, mountains, open landscapes. You are constantly inside the experience, not just moving between moments.
The long way gives you something that faster travel cannot. Space. Time to notice. Time to stop. Time to let the trip unfold instead of trying to control it.
1. Choose the Route Before the Destination
Instead of asking where you want to go, ask how you want to get there. Scenic routes, coastal drives, and countryside journeys often shape the entire experience.
2. Leave Room to Stop
The best moments are rarely planned. Build in time for detours, unexpected stops, and the freedom to change course.
3. Keep It Simple
Too many stops can make the trip feel rushed. Focus on a few key places and let the journey connect them.
Jason Hedrick brings a deep appreciation for travel that goes beyond the expected. With experience across a wide range of destinations, including Africa and beyond, he understands how to design journeys where the movement itself becomes the highlight.
His approach focuses on creating travel experiences that feel immersive from start to finish, not just at the destination.
Follow his perspective at @jasonhedrick_travelexpert.
The fastest way is not always the most memorable.
Sometimes, the road that takes a little longer gives you something you would have missed otherwise. A view, a moment, a feeling that does not show up on a map.
Because in the end, the journey is not just what gets you there.
It is part of why you went.
To explore more travel ideas or connect with an expert, visit ciazumanotravel.com/experts-2. Follow along on Instagram @ciazumanotravel for visual inspiration from our advisors around the world.