For most of our professional lives, my husband Aram and I had to divide our vacation days between our own trips and visiting his family out of state.
But since transitioning to fully remote work in 2020, we’ve been able to make a trek from Los Angeles to the Detroit suburbs to spend a few months with his mom, Elizabeth, every year.
Driving nearly 2,300 miles is definitely more demanding than a four-hour plane ride, but it has its perks. We can pack as much as we like, play music as loud as we want, and explore places across the country that we might never have visited otherwise.
More importantly, these trips are a chance to spend quality time both as a couple on the road and as a family once we arrive.
It’s nice getting to see the country in ways we couldn’t on a plane
To make each journey feel fresh, we travel at different times of year and try new routes, including the famed Route 66.
We also switch up how long we stay on the road, depending on our schedules. This fall, we wanted to get to Michigan “fast” so we completed our trip in three days and two nights.
Over the years, we’ve stayed in dozens of cities, including Las Vegas, Tucson, Santa Fe, Oklahoma City, Boulder, Breckenridge, St. Louis, and Des Moines.
We’ve gone to a drive-thru wildlife park in Arizona, attended the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, and even saw Bob Dylan perform lakeside in Dillon, Colorado. That concert was an unplanned bonus — we just happened to be in town at the right time.
Roadside attractions are one of our favorite parts about driving instead of flying. If a billboard catches our eye and we have time, we’ll pull over.
That’s how we ended up walking through caves in the Ozarks, visiting the Precious Moments Chapel in Missouri, and touring the tiny Illinois town of Casey — home to the world’s largest rocking chair and other oversized objects.
Even getting gas can be an adventure. This year, we had a blast fueling up and walking around Iowa 80, the world’s largest truck stop.
We have a home away from home with my mother-in-law
Elizabeth lives on her own in a three-bedroom house, so she let Aram and me make the upstairs level into our own space, with the bedrooms doubling as offices.
Once we arrive, we quickly settle into our daily rhythm and routines. Even when we’re working, it’s nice to have her near. It’s especially comforting to my husband, who’s always been very close to his mom.
But make no mistake — it’s not like she’s bored and just waiting around for us. At 84, she has a livelier social life than we do. Her vibrancy, curiosity, and generous spirit draw people in, and her eclectic group of friends is always in the mix.
My husband and I also appreciate being able to take a break from the hustle and bustle of LA and experience a more relaxed vibe in Michigan.
We enjoy exploring Detroit, as the city and its neighboring areas have plenty of fantastic restaurants, historic landmarks, and cultural sites, like the Detroit Institute of Arts. We also like heading up to Northern Michigan for the charming lakeside towns.
Aside from that, Elizabeth and I love our “girl time,” whether it’s going out for happy hour and live music, watching the latest fashion shows and travel videos on YouTube, or simply running errands.
As a neat freak, I also enjoy helping her organize the pantry, declutter drawers, and edit her closets. It feels good to do a little spring cleaning any time of year, and she appreciates it.
We know life is precious and time is limited, so we savor our moments together
Driving across the country every year to spend several months with my mom-in-law was not the kind of living arrangement my husband and I ever expected to have.
However, as long as we continue working remotely, we’ll keep this tradition alive.
As she always reminds us, “life is a gift,” and we should strive to “make more memories” whenever we can.
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