{"id":6765,"date":"2019-07-01T08:00:23","date_gmt":"2019-07-01T12:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parksleepfly.com\/blog\/?p=6765"},"modified":"2025-09-19T04:42:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T08:42:10","slug":"midlife-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parksleepfly.com\/blog\/midlife-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Midlife Road Trip: An Adventure with Iona Brannon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rick Griffin and Sandi McKenna are the co-hosts of Midlife Road Trip<\/a>, and they’re seasoned travelers who bring the unknown travel world to their followers. Rick and Sandi met through the Twitter travel community years ago, and they’ve been spreading the joy of travel online since then! Strong believers in the “cure-all” effect of travel, Rick and Sandi came by to give our readers some “plane and simple” travel advice coupled with their outrageous travel stories! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Rick
Rick and Sandi at Blog World, Los Angeles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Maximizing One’s Travel Experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How does one find the best travel experience? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> Networking. Networking, and asking other people. Watching what’s on Facebook, where did your friends go? Stepping out of your comfort zone. I think that is a skill that anyone who wants to travel has to learn. I\u2019ve learned a lot of things from Rick, that\u2019s one of the biggest things he taught me. How to be flexible. After a decade, I don\u2019t really get worked out. There are gonna be delays, flight cancellations where you have to sleep by a chair. How do you take that experience and turn it into something positive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also just recently stayed at an airport hotel<\/a>, and I had never stayed in Dallas. It took me ten minutes to get off the plane and into my room. I would have never considered it before. The convenience of it. Look beyond what your expectations are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick:<\/strong> It has more to do with your state of mind than where you go or where you stay. If you have a real super tight schedule, you miss the next appointment. Go with the flow and leave some moments for spontaneity. Whatever happens is all part of the adventure, part of the story we tell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"paddle
Sandi paddle boarding in Maui <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

What would you tell someone who wants to travel but doesn\u2019t feel like they can because of money\/work conflicts?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick: <\/strong>I think that travel is the best gift you can give yourself, and you need to make it a priority. Things that you purchase, cars, TVs, they have a limited shelf life. Travel, your memories last forever. It\u2019s a matter of making it a priority. It’s not as expensive as some people think it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> It\u2019s simple planning. If you don\u2019t have a lot of money, start small. Maybe a long weekend away. Once the travel bug bites, you\u2019ll get creative. You\u2019ll cut those other things out in order to travel. Back in NY, people weren\u2019t extravagant with the way they traveled. We would go to LGA or JFK and watch the planes come in and talk about where we would go. I didn\u2019t even have to go anywhere to get the travel bug. As I got older, I made it a priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Molokai,
Rick and Sandi enjoying Molokai, Hawaii<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

What is the biggest travel misconception you run into?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick: <\/strong>Travel is too expensive. You\u2019d be surprised with research and a little bit of budgeting. Go in the off season instead of peak season. A lot of times, it\u2019s a better experience because places are crowded during peak seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> I agree with Rick, it\u2019s far more affordable than it used to be. The other thing is that travel isn\u2019t safe. Nobody is more fearful than I am, but I wouldn\u2019t let my fear prevent me from going places. I just don\u2019t want anybody to feel like travel is unsafe. There are a lot of places you can go. I was really leery about going overseas by myself, but I\u2019ve got to tell you it\u2019s so liberating. You have to stand on your feet, but you don\u2019t realize what you can do when you\u2019re by yourself. People are genuinely nice. You have to be cautious, but you have to do that anywhere. You don\u2019t walk around with your phone out. It doesn\u2019t matter if I\u2019m in my parking lot or a foreign country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rick
Rick photographing blue footed bobbies in the Galapagos Islands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Who do you look up to in the travel industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick: <\/strong>Some of the brands just make their customer experiences, like Viking Cruises, Signature Travel, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, I really look up to. They seem to really understand the customer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> Brands that really recognize the consumer. That\u2019s a good thing where social media has come in. People that share my  interest, but they use social media and use their voice with integrity. Jean Newman Glock, someone I really admire, she\u2019s a master storyteller. She has beautiful, colorful photos and they capture the essence of what travel is not just for her but for me. She inspires me to want to travel. Those are the kinds of people I like to follow and that inspire me based on their social posts. There are a lot of people that post socially, the family bloggers, the fashion and beauty travelers and foodies but I try to find people that travel the way I like to travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Certified
Sandi at the Certified Angus Beef headquarters in Ohio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Food: The Most Important Part<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What is a food that you didn\u2019t think you would like but you did? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick:<\/strong> we had breakfast in an hotel in Tahiti. It was raw fish and coconut milk and lime and tomatoes and it didn\u2019t look that good but I kept seeing people coming for seconds and thirds. And I loved it. I tried to make it at home, but I wouldn\u2019t have eaten it if I hadn\u2019t see it. It was for breakfast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> A couple of things come to mind. Macaroons. In France I had a vanilla truffle…The other thing I tried that I never thought I would like is muesli. I had it in Viking Cruises I looked forward to it. Now, I\u2019ve changed. Try things you don\u2019t think you\u2019ll like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What is a food you want to try?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick: <\/strong>Thai food in Thailand. I love Thai food here and I hear it\u2019s even better there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> I love curry, so curry in India. Dim sum in Hong Kong, pho in Vietnam. We have this huge long list of things we want to eat wherever we go. We try to eat something authentic wherever we go, in the deep south, biscuits and gravy or shrimp and grits (of which Rick is a connoisseur). Deep dish in Chicago or pizza in Naples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rick
Rick checks “Eat Pizza in Rome” off his bucket list<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

What is so important about food in your travel experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick:<\/strong> I think food is the best way to experience the culture of whatever place you\u2019re visiting. It\u2019s the best way to have that authentic experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi: <\/strong>Food is my travel experience. It\u2019s how I remember a place. I can remember what I ate five years ago, and I can\u2019 remember what it tastes. I have recipes from all the places we\u2019ve been so I can recreate that experience at home. I\u2019ll ask the chef for the recipe so I can come home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A pasta class in Gargano, Italy <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

The Inside Scoop on Destinations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Top three destinations you want to travel to?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick:<\/strong> Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> I wanna do Great Britain Islands, Scotland, to follow my ancestors; the Nordic countries and Southeast Asia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What is the most underrated place that you\u2019ve been?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick:<\/strong> For me I would say Portugal. It has all the charm of Europe and nothing is overrun with tourists. It\u2019s Europe best kept secret and it seems to be a little less expensive than a lot of Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> As far as a European country, I love Croatia. Rick said that\u2019s like Italy-lite. Less expensive, less touristy. At the time, a couple years back it was wonderful. The other place is small-town USA. You can have a really affordable amazing vacation visiting any. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A shot from Midlife Road Trip in Dubrovnik, Croatia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Fun Tidbits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What are your carry-on must-haves?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick:<\/strong> Cash, camera, and a corkscrew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> Hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, a bottle of water, and noise canceling headphones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What is your biggest airplane pet peeve?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick:<\/strong> Boarding the airplane. They\u2019ll call up every group of people in the world: handicap veterans, priority elite, gold members, everyone but about 15 people. Then it’s finally zone 1. It\u2019s a free for all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> That doesn\u2019t work for me. Because I\u2019m a fearful flier, I\u2019m neurotic about where I sit. If I\u2019m on a plane where I cant get a seat I want, I\u2019m gonna panic the whole time. Keep your shoes and socks on. Don\u2019t have your feet encroaching on my plane. Smelly food! Do not bring bowl of hot smelly chili onto the plane. I don\u2019t want that smelly food on the plane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the middle seat, even though I rarely get a middle seat. It\u2019s punishment enough to get the middle seat. It should be common courtesy to give them the middle seat. Just be kind. Be kind to your fellow passengers. Be kind to the flight attendants. My real pet peeve is if the seat belt sign is on, sit in your seat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bungalows
Bungalows in Bora Bora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

What is the sweetest thing you saw at the airport?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick<\/strong>: I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s necessarily sweet, but I saw a group of soldiers getting on board. This couple, man and wife, gave up their seats. By the end of it, everyone in First Class had given up their seats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandi:<\/strong> I agree with Rick, one of the sweetest thing is with our military men–how genuinely respectful and kind people are, giving up their seats to them. It\u2019s just we forget the sacrifice people are making, and when you\u2019re in an airplane thinking about ow these soldiers coming home. It makes an aggravating flight much more agreeable. It\u2019s also touching when you see a mom struggling with a bag and somebody is helping her. Or when a baby cries and people don\u2019t get upset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Want more travel insight? You can keep up with Rick and Sandi on Twitter<\/a>, Youtube<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> or their site Midliferoadtrip.Tv<\/a>. Follow along with ParkSleepFly on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Interview edited for grammar, length, and clarity.  <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rick Griffin and Sandi McKenna are the co-hosts of Midlife Road Trip, and they’re seasoned travelers who bring the unknown travel world to their followers. Rick and Sandi met through the Twitter travel community years ago, and they’ve been spreading the joy of travel online since then! 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