I truly enjoy driving and taking the long way home after a stressful day at work is the best way to get in a better mood.

I also visited Europe and just drove around. My “base camp” was in northern Netherlands and I would do day trips to surrounding countries. My thing is castles so I’d map out a route that would hit a few in a round trip and just have a blast.

Of course I had to visit Neuschwanstein and that was a longer trip. I drove down one day, stayed overnight, visited Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, hung out in that adorable little village for a while and stayed another night, hit up a some castles and ruins in Lichtenstein and then headed back to the Netherlands. I took the long way back and stopped in Heidelberg for the night with more stops the next day. It was glorious.

My Dutch friends thought I was nuts with such long drives and kept telling me how awesome their trains are, but it was the best way for me. I’m a woman, traveling solo, so I feel most comfortable and most in control if I’m in my own car rather than public transportation. And a nine hour drive is no big deal especially with such amazing scenery.

I want to do another such trip but in the British Isles. My concern is left hand driving though. I’m not sure how stressful that would make the trip.