Travel Archives

Whether your summer travel plans are to get out of town, or just out of the house, we're here to help score the journey. (Credit: Alejandro Turola, Pixabay) Like scores of other parents, I am prone to engaging in a practice called “revenge bedtime procrastination” – an oddly poetic phrase for describing one's refusal to go to sleep, even if rest is desperately needed, in favor of having a few quiet, leisurely waking hours of quiet. I can’t speak for how my parental contemporaries utilize this additional time, but I tend towards almost mockably frivolous, unimportant activities. (An example: Three days ago, I stayed up until 2 a.m. to watch “The Mummy” in full – a film that came out in 1999, and that I’ve seen more times than I could count on my fingers and toes.) These are also the hours in which I’ll tweak my “Imaginary Road Trip” playlist – a self-created compilation of tunes that I began working on during pandemic lockdowns as a means of mental release. Today, it’s an ever-evolving, 108-song musical monster, arranged loosely by mood, tempo, key and genre to power me through a lengthy drive down an empty highway on a sunny day. I should mention that as a resident of New York City, I do not own a car, and highways are only accessible after enduring at least 45 minutes of bumper-to-bumper traffic. I also have no plans to drive anywhere anytime soon. Such details have no place in my escapist reveries, of course. Below, you won’t find all 108 songs. (I apologize, and also, you’re welcome.) Rather, I’ve put together a sampling of nine of the lighter, breezier selections from it, to hopefully brighten whatever journey you’re embarking upon this summer. Because maybe you’re finally feeling ready for some travel. Or perhaps you live in a place (unlike NYC) where open roads beckon. Or, you’re staying near home to find some summer rest, but still want to find something new to listen to during your regular neighborhood stroll. Whatever option you’re choosing, you should have some fun tracks to accompany your journey. Just be sure to go to bed at a reasonable hour the night before you embark, regardless of whatever ancient movies might be airing on HBO. (This article, first published June 9, 2022, has been updated for 2025.)

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