scenic route – With one car to share and no plan to spend extra on a second vehicle yet, a couple and their 12-year-old began taking side roads instead of the highway—only to discover the “scenic” commute added just one minute. That small change, along with coastal views nea
For weeks. the family’s mornings had a familiar rhythm: grab coffee. merge onto the highway. keep the eyes locked on speed and lanes. This summer, though, the household had a constraint driving everything—sharing one car while they save up for a second. Their solution wasn’t complicated. They started taking the “scenic route” on trips around town, and it became something they looked forward to.
The push came from their 12-year-old son. He asked that their route to school change—through town on side roads instead of the highway. The family agreed, as long as it didn’t stretch the morning drive too much. Then the numbers turned out to be kinder than expected.
Their husband compared the two paths on Google Maps and all three were surprised: the scenic route took only one minute longer. No one minded leaving the house a minute early to avoid the highway, so they tried it.
On the first run, the difference felt immediate. Highway speeds make the driver grip the wheel tighter. and the passenger has to stay locked in too—eyes straight ahead. focus on the road. Even from the passenger seat, she says the highway creates an energy shift in the car that’s more draining. Her husband described feeling the same thing. After a change meant to be small, it somehow turned into something the family could feel.
They didn’t stop at the drive to school. They experimented with other routes to their most frequent destinations, and the time difference was about the same for nearly all of them. For places nearby, it often took the same amount of time via the more scenic—and much more relaxing—route.
As the mornings and errands stretched out along calmer streets, the car started to serve a different purpose. The driver began to point out where they lived—especially how lucky they were to be driving along the coast in their Florida town—because she didn’t want any of them to take the scenery for granted. When she shared that idea with another local. she learned that one of their favorite routes is designated as the Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway.
The byway runs as an alternative to taking the highway to admire the natural Florida landscape. It starts just north of Titusville, Florida, and runs almost 250 miles down along the coast.
Living in a small town with a lot of nature sanctuaries means wildlife is a regular part of the drive. The family also watches the main streets and the architecture. with her husband enjoying the sight of town landmarks and using the views as inspiration for home gardening ideas. Along the way, they learn about upcoming events from signs they pass. The result is a mood shift—more talk at the start, and more reason to keep talking.
She started noticing the change first in volume: they were all talking more during drives. Then she noticed something sharper—her preteen son was opening up more in the car. It’s one of the few times he really starts talking these days.
Adding one more minute to the drive. she says. sometimes feels like a bonus just to hear him talk a little more and learn what’s going on with him. It’s not just between her and her husband, either. Even when it’s only her and her husband—or only her and her son—the effect stays the same: taking the scenic route reduces the stress they would otherwise feel on the highway. and the conversations become more meaningful.
By the end of the summer, the change looked less like a routing trick and more like a family routine that quietly pulled them back together—one calmer turn at a time.
Titusville Florida Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway scenic route family conversation commute one car highway stress Google Maps nature sanctuaries wildlife preteen
So the solution was… go slower but prettier? Lol
I don’t get why this is a big story. One minute is nothing. Also Google Maps is usually wrong anyway, it’ll reroute you into traffic somehow.
This reminded me of when my kid wanted to avoid the highway and I was like no way, but if it’s only one minute then sure. The whole “energy shift” part sounds kinda dramatic though. Like the highway makes the passenger tired?? Maybe they’re just not used to looking forward the whole time or whatever.
One minute longer but they feel better… okay? Meanwhile highways are there for a reason. If the “scenic” route is through town, that sounds like more lights and stops, so I’m skeptical. Also why would they not just rent a car or something? Saving up for a second vehicle but then doing extra routes like it’s a hobby. I dunno, seems like they got lucky with the map timing.