How To Take A Last-Minute Trip Before The Summer's Over, According To 2 Travel Vloggers
August is nearly upon us, which means summer is more or less on its way out (I know, I'm crying, too). As always, the sweltering season flew by too fast, and it probably feels like you didn't get to accomplish everything you wanted to -- like that spontaneous getaway you promised yourself you'd finally get the guts to take. The good news? You can still take a last-minute trip before the summer's over, and two travel vloggers can help you make it happen.
Julien Solomita and Collin Duddy are basically two dudes who are really good with cameras, drones, and making their wanderlust dreams a reality. The two vloggers recently started a YouTube series called "Last Minute Trips," in which their spontaneous travel plans are at the mercy of a dart they personally throw (while blindfolded) at a giant map of the United States.
Solomita and Duddy capture every moment of their trips on camera, from the initial dart throw, all the way to the flight back home, and everything in between.
After beginning the series with their production company Waffsicle about five months ago, "Last Minute Trips" has taken Solomita and Duddy to wildly obscure destinations across the country, including Milford, Utah, Point Washington, Florida, and even a small town in New Mexico called Truth or Consequences (yes, it's a real place). And you better believe these guys have learned a thing or two about traveling along the way. If you're looking to squeeze in your own spontaneous trip before summer officially bids adieu, here's what you'll need to know.
1. Expect The Unexpected
In their first episode of "Last Minute Trips," Solomita and Duddy found themselves slumming it in an admittedly sketchy-looking trailer on their way to Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico.
Duddy tells Elite Daily,
That first night, I really did just think to myself, 'Wow, this is all going to suck.' But you have to just throw expectations out the window. You can't over-analyze how things are going to go, or how you can make it work. If you think something has the potential to suck, it probably will. You have to throw caution to the wind.
While they certainly didn't expect (or necessarily want) to sleep in a trailer in the middle of Albuquerque, well, sh*t happens. And when sh*t happens, you just have to roll with it.
2. That Being Said, Don't Have A Plan
Both Solomita and Duddy insist you'll only frustrate yourself more if you try to plan every single part of your trip. The whole point is to allow the experience to be as naturally spontaneous as possible. Pull over when you see a gorgeous view of the mountains. Take a moment, whip out your camera, and breathe it all in.
Life pretty much never cares about your plans anyway, and it's certainly not going to care when you throw a dart at a map, or simply get in your car and drive.
3. Take Pride In Doing Something A Different Way
When Solomita describes "Last Minute Trips" to people who aren't familiar with it, he refers to it as "the anti-travel travel show."
He explains,
Sometimes, you can do something differently than you've ever seen it done. And that's cool in and of itself. I'm sure people look at us and say we're doing things the 'wrong' way, but we don't feel that way at all. There's nothing wrong with doing things the way you want to do them.
And, as Duddy adds, if you want to take your spontaneous getaway but you have no idea where to go, that's good -- don't know. Just grab a friend, get in the car, and go.
4. Bring Way More Clothes Than You Think You'll Actually Need
When the two vloggers found themselves in Bayfield, Wisconsin, they spent a night sleeping on a boat with nothing but a tiny space heater to keep them warm in the chilly, 40-degree weather.
Duddy tells Elite Daily he was thankful to have brought some extra clothes with him on the trip, as he ended up wearing layer upon layer of shirts to keep himself warm through the night. As annoying as it may to be to shove some extra sweaters into your bag, you'll be thankful to have them when potential, last-minute weather changes try to screw you over.
5. Tell Yourself "It's Fine," Because It Is
If you've ever watched any episode of "Last Minute Trips," you know Solomita and Duddy have habit of looking at one another and simply saying, "It's fine," particularly when nothing is actually fine. If they nearly miss a flight, it's fine. If they have to sleep on a boat with no air mattress and limited heating, it's still fine.
Solomita tells Elite Daily,
There's never going to be a day where you're just like, 'Yeah, I'm comfortable with going to wherever a dart lands.' You'll never feel ready. You put yourself in the situation, and you just do it.
And Duddy adds,
None of that sh*t matters when you're able to laugh at anything or shrug off any sort of hardship or stress, or whatever might happen.
It's the sense of humor that these two guys manage to maintain through all the bullsh*t that makes them so incredibly entertaining to watch, and that makes their travels totally worth it in the end. After all, it's fine -- right?
