Open Houses & Odd Little Shops: The Perfect Weekend Road Trip

Not every weekend needs a detailed itinerary. Sometimes the best Saturdays start with a cup of coffee, a full tank of gas, and a general idea of where you're headed…with absolutely no guarantee that's where you'll end up.

There’s something fun about taking the backroads instead of the highway and seeing what you stumble across along the way. Maybe it’s an old farmhouse with a wraparound porch that makes you slow down for a second look, a beautiful neighborhood you never knew existed, or a “For Sale” sign that immediately has everyone in the car wondering what the inside looks like. And if there happens to be an open house nearby? Well, it would almost be rude not to stop. 😉

Even when you're not planning to move, open houses can be surprisingly fun. They're a chance to see different decorating styles, get remodeling ideas, check out new neighborhoods, and occasionally walk into a room and think, “Well…that was certainly a choice.” You might even leave with an idea or two for your own home.

Of course, no proper weekend road trip is complete without stopping at the places you didn't plan on visiting. That little antique store with the hand-painted sign? Pull over. The roadside flea market you spotted at the last second? Turn around. The tiny thrift shop packed from floor to ceiling? That's where the treasures are hiding. Half the fun is never knowing whether you're going home empty-handed or trying to figure out how you're going to fit an old wooden bench in the back of the car.

And then there's lunch.

Skip the familiar chain restaurant and look for the little diner or family-owned restaurant you've never tried before. You know the kind—the parking lot is full, the coffee keeps coming, and there's a very good chance the pie is homemade. Somehow, those unplanned stops always seem to have the best food.

The funny thing is, weekends like these have a little bit of everything. You're exploring communities, noticing homes and neighborhoods, gathering decorating ideas, supporting small businesses, finding things you absolutely did not need but somehow couldn't leave behind, and simply enjoying the drive.

So this weekend, forget the perfectly planned schedule. Pick a direction, take the scenic route, stop when something catches your eye, wander through an open house, browse an odd little shop, and find somewhere unexpected for lunch.

You may not come home with a new house—but that vintage lamp, old wooden crate, or completely unnecessary piece of décor?

That's another story. 😂