Longer distances and new experiences, thanks to my EV.
A New Passenger for the Ride
A few years ago, I shared that I had purchased my first home in Vermont. What I haven’t shared yet is that I’ve had a roommate for the past few months! A friend that I work with, Ellie, needed a place to stay, and my guest room was free. We’ve been roommates ever since.
Ellie leaves for graduate school in a few months, so we’ve been making the most of our era as roomies. Cooking together, running errands together, walking Oliver together – it’s all been fun. And recently, we took a road trip together! Since she’ll be attending graduate school in Rhode Island, we thought, Why not go there to scope out the area beforehand?
Ellie, my mom, and I – and, of course, my dog Oliver – piled into my Chevy EV and took the trip! It was a “one-big-happy-family moment,” all fitting comfortably inside my Equinox EV.
They Places We’d Go…
We all know preparing for a long road trip can be time-consuming, but Ellie and I were excited to go, and rode that momentum as we mapped out our plan.
We made a list of places we wanted to visit along the way, so we wouldn’t have to spend time looking for ideas once we arrived – coffee shops, restaurants, and fun things to do.
Since my Mom and Oliver were in Rutland, we chose a good meeting spot to pick them up – Lebanon, New Hampshire. Have you ever been?
We packed our suitcases with a few new outfits for the trip, and stocked my car with snacks and goodies.
And, most importantly, I charged my Equinox EV at a fast charging station near my home in Burlington. Before long, we were 100% charged and ready to go!
Getting There
It was the longest road trip I’ve driven so far, but driving through the North Country (as always) was so much fun! Sunny weather, mountain views, and fresh air with the windows down made the miles fly by.
It was my first time in Rhode Island, and we made the most of it, even visiting a few different surrounding towns during our weekend there. I enjoyed every bit of it. Here are some of my highlights:
- Bringing Oliver to the ocean for the very first time! It made me so happy watching him so happy as he ran around the beach and into the ocean! At first, he was a bit confused about the salty water, but quickly adjusted and found himself at home leaping in the shallows.
- The Coffee Cubby! I love exploring new restaurants and cafes, discovering places that both locals and tourists love. This coffee shop was unique and fun – serving bucket-sized lattes with the most interesting flavors! I got a bucket-sized fluffernutter latte because I thought, Why not while I’m here?!
- Colt State Park. This public park was beautiful and expansive. You could spend a whole day lounging here if you wanted to. And it was great because the handicapped parking was easy to find, and all of the trails were paved. It also had access to the water, so Ollie could swim here, too!
- Visiting Ellie’s University. Watching my friends start new chapters in their lives is always worthwhile. As I saw where Ellie will be starting her new chapter, I remembered how appreciative I was of our friendship and the experience of living together, even though it was for a short while.
Rhode Island did not disappoint, and I’m sure Ollie and I will be visiting again soon.
EV Road Trip Tips
Like I said, this was my first longer road trip driving an electric vehicle, so it was a learning curve when mapping out and taking the route.
If you’re thinking about taking an EV for your next adventure:
- Use your in-vehicle navigation to locate charging stations along your route, especially on new roads and in unfamiliar places. For example, I used my Chevy’s Google Maps to find electric charging stations near pit stops, Colt State Park, and Ellie’s university.
- Use fast charging stations where available.
- If booking a hotel for the night, check their amenities online (or call them) to see if they have an EV charging station on the property. Waking up in the morning knowing you’re charged and ready to go takes the pressure off and saves time.
With my first successful long road trip in the books, I’m ready for the next one and can’t wait to experience it in my Chevy Equinox EV!