Are We There Yet?

How to be a Roam' in Catholic

Jun 09, 2023

It’s the time of year for the great American Road Trip. While digital devices have reduced the “Are we there yet” cries from the back seat, your family still needs to get out of the car occasionally. Sure, there are more Buckee’s around every day. And, honestly, who doesn’t love a beaver nugget? (Although I maintain it is the worst name for a snack food EVER!) What if there was a way for your family to deepen their faith as they see the country? There are hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of options for your family to explore.

Leg Stretchers

Everyone has to get out of the car and walk around from time to time. Check your route for shrines and missions that are on your way. Most of these give you access to bathrooms. Many have picnic areas or food vendors. You may even discover that some of these shrines have gift shops. So, there is no fear that you will make it home without enough refrigerator magnets. (And these might have pictures of saints instead of clams playing the banjo!)

Side Trips

If you have a little more time, consider taking an hour or so to explore a faith-filled venue. Missions were the beginning of faith around the country. So, you can check out the Mission trails around San Antonio or Tucson. There are also beautiful missions around San Diego and Santa Fe.

Take a glimpse at the lives of influential Catholic thinkers and saints by exploring their centers. You can check out Blessed Father Solanus Casey at his center in Detroit and join the priests for a healing mass, or take advantage of their all-day confessional. If you love the writings of Thomas Merton, consider stopping at the Gethsemane Abbey, where he lived and wrote. There you will find nature trails and a gift shop where you can buy many of the Monks’ homemade items.

Camping

If you love the RV lifestyle, check out many of the abbeys, convents, and monasteries along your way. These organizations have increasingly made their beautiful, pastoral setting available to RV drivers. Some have water and electrical hookups, but most are more suited to dry camping. Some invite their guests to join them for mass and prayers.

If this is an interest of yours, do call ahead. While most are open to whole families, some only welcome adult visitors.

Guest Houses

Long before Airbnb was a thing, convents, abbeys, and monasteries welcomed travelers in the name of God. In fact, at one time, religious guest houses were the only place a weary pilgrim could lay his or her head. That tradition continues all over the world today. In the US, many Catholic organizations offer guest houses. Some are available for private or couple’s retreats, while others offer a sanctifying place to stay in a secular world.

However, like the RV slots, call ahead. Some places are specifically for adults, or college students, while others welcome whole families.

Ultimately, when planning this year’s road trip, take a few minutes to Google for Catholic sites around your route. Getting off the beaten path might just put you more surely on the path of God.