Your Offbeat Guide to Soaking, Sipping, and Spotting the Unexplainable
If a weekend of curated chaos, small-town charm, and maybe a casual alien encounter sounds like your idea of self-care, welcome to your Wild Hearted itinerary. This is a road trip through the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly underrated corners of the South — where hot springs heal you, dive bars raise your spirits, and UFOs just…well…casually show up. We are not living life by acquiring more stuff – it’s about collecting great stories and you’ll be reciting this trip to your friends for years to come!
The South’s Soft Launch into Chaos Healing
Start your trip in Hot Springs, North Carolina (or Arkansas, if you’re vibing more desert than mountain). Either way, you’re soaking in natural mineral springs that are basically nature’s version of therapy. Think steaming tubs, starry skies, and and an audible exhale from being that close to truth and beauty!
Honky Tonks, Dollar Bills & Dive Bar Lore
Next stop: Charleston, South Carolina — home of The Griffon, a legendary dive where the walls are literally lined with dollar bills and the stories are even richer. Order something cold, nod along to the jukebox, and try not to fall in love with a stranger in cowboy boots. Bonus points if you hit up two more low-lit bars and live to tell the tale (or don’t — that’s the fun part).
Aliens? In This Economy? Absolutely.
Between your soaks and suds, all you need to do is look up at the sky in North Carolina and you will most likely spot a UFO. Did you know that North Carolina is the top state in the country for UFO sightings? You want to get your Close Encounters moment on (look up the movie it’s a banger but frightening), take the time you need to find some glowing orbs streaking across the sky. And if you do see one, make sure the old car doesn’t stall! And, even if you don’t spot a UFO, the stargazing alone is out of this world and with the right country song playing softly it will definitely complete your wild heart.
Out Of This World! North Carolina Is One Of The Top States For UFO Reported Sightings
The Wild Hearted Breakdown
The Vibes:
• Mineral-soaked mornings
• Dive bar detours
• Southern skies full of possibilities (and possibly extraterrestrials)
The Spirit:
• Off the beaten path
• Unapologetically weird
• Deeply Wild Hearted
Bottom Line
You don’t need a packed itinerary or a five-star hotel to live your best life. You just need hot water, cold beer, and the open road (with maybe a UFO sighting for the plot).
Stay Wild. Stay Curious. Stay Weird.
