I Took A Bus From New York To Miami — Here’s What Surprised Me

It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made

“Taking a bus from New York to Miami is a terrible idea.”

My friend begged me not to take a bus across America. He said it was dangerous and told horror stories about people getting robbed, stabbed, and stranded in the middle of nowhere.

“Just take the plane instead,” he said. “It’s much safer!”

I took my friend’s advice at face value. Before the journey, I was admittedly nervous about traveling from New York to Miami. So, when I stepped onboard the bus, I questioned if the entire trip was a mistake — and whether I should cancel everything ASAP.

Here’s what happened next:

I Met Some Of The Kindest People In The World

The first person I sat next to looked intimidating. I genuinely thought I was about to be the main character of a horror movie — and be left for dead on the side of the road. However, I was pleased to discover that I was completely wrong.

“I got out of prison ten years ago,” he said. “Ever since, I’ve worked at a non-profit that helps people rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.”

That wasn’t the only beautiful story I heard during my trip…

A woman sat next to me as we crossed the border into North Carolina. “I’m visiting my kids studying at college,” she said. “We haven’t seen each other in months. And my husband is currently deployed in the military. So, it’ll be nice to have some of the family back together again.”

Her story reminded me why I wanted to travel across America in the first place. It was an opportunity to meet ordinary Americans with kind souls and big hearts. It was also a chance to meet some of the most amazing people in the world — and hear what they’ve learned about life, family, and the pursuit of happiness.

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” — Anthony Bourdain

I Went To Small Towns That Nobody Ever Visits

It was my first time seeing a version of the USA that’s rarely featured on postcards. And since I had only visited the country once (for a two-week vacation to Disney World), I was shocked to experience what it’s like in small-town America.

The bus stopped in the middle of Georgia for a few hours. And since I hadn’t got much exercise lately, I decided to explore the local town and grab something to eat. “You’re not from around here are you darlin?” said the waitress in a diner. She had a welcoming demeanor that reminded me of my grandmother. “Is it obvious?” I replied with a chuckle. “I’m just visiting. Currently traveling from New York to Miami by bus.”

The waitress said it was a long trip and gave me some free cookies for the road. She also recommended a beautiful walking trail nearby. “The views are sweeter than cherry pie,” she said. “And you might see an Eagle if you’re lucky. It’s the national bird… and it’ll give you something patriotic to write home about.”

My conversation with the waitress reminded me that it’s important to get off the beaten path and explore small towns more frequently. After all, they’re the backbone of America and filled with people who went out of their way to make my trip more enjoyable.

“The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” — Bill Bryson

Conclusion + Takeaway

I met my friend in Florida after traveling across the country. “Taking the bus from New York to Miami was a mistake, right?” He leaned in, smiled, and told me to “spill the beans.”

“It was difficult to sleep,” I responded. “The bus stopped in the middle of the night and turned on the lights whenever people needed to be dropped off. And, compared to flying, taking a bus thousands of miles overland is much slower.”

“But I’m glad I traveled across the United States by bus,” I continued. “I met some of the kindest people in the world. It was also incredible to visit small towns that I wouldn’t have otherwise known existed.”

“Would you do it again?” My friend asked while looking visibly puzzled. It was almost as if he realized that meeting ordinary people and visiting small towns wasn’t something to be avoided at all costs.

“Absolutely,” I replied. “Maybe you should join me next time!”

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