Traditionally a trip plan is all about what to do when you get there. The usual questions are: What’s the quickest way? Are there stopovers? Is there traffic? Is there construction? How much over the speed limit can I get away with? But following a different philosophy, the vacation begins with the turn of the ignition key. It’s not about speed, but discovery. This thought of making the voyage was the premise for a recent drive to Three Oaks, Mich. The quickest route is to take Interstate Highway 94 to exit No. 4 in Michigan, then drive west on U.S. Highway 12. But our way was to take Illinois Highway 41 (Lake Shore Drive) meeting up with U.S. 12 on the South Side of Chicago, through Gary and Michigan City, Ind., New Buffalo, Mich., and ending in downtown Three Oaks, population about 1,000. This route normally takes about two hours instead of the expressway’s 1 1/2. That is, unless you really get into the discovery thing; our trip took closer to 10 hours.
