Every year, my bestie April and I make it a point to plan a trip together. It’s not always easy—after all, we live an ocean away from each other—but it’s always worth it. Sometimes it’s me flying to see her, sometimes she flies to see me, and sometimes we pick a destination to explore. No matter what, it’s never just a “trip.” It’s a reset. A recharge. A reminder that friendship feels different—and so much deeper—when you’re sharing space instead of just sharing screens.
1. FaceTime is great… but it’s not the same
Don’t get me wrong, I love our voice text messages and occasional FaceTime, but being in the same place changes everything. You laugh louder, stay up later, and pick up inside jokes that only work when you’re together. Plus, there’s something healing about those in-between moments—like singing and dancing in the car ride together or grabbing coffee or splitting desserts—that you just can’t replicate on a phone call.
2. Adventures make memories stick
We don’t just meet up—we plan around something fun. Sometimes it’s a favorite team’s game, sometimes a concert, and sometimes something totally unexpected, like a hot air balloon ride, a celebrity bus tour, or a local comic-con. We’ve also wandered through cheesy museums and tackled hikes (that I was not prepared for). The point is, we make space for adventure. And those adventures become the stories we retell a hundred times later, the ones that keep us laughing months after we’ve unpacked. Like the time we explored the Tucson Biosphere and, in the final hour before it closed, I swore a murdering fisherman was waiting for us in the basement—turns out it was just a cardboard cutout.
3. It’s the best kind of reset
Life gets heavy. Work, responsibilities, routines—they pile up. And since April has a family, we often plan shorter trips around school breaks and weekends, squeezing the most fun possible into a few days. It takes coordination, but even the quick trips are enough to lift the weight off. There’s something about being around someone who knows you so well that lets you exhale fully. You go home lighter, more yourself, and a little more ready to face whatever’s next.
4. Playing tourist in your own city
One of the unexpected joys of visiting each other is that it gives us a reason to explore our own backyards. When April visits me, we’ll check out places I’ve never made time for—like Mt. Rainier or hiking trails that have been sitting on my wishlist. And when I visit her, it’s a chance to see Oahu through fresh eyes, finding new spots that have popped up since I left or revisiting old favorites. It’s like putting on new glasses—suddenly the everyday feels special, and familiar places feel brand new.
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✨ Life’s too short to wait for the “perfect time” to see your people. Book the flight. Plan the road trip. Visit their city and let them show you around. Because nothing beats the joy of traveling with your bestie. Someone who enjoys your company, loves you for you, and someone who will always split the fries and the memories with you.
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