When Travel Takes Over Your Travel Plans

When travel disrupts your plans, you realize trips often involve surprises, detours, and unexpected moments rather than meticulously planned itineraries. This was especially true during my visit to South Carolina. Delays caused by work issues in North Carolina postponed my arrival. After a 3.5-hour drive, I checked into my hotel and asked the front desk for recommendations on what to do in Columbia, since I hadn’t planned anything besides visiting Congaree National Park, and it was too late for that day.

After a 10-15 minute chat with two friendly staff members, I had a list of 12 places or activities for my single night in Columbia. I was determined to try at least three that evening, but the universe had different plans. Once in my room, I quickly changed, got back in the car, and headed to a highly recommended arcade bar. When I arrived and started walking towards it, I paused to listen to the live jazz from the Joint 1710.  As I did, I debated whether I should enter the jazz bar or walk the 15 remaining feet and stick with my original plan.

That’s when I allowed my intuition to take over. Nervously, I entered the jazz bar—unsure if it was open, as only one person was sitting at the bar. Thankfully, it was. I sat down, made friends with the bartenders, and listened to the live jazz.

I felt like I was meant to be there at that moment. I enjoyed the conversations and the music, even though jazz isn’t my favorite genre. As I sipped different drinks prepared by the bartender, people filled the place. It got packed!

During a band break, they came to the bar for drinks, and one of the members struck up a chat with me. We continued talking during the break, and he even gave me his number to hang out later.

I tried to leave to visit the initial place I had planned, but I only lasted five minutes. I didn’t even order a drink there. Instead, I returned to the jazz bar for one more drink. Then, I headed to a rooftop bar, waiting to see if the guy from the band would text me or meet me there or at my hotel.

On the way to the rooftop, I stopped several times because of live music playing—something about the atmosphere drew me in.

Eventually, I met the band member, and we relaxed in a typical southern rocking chair, talking about life: his, mine, and the world in general. It turned out to be a truly memorable night, one I wouldn’t have had if travel hadn’t caused the detours.

In a way, when travel disrupts your plans, it teaches an important lesson: life is full of surprises. The best stories, the ones we cherish for years, often come from moments that don’t go as planned. They remind us to be grateful for the journey, not just the destination, and to face surprises with curiosity and an open heart.

So next time you’re stranded, delayed, or rerouted—or maybe the music was too good—see it as an invitation to adventure. The universe might be guiding you toward a new experience, a hidden gem, or a serendipitous encounter you never expected. After all, the most unforgettable trips are the ones where the journey takes over, and you’re just along for the ride.