Channeling My Inner Pioneer Woman

And now comes that beloved time in each Eubanks' girl's life: the time in which summer plans are made. Caroline, as you may have read on her other blog, is going to Croatia. Rachel, being only 15, will be limiting her travels to the southeast (or wherever potential college options are). And then there is me. It's been alluded to that I have tons of ideas but can rarely pull them together into an organized plan. This is where I find myself now, naturally. A change of scene is in order. This has been the most eventful year of my life (not always in good ways) and I need some time out in the world to clear my head and re-learn who I am. So what is the best way to do this? Travel, of course. What I want out of a trip:

-A place I've never been

-People I've never met

-Mountains I've never climbed

-Adventures I've never had

-Work I've never done

-A trip that won't drain my savings

Constraints:

-No travel buddy (can be seen as a good thing too)

-I have to be back in time for a wedding in mid june

-Train, Plane, Bus, or Car?

-The nerves of my dear parents

So here's my current ideas. I can either blow all my money on a plane/train ticket, go out west somewhere, Wyoming or Montana or something, stay in a hostel and accept whatever life throws at me. Potentially I would meet college students like myself and tag along for camping trips, mountain ascents, and dinners in local dives. Option two would be to work on a farm through WWOOF (worldwide opportunities on organic farms) and go wherever some crazy person would take me. If I go for this option I would be working long days, learning new skills, and basking in the life I idealize for myself in the future. Yes, I might be channeling my inner "Pioneer Woman" (check out the blog) but farms have always been a soft spot.

So I give it to you. What should I do? Which of these ideas sounds the least crazy or the most practical. Or, if you have another idea throw it towards me. I'm always up for new stunts. Just remember, I can't be stuck inside all day. I need time for personal reflection, and I need new faces with new stories. Thanks.