And I'm back. I spent two incredible weeks with my friends on an unforgettable road trip across 12 states and two Canadian provinces.
Last year, my friends and I cruised from Los Angeles to Vancouver. This year, it was all about the Midwest and East Coast.
We first flew out to Milwaukee where we rented a car and hit the road. The goals of this adventure: sightseeing and visiting some of the best breweries in the country.
From Wisconsin we drove to Chicago, Detroit and Toronto. Along the way, we hit up breweries like Founders Brewing Company, Flossmoor Station, Goose Island and Bell's Brewery.
We trekked to Montreal on the second leg of our journey. After a few days of strolling on cobblestone streets and munching on poutine, we headed back to the U.S. via Vermont and explored New England states like Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Some other highlights included Lake Erie, Niagara Falls and the House on the Rock, a unique tourist attraction in Spring Green, WI, that showcases many curiosities, like the world's largest indoor carousel and a massive collection of self-playing instruments.
Overall, it was one of the best experiences of my life. A lot of people think international travel is the way to go, but there's so much beauty to witness within our borders.
Thanks to traveling by car, I had a front row seat to a huge chunk of America's gorgeous countryside and met many friendly people on my journey.
Hitting a new hotel every other day or so did get a little annoying, and we were all exhausted by the end, but it was well worth making so many great memories.
We're already contemplating our next excursion. Maybe New Orleans to Miami? Either way, I can't wait to see what kind of adventure awaits in 2013.
Check out the accompanying photo gallery for pictures from my road trip.
