What is it about the magic of the open road? Is it the lure of the unknown, the highway’s yellow Morse code unspooling in the distance like Dorothy’s way to Oz? Is it the promise of exploring places we’ve never been, of lighting out for the territories and leaving our everyday selves behind? Or is it the joy of following a well-trodden path, of reassuring ourselves that this once-loved general store, goofy road sign or gnarled apple orchard has continued This story is from Kinfolk Issue Seventeen Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 48 PACK IT IN The unhelpful cult of traveling light. Arts & Culture Issue 43 Signal Boost How status anxiety drives culture. Arts & Culture Issue 38 Memes of Communication A conversation about digital folklore. Arts & Culture Issue 36 Designated Drudgery How to take a load off. Arts & Culture Issue 30 Knowing Me, Knowing You Think twice before seeking out your doppelgänger. Arts & Culture Issue 29 Mime Culture On lip-syncing and the allure of mouthing along.