Good music, a map, a car, and your closest friends. What more could you ask for in a vacation? With the popularity of cruises and direct flights, road trips have fallen down the list of a preferred way of travel. But the magic of road trips is the adventure many of us crave: we just don't realize it yet. While on flights you go from Point A to Point B, road trips allow you to stop along the way, discover places you (and the rest of the world) have never heard of, and to create memories you never expected. Plus, it's a cheaper alternative to a cruise or a flight. To get you started, here are some amazing road trips right here in the U.S., with no passport needed!
Florida Keys
You'll never look out the window and be bored of what you see. You feel like you're driving across an ocean (which you technically are), and your stops will include grabbing smoothies at a small surf themed shack. What more could you ask for?
Shenandoah National Park
When you google "Long beautiful drive through winding roads in the fall" a picture of Shenandoah National Park is sure to come up. National parks were created for people to drive through and take in the scenery and wildlife without causing any harm. You may not find many gas stops (so fill up before you go!), but you'll be stopping just as frequently to gaze in awe at the breathtaking views.
Pacific Coast Highway
If you don't play "Hotel California" as you drive down these winding roads, you're not doing it right. This is one of the best ways to see all of what California has to offer. Along the PCH, you'll pass by San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, all the way up to the Redwoods by Oregon. As you drive, you can take your pick of the beautiful mountains on your right or the stunning Pacific Ocean on your left. And you'll probably spend the whole trip conflicted between the two.
Yellowstone National Park
Okay, I may be a little biased on this one, just because I've driven through it twice (the pictures above are from my last trip #nofilter). But seriously, if you're waiting for a sign to go to Yellowstone and drive through the park, this is it. Arguably one of the most beautiful national parks in the U.S., it will take you at least two hours of amazing scenery before you see another human. And that's what makes it incredible. When you first arrive in the park, take the scenic Beartooth Pass which winds you up a mountain (where you can have a snowball fight in July) and then wind back down with the beautiful valleys of Yellowstone as your view. Drive past streams, get stuck on the road as a herd of bison cross, and experience what the world was like before cities.
Route 66
The route. The myth. The legend. When you think of a road trip, this is probably what comes to mind. While it may seem mind numbing, don't be fooled: you will see the Midwest like you never have before. From LA to Chicago, Route 66 stretches through seven states, with pit stops at the major cities such as Flagstaff, AZ and Springfield, MO. You'll see the ancient red rocks of the midwest, the rising and falling mountains, and pretty much everything you hear in the song "America the Beautiful." It's a legendary road trip, so get out there and cross it off your bucket list.
Happy travels! And don't forget a spare tire!
