Road Trip Planning Blog | Best Road Trips | TripWiser.com

Road Trip With Your Dog

Dear Traveler,

We hope that you enjoy TripWiser and gain value from reading this blog. We appreciate you taking the time to share your travel stories, recommendations and  experiences with our growing community.   Our goal is to make TripWiser your trusted social source for all travel related issues.

Update 9/09:

The picture above shows how much our dog loved going to the beach!  We were still getting the beach towels together when she decided we'd taken long enough to get going already! 

In the picture below, I swear I can see her smile here.

If you have a photo showing your dog enjoying his/her Road Trip, send the photo to editor@tripwiser.com & we'll add our favorites to this page.  Your stories and recommendations can be added directly in the comments section below.

Enjoy,
TripWiser Team

Dear Traveler,

We hope that you enjoy TripWiser and gain value from reading this blog. We appreciate you taking the time to share your travel stories, recommendations and  experiences with our growing community.   Our goal is to make TripWiser your trusted social source for all travel related issues.

Update 9/09:

The picture above shows how much our dog loved going to the beach!  We were still getting the beach towels together when she decided we'd taken long enough to get going already! 

In the picture below, I swear I can see her smile here.

If you have a photo showing your dog enjoying his/her Road Trip, send the photo to editor@tripwiser.com & we'll add our favorites to this page.  Your stories and recommendations can be added directly in the comments section below.

Enjoy,
TripWiser Team

Dear Traveler,

We hope that you enjoy TripWiser and gain value from reading this blog. We appreciate you taking the time to share your travel stories, recommendations and  experiences with our growing community.   Our goal is to make TripWiser your trusted social source for all travel related issues.

Update 9/09:

The picture above shows how much our dog loved going to the beach!  We were still getting the beach towels together when she decided we'd taken long enough to get going already! 

In the picture below, I swear I can see her smile here.

If you have a photo showing your dog enjoying his/her Road Trip, send the photo to editor@tripwiser.com & we'll add our favorites to this page.  Your stories and recommendations can be added directly in the comments section below.

Enjoy,
TripWiser Team

Dear Traveler,

We hope that you enjoy TripWiser and gain value from reading this blog. We appreciate you taking the time to share your travel stories, recommendations and  experiences with our growing community.   Our goal is to make TripWiser your trusted social source for all travel related issues.

Update 9/09:

The picture above shows how much our dog loved going to the beach!  We were still getting the beach towels together when she decided we'd taken long enough to get going already! 

In the picture below, I swear I can see her smile here.

If you have a photo showing your dog enjoying his/her Road Trip, send the photo to editor@tripwiser.com & we'll add our favorites to this page.  Your stories and recommendations can be added directly in the comments section below.

Enjoy,
TripWiser Team

The Grass IS Greener at the Olympic National Park

There's no doubt that Road Trip Planners know that National Parks offer some of the best family summer vacations.  They also know that millions of other travelers are hitting the massively popular parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite during the summer.  So where do you go when you want to experience the great outdoors, be immersed in natural settings but not too far from the amenities that makes family travel easier and yet feel like you're away from the crowds?  Well, if you're west of the Mississippi, set your sights on the Olympic National Park in Washington, where the green will astound you.

What sets this park apart from the rest is that Olympic National Park is divided into three distinct regions: The rugged Pacific coastline, the Olympic Mountains, and the lush rainforest.   Three distinctly different biospheres; one fantastic vacation.  Actually, it does draw over 3 1/2 million visitors a year and yet, you can easily find yourself alone on the beach or hike on trails for miles without seeing other hikers.

The most popular (hence, probably the most populated) area is the 9-mile Ozette Loop.  It features 3 miles each of a coastal forest, ocean beaches, and camping at Ozette Lake. It's well maintained with a boardwalk and is an easy hike as the elevation change goes from sea level to 100 feet.

If you've got smaller children, I'd recommend doing a combination resort and camping vacation. Consider filling your road trip planner with the activities found in this Family Fun Trip to Olympic National Park.  This road trip includes staying at Kalaloch Lodge in Forks, a family-friendly resort that sells kites in their gift shop and has other amenities like a gift shop, dining, and groceries store onsite.  Nearby, you'll find another popular resort, the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, which has 3 mineral pools and 1 freshwater pool.  The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort has the added attraction of providing RV sites as well as cabins (tent camping is nearby at the Sol Duc Campground with 80 sites).

Coastline:  The coastal portion of the park is a rugged, sandy beach along with a strip of adjacent forest.  The beach has unbroken stretches of wilderness ranging from 10 to 20 miles. 

Mountain zone:  The Olympic Mountains rise from the center of the park, dominated by the peak of Mount Olympus, which rises to 7,965 feet.  It has several glaciers, the largest of which is the Hoh glacier, nearly five kilometers in length. Looking to the East, the range becomes much drier due to the rain shadow of the western mountains. Here, there are numerous high peaks and craggy ridges. The tallest summit of this area is Mount Deception, at 7,788 feet.

Rainforest:   On the peninsula is the largest and finest expanse of temperate rain forest in the western hemisphere, declared a National Monument in 1909. The park is 95% wilderness, encompassing the mountains and the sea, with a rain forest in between. We're talking virgin, old-growth forests and untouched land. You won't find many roads and your best accommodations are campsites, but most visitors will agree that the experiences these trails offer are worth the effort. At the Hoh Rainforest's Hall of Mosses, you'll need waterproof shoes. Trees stretch toward the sky while mosses, lichens and mushrooms cover the ground. This hike is easy enough for a family leaving the more adventurous hikes to those who'd like to backpack in and camp along the Hoh River or at the base of Mount Olympus.

Scenic Drives:  Catch the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway Loop and drive along till it connects with Upper Hoh Road. This 18-mile stretch traces the silvery Hoh River and is simply gorgeous to behold. There's also a 17-mile Hoh River trail that takes you across the flat valley to Mount Olympus's Blue Glacier.

Other points of interest:

• Hurricane Ridge brings you from the lowlands blanketed with old growth forests to spongy meadows.  A number of trails can be found here, depending on the group's ability. Be sure to check out the views of the Olympic Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca.

• Lake Crescent is an excellent place to walk along the 12-mile shore of this glacier lake.

• Rialto Beach is more active, with waves crashing on cobblestone beach sections and rocky islands known as seastacks are easily visible from the Beach. This is a stunning place to photograph during sunset.

The verdant landscape, the ocean, the rainforest, the snow-capped mountains; each a good reason to add the Olympic National Park to your road trip planner, but to get it all in one trip, makes this a must-see destination for everyone to experience.

Valley of the Sun Road Trip: Phoenix and Scottsdale

When some Road Trip Planners hear the words, Valley of the Sun, images of Egypt and the Pyramids spring to mind.  But other travelers know those words also describe the greater Phoenix area in the United States.  Indeed, going on a Summer Road Trip to Phoenix and Scottsdale ranks as one of the Best Destinations in the U.S.

Why?  Because it gives travelers more than 325 sunny days a year! So it’s really a year-round destination.  Add to the sunny forecasts the gorgeous mountain vistas as your constant backdrop, a huge assortment of hotels (including an abundance of world-class resorts, golf courses and spas), an array of sports and activities to enjoy and you begin to understand why many road trip planners across the nation head there for their summer vacation. 

Here are some sample trips to the region that others have taken.  Consider copying one of these as your own and then customizing it to your own preferences.  At the very least, you’ll get a bunch of great ideas for your own trip.

• Family Trip to Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Scottsdale – Enjoy the railways or float above it all with Over the Rainbow Expeditions.  There’s also the Doll & Toy Museum, Castles-n-Coasters amusement park, and the Westworld Xtreme Pursuit Paintball.

• 4 Arizona Cities in 7 Days – Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Litchfield Park.  This trip includes Out of Africa Wildlife Park, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, an exhilarating Arizona Sunset Desert Tour, hiking on Camelback Mountain.

• Girlfriend's Trip to Phoenix and Scottsdale - Because of the high “spoil” factor, Arizona is a favorite road trip destination for friends to gather.  In this road trip planner you’ll find spas, pools, shopping, nightlife and even some jeep rides, and shootouts at Western Town.

• Golfing Weekend in Phoenix  -  This is a great trip for a couple who enjoy golf and want to infuse a little luxury in their weekend.  This 3-Day weekend gets you on golf courses plus side trips to the Phoenix Zoo Lights, the Phoenix Coyotes, and the Ice Chalet.

• Romantic Overnight Escape to Phoenix – You can easily expand this trip for a honeymoon or anniversary.  It already includes fun things to do like Jazz in the Garden at the Desert Botanical Garden, the Arizona Science Center, and the Pueblo Grande Museum & Cultural Park. It already lists three luxurious accommodations to choose from.

The above trips already take half of the guesswork out of your road trip planning but still leaves plenty of room for you to put your own stamp on your trip to the Valley of the Sun.

Tech Travel for Kids

I can remember the good old days when staying occupied during long car rides consisted of my brother and me punching each other. My, how times have changed. Kids today still revert to the age old practice of tormenting their siblings, but at least nowadays there are plenty of distractions to keep them from making a road trip a living nightmare. IPod's, PSP's, DVD players, and the like have made travel quite a bit easier on parents. I have to say that my wife and I have fully embraced the new tech-age and our travels honestly are better off for it. But, at the same time, we don't want our little darlings to turn into drooling zombies from staring at screens for hours on end.

 

How do we do that? Well, it's not easy. Once the media gets its hooks in, it's hard to get them out. The key is moderation and regulation. Keep time limits and make sure there are ample breaks in between. You know your children best of all, so you’ll know their threshold before becoming over stimulated by games and movies. You’ll also know how long a media break to take before they start to turn on each other. For long road trips, this is an absolute necessity. For shorter road trips, it may not be necessary at all. It really depends on your situation. For example, if the road trip is any less than 2 hours, the DVD player doesn’t get any use. Likewise on long trips, when the DVD player is in use, take a break between movies before allowing the next one to be played. We’ve been guilty of not following this rule more than a few times, but it’s a sound rule.

Have chargers and/or batteries on standby as well. Portable media devices gobble energy like PacMan and you don’t want to be three hours into an eight-hour drive with the red light blinking.

Most of all, make sure your kids take notice of any special scenery that comes to pass, such as beautiful mountain views, the coastline, a 30-foot tall donut, or even a rare license plate. It’s still a family trip, so include them and make them feel like it is. Portable media can be a great thing for long trips, but if unchecked, they can also be a major detractor from your trip. Find the happy medium and your travels will be smooth.

Now, if there was only something we could do about the traffic.

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Ted Hardy also covers his family's travel escapades at Have Family, Will Travel.

Get your RV Revved up for Road Trip Adventures

Spring is in full bloom with summer just around the corner and that means Road Trip Planners across the USA are airing out their RVs for some highly anticipated road trip adventures.  Even if you aren’t an RV owner but want comfort of a hotel without having to pack and unpack your suitcases at each destination, there are many RV rentals available.

Nolan’s RV Rentals in Colorado offers another plus for traveling in an RV:  Tour in a bathrobe.  Imagine driving up Pike's Peak, dressed in pajamas with pillow creases still indented in your left cheek and you can imagine the convenient beauty of Nolan's RV Rentals.  

Going on an RV road trip with the family offers another huge advantage.  The dining out costs for a family of 5 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner runs conservatively $250/day.  You can cut that expense by 60% by utilizing the kitchen in the RV.  Not to mention the comfort of not having to dress for dinner (or wait for everyone else to dress).  And the road trip planner in the family saves time by not having to search for kid-friendly restaurants at each destination.

So where can you “hang your hat” when traveling in an RV?  Because of the increasing popularity of RV traveling, you’ll find many parks and campgrounds all over the United States.  Here are a few samples:

• Rivers End Campground and RV Park on Tybee Island (near Savannah, Georgia).  One of the Good Sam Parks, 150 sites are available and all are within blocks of the beach and the river.
  
• Southern Comfort RV Resort in Florida for the full resort treatment including 24-hour security, a swimming pool, bingo nights and musical performances.
  
• Lake Havasu RV Park in Arizona is right by the lake and makes for a wonderful RV vacation if you stayed there for the duration but you’re also close enough for some great day jaunts to the Joshua Tree National Park, the Mojave National Preserve or Phoenix.

Before you head off, check out these RV fire safety tips from Nationwide Insurance.

1. Check extinguishers. Before traveling, be sure your fire extinguisher is functional and contains proper pressurization. You should keep multiple extinguishers on hand throughout the vehicle and understand which extinguisher is effective on different types of fires. Also, be sure to verify that your smoke detectors are in working order.
2. Avoid transmission fires. Many fires are caused by fluid leaking from the transmission, which can be ignited if it comes in contact with the exhaust system. Complete a thorough check of the underside of your RV as part of your pre-trip inspection.
3. Inspect electrical systems. A common cause of fire is a short in the 12-volt electrical system. Check the engine compartment wiring as another part of your pre-trip inspection. Replace any damaged or frayed wires and make sure the connections are secure.
4. Have an evacuation plan. While it may seem simple, a key step to fire safety is ensuring that everyone traveling knows how to operate the latches of doors and windows, allowing for a quick exit in an emergency situation.
5. Stay kitchen savvy. Be sure to keep clothes, linens and other combustibles far from the kitchen area. Stay alert while cooking as items such paper towels and curtains are likely to be close to the stove, creating a fire hazard.

 

Okay, where should you head with your RV? Where ever you want!  However, for the cream of the crop, read a few of our past blogs on two Top RV Road Trip Destinations to add to your road trip planner.  Both are tremendously fun and both are in spots where you’ll see some of nature’s finest offerings. 

Colorado Family Road Trip: Colorado is located in the Rocky Mountains.  This area offers a fabulous family adventure road trip with activities like a Dinosaur Museum in Fruita, rafting in Durango, the gorgeous Estes Park, and two National Parks:  The Mesa Verde National Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Going Wild with an Alaskan Road Trip:  Alaska offers vast mountains, colossal blue-white glaciers and an abundance of wildlife with activities unique to the state.  This combination earns an Alaskan Road Trip top honors in travelers’ memory books.

There’s no doubt about it…RVs aren’t only for retired folks. Road trip planners are finding RV travel makes sense for couples, friends, families, even a caravan of families for a truly unique family reunion.

Winter Boat Parades in Southern California

I’m using my road trip planner to take me to where the road ends… and where boats reign with pomp and circumstance.  Floating light parades are a cherished holiday tradition along the West Coast, especially in Southern California.   Other states have their White Winter Wonderland, California, a state of seemingly perpetual sunshine, has to create a different kind of Winter Wonderland.  Here, the glints and glitters reflect off the water rather than off snow-covered hillsides.  But the twinkling lights are familiar everywhere.  So either hop aboard a decorated boat or line up along the waterfront and join the merriment.

Most waterfront restaurants take reservations months in advance so diners get the extra enjoyment of watching the parade sail by while enjoying a meal (add the reservation number to your road trip planner and print out the itinerary to have a copy handy in the car).  For others, the goal is to park as close to the waterfront as possible and stake out a spot.  Traffic increases significantly as parade time approaches so sometimes the best choice is to “park & walk”, especially if you’re going on a road trip that takes you more than four hours from home-base and you’re not familiar with the side-streets.

• Dana Point - Boat Parade of Lights  - Dana Point is a delightful harbor city.  Clean and picturesque, there are a number of nice, waterfront restaurants to enjoy before strolling out to the harbor to watch the flotilla of lights. DATES:  December 5-6 and 12-13, 7:30 p.m. FAMILY BONUS:  Enjoy a breakfast with Santa at the Jolly Roger Restaurant on December 13th.
• Long Beach Parade of 1000 Lights in the Downtown Shoreline Marina.  Some of the best views can be found along the boardwalk at Shoreline Village.  Most of the parking in and around this area will be paid parking.  DATES:  December 13, 2008, 7 p.m.  BONUS TIP:  Make Long Beach the center of your road trip planning because there are lots of other cool water-themed activities you can enjoy like hopping aboard the Queen Mary or visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific.
• Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade – This parade shows off the boats as they glide along the Port of Los Angeles main channel.  You can view the boats from a number of locations like the Banning Landing Community Center or the Port of Los Angeles Cruise Ship Promenade on Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro.  Another popular viewing spot is at the Ports O' Call Village at 1100 Nagoya Way in San Pedro as well as the Cabrillo Marina at 200 Whaler's Walk, also in San Pedro.  DATES:  December 6, 2008, 6-7:30 p.m. BONUS TIP:  You might consider staying at the Hilton Port of Los Angeles/San Pedro because then it’s a mere ¼ mile stroll from the hotel to the Cabrillo Marina.
• Marina del Rey Boat Parade – The nearby Fisherman's Village would be an excellent viewing area for this parade.  Include fireworks and boat judging.  Click here to see last year’s winners. DATES:   December 13th.
• Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade - This annual Christmas event is one to  definitely add to your road trip planner. Join nearly one million other spectators as you watch beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes sail along Newport Harbor. People from as far as Arizona and San Francisco have been known to make the trip to partake in this holiday custom. Viewing is free, provided you can find a vantage point. DATES:  December 17 - December 21, 2008, celebrating its 100th year! The parade starts off Bay Island at 6:30 p.m. and finishes at the same site at approximately 9:00 p.m. each evening. Fireworks will start at 6:25 p.m. from the Balboa Pier just before the start of the parade at 6:30 p.m.

Your car and road trip planner can get you there, but once there, the “king of the road” can be found along the waterfront, so sit back and enjoy the glide.

Winter Festivals Light Up the Nights

One of the best reasons for pulling out your Road Trip Planner during Winter is when your road trip includes a Winter Festival.  Enjoying the spectacle of a Winter Festival is something that appeals to people of all ages so it makes a particularly easy one to plan.  Couples, families, a group of friends…all will find the trip a highlight of their winter fun.

The following Festivals (listed alphabetically by state/province) stretch from East to West and from November through February so you're bound to find a festival close to your home for your road trip.

Calgary Winter Festival in Calgary, Alberta
Curing the February blahs - Originally conceived in February 1989 as relief to the year-long hangover Calgarians were suffering after hosting the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, this 11-day festival has grown into one of Calgary's favorite events. This celebration of everything snowy, frosty and cold, includes ice sculpture contests, human curling championships, music, clowns, winter crafts, snowboarding demonstrations and more. Most events are free and take place in various venues throughout the city. And in spite of the theme of the festival, many are held indoors or in heated tents. It is February, after all.

Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, Canada
Making Light of Family Fun - Touted as Canada's largest light festival, this annual event combines incredible landscape lighting with live concerts, parades, fireworks, and a spectacular New Year's Eve celebration shown live around the world all with the Falls as a backdrop. The festival kicks off with several weekend Disney shows, making this event a perfect family outing. As well, there's the Annual Niagara Talent Showcase, Candles in the Park, and a Tribute to Elvis. All events are free November through January.

Winter Festival & Parade of Lights in Grand Junction, Colorado
This annual December parade features floats, music, holiday fun and events, and thousands of sparkling holiday lights.

Ely Winter Festival in Ely, Minnesota
This annual festival is held in February and offers ten days of fun-filled activities, including snow sculpturing, dog sled rides, snowmobile rides, exhibits, the Mukluk Ball, a variety of great food, and a craft fair.

Christmas Light Show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Visit this famous light show which began in 1955 and has since become one of Philadelphia's most cherished traditions.  Originally created for Wanamaker's, it's continued to create the beautiful Grand Court displays that had helped make Wanamaker's famous.  A tradition that's passed on from one generation to the next, visitors usually first come as children and look in awe at water fountains, 1000s of lights, animated figures while listening to a Christmas story with organ music throughout. The show runs continuously from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year's and starts on the even hours while the store is open. The best part...it's free!

Newport Winter Festival in Newport, Rhode Island
Ten-day festival - Named by the American Bus Association as one of the Top 100 Events in North America so you know this would be a great activity to add to your road trip planner.  The Newport Winter Festival offers 10 days of fun, food, music and entertainment for the whole family. The festival features horse-drawn hayrides, sand sculptures, a chili and pizza cook-off, scavenger hunt, an ice sculpting competition, a children's fair and the Annual Frosty 5K Run.  Musical entertainment includes swing, pop and blues bands, as well as the United States Air Force Band, Liberty. Activities are held at various venues throughout the city.

Winter Festival of Lights in Wheeling, West Virginia
Lasting from November to January, this event has grown into the nation's largest holiday light show and it attracts over a million visitors per year. This festival of lights covers more than 300 acres over a six mile drive throughout the resort and includes over 50 displays and over one million lights.

So go ahead, bundle up the baby, put ear-muffs on your little ones, pull your teenagers from their iPods and your partner from his/her laptop and with your Road Trip Planner in hand, prepare to light up the night with some winter festival fun.

Winter Road Trips – Not always Knee-Deep in Snow

Every season brings its own charm and gives you special reasons to pull out your Road Trip Planner and Winter is no exception.  Going on a Winter Road Trip can be a great experience, especially if you also have a Plan B for winter contingencies.

Ironically, Winter Travel is a good time to learn how to “go with the flow”.  Even though you may have to do some extra Road Trip Planning to have the extras on hand before you embark on the trip, bumper-to-bumper traffic may require you to “stop and smell the roses”, even if those roses are stowed in the trunk of your car.  If you’re a couple, this is a nice time to pull out a CD & simply kick back & enjoy the music.  If you’re a family, pull out those car games, watch a DVD together, or simply start a round robin joke-a-thon.  Keeping everyone comfortable and in good spirits will be the order of the day, but if you've planned for such things, it can actually be a fun time, albeit cramped.  

While you’re doing your road trip planning, pay extra attention to towns or cities near roads you think may pose traffic delays or closures.  Add activities to your itinerary that could keep you and your passengers occupied if delayed for more than four hours.  That way, you can pull off and go shopping, take in a movie, enjoy a long lunch or early dinner, or stroll through a museum.  Add a couple of nearby hotels to the unscheduled section of your road trip planner just so you’ll have the information on hand should the traffic delay be more than 8 hours.

Road Trip Planning Safety Tips

• If  you are traveling with your family by car, get your vehicle inspected and check the weather conditions immediately before the trip.
• Cancel the trip if you are traveling to winter destinations and the weather forecast predicts a snowstorm.
• Some roads are not recommended unless you have a 4x4 vehicle.
• Carry snow chains & battery cables at all times
• Include a Delay of Game kit filled with extra snacks, car games, energy drinks, surprise DVDs & blankets (if you don't end up needing them for the trip up, you can enjoy the contents on the trip home).
• Stow an emergency kit in your trunk containing batteries, blankets, a collapsible shovel, flashlights, food, gloves, an ice scraper, rubber boots, ski caps, and water for those times when you may be stuck in your car for 8 hours or more.
• Always keep your gas tank topped off.  Do not drive that last quarter tank assuming you will get to the next service station.

The above precautions aside, Winter Road Trips are fun! Just getting to the destination on your road trip planner is more exciting because snow transforms the landscape.  Snow-laden cabins take on a mysterious hue.  Ice caves form along river banks and dance with blue/white sparkles. You drive slower so everyone can catch glimpses of interesting niches, and icicles forming on rocky precipices, maybe even catch the wind brushing snow off tree branches in a miniature snow flurries.

And once you get to your destination, there's toasty fireplaces, snow boots creating puddles by the front door, and steaming mugs of hot chocolate.  And the activities! Sledding, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, sleigh rides! Let's not forget snow angels and impromptu snowball fights (the best kind of fighting, with pillow fights coming in a close second :o).

So what are some prime Winter Road Trip Destinations? Here are some to get you started on your Road Trip Planning.

For the White Winter Wonderland Experience:

• Alaska Experience with All Alaska Tours (this Road Trip can give you the Winter touch even in the Spring)
• Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario
• Banff & Jasper National Parks in Canada
• Lake Tahoe in California & on the Nevada side
• Mount Rainier in Washington
• Pigeon Forge Winterfest in Tennessee  
• Salt Lake City in Utah

Winter does not always mean knee-deep in Snow:  Here are some grand Winter Road Trips where you’ll be hard-put to find snow (other than possibly some frosting atop distant mountains).

• Sedona Arizona - Red rocks, jeep tours, hot air balloon tours, shopping, spas, dining, festivals...great for a couple needing some time away from the kids.
• Las Vegas , Nevada – Vegas isn’t just about gambling & night-life, though it certainly carries both in abundance.  Vegas offers winter visitors a plethora of daytime activities to enjoy.
• Virginia Beach, Virginia - Go whale watching.

Winter getaways offer experiences you won’t get any other time of the year so make sure you utilize your Road Trip Planner to maximize your Winter fun!

Summer Road Trip Ideas: Five Kid-Friendly National Parks

The main purpose of family vacations is to spend time with your spouse and children, and build lifelong memories with them. On summer road trips, for instance, there are priceless occurrences that you can count on that will surely help in building those memories. National Parks in the United States are very popular road trip destinations. There are officially fifty-eight designated national parks in the country, all unique on their own defined by their dependent areas. Here are five of the top family-oriented national parks in America:

1- Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Aside from the usual Ranger-led educational and interpretative talks and other programs for kids the national park offers, children will enjoy joining hiking trips on trails that are suitable for their age and get excited to spot some wildlife, including bears. In addition, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is coined the Salamander Capital of the World! Your kids are sure going to be thrilled seeing those amphibians.

2- Shenandoah National Park – The national park is stunningly beautiful. It also offers various hiking trips for adventurers of different ages, including children with accompanying adults. It is one of the places in the world where you would want to have your cameras with you to capture the amazing views and waterfalls. The park also has daily programs for children during the long summer months that you can sign your kids up for.

3- Carlsbad Caverns National Park – The main attraction of this national park is what lies underground. There are, however, incredible hiking trails above ground that you can explore with your family. Guided tours such as the Blue Tour and Big Room, and the Red Tour are available. It is highly recommended, though, to just get a map and list of things to do from the park’s visitor center, and wander on your own with your spouse and kids to be able to move at your own pace.

4- Olympic National Park – If you are on a family vacation in Seattle, be sure to include a trip to the Olympic National Park in your itinerary. The adventure immediately starts as soon as you embark on the ferry ride from the city to the park. A visit to this national park is like visiting three parks in one trip. There is what they call The Mountains, The Rain Forest and The Ocean. A hike to any of the three areas of the park will give your children a truly memorable time discovering lots of wildlife.

5- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – The trip to Hawaii will sure be well worth it! The idea of stepping on a volcano alone will definitely excite the kids. Take the family to the Crater Rim Drive to witness actual craters and lava flows. Other things in the park you can check out with the kids are the Volcano House, Sandalwood Trail (located just outside the Volcano House), Tree Fern Forest and the Lava Tube. Be sure to catch the Hawaii Volcano Waterfalls Tour!

National parks not only serve as landmarks to us. They are there for us to discover and learn from. They also serve as a refuge for us to escape from the fast pace of the busy city and be in touch with Mother Nature. The best thing about national parks is that they provide the most budget-friendly family summer road trips!

Summer Road Trip To Utah's National Parks

It is not surprising why Utah is among the top summer road trip destinations in the United States. The fact that within the state are five national parks to visit is enough reason. Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Zion and Canyonlands national parks all give you the chance to witness and experience the most mesmerizing and robust landscapes. Plus, they are all filled with amazing summer activities for every traveler.

Arches National Park has a lot of things to do for everyone. For starters, you can get acquainted with the park by joining guided tours or discovering the park on your own with an automobile tour. Arches National Park offers activities that will dare you to get physical. You can go backpacking and camping, climbing and biking. Hikers have so many trails to choose from for an adventurous trek such as the Double Arch Trail, Balanced Rock Trail, Devil’s Garden and Tower Arch Trail. If you wish to just relax and enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds you, Arches National Park gives you the best scenes and backdrops for photo opportunities.

The incredible list of outdoor activities that Bryce Canyon National Park offers draw thousands of holidaymakers every year. Families are thrilled to join the summer family programs that the park prepares. Information on the different family activities and age requirements are available in the Visitor Center, where you can also sign up for joining. There are lots of guided hiking trips you can join, but there is one, in particular, that stands out – the Full Moon Hike. It is definitely a different kind of nightlife as you trek two miles of the park under the moonlight.

Like Arches and Bryce Canyon national parks, Capitol Reef also offers hiking, biking, camping and backpacking opportunities. You can test your endurance on any of the trails in the park such as the Cohab Canyon, Frying Pan, Navajo Knobs, Old Wagon Trail and Rim Overlook. You can check on the difficulty levels and any other information you might want and need to know on these trails at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center.

A summer road trip to Zion National Park gives you amazing things you can enjoy. Aside from the staple hiking, camping, backpacking and climbing, Zion National Park offers horseback riding rides. Bicycle rides are also offered along the paved Pa’rus Trail. There are, of course, ranger-led programs that the kids can join, and, as an added bonus to the kids, they also have the opportunity to spot over two hundred species of birds while birdwatching.  Go to the Zion National Park Visitor Center to get your kids a bird checklist.

The last of this roll call of Utah national parks is the Canyonlands. One of the best ways to go around Canyonlands National Park is to join any of the offered tours of the RIM Tours, Inc. It provides breathtaking backcountry mountain bike adventures to everyone. Or you can always experience the park through its waters. Have an afternoon of Colorado River Rafting where you will find yourself surrounded with Mother Nature’s gifts. Kids will have the best time observing cool rock formations and other activities they can join, particularly those of the Junior Ranger Program.

All the great adventures can be found in Utah’s national parks. Whether you choose to visit just one of them or see them all in one trip, you are guaranteed to have one of the best summer road trips you have ever had.