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Exhilarating Summer Road Trip To The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Situated on both sides of Tennessee and North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park still remains the most popular national park for every road trip planner. Attracting over nine million adventurers and sightseers every year, it is the most visited national park in the United States.  This summer, grab your gear and head off to the massive Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Planning your summer road trip will make you realize that there are so many things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  You would most certainly want to experience all of them. The size of the park might pose as overwhelming, but the Smoky Mountain Heritage Driving Tour will surely help you discover the park at your own pace on a self-guided automobile tour. Take your time driving yourself around to seek out landmarks, mountain culture and heritage, the captivating aura of the neighborhoods and, of course, the history of the Smoky Mountains.

If you are looking for a unique way to wander around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then the English Mountain Llama Trek is perfect for you. The llama treks also allow you to move at your own timetable as you are welcome to arrange them for varying lengths of time. You have the option to choose a trekking trip with a picnic or even an overnight stay at one of the cabins and/or campgrounds affiliated with English Mountain Llama Trek. Children six years of age and older can join the treks as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

You can also spice up your summer road trip with an adventurous biking tour around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smoky Mountain Bicycle Tour offers both guided and self-guided tours. Mountain bikes and road bikes are offered for touring the mountains, the historical sights and other scenic areas in and around the park.

There are also horseback riding opportunities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Walden Creek Stables' Mountain Adventure Trail promises nothing but the best time. The four-hour ride will take you through the valley, across the streams and to the top of the mountains where you can enjoy the most breathtaking views.

Note: During the summer months, the horseback rides are scheduled as early as 9 a.m. Arrangements can be made prior to your desired schedule, should you wish to take the tour at an earlier time.

Dare to challenge yourself physically on this summer road trip by conquering the bubbly and frothy whitewater. Raft yourself away with Rafting In The Smokies, which offers you the chance to experience the waters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a very scenic and exhilarating way, even if you have no prior rafting experience. Reservations are highly recommended as it is sure to be packed during the summer.

After the very exhilarating whitewater rafting experience, cool off and relax with the Smoky Mountain Angler, the oldest fly fishing guide and outfitter in Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountain Angler is authorized to give fly fishing guided services in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offer these services to both professional fly fishermen and beginners.

The things you can do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park definitely spells out the words fun and adventure. You can bank it as one of the best summer vacations any road trip planner will have in his or her lifetime!

Adventurous Canadian Rockies Summer Road Trip

It is no wonder  that a road trip through the Canadian Rockies is one of the best things to do for a summer vacation.  Located at the easternmost part of the mountains of Western Canada called the Canadian Cordillera, the Rockies promise amazing sceneries of glaciated mountains, rivers, waterfalls, gorges and lakes.

Within the Canadian Rockies lie five national parks that each offer incredible sights and activities for everyone taking the road trip this summer.  Four of the five national parks interlock with each other, forming the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.  These are Jasper, Banff, Kootenay and Yoho.   Waterton, the national park that does not interlock with the other four, is located along the international USA border.

Wherever you are coming from, it is best make your way through your Rockies summer road trip with Jasper as the starting point.  Being the largest among the five national parks in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park is abundant of things to see and do.   The Maligne Canyon, the Pyramid and Patricia Lakes, and the Athabasca Falls are some of Jasper's most spectacular gifts.  Guided sightseeing tours are available.  Between May and October, Pyramid Lake offers an extraordinary Canoe Experience that will give you a chance to witness the mesmerizing beauty of nature. There are lots of lodging options in Jasper such as the Lobstick Lodge, that have kid-friendly facilities which is perfect if you have children in tow.

Continue your summer road trip to Banff where you will find the large, highly popular Jewel of the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, known for its natural beauty.  Discover Lake Louise and the world renowned Moraine Lake with the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Summer Tour that will not only allow you to explore the two lakes' shorelines and take photographs, but also educated you about the mountaineering history in the area and the events that helped shape Canadian mountaineering culture. Other attractions in Banff are the Bow Falls, the Cave and Basin Center, and the Banff Gondola. Banff National Park offers a lot of recreational activities such as soaking yourself up in the pool at Upper Hot Springs, nature hiking on mountain trails, cruising on Lake Minnewanka and swinging your clubs on a golf game.

Yoho National Park sits between Banff and Kootenay National Parks. Maximize your Yoho experience by visiting the Spiral Tunnel Viewpoints, the Emerald Lake and the Kicking Horse Pass. Yoho Valley offers a day hike that will definitely test your endurance. Visit the last of the interlocking national parks, the Kootenay National Park, next. Explore the park's Radium Hot Springs, Marble Canyon, Redwall Fault and more!

Carry on with your road trip by driving yourself to the only park that does not interlock with the first four: Waterton National Park. It is located in the farther south that borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. The park offers lots of fun summer activities that you can do during your vacation. You can go horseback riding, boating or canoing over the Cameron Lake, and hiking to one of Canada's top rated hiking trail, the Crypt Lake.

Driving through the Canadian Rockies brings you close to nature. With all the bodies of water you get to encounter along the way, and the numerous opportunities for wildlife sighting, this summer road trip will definitely be etched in your memory for a very long time.

Road Tripping with an RV!

Going on a road trip is one of the most popular activities people do on holidays.  With the summer season coming up, thousands of individuals and families crunch for the best deals in Recreational Vehicle, better known as RV, rental services.

For the adventurous ones with very fast-paced lifestyles, renting out an RV for road trips has clearly been the choice.  It saves them time and money, especially when traveling in groups. You do not have to worry about dining and accommodation expenses. RV's have kitchens where you can cook your meals and they also serve as your retreat. Plus, with the increasing number of people choosing to travel with an RV, there had been more parks and campgrounds all over the United States that are easily accessible to the best places in the country. Here are some:

1- Anchorage RV Park. Alaska is among the top travel destinations all over the world. If you plan to have some wildlife interaction at the Alaska Zoo, challenge  your endurance at the Flattop Trail Hike or join the ongoing Anchorage Weekend Market and Festival, then there is no better place than the Anchorage RV Park for you to stay at. It is the perfect campground for the south central Alaska excursion.

2- Southern Comfort RV Resort. Now, here is a treat for those taking a road trip in Florida. This RV site not only offers reasonable nightly rates, it is also has facilities you will find useful during your days on the road: laundry facility, grocery store, propane sales and even 24-hour security! There are also activities that you can join during your stay. You can dip in the swimming pool, play bingo and watch musical performances.

3- Lake Havasu RV Park. Just three hours away from Phoenix, Arizona, the Lake Havasu RV Park gives you easy access to the different attractions and activities in and around the area such as the Lake Havasu State Park and the London Bridge, the original bridge from England purchased and reconstructed in the city by the Lake Havasu City founder. There are also various museums and golf courses you can visit in the area.

4- Mission Bay RV Park. If you are taking an RV road trip to Southern California and are going to be passing by San Diego, then Mission Bay RV Park is perfect for you. It is conveniently located next to the beautiful Mission Bay. The park also has laundry facilities, hot and cold shower, internet/WiFi access and satellite cable TV's. Mission Bay RV Park is close to the beach and golf course which gives you plenty of things to do during your summer vacation.

5- Seaview Cafe Bar & RV Park. Also located in Alaska. The 49th state is just that beautiful, we have to list one more RV park down. Located in Hope, the Seaview Cafe Bar and RV Park is perfectly situated at the end of the road. It sits between the Resurrection Creek and the Turnagain Arm with breathtaking views of the Chugach and Kenai Mountains.

Driving an RV definitely has many rewards. Other than the absence of hotel and restaurant expenses, the best reward you will ever get is the mesmerizing beauty of Mother Nature you get to experience up close...and that is the true  essence of road trips.