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Romantic Road Trips for Anniversaries, Honeymoons, or Valentine’s Day

The pressure is high for the road trip planner who wants to make this Valentine’s Day special by creating a romantic weekend road trip for two.  But relax…you’re already earning bonus points just for planning this getaway! 

 

If you want to infuse the element of surprise into your road trip planning, secretly pack a suitcase and stow it in the trunk of the car.  Admittedly, this works better if it’s the woman who’s doing the surprise.  Men generally aren’t as picky as to what they’ll wear out to dinner while women have definite ideas, so men, if you want to keep the road trip a total surprise, I’d recommend on packing at least 3 different outfits for her or pack just the day clothes and add shops to your itinerary to take her shopping for her to choose an outfit to wear out for dinner.

 

Things to pack for your romantic getaway (Tip: Copy/paste this section directly into the Trip Notes section of your road trip planner):

·         A picnic basket with a wine bottle opener, cutting board, utensils, etc.  Stop at a local store to pick up the wine, cheese, crackers.  This is also a good time to ask the locals about their favorite spots for a picnic.

·         A blanket to take for your picnic in the sun or for night-time star gazing.

·         Scented candles for the hotel room.

·         Romantic CDs for the hotel room, upbeat CDs for when cruising on the highway.

·         A good road map (nothing kills the romantic mood faster than arguing about how you missed the turnoff or why you can’t pull over and ask for directions).  However, if you should get lost, view it an adventure and use it as an opportunity to stop for refreshments or pick up a souvenir from your unexpected detour. 

 

So, what will fill your road trip planner?

·         You can create a theme for your Romantic Escape like choosing wineries or museums, or outdoor markets, or base it around events like festivals. 

·         If you’re anywhere near the Finger Lakes Region in New York, check out this detailed blog loaded with details to make this trip a truly romantic getaway.

·         If you enjoy wine and vineyards, this blog will give you some great ideas on where to go.

·         If you have kids, make sure you check out this page for tips on how to best blend family life with romantic encounters with your spouse.

·         Beaches or lakefronts are always romantic backdrops.

·         A room with a fireplace adds warmth and a soft light setting for romance.

·         Dressing for dinner sets the tone for your night out.

·         A nice restaurant with a view is a nice touch.

·         Walk along Main Street after dinner, and explore those shops that catch your interest.

 

If your anniversary or when Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of the week and your road trip isn’t scheduled till the weekend, earn some bonus points by doing little things before the trip:

·         Bring home a dozen roses.

·         Better yet, have those roses delivered at her office during lunch hour.

·         Better yet, bring home a single rose (in this case, less is more…go figure).

·         Make heart-shaped toast, pancakes, French toast or apple wedges.

·        Sprinkle the dining table with rose petals (be it at home or at a restaurant).

A romantic road trip is a great excuse to awaken the road trip planner within you and fire up your relationship. 

Going Wild with a Alaskan Road Trip

The sheer size of Alaska is enough to intrigue any road trip planner because they wonder if Alaska can really be explored in one 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.  

For most road trip planners, their itinerary will start with flight plans.  Most people flying in will land in Anchorage.  At this point, they’ll either rent a car and stay in hotels along the way (reserved in advance of course!) or they’ll rent an RV to explore Alaska at their own pace (with their itinerary allowing impromptu exploration options). 

After exploring Anchorage’s offerings, many place the city of Tok as a destination in their road trip planner because it helps create a good triangle for your road trip.  Tok is known as the "Sled Dog Capital of Alaska”.  Plan on 5 ½ hours driving time from Anchorage but you’ll want to stop – even spend a day or two – around the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.  This is the largest and most magnificent of the National Parks of Alaska, with nine of the 16 highest peaks in the United States. This mountain region contains numerous glaciers, lakes and mountain streams and is home to a rich variety of wild life. It is superb country for climbers, walkers and water sports enthusiasts.

Fairbanks would be the third point of your trip triangle to add to your road trip planner (Anchorage to Tok to Fairbanks).  Some travelers start their Alaskan Road Trip by flying in to Fairbanks, so for them, their trip triangle would be Fairbanks, Anchorage, Tok.  Fairbanks is second biggest city of Alaska and has the all the amenities of an urban community.   The Gold Rush Street at Pioneer Park was a replica but a real operating gold mine exists in this proud city. Visit the Museum of the North, take a river trip for half-day cruise through the Chena and Tanana Rivers.  In the summer, the Riverboat Discovery Tour runs twice a day.  Trip reservations are a must so make the necessary arrangements ahead of time.

 

Leaving Fairbanks, include the impressive Denali National Park in your road trip planner before hitting Anchorage.   Denali contains Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America and is definitely worthy of some heavy-duty exploration.

 

A four- to six-hour drive down south from Denali National Park, passing through Talkeetna, you’ll reach the town of Wasilla.  Moose or bear sightings along the way are often part of the journey.  For canoeing experience, go to the Nancy Lake Recreation Area.  There are plenty of cabins to rent for overnight stays.  Further south, visit the Big Lake for swimming, camping, jet-ski and fishing. Proceed to Mat-Su Valley and drop by Iditarod Trail Headquarters on Knik Road. Learn some history at Knik Museum and the Sled Dog Musher’s Hall of Fame.

 

Another town to add to your road trip planner is Palmer, only 15 minutes away from Wasilla.   There is a great RV campground here as well as some cool farms like the Musk Ox Farm.   Best time to be here is in late August when the Alaska State Fair is celebrated.

 

Leave another day in your road trip planner to explore more of Anchorage.  It has plenty of hiking opportunities, cultural events and art exhibits. The Flattop Mountain and Chugach State Park are the city’s pride together with Alaska Zoo and Potter Marsh, a bird and wildlife sanctuary.

 

If you have more time, add another leg of your road trip by driving along the Seward Highway, designated as the All-American Road, and enjoy the scenic view.  Picnic opportunities are everywhere, and the picture perfect backdrop is hard to resist. Fishing, camping and canoeing activities in the Kenai/Soldotna area are nice options too.

 

Now that I’ve shared one road trip example, make sure you customize yours to best reflect your vision of Alaska.   Below are some tips to help you get the most out of your trip.

When is the best time to…?

• See the Northern Lights; plan on coming either late fall and early spring.

• Enjoy the Midnight Sun; place June 21^st in the middle of your road trip planning.

• Go whale watching; head to Alaska anytime from mid-May through mid-September.

• View the most wildlife; summer-time will get you sightings of moose, bear, mountain sheep, caribou, coyote, wolves, sheep, beaver, otter, mink, or hare.   In addition, birdwatchers can photo-capture eagles, hawks, jays, owls, spruce hens, grouse, and ptarmigan and migratory waterfowl coming north to nest each summer.

What are the Top 10 attractions in Alaska?

Glaciers
Historic mining towns
Inside Passage
Museums
National parks and monuments.
Native Arts & Culture
Russian heritage and
Sport fishing
Trans-Alaskan pipeline
Wildlife viewing

Make this the year your road trip planning takes you North to Alaska, knowing in advance, you’re building advance memories for a trip of a lifetime.

New Year Highway and Byway Road Trip Resolutions

Forget about ho-hum New Year’s resolutions like “lose weight” or “save more”, add FUN to your year by vowing to use your Road Trip Planner at least once a month to find adventure near and far.  

Lest you think that there’s no way you could afford a monthly excursion, keep in mind that many itineraries can be filled with free activities.  A road trip can be for as little as one day or as long as three months (any longer and it’s really more of a life-style change or a walkabout).  Whether you’re packing up the car with a picnic basket, a backpack or a 5-piece luggage set, if you’re hitting the road, you’re on a road trip! 

Your 12 road trip itineraries might look something like this:

January & March: Imagine a perfect day trip within two hours of your home to an area you’ve always wanted to explore more thoroughly but usually just pass by it to and from your “real” vacations.  Sometimes it’s simply that city across the bay or in a neighboring county. You could be near someplace like Day Tripping in Seattle or Explore La Jolla Cove on the West Coast; By Car, Cape Cod or Touring nature's green spaces, Niagara Falls - New York in the East.  Consider the places between like Scenic tour from Dinosaur Ridge to Red Rocks Park, Denver or Walking Tour of Downtown, Memphis.  Even though the weather might be chilly, as long as you dress accordingly, the fun factor’s equal to the task.  Walking along the beach in the winter is invigorating! Grabbing the kids for some ice-skating is a blast and provides a great photo op (think bright-eyes & pink-cheeks).  Just do a bit of road trip planning so you’ll have the addresses and directions on hand then fill your itinerary with some activities in the area.  Add in a restaurant and some shops and you’ve successfully gotten yourself out from under the pile of household chores and into an all-day adventure, definitely more fun in anyone’s book.

February & April:  An overnight stay is just enough time to give you a taste of escape.  Here, your road trip planner might include an overnight stay in an 1860 Antebellum mansion B & B (especially around Valentine’s Day).  Strolling along a park under an umbrella big enough for two is romantic.  Finding your gal a filigree necklace in an antique shop earns you major points.  Or you might find yourself in the Tioga State Forest in Pennsylvania, staying Black Bear Log Cabin with your kids just to get everyone outside and hiking along the trails.

May & June:  Now the weather’s warming up and you’re digging in the closet for your t-shirts and shorts. This might be where you go on a couple of 3-Day Weekend Getaways as teaser vacations.  Now your road trip planner might easily include 200-250 miles of road before getting to your destination but when you have 3 or 4 days set aside, 4 hours driving time isn’t bad at all.  

July & August:  This is the Prime Time of vacations (if you’re north of the equator that is; otherwise you’re looking fondly at January and February to give you that feeling of anticipation).  This is where you do your best road trip planning because you’ve got a 7-10 day itinerary to fill.  Choose a National Park for an outdoor vacation in July and then a cultural city like Boston or San Francisco for August.  This is also about the time you realize that while you’re working for a living, the living’s mighty easy when you’re on vacation.

September & October:  You can still get some Dog Days of Summer in September, even if the official day for Fall is September 21st.  This might be the time you’ll need that 5-piece luggage set to have the correct clothes on hand for the changing weather.  But really, all it takes is layers; make sure you have that extra jacket or sweater in the trunk of the car, maybe an extra pair of shoes.  Your road trip planner might include checking out the Fall Colors in the East, the desert in the mid-west, or the always-warm waters surrounding the Florida Keys.  Stretch your vacation out as wide as you can because the remaining two months will most likely be filled with holiday travel.  Campground choices range family oriented ones like Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground to luxury cabins in the Smoky Mountains in Gaitlinburg, Tennessee.

November & December: Try grabbing an overnight getaway before mid-November.  Once the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays grab a hold of your time, it won’t let go until January.  So sneak away to a lodge with a fireplace, or get away for a golf and spa weekend.

There you have it… a year’s worth of highways and byways to keep your road trip planner running like a well-oiled machine.  Enjoy the rides!

Romantic Wine & Dine Weekend Getaways

Before the Fall Colors give way to bare trees and snow-brushed branches, grab your partner & use your Road Trip Planner to create a wonderful Wine & Dine Weekend Getaway.  A 3-Day Weekend of wining and dining, of walking through vineyards or sun-dappled trails and getting a breath of fresh Fall air will breathe romance into your life and relaxation into your veins.

The Top Wine Producing States in the U.S. are:  California, Washington, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina. But with wine being produced in EVERY State, you can easily build a road trip within driving distance of your home or via a short flight.

Below are some Wine & Dine Weekend Getaways to help with your road trip planning, including some of the top-rated vineyards in the country as well as those wineries offering visitors a beautiful setting and a fun experience. 

Central CALIFORNIA: Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo County produces excellent Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. The Cottage Inn by the Sea at Pismo Beach overlooks a dramatic stretch of the Pacific.  You can venture to the region’s wineries on your own or take their Coastal Wine Tour, which includes the popular Edna Valley Vineyard. Top Restaurant in the area: F. McLintocks Saloon & Dining House.

Northern CALIFORNIA:  A verdant valley and a lovely place for a road trip, this area includes Napa, Sonoma, and Healdsburg.  Here you can find the Monte Rosso Vineyard, one of California's oldest vineyards and known for its firm Cabernet Sauvignons as well as intense, old-vine Zinfandels.  Top Wines from this area: 2002 Ravenswood Monte Rosso Zinfandel; 2003 Rochioli Estate Grown Pinot Noir from the The Rochioli Vineyard in Healdsburg; 2003 Siduri Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Hirsch Vineyard & the 2002 Renard Peay Vineyard Syrah, both along the Sonoma coast; 2002 Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa. 

Southern CALIFORNIA: Add Santa Barbara to your road trip planner because it offers you the Pacific Ocean on one front, the Santa Ynez Mountains at your back, and in between, prime wine country.  The Hotel Mar Monte, a historic hotel built in the tradition of Spanish Colonial architecture, offers a package tour to 3 wineries or you can explore on your own.  Another option is heading to the Mexican border and staying at the Estero Beach Hotel Resort in San Ysidro.  Nearly two dozen wineries can be found in the Mexico Guadalupe Valley.  Bonus Activity:  For some energetic touring, try a bike tour to a winery or a horseback-riding adventure to the Adobe Guadalupe Vineyard.

Traverse City, MICHIGAN:  In the nation's fourth-largest grape-growing state, the  Chateau Grand Traverse winery overlooks the Grand Traverse Bay. You can sample their award-winning varietals, including their Rieslings. Nearby, you’ll find the Old Mission Peninsula, which leads you into seven wineries like the Chateau Chantal, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery and Peninsula Cellars.

Long Island, NEW YORK:  For some hands-on fun, sign up for Wine Camp at Long Island's renowned wine-producing North Fork region. Wine Camp's packages vary as do the participating vineyards but you’ll enjoy activities like winemaking, tasting techniques, food pairings, and wine blending.  The price includes lodging, some lunches & dinners…and a grand souvenir…a case of wine! 

Willamette Valley, OREGON:  To see a 6-generation family-owned establishment, enjoy a trip to Willamette Farms in Newberg.  For a more drama-infused history, check out what used to be called Seven Springs Vineyard.  The grapes from this vineyard were sought after by many top wine producers in the world.  Then it was cut in half after a legal settlement in 2001, only to be reunited six years later with an exclusive, fifteen-year lease to the Evening Land partnership. FINAL VINTAGE:  The St. Innocent Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006.

TEXAS:  What often springs to mind when people think of Texas are those BIG 10-gallon hats.  And yes, Texas is getting BIGGER… in wine production.  This Lone Star State boasts more than 110 bonded wineries and wine aficionados are noticing their award winning wines. Many vineyards offer tours and wine tastings, but the following 3 vineyards stand out because they go the extra mile for their guests: Bella Vista Cellars, in Wimberly; Delaney Vineyards in Grapevine; Flat Creek Estate, west of Austin.  Any of the 3 would make an excellent anchor in your road trip planning, whether you create 3 individual weekend getaways or a wine-themed week’s vacation.  FUN FACT: A ten gallon hat actually only holds ¾ gallon.  Its name was derived from the Spanish galón word meaning braid.  So a ten-gallon hat is a hat with a braiding around the brim, not an indicator of gallon capacity.

Warsaw, VIRGINIA: One place I’d recommend adding to your road trip planner is Ingleside Winery, one of the oldest and largest wineries in Virginia. This winery was built in 1834 and the vineyards cover about 70 acres.  Their wines have consistently earned top honors in state, national, and international wine competitions. BONUS LODGING:  Ingleside Vineyards has two 2-bedroom rental cottages in the vineyards and access to a stunning four-bedroom Leeds Cove retreat, which overlooks the Rappahannock River.

Seattle, WASHINGTON:  You can secure a great wine package when you add the Hotel Vintage Park to your road trip planner.  Enjoy wine tasting at Pike Place Market's tasting room, and an evening wine hour in the hotel's lobby.  Or check out Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla Valley.  Seven Hills Vineyard is now one of Washington's best known vineyards.

Getting away for an extended weekend, indulging in respected wines and eclectic dishes, enjoying the view from your hotel window…yes, these are the things that await the Road Trip Planner who heads for wine country.

Exploring the Four Corners: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah

A Road Trip Planner may not be able to journey to the four corners of the Earth in one lifetime, but a road trip to the Four Corners of the U.S. is certainly achievable!  And it’s cool to physically BE in four states simultaneously so make sure this road trip makes it on your “Places I want to visit” list.  Plus you get the bonus of knowing that this is the ONLY place in the entire United States where four states meet.

• Best time to Visit:  An excellent time to plan a road trip to this region is during the Fall because the red, orange and brown of the landscape will remind you of Fall Colors.  Late Spring is also nice as is Summer if you have a tolerance for dry heat and an ample supply of  bottled water.
• What states meet where?  Southwest Colorado, Northwest New Mexico, Northeast Arizona and Southeast Utah. There’s even a Four Corners Monument to mark the spot!
• What kind of terrain can I expect to find?  The Four Corners is actually part of the Grand Circle (which includes the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef, Natural Bridges, Hovenweep, Arches National Park).  What you’ll find is plains stretching into the horizon in golden hues.  And russet plateaus jutting up out of the earth in chaotic yet curiously patterned ways.  This terrain is ancient; a land of natives, a frontier set in a rough and tumble landscape.
• What kind of activities can I do there? You can fill your Road Trip Planner with activities that spark your particular interests because this region offers such variety that is makes a great trip for families, couples, or sports enthusiasts.  There are archaeological digs, cliff dwellings, historic railroads, and western towns.  Two of the corners are in the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation.  Not to mention the National Parks abundant in this region.

Highlights in Southwest Colorado:  Cortez is considered the archaeological center of America and is the near the Mesa Verde National Park.  Add this park to your road trip planner because it’s the first national park set aside to preserve the works of people, in this case, the ancient Puebloans and spans 14 centuries of history.  Bonus Festivals:  Check out the festivals happening year round in this region like the Mesa Verde Country Food, Wine & Art Festival, the 9th Annual Mesa Verde Country Indian Arts & Culture Festival, or the Ute Mountain-Mesa Verde Birding Festival.

Highlights in Northwest New Mexico: Yet another Southwest flavor can be found in New Mexico.  Sparsely populated with a strong blend of Spanish, Mexican and Native American cultures, New Mexico may very well give you a sense of what the pioneers saw when they first gazed across this mountain-desert land.  Farmington is the closest "big" city to the Four Corners but I’d add Santa Fe and Albuquerque to your road trip planner to enjoy the different ambiences found here.  Bonus activity: Take a ride on the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, the world’s longest aerial tramway.   It’ll take you above deep canyons and over breathtaking terrain for a unique vantage point.

Highlights in Northeast Arizona:  For a deep Navajo experience, add Monument Valley to your road trip planner. Explore the rock formations, buttes, mesas and canyons in this tranquil valley.  Some of these spires pierce the sky like needles (excellent photo op).  Bonus side-trips:  Further west, but well worth the 3 ½ hour drive is Lake Powell, a popular swimming/boating destination.  And since from here, you’re only 2 ½ hours away, head to the south rim of the spectacular Grand Canyon, truly a natural wonder.

Highlights in Southeast Utah:  Here’s where you’ll find the “Old West”.  From bandits and cattle rustlers to outlaws – and of course, the lawmen who tracked them down to justice -- all called this part of Utah their home.  Add Moab to your road trip planner for a real Wild West experience at the Bar-M Chuckwagon Live Western Show, which includes the Bar-M Village, a dinner show complete with a cowboy supper.   Bonus Features:  Three major national parks also call this region home:  Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park.  Even closer to the Four Corners is the Canyonlands National Park, a popular recreational spot.

Exploring the Four Corners is truly a remarkable experience.  The Wild West flavor combined with the Navajo and Ute cultures, mixed with history of the Pueblos, all set against a starkly etched landscape will give any Road Trip Planner a trip to remember.

A Classic Road Trip To See New England’s Fall Colors

To see New England in HD quality, make sure your Road Trip Planner includes the dates from mid-September to mid-October.  Granted, New England is beautiful year-round, but unlike other regions, its busiest tourist season is during the Fall, where trees are blanketed in fiery colors and where you can walk through carpets of rust, orange, and yellow. 

Indeed, the New England region is synonymous with Fall, so deeply entrenched is its connection to this season.  But what many people overlook in their initial road trip planning is that this region is steeped in American History.  Thus, a Fall Road Trip to New England not only gives you nature's colorful bounty but also a rewarding cultural experience.  Add to that the abundance of festivals held during this season and the readily available succulent lobster and you have a pretty good thing going there!

So where do you start your road trip planning?  For many of us, a New England Road Trip means flying first into Boston & then renting a car.  This virtual road trip will take you in a clockwise loop over the course of 8 days where you’ll hit all six New England states:  Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine.

Boston is one of the oldest cities in America with many things to do so plan on staying two nights here.  For a hotel choice, I’d recommend choosing one with character like the B & B brownstone, Gryphon House. The following morning, if you’re a walker, hit the Freedom Trail! A good place to start is at Boston Common, the oldest park in America.  This 2 ½ mile walk will take you past 16 significant historic sites.  One site to explore more thoroughly is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, where you’ll walk on cobblestone streets and meander in & out of shops, restaurants and historic buildings.   

The next day, enjoy a scenic drive from Lexington to Concord and then south to Plymouth Rock. Here, your road trip planner should include explorations of Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II, and the extraordinary Plimoth Plantation.  There aren’t many places where you can catch a glimpse of living history such as the village found here.

Add Cape Cod to your road trip planner for your third night.  Your best bet for a hotel during this busy season is in Hyannis because it’s the largest of the seven Cape Cod villages.  Consider taking a ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard for the day if you’re interested in seeing the historic whaling town of Edgartown.  Otherwise, Cape Cod has plenty to offer to fill a full day’s itinerary.

Heading into Rhode Island on Day 4 and if you’ve planned your road trip to start mid-October, then you should be able to catch Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival.  Here’s that lobster you were dreaming of… and clams… and well, it IS a seafood festival.  Here you also have an option to enjoy a ferry ride from Newport to Providence if you’re interested in seeing sprawling estates set against color-laden backdrops.   

From Newport, you’re only about 50 miles to Mystic, Connecticut for your overnight stay.  For many visitors, this community becomes the highlight of their road trip because it’s a seafaring village dating back to the 1600s.  Here you’ll find guides sharing “whale” stories, a 19th century tavern, a printing office, a lighthouse, and of course, boats.  Consider adding a steamboat cruise along the Mystic River to your road trip planner.  Even if you didn’t plan your road trip to catch Mystic’s Annual Chowderfest, I’m sure you’ll still find a tasty bowl of chowder somewhere in this historical seaport.

For the next two days, you will truly be hitting the road as you travel about 3 ½ hours to Woodstock, Vermont and the following day another 4 hours into North Conway, New Hampshire.  Here’s where your thirst for Fall foliage will be slaked as you drive first through the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusets, then the Green Mountains in Vermont, through the acclaimed picturesque town of Woodstock and into the White Mountains of New Hampshire. 

Pencil in Portland, Maine in your road trip planner for Day 7.  You’ll emerge from the mountains and lakes to cruise along the rocky coastline, just in time to enjoy another lobster dinner before you last night’s stay in New England.  The following morning, you have about a 1 ½ hour drive to Boston, so enjoy the Atlantic Ocean views while you can! 

While some travelers like turning the wheel over to tour operators, others like to do their own Road Trip Planning so they can travel at their own pace and stop at whim.  Either way, you'll get a memorable Fall Foliage Experience.

Exploring the Places between Utah and Maine in a Fall Road Trip

Goldilocks may have found one spot “too hot” and another spot “too cold” but if she’d used her Road Trip Planner to travel during the Fall, she would have found both spots “just right”.  Especially if she’d gone on a road trip to discover the places between the dry desert climate surrounding Salt Lake City, Utah and the salty sea air found in Bar Harbor, Maine.

This great road trip covers more than 2600 miles and 13 states so pencil in at least two weeks in your road trip planner. Three weeks would be ideal if you’re making it a Round Trip Road Trip.

So, with thirteen states to cover, how does one choose among the 1000s of things to do?  One way to narrow the field is to stick as close as possible to the direct route.  And with the price of gas these days, concentrate on the free and affordable activities along that route to keep this road trip within your budget.  That said, I recommend adding these cities to your road trip planner for overnight stays and things to do along the way (averaging about 200 miles per day).

With Salt Lake City, Utah sitting on the edge of the Wasatch Mountains, spend a few hours hiking along the paths or have a picnic at the Wasatch Mountain State Park.  Cross over into Wyoming and spend your first night at the Rock Springs Days Inn and enjoy the Rock Springs Historic Museum. 

The next day, you’ll remain in Wyoming, traveling about 250 miles to the state capital, Cheyenne for your second night.  Consider adding Colorado to your road trip planner by taking a short side-trip into Fort Collins, Colorado and spend the night in Lexington, Nebraska, where you can enjoy antique shopping and fishing while staying at a Victorian house, converted into a B & B.  Spend your fourth night in Omaha, about 220 miles down the road from Lexington.  Be sure to shop & stroll through the Old Market, where you’ll find a bit of everything; art, shops, cafés, restaurants and music!

The fourth state to add to your road trip planner is Iowa as you’ll be stopping at your second state capital, Des Moines before continuing on for an overnight at Iowa City, where you’ll find a number of very affordable hotels. 

You’ll want to cut north a bit past Joliet, Illinois so you can enjoy the Chicago nightlife, making it 6 states in 6 nights. Chicago has lots of Things To Do so you might want to stay a second night there and drive the following morning through Indiana (about 250 miles) to Toledo, Ohio to put your road trip planner back on track with 8 states, 8 nights.  Be sure to check out the Maumee Antique Mall, which has over 120,000 square feet for you to wander through (there’s also a smaller Antique Mall in downtown Toledo).

Hit the road again, passing through Cleveland, Ohio, along Lake Erie and spend the night in Erie, Pennsylvania for an overnight stay with a lakeview.  The next morning, enjoy the waterfront area in Buffalo, New York before continuing east to spend the night at Syracuse.  You’ll want to add your 3rd state capital in Albany to your road trip planner before heading towards Boston.  Here you might also want to stay two nights for a rich, historical experience.

You can actually travel through 3 states in one day in less than 250 miles as you leave Boston, with stops in Salem, then Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and passing through Portland, Maine (birthplace of famed horror writer, Steven King) and staying at a cozy lodge in Bangor, Maine.

At this point, congratulations are in order because you’re near your final destination of Bar Harbor, Maine.  Reward yourself by adding the Acadia National Park to your Road Trip Planner and revel in the Fall colors, a perfect ending to a remarkable road trip.

Fall Road Trip Along the Appalachian Trail – Part I

If the thought of hiking the full 2,167 mile footpath following the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is too daunting, then consider using the Road Trip Planner to create a car or RV road trip instead.  Realistically, it would take about seven months to hike it all if you progressed 10 miles per day, though some dedicated fans manage it in one season.  So, for most of us, traversing the Appalachian Trail in a car or RV road trip is the choice alternative because you could cover the same distance in about two weeks at the leisurely pace.

This scenic road trip parallels the hiker’s route for the most part. This way, you can spend a couple of hours each day actually hiking the wilderness and be immersed in the colors and smells of the deep woods, then sit back in your car and enjoy nature unfurling before you.  A perfect start date to enter in your road trip planner is Fall because it allows you to experience the Appalachian Mountains at its colorful peak while also checking off another “Places to see in this lifetime” list: Enjoy New England’s legendary Fall Colors.

That’s not to say your trip itinerary will include nothing but trees and trails.  On the contrary, you’re passing through historically significant states so imagine the quaint villages and historic sites that’ll open up for you as you fill your road trip planner. 

Even though the Appalachian Trail runs through 14 states, this blog will include details on the first 6 of them (not including Maine): New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania.  This leaves New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia for another blog.  Keep in mind, that even though your initial road trip planning might show a 1200-mile route on places like Mapquest or Google Maps, you’ll be meandering through the states in order to follow the Appalachian Trail, so tack on another 200 miles to your road trip.

Choice spots to include in your road trip planner
In New Hampshire : You’ll be traveling west from Gorham to Orford before turning south.

• Pinkham Notch Camp
• Mt. Washington in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range
• Mount Washington Cog Railway
• The five granite ledges of Old Man of the Mountain at the Franconia Notch
• Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich

In Vermont: Your entry point is White River Junction; exit through Bennington.

• The historic town of Woodstock
• Gifford Woods State Park in the heart of the Green Mountains
• A panoramic view of Mt.  Snow as you descend into Wilmington

In Massachusetts : You’ll be skirting the west on Highway 7 all the way from Williamstown to Ashley Falls.

• Mount Greylock State Reservation
• Hancock Shaker Village
• Mount Washington State Forest in South Egremont (stay at the Weathervane, a great B & B).

In Connecticut : Enter in Canaan on Highway 7 and exit through Danbury.

• Norfolk, for its sheer beauty, including its private forest
• The Appalachian Trail crosses Highway 7 and the Housatonic River at Cornwall Bridge.
• Allow one luxury stay at the Berkshires (here's an affordable one).  The Berkshires is to western Connecticut what the Catskills is to New York and the Poconos to Pennsylvania. 

In New York : We’re only going to include the Appalachian Trail segment in this road trip planner and keep the “other” New York for another trip (unless you really can’t help yourself & decide to spend a few days in New York City…it’s your vacation after all :>).  Drive along US 6 to Highway 7, touching the southeastern part of New York and exiting through Port Jervis.

• West Point, the Army’s famous military academy
• Bear Mountain State Park
• Harriman State Park

In Pennsylvania :  Come in at Dingman’s Ferry and exit through Gettysburg (you’ll actually dip a bit in the Garden State of New Jersey).

• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
• The Poconos
• Roadside America in the village of Shartlesville to see a scale model of bygone Americana.
• The Pennsylvania Dutch Country
• Gettysburg

That’s it…so far.  Check back again soon because we’ve got another 7 states to add to your Road Trip Planner to make this a truly magnificent Fall exploration of the Appalachian Trail.

Two-Week Road Trip on the Big Island of Hawaii

Your road trip planner will be overstuffed if you try to explore all that the Big Island has to offer in one week.  I know, because I just spent eight days there on the Kona Coast and didn’t even get to see much of the Hilo side.  So, by combining my trip experience with recommendations from the locals, here then is a two-week road trip that will give you the ultimate Big Island Experience.

To drive all the way around the Big Island would be more than 250 miles and another 60 miles if you want to explore the tallest volcano at Mauna Kea State Park.  It’s also twice the size of all the other islands combined.  And while many travelers set up “home” on one side of the coast during their trip planning, I’d recommend staying one week on each coast to have a great jumping off point for your many explorations.

We’ll start our road trip planning on the Kona side, the sunnier region.  We stayed in the Kailua-Kona, site of the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and home of the revered King Kamehameha, the leader who ultimately united all the islands.  It has a great waterfront and pier, where you could enjoy dinner each night with a view of the sun dipping behind the water horizon.  My favorites were the Kona Brewing Company (baked garlic, home-made focaccia & melted Gorgonzola dip), Bubba Gumps (right on the water), and Quinn’s Almost By the Sea (affordable & local favorite).

Each morning, we catapulted out of bed, knowing a new adventure awaited us.  Make sure to include in your road trip planner, plenty of beaches.  Not only are there multiple Public Beach Access signs take you to more secluded spots but Hawaii's decreed that any beach is PUBLIC LAND, so if you spot a nice looking beach behind a gated community, just roll on up & ask for beach access!    Snorkelers should go to Kahaluu Beach Park, surfers to White Sands Beach, privacy buffs to Kona Coast State Park, and beach lovers can choose from Anaehoomalu Bay, Hapuna Beach, or Mauna Kea Beach.

Other places to consider in your road trip planning in Kailua-Kona:  The Hulihee Palace, Kokuaikaua Church, Kamehameha’s Compound at Kamakahonu Bay, Kona Wine Market for affordable prices as well as souvenirs.  Include one Luau in your trip; I recommend The Island Breeze Luau at the King Kamehameha Compound at the Kailua Pier because it’s right on the beach.

Along the Kohala Coast, you’re in for a scenic treat as your road trip takes you north into the quaint town of Hawi and beyond to Pololu Valley Lookout.  On the way, stop at Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm (NELHA), which houses the only Seahorse farm in the US.  Stop at the Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, the temple Kamehameha built to the war god to insure his success in battle.  Keep driving up Highway 270 to the Lapakahi State Historical Park for a view of a typical 14th-century Hawaiian village and the Mo’okini Luakini Heiau. The original Kamehameha Statue is along this route, as well as a view of Maui. A mile from the Pololu lookout, enjoy a picnic at the Keokea Beach Park.  On your way back, check out the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological District.

Along the southern coast on the Kona side, you’ll find Captain Cook, Kealakekua Bay, the Place of Refuge and Honaunau Bay.  Combine these for a perfect full day’s exploration to add to your road trip planner, with historical places and monuments, great scenic shots of the bays and snorkeling/swimming at Honaunau Bay, considered the second best place to snorkel with lovely reefs, turtles, fish, and huge coral growths!

Now here’s where we move our home base to the Hilo side to give you plenty of time to explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  Leaving Kailua-Kona, include in your road trip planning, stops at South Point (the southernmost spot in the US), the sweet-smelling bakery/souvenir shop in Naalehu, and the Punaluu Black Sand Beach.

We didn’t spend nearly enough time at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park because the ranger told us the current lava flow was outside the park (as of August, 2008, it’s an hour’s drive to the end of Highway 130 in Kaimu, then a 20-minute hike over the lava to the viewing area).  So schedule in a full two days in your road trip planner to fully explore the Kilauea Visitors Center, Halemaumau Crater, Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail, and a Crater Rim drive as well as make the sunset trek to the lava flow.  Local Shannon Cormie says, “Seeing the ribbon of red lava snake its way down the side of the mountain and then thunder into the ocean is a sight you will never forget”.

One reason to place Hilo front and center in your road trip planning is because it’s so lush!  David Carpenter, a local, recommends the Akatsuka Orchid Garden for its large assortment of orchids.  It’s situated about halfway between Volcano and Hilo.  Shannon recommends sites surrounding Hilo by visiting to Banyan Drive, Liliuokalani Gardens, Lyman Museum & Mission House, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and the wonderful botanical gardens like Nani Mau Gardens Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, and World Botanical Garden. 

From there, take your road trip planning up to the Hamakua Coast, stopping at Akaka Falls and have lunch in Honokaa. Then check out Waipio Valley, the birthplace of Hawaii’s kings, before heading for Waimea, a cowboy town with the Parker Ranch Visitor Center & Museum as the focal point.

Set aside a full day in your trip planner to explore Mauna Kea.  Rent a four-wheel drive vehicle to climb to the top (13,796-foot) or book a full-day tour where guides will take you to hidden waterfalls, sacred spots and an observatory, treasured by astronomers around the globe.

All of the above will fill your Big Island Road Trip to the brim.  Plus, you’re bound to see other places to explore.  But take heart, if you don’t get to all of them this round, you’ll have a perfect excuse to fill another road trip planner for a return visit!

By Ingrid McCleary (with recommendations from Shannon Cormie and David Carpenter.  Mahalo!)

Cruisin’ The Southern California Coastline Road Trip - Part II

Last time, we cruised along the Northern California Coastline; now it’s time to fire up your Road Trip Planner and skirt the southern coastline to complete your own California Cruisin’ Dream Trip.

We left off in one of my favorite areas, Big Sur.  Simply put -- and the main reason to include this in your road trip planning -- Big Sur offers stunning views. It’s that stretch of highway where land meets sea in a jaw-dropping way because the Santa Lucia Mountains rise like colossal sentries from the Pacific Ocean.  I must confess to gripping the armrest a bit as we rounded some bends because of the sheer drop to the ocean below.  Exhilarating! 

While some would suggest a more direct route south by taking the inland Highway 101 or even the mid-land Highway 5, I recommend staying on Highway 1 for an unforgettable coastal road trip.  This way, your Road Trip Planner will include highlights like hiking at Limekiln State Park, and treasure hunting at Jade Beach, one of the few places in the world where you can find quality Jade strewn about like pebbles.

After all that hiking and beach combing, settle into your road trip with a scenic drive along the Cabrillo Highway till it turns into the San Luis Obispo North Coast Highway.  Soon you’ll find San Simeon, home of the opulent Hearst Castle. Hearst Castle is the palatial estate built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. It’s one of the largest of historic house museums in the U.S. and well worth the ticket price for the informative tour.  Believe me, you’ll be ogling all the sumptuous finery found here!

From here, suggested places to add to your road trip planner are Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, and Pismo Beach (a popular ATV camping spot because of all the sand dunes).

Now here’s where I’ll recommend cutting over to Highway 101 to discover a California city with a decidedly Danish twist, Solvang.  I found it utterly charming, with stores offering delicate lace and handmade quilts, Danish cuisine in quaint restaurants, and a European flavor to the buildings lining the main streets. 

Of course, you can’t be away from the ocean for too long and heading into Santa Barbara will give you the quintessential California coastal city experience.  If you want to taste the salt air & be completely surrounded by water, then add to your road trip planner a stop near Oxford, where you can hop aboard the ferry to the Channel Islands.  As you walk around these beaches, you’ll get a feel for what the land looked like before civilization descended because these islands have remained relatively isolated for 1000s of years.  But if you’re looking more for culture than nature, then plan instead to take the ferry near Newport Beach to Santa Catalina Island & explore the appealing city of Avalon.  This is a popular cruise stop destination so you can enjoy glass-bottom boat rides, take a trolley car up to some lush gardens, or enjoy snorkeling to the left of the pier (on the pier, facing land).

Below Oxnard, you’ll find the sexy city of Malibu, full of opulent homes on the lolling hills and beautiful bodies on the beaches.  Be sure to enjoy the Santa Monica Pier as you continue south. It’s a fun place to spend the evening.  But you’ll definitely want daylight to people-watch the myriad of characters found at Venice Beach.

By now, you’re in the thick of Southern California, a region where sunglasses, shorts, and flip-flops are the main attire.  Newport Beach is another well-to-do city worthy of a stop in your road trip planning.  As well as the Dana Point Harbor, one of the prettiest harbors I’ve seen in a long time.  Nearby, you’ll find San Juan Capistrano, another great cultural stop, this time with a Spanish twist, as you stroll the grounds of the California icon, Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Now it’s San Diego time, the biggest southern city before you hit the Mexican border!  There you’ll find a thriving city with distinct areas like Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Balboa Park. Include in your road trip plans a fun side trip by driving to an island, compliments of the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge. You’ll easily spot the famous Hotel Del Coronado, a sprawling white and red-roofed resort, which housed Presidents, movie stars & tycoons in its illustrious past.  From there, scoot along the Silver Stand Highway just for the sheer enjoyment of cruising a highway flanked by water on both sides.  For even more fun, enjoy a sunset gondola ride and pretend you’re in Venice, Italy!  From there, you’re less than 5 miles from the Mexico border with San Ysidro being the southernmost California community. 

So there you have it.  Between this blog and Cruisin’ The Northern California Coastline Road Trip – Part I, you’ve now hugged the California coastline from bow to stern, complete with side-trips that the locals would recommend.  To do this road trip justice, I’d recommend at least two weeks. But however you fill your Road Trip Planner, you’re guaranteed awesome photos, spectacular sunsets, and a lot of cool cruisin!

Ingrid McCleary