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

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 Motorcycle Road Trip to Alaska

Every road trip planner dreams of conquering the roads of Alaska. Here is an idea for an adventurous motorcycle road trip over the 49th state.

This road trip will surely entice every motorcyclist all over the United States, wherever they are coming from. The first town you will encounter from the Alaska Highway is Tok where you can camp or lodge in a comfortable hotel for a good night's rest before continuing your excursion the following day.

Carry on with your motorcycle road trip through Alaska by making your way to Valdez. Take Alaska's first highway, the Richardson Highway. The scenic highway is absolutely made for the road trip enthusiast as it is full of twists and turns, a mountain pass, elevation gains, waterfalls and glaciers as you travel along Wrangell-St. Elias and the Chugach Mountains. Valdez houses a number of glaciers that you can check out by cruising, flight seeing, walking or just riding by. You can also take a break from riding by fishing for different species of salmon and halibut or you amaze yourself by watching marine and land wildlife such as sea otters, harbor seals, mountain goats, and black and brown bears.

Every motorcyclist taking an Alaskan road trip would most definitely want to visit the Harley Davidson shop in Anchorage. The ride from Valdez to Anchorage is over 551 miles. The experience is well-worth it as you take on the journey under Alaska's midnight sun. Take the tour around the Harley Davidson shop and get ready to be impressed by the innovative structures and engines of these world-famous bikes. You do not need to worry about accommodations as there is a campsite just beside the Harley Davidson building where you can set up your tent free of charge.

Continue your Alaska road trip on your motorcycle by driving 240 miles north of Anchorage to Denali National Park. Marvel over the majestic Mount McKinley and other spectacular mountains. The park is extremely huge and you are free to all the activities it offers. Give your bike a break and relax by doing some fly-fishing. If you are up to something active, you can ride a mountain bike and join a tour of the park, or go rafting or kayaking. Or, if you want to try something new, go on a helicopter flight seeing and heli-hiking and enjoy jaw-dropping views of Anchorage and other parts of Alaska. From Denali National Park, head north through Fairbanks to the isolated tundra of the Arctic Circle, where you are to experience almost twenty four hours of daylight. There are lots of campgrounds in the area for those who choose to stay for the night.

The thousands of miles you conquer, the challenging twists and turns, the picturesque sceneries you pass by, and the extraordinary experiences you get to tell your friends and family back home will make this journey to Alaska all worth it. It is certainly one of the most memorable excursions in every road trip planner's list.

Motorcycle Road Trip to Everglades National Park, Florida

There is something so special about a motorcycle road trip to feed your wildlife adventure cravings to Everglades National Park.   This is the largest remaining subtropical nature park in the United States, and home to hundreds of rare and endangered species. The landscape of Everglades National Park is simple and at the same time striking. It is intelligently designed to illuminate the presence of wildlife in the park.

Start south from Charleston, South Carolina for an amazing motorcycle road trip along the Atlantic Coast. Almost all throughout the trip, you would be able to hear, if not see, the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Ride two hours to Georgia's First City, Savannah.  Stop and give yourself a scare with a Sixth Sense Savannah Ghost Tour. Explore the neighborhood of haunted houses and listen to ghost stories for only $18 ($30 for midnight tours)! Check in at any of the affordable hotels in Savannah for the night such as Savannah Travelodge, Savannah Suites or Best Western Savannah Gateway. If you want a more luxurious stay, the Hyatt Regency Savannah or The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort and Spa are just there waiting for you.

Moving along your road trip on your motorcycle, cross the Georgia-Florida border and have your first Florida experience at Ponce De Leon's Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, North America's first historical site. Tour the park and drink from their world famous spring and remain eternally young...young at heart at least! From St. Augustine, ride your bike about 56 miles to Daytona Beach and check out their motor sports attractions.   The exhilarating experience at the Daytona International Speedway will probably get your motor going, so continue with your motorcycle road trip to Miami, Florida. Cool down after the four-hour drive at the beach or relax at the Tropical Park and breath in some fresh air while doing some fishing. Check in at Hyatt Regency Miami, Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel or Sofitel Miami for your last overnight before finally getting to your destination.

From Miami you have only about 35 miles to go to get to Everglades National Park, so take the time to get to know Miami before moving forward with your motorcycle road trip. Ride your bike 45 minutes more and you are at Homestead where the alligators at the Everglades National Park await. The best way to really get to know the park is to rent a kayak or a canoe. Paddle a portion of the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway and get your close encounter with wildlife - manatees, dolphins, alligators and crocodiles. If you plan to stay for the night at one of the 47 designated campsites in Everglades, be sure to secure your permit from the Everglades National Park office. Camping at the park will truly make you feel so close to nature as you hear the noises the wild makes at night. The light from the moon would certainly complete the dramatic setting.

Looking back at all the things you have seen and encountered not only at the Everglades National Park, but at every stop you have made all throughout this ride, you realize that covering almost half of the Atlantic Coast and traveling over 600 miles from South Carolina to Florida is well worth it. After all, it is traveling distances such as this that makes motorcycle road trips more exciting.

Death Valley Motorcycle Road Trip

Death Valley claims to be the ultimate desert motorcycle road trip of this generation. The name alone sounds so inviting to those thrill-seeking bike aficionados! Take the trip to California and head to Death Valley for an electrifying riding experience.

Traveling Interstates 251 and 15, then finally northbound the U.S. Highway 395 to Trona, California gives you great chances of meeting other bikers also making their way to Death Valley for a motorcycle road trip. On the way, you get to encounter some of the tallest dune formations in the United States open for off-road riding, the Dumont Dunes.

Take note that a motorcycle road trip in Death Valley is strictly for experienced bikers, and license plates on dirt bikes are required as stated by the Death Valley National Park rules and regulations. The place has all the reasons why you should go - rocky and narrow canyons, wide open desert riding experience and the dune fields you will need to cross.

Quick note: Death Valley also serves as a training ground for professional race teams.

The road trip to Death Valley National Park on your motorcycle will make you tired and look to check in for the night and recharge for the next day. Continuing your journey requires you to have every ounce of your energy for the terrain.   Stop at the Raffy Motogear4you trailer for your last-minute needs and to have your bike checked before proceeding your motorcycle road trip 90 miles north to the racetrack at Death Valley. The ride north gives you a lot of interesting sights to see in the form of various geological features. Scotty's Castle (also known as Death Valley Scotty or Death Valley Ranch) located deep in the Death Valley National Park will remind you of the ridiculous yet entertaining story of a man named Walter Scott who claimed to have financed construction of the "castle" in the late 1920's.  Moving along to Ubehebe Crater, you imagine how strong the explosive eruption of the Ubehebe volcano was 2,000 years ago as the volcano itself is gone. The Mesquita Springs Campground, also known as the Desert Rat's Paradise, is just a few miles southwest from Scotty's Castle and is an excellent base for climbers and hikers visiting the Death Valley National Park.  Then there is Grapevine Canyon and Titus Canyon...and many more other places to see.

The first 60 miles to Scotty's Castle is a smooth ride. Upon making the turn towards the Ubehebe Crater, though, 27 miles of gravel road will be under your tires. You may stop at at Teskkette Junction after the miles and miles of gravel ride for a break.  Continue, seven more miles to go until you reach Death Valley.

Finally getting a glimpse of the Death Valley racetrack reminds you of the very reason why you decided to take the road trip on your motorcycle to Death Valley National Park in the first place. The view is just magnificent. The track is particularly known for its sliding rocks. Getting off your bike and walking over the dry lake as if you are the only person left on earth is amazing! Then the wind suddenly comes and moves the boulders. Perfect. Ride the rest of the day away! The Death Valley is all yours.

With the adrenaline rush still pumping in and your musles still throbbing from the exhilarating ride, you are more than satisfied. All the dirt on your bike you will be bringing back home is a great reminder of how much fun you had. The motorcycle road trip to Death Valley, indeed, is the ultimate desert ride!

All American Baseball Road Trip

If you're looking for a family road trip to entertain your family's baseball fantasies, I am sure sitting in the stands at Yankee Stadium, gazing at the Green Monster, and partaking in America’s Favorite pastime, will do the trick.

Going to see the Boston Red Sox’s was our first destination on our Baseball Road Trip.  Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts has been around since the early 1900’s and has hosted eight decades of baseball legends. The seating at Fenway park may have been as old as the Titanic, but it brought us a lot closer to players than at most fields. Tickets sell fast so we planned our family trip during a week where it would not be sold out.

Rare sights to be found at Fenway include a working, hand-operated score board, and the legendary left field green monster.  Fenway Park remains in its original condition, and I hope they never rebuild it. It is one of the last places you can go to experience baseball like it was during the times of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb.  In fact, the building opened in 1912 and is now America's oldest baseball park.  Although the structure has survived several fires over the years, it still stands strong.   

What better stadium to visit next other than the Boston Red Sox’s rival?  Yep, the Yankee Stadium in New York City! If you want to see this piece a baseball history like “The House Ruth Built” you'd better hurry, because the ”home of the champions” is set to be demolished in 2009, when the new Yankee Stadium opens. To get the most out of our visit to Yankee Stadium, we took a one-hour tour to walk on the field, sit in the dugout, view the press box, clubhouse, and wander the historic Monument Park. One of the best parts of the tour was walking into the clubhouse where the players since Babe Ruth have suited up for the games.

When doing your Family trip planning don’t forget to include a tour of America’s Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Cooperstown is off the beaten track, but we enjoyed the nice countryside drive. When we arrived at Cooperstown, we took a nice relaxing trolley to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Inside the Hall of Fame, my kids initially gravitated to the most popular players of today, until they started taking a closer look in the locker room, where they saw worn gloves and bats from long ago.  This made them stop and think about the players from the past.

My family is crazy about baseball, but our love for baseball grew even fonder on this family trip. Tickets sell fast at all these stadiums, but don’t worry, each of the stadiums hold year round tours, so you’ll always get to explore the stadiums even if you miss an actual game. Family trips to baseball games have always been one of the best ways for our family to spend time together.

Here are a few trips to check out.  One is a weekend getaway, the other a week-long buddy trip, both with the emphasis on baseball.  Play ball!