“From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with gold… God bless America, my home sweet home.” The famous “God Bless America” talks about all the beautiful and glorious sights of our country. However, how many citizens of this country have seen them all? Not nearly enough! Take the opportunity to see them all with a great American road trip. You want to hit the numerous fabulous sights, while also relaxing in some stellar locations. Get ready for a great adventure!
Map it Out
Any good trip requires a game plan, especially a big trip across the country. There are so many places to see. It is up to you as to what type of trip you want to plan. A great outdoorsman may find it fun to visit as many national parks as possible, while a true admirer of the sea may be eager to visit all the beaches along the east coast. Do you want to hit more of the big cities, or quaint towns? There is a definite difference between playing the tourist and getting to know an area and its people. There is also a definite restraint of time. If you get a few months away from real life, you can hit as many stops as you want, and explore in detail. However, if you have just one or two weeks, you may need to plan for a shorter trip. In these cases, it is possible to reign in your geographic area. Maybe plan a west or east coast trip instead of a full cross country venture. Just because you have limitations of time does not mean you should miss out on a fabulous travel schedule.
Reliable Transportation With Extra Space
Driving across the country requires a solid and reliable mode of transportation. Whether you go the old fashion route in the family station wagon, or you’re traveling with a large family who needs a trailer, you must be able to depend on your vehicle. It may even be a purchase you make as a down payment for your travel plans. Check out some great new 2018 Ford vehicles, if you’re looking for a spacious truck that can work well off road. If you plan on taking the path less traveled at times, you need a car that can withstand all sorts of terrain. Don’t let a bad car stop you from having a fantastic trip. Vehicles nowadays come with many fancy gadgets. Even if you trust your smart phone or your car’s GPS to keep you on the right track, it may be smart to include a paper map in your car. You never know what could happen, and it would put a damper on things for you to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, without power or a mode of communication. If you take extra precautions ahead of time, you can avoid a headache later. You also want to make sure you have plenty of space. With any luck, you can stop frequently at different places to lodge. However, you will still spend most of your trip in your car. After all, it is a road trip; you will spend quite a bit of time on the road. Be sure you are comfortable in your vehicle, and that you have enough space for anything you need. Depending on the length of your trip, you may have a great deal of luggage, plus the important things you’ll want to include for sightseeing and impromptu picnics on the side of the road. The possibilities are endless, so you must prepare for anything to happen!
Find Places to Stay
While mapping out your ideal trip, you can choose to be as organized or as free as you like. There are several online sites that can help you pre-plan all of your stops, routes, and lodgings. You can even download apps and print out pages of information. However, if you are a little more type B than type A, you can also fly off on your own, and make it up as you go along. Several motels and hotels welcome walk up customers. Other places, such as an Airbnb or staying with relatives, may require a bit of planning before you show up unannounced. There are some people who love taking road trips to a consistent favorite destination. For these more constant places, you may think about renting your own home, or taking out a timeshare there. Anything from Mackinac Island Vacation home rentals to beach homes in California make excellent destinations. Your road trip doesn’t always have to be to new and adventurous places. You can end at a familiar vacation spot while still enjoying some new sights along the way.
Enjoy The Sights!
Of course, the joy of traveling across the country is getting to see and enjoy some sights that are different from our everyday lives. So, be sure to enjoy them! The best word to include on any sort of road trip is the word “yes.” Any exciting exit or interesting billboard you come across is an invitation to explore some new wonder of America. There are also many resources for you to utilize. Even less well-known destinations are proud to welcome you to enjoy the little slice of our country that they have to offer. So, feel free to explore Henry County, Georgia, or make a pitstop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. You won’t be sorry for making a pit stop to see something wonderful that you weren’t expecting. You might even be there to see the world’s largest cow or a replica of “The Last Supper” made out of butter; you never know. There are places to see on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and the bright lights of San Francisco that are fabulous. There are also places just as fabulous to see along the way. Keep an open mind, and be ready for any adventure that comes your way.
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