Take Off on a Roadtrip!- Travel Squire

This summer take a page from America’s past and get out on the open road. America has a rich heritage of wanderers; from the Oregon trail to Route 66, The Main Street of America, the history of those who voyage is an integral part of our identity. Take advantage of the opportunity to choose your own adventure, pull over and discover lesser known sites and curiosities that are off the beaten path, to roam and explore places you didn’t know you wanted to know about. Lest we forget, Tolkien reminds us, not all those who wander are lost.

New England

With almost 90% of the state covered by forest, Maine, also known as the Pine Tree State, has more to offer then simply forests. Follow the rocky coast south and stop off in any one of the quaint coastal towns to admire the lighthouses, fishing docks, and antique ship captain’s homes complete with widow’s walks. Enjoy a lobster dinner and a wild blueberry cobbler for a taste of Maine’s finest offerings. Venture further inland and south on your trip to the state of Vermont. Known for its majestic fall foliage in Indian Summer and the quality of its maple syrup, Vermont is another state with pride and ardor for its arbor. Journey along the state’s Green Mountains or enjoy a drive along Lake Champlain. No matter which route you choose, Vermont’s pristine wilderness is sure to surprise and enchant you.

Dixieland

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville North Carolina has been selected by Good Morning America as one of the “10 Most Beautiful Places”, one of “America’s top 25 Arts” Destinations by AmericanStyle Magazine, and named one of the world’s top 12 must-see destinations for 2007 by Frommer’s travel guides. After Asheville drive south through mountain and hill country to Charleston, on South Carolina’s coast. Brush up your manners in one of America’s most hospitable and polite cities, where Southerners are serious about etiquette and will make any traveler feel right at home. Known also for its seafood, don’t miss the fried oysters or shrimp and grits that are staples of the local cuisine. Beyond Charleston, round out your trip with a drive to Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is one of the nation’s largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the U.S., and maintains large portions of its original town plan from 1733. Enjoy gentile southern living with an afternoon of sweet tea on the veranda of one of the cities lovingly maintained historic mansions.

Pacific Northwest

Home to some of the nation’s greenest cities, Portland and Seattle, the Pacific Northwest will have you ditching your car and hopping on a bicycle in no time flat. Whether you’re into sea-kayaking and whale watching or sushi making demonstrations and indie music, the Pacific Northwest offers a balance of activities for any traveler. Check out the microbrew scene in Portland and enjoy a taste of the city’s proud locavore food scene; after a few brews you’ll be questioning why everyone’s committed to “Keeping Portland Weird”. Drive north to Seattle, the city that brought grunge music and lattes to America. Don’t let the rain get you down, hit up Pike Place Market to catch the flying fish toss, or watch the city glisten beneath the thin haze of moisture from the top of the space needle. This city is your oyster and it also serves excellent ones, too.

The Wild West

Let your mind and spirit roam wild with a drive through the Wild West. This American frontier maintains a passionate history of those who came in search of the open wilderness and the promise of a better life. Their free-spirited thinking came to characterize generations of trail-blazers who crossed deserts, mountains, forests, and streams, some continuing on as far as California. Others fell in love with the unique and rugged landscape and stayed to pitch a life and call the lands of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona home. Drive any which way and you’ll discover many of the natural wonders and monuments that are synonymous with America: the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Rocky Mountains, Monument Valley and the Painted Desert among others.

California

The Golden State warrants its own place on our list of road trip destinations; its geographic area contains both the highest and lowest points within the continental U.S. as well as a vast range of topography. In fact, as we all know, California is a veritable gold mine of a destination. Take your pick of any of the state’s 8 national parks, Redwood National Forest and Sequoia National Park among them, and enjoy the graces of Mother Nature’s natural wonders. Of course, the best way to enjoy the state is by driving Route 1, often called Highway 1. Beginning south in Orange County and ending north in Mendocino County, Highway 1 winds along some of America’s most beautiful coastline. Enjoy stopping in Los Angeles and San Francisco for California’s laid back take on city life; or spend some time in Malibu, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma for the beautiful beaches, outstanding wines and Spanish Colonial architecture.