What Makes a Drive a Road Trip?

 by Tiberiu Ana Flickr Creative Commons

Be it by car, motorbike or motorhome, a true road trip is an experience, not just getting from A to B. Here are some guidelines for an amazing road trip:

- Take someone with you. Someone you love, someone you like, someone you just met but find interesting- reminiscing afterwards will be half the fun of the trip.

- Take new routes. The highway is the fastest way, but not the most interesting. A road trip is about the journey, not the destination, so can't be rushed. In New Zealand it's called a tiki tour- go down a side road just to see what you might find.

- A road trip is great when it has a purpose, or when it doesn't. You may have taken a few extra days to get to your intended city instead of flying, or you may have packed up the car or RV when a free week presented itself and took to the road with no rhyme nor reason. Whichever it is, embrace it!

- Stop somewhere you've never been before. Be it for icecream, lunch, dinner or breakfast. The smaller the town, the better- and make friends with the locals if the opportunity arises.

- Be spontaneous. This could mean getting out of the car to dip your feet in the water, walking up a hill to see the view, attending anything that might be on in a town without preplanning it. Don't be afraid to take any opportunity that is put in front of you- even if it will mess with your plans.

 by Pete Flickr Creative Commons

And for the more advanced road trip experience, try for one or more of these:

- Break down and fix it in the pouring rain. Flag someone down to help and become lifelong friends.

- Park your RV somewhere unknown in the pitch dark, and wake up in the morning to the most incredible view you have ever seen. This can also be done in a car for extra badass points.

- Find a relative of yours in a forgotten graveyard, and uncover a huge family secret.

 by Kevin Dooley Flickr Creative Commons

- Have a beer in the most rural pub you can find, and have an in-depth conversation with a farmer with no teeth. Learn valuable life lessons.

by Jan Smith Flickr Creative Commons

- Stay in a haunted hotel or bed and breakfast with a creepy owner. Leave the next morning feeling as though you survived an ordeal.

- Buy cheap and fresh meat, cheese and veges from an amazing Farmer's Market in the small town you are staying at. Prepare the most amazing meal of your life on your gas cooker or RV stove.

- Meet a fellow traveler, learn their life story, and be left with only memories and one slightly blurry photo of them as you go your separate ways.

- Build a campfire (where permitted, of course) and spend the night in a toasted marshmallow and wine- fuelled heart to heart. Be surprised to see the sun coming up.

- Get horribly lost. Wrestle with maps, bust out a compass, scan the horizon. Eventually find that you are 5 mins away from where you left 5 hours ago, give up and and revisit the local pub. Tell the toothless farmer what happened, and hear his words of wisdom on getting lost, which are profound despite the fact he has never been more than 10km from his own farm.

 by The Eyes of New York Flickr Creative Commons

Admittedly, those last few are entirely dependent on fate- but the fundamental quality of a road trip is that it can't be planned! Whatever happens will happen, and the key is to go with the flow.

Have a look here for car rentals and here for motorhome rentals and road trip ideas all over the world!

Boston Top Sights

Boston is a city of history, of sports and of academia. The site of the original Tea Party, when the occupants threw tea in the harbour rather than pay taxes on it, it is now a wealthy and thriving city and a hub of culture. Here are some of the top spots to see according to Pittsburgh Live:

Freedom Trail

This trail links the historic sites of downtown Boston, making it simple to see them all by foot. Highlights of the route include the Boston Common, America's oldest public park, the King's Chapel, the site of the Boston Massacre between Redcoats and Bostonians, and much, much more.

 Boston Freedom Trail

by Tim Sackton Flickr Creative Commons

Museum of Fine Arts

Boston's Museum of Fine Arts is one of the United States' largest museums, with over 100 million visitors a year. A new wing opened in 2010 to house the Art of the Americas collection, a series of 5000 works that date from as far back as the founding of the colonies. There are also many contemporary artworks, and a large collection of Claude Monet's Impressionist paintings.


Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Although a lesser-known museum, this one is well worth the visit, with many priceless works including a Rembrandt self-portrait.

Samuel Adams Brewery

Take an hour-long tour of this brewery founded by Jim Koch, a fifth-generation beer brewer. Beer is a real craft here, and you will taste several different types and learn a bit about the art of brewing.

 Brewery Tour

by mbaylor Flickr Creative Commons

Symphony Hall

This is considered one of the top three concert halls in the world, and the other two are in Europe, making Boston's the best in America. The Hall is home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra as well as several other musical groups, and there are many artists who come from all over to perform there, so check out the programme before arriving in Boston to see if there's anything you'll like!

John F. Kennedy Library and Museum

This houses a lot of contemporary history, with digital archives, books, oral records of the Kennedys. Permanent Exhibits include showcases on the Space Program, the Oval Office, Jackie Kennedy and JFK's campaign trail. An interesting look at one of the US's most treasured and tragic presidents.

Campaign Trail Exhibit

by Randy Robertson Flickr Creative Commons

Check here for great USA RV rental deals!

Big Sur Road Trip

If you are picking up your motorhome in Los Angeles, a Big Sur Roadtrip is an excellent and highly scenic choice. A region of the Californian coast north of Los Angeles, the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean there, making for amazing vistas. Here is a suggested easy itinerary that will allow you to take it easy and travel a few hours a day, whilst taking in all that the coast has to offer.



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Day 1: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara is less than 2 hours from Los Angeles, but after the fuss of picking up an RV from the depot and figuring out how to get out of the city, it can be nice to have a short trip on day 1! Take CA-1/US101 out of the city, and this will take you directly to Santa Barbara. Once through the peripheral suburbs, the road goes along the coast for Pacific views. The route takes you through Carpinteria, which is set around a beautiful and safe swimming beach, a great spot to take a dip. Santa Barbara is only a short drive from here. The city is loved for its fair weather and spanish architecture.There are many annual events in the city- the 'Fiesta' in August, the French Festival on Bastille Day weekend in July, and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February being the best ones. If you wish to stay in town, the Sunrise RV Park is right off the highway on S Salinas Street.

 Santa Barbara

by Konrad Summers Flickr Creative Commons

Day 2: Santa Barbara to Monterey

Spread the 4-5 hours of driving out, and take the chance to see some of the amazing views that the Big Sur is known for. Head out along the coast on CA-1. As you turn away from the coast and get on US-101 towards Buelton, you will drive through the Gaviota State Park, popular for swimming, fishing and picnicking. Inland, the highway passes through several towns of the Santa Ynez Valley community- Buelton, Los Olivos, Los Alamos, before arriving in Santa Maria.This city is known for its wine industry, and is also a popular location for filming- Pirates of the Caribbean and other films have scenes set there- so look out for cameras! After San Luis Obispo, which advertises itself on the town website as the happiest town in America, head back towards the coast and make your away along CA-1.

The 'Big Sur' can't be easily defined- it is not a single State Park, although it contains several, and it is more than just the Big Sur River Valley- the definition can be extended to include the entire coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, this section of the CA-1 between San Luis Obispo will take you some of the rocky coastal stretches that are typical of most people's visions of the Big Sur. Along here, the mountains meet the ocean and the road is carved into the cliff in many places. The landscape has attracted many writers and artists, as well as international travelers, so be sure to stop in a few of the small towns and interact with the fascinating locals. Interesting stops along here include Hearst Castle at San Simeon, the Elephant Seal Rookery, Jade Cove at Plaskett where pieces of jade can be found, and the several State Parks that are scattered along the coast. Lime Kilns State Park near Lucia has beautiful redwoods in its rugged terrain, and still houses historic lime kilns in which limestone was reduced to lime. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park features a stunning 80-foot waterfall which drops into the ocean, and further north is the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

 by cjuneau Flickr Creative Commons

by Meg Lessard Flickr Creative Commons

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

by Mike Baird Flickr Creative Commons

Monterey is a coastal city with a lot of history and a lot of diverse marine life! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is among the largest in North America and attracts and educates millions of tourists a year. Just outside, Cannery Row is a main street lined with hotels, restaurants and amusement, named for the novel by John Steinbeck about life in Monterey during the height of the canning industry. The charming city has many other spots to explore, and a handy spot for the night is the RV Park at the County Fair.

 Monterey Bay Aquarium

by Jim G Flickr Creative Commons

Day 3: Monterey to San Francisco

From Monterey to San Francisco is only 2 hours, so take  your time and get to the Aquarium if you didn't have time the day before.Head out of the city on CA-1 and head along the coast to Watsonville. Back from the coast, this city is known for its agriculture. The next city is Santa Cruz, which has an original Spanish settlement dating back to 1791. Watersports are popular here, especially surfing, so stop in at one of the beaches to get in the water or just watch!

Santa Cruz

by Adam Freidin Flickr Creative Commons

After Santa Cruz, go right onto CA-17 and head in to San Francisco. San Fran is known for diversity, hills and eclectic architecture. What to do in the city if you are staying is a whole other topic, but there are plenty of RV Resorts around, like the San Francisco RV Resort which overlooks the coast just out of town.

Find some great USA RV Rental deals here!

Colorado Great Dunes Road Trip

South Central Colorado is a beautiful region. Lakes, mountains and valleys are plentiful in the area, and a road trip is the best way to see it. This suggested 2-day itinerary will allow you to see the best of the area, with time to take it all in.


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Start your trip at Colorado Springs, a city of natural beauty and cowboy beginnings. Visit the Pioneer Museum downtown to hear of Colorado's first European settlers. Go to the garden of the Gods, where amazing natural sandstone formations tower imposingly, surrounded by a city park.

Garden of the Gods
by John Fowler Flickr Creative Commons

Make your way through the charming town of Green Mountain Falls to the reservoir of 11 Mile State Park, a spot for fishing, hiking, sailing and swimming. Continue on through some more amazing scenery- the route shown on the map goes off the beaten track onto Co Road 185. Just off this is the amazing San Isabel National Forest, with 19 peaks over 14,000 feet and several crystal lakes. There are several campgrounds which you can find out more about here, so stay the night here and enjoy a good night's sleep surrounded by the beauty of Colorado!

San Isabel National Forest
by paulshaffner Flickr Creative Commons

Next along the route is the town of Salida, where you can get a drink and sit overlooking the Arkansas River. After Salida and several other small midwest towns, always fun to stop in, there is the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Truly a sight to see, this park has the tallest sand dunes in North America. Some rise 230 metres from the floor of the San Luis Valley. The Park is home to not only the dunes but a diverse range of landscapes- tundra, lakes and stream and pine forests. Pinyon Flats Campground near the Visitors Centre has RV sites available.

Great Sand Dunes National Park
by Larry Lamsa Flickr Creative Commons

Have a look here for great deals on USA RV rental!

Queentown To Te Anau - 2 hours of Roadtrip Heaven

For those who are looking to holiday to New Zealand, the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau is an absolute must. Its just over 2 hours, but I would suggest driving slow and enjoying it as much as possible! Here is an excellent video of the reverse drive (Te Anau to Queenstown):




For a virtual Queenstown to Te Anau Roadtrip, click here. Below are driving directions from Queenstown:

1. Head northwest toward Ballarat St 52 m
2. Exit the roundabout onto Stanley St 0.4 km
3. Continue straight onto Frankton Rd 5.8 km
4. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Kawarau Rd
5. Go through 1 roundabout 1.6 km
6. Continue onto Kingston Rd 38.4 km
7. Continue onto Kingston-Garston Hwy 17.6 km
8. Continue onto Garston-Athol Hwy 11.6 km
9. Continue straight onto Athol-Five Rivers Hwy 17.3 km
10. Turn right onto Mossburn Five Rivers Rd/State Highway 97 (signs for Te Anau/Milford Sound)19.7 km
11. Turn right onto Mossburn-Lumsden Hwy 0.4 km
12. Continue onto Te Anau-Mossburn Hwy 57.2 km
13. Continue onto Luxmore Drive 0.7 km
14. Turn right onto Bowen St 0.1 km
15. Take the 1st left onto Pop Andrew Drive 0.4 km
16. Take the 2nd left onto Te Anau-Milford Hwy 0.2 km
17. Turn right onto Milford Cres5 m

Click here for nz campervan pick up locations and visit Campervan Hire New Zealand Sale Finder for great campervan rental deals!

Finger Lakes Roadtrip

Eleven is not a finger too many when it comes to the beautiful Finger Lakes of Upstate New York. When seen from a plane, the long, narrow, roughly parallel lakes are reminiscent of outstretched fingers on a pair of hands; when seen up close, they are breathtaking.

Owasco lake

Photo by Lida Rose, Flickr

Aside from their natural beauty, the lakes are a water-sport playground, offering endless opportunities for fishing, swimming, canoeing, sailing, motor boating, water skiing and anything else you can think of.

In the surrounding area, you’ll find parks, waterfalls, farms, ski resorts, museums, historic sites and plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment.

And let’s not forget the wineries. Finger Lakes is New York’s largest wine-producing region, and is well known for its world-class Riesling.

Take a road trip around the two main lakes to discover some of what Finger Lakes has to offer.

Day 1

Starting in Elmira, check out the National Soaring Museum, the only museum in the United States focused on the history of motorless flight.

Head northeast up to Ithaca, where you’ll find the fascinating Sciencenter, a place to “Look, Touch, Listen and Discover”.



Next, take a short diversion back the way you came and up Cliff Street/Trumansburg Road to Museum of the Earth, a significant find for budding palaeontologists!

Head back around the east side of Cayuga Lake, north up to Auburn. Get a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants, then head west down Arterial W/Clark Street Road to Finger Lakes Drive In, where you can catch a movie under the stars! (The drive-in is open between late April and early/mid October.)

Go back and stay the night in Auburn.

Day 2

Head west along State Highway 20 to the top of Cayuga Lake, where you’ll find Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. This is a bird watcher’s paradise, but also home to various mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Bird at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Photo by Lida Rose, Flickr

Get back on Highway 20 and travel southwest to Geneva. Time to sit back, relax and take a scenic trip on the Finger Lakes Railway or a cruise on Seneca Lake!

Finger Lakes Railway

Photo by Mike Roqué, Flickr

Further along Highway 20, at the top of Canandaigua Lake, you’ll find Roseland Waterpark, a great place to cool off if you’re travelling during summer.

Roseland Waterpark

Photo by visit~fingerlakes, Flickr

There are plenty of accommodation options for staying the night in Canandaigua.

Day 3

A tour of Finger Lakes wouldn’t be complete without tasting the work of some of its 100-plus (many award-winning) wineries. So, before you leave Canandaigua, experience their wine trail.

Head south and then east on State Highway 364, and at Penn Yan, turn right onto Liberty Street, which becomes Highway 14A. Travel all the way down to Watkins Glen.

If you’re a petrolhead, you’ll find your happy place at The Glen, a racing track hosting all kinds of motor-sport mayhem.

If screaming cars and petrol fumes are not your thing, visit in July when Watkins Glen hosts the Finger Lakes Wine Festival.



Time to head home.

As you can see, Finger Lakes has something for everyone, and this road trip’s just a taster!


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Los Angeles - Joshua Tree Roadtrip

If you live in, or are visiting, Los Angeles and have had your fill of “the entertainment capital of the world”, you might like to hit the road and head for somewhere completely different.

Just three hours away (in a straight line) is Joshua Tree National Park, a desert paradise, alive with unique flora and fauna, brimming with surreal landscapes and perfect for outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, rock climbing and four-wheel driving.

Not so fast, though. There are many interesting places to visit along the way, so why not slow down and spend a few days getting there.

Day 1

Before you completely detox from the city, head southeast, on Santa Ana Freeway, to Anaheim and spend the day at Disneyland or Knotts Berry Farm. Stay the night at one of the many on-site hotels, or the nearby Anaheim Resort RV Park.

Disneyland

Photo by jrayfarm1980, Flickr

Day 2

Head north on Orange Freeway to Diamond Bar. Depending on the time of year, enjoy the Winter Snow Fest, Candy Cane Craft Fair, Concerts in the Park, Movies Under the Stars or one of their other special events.

Get back on Pomona Freeway and head east.
For aviation buffs, stop at Chino and check out Planes of Fame and Yanks Air Museum.

Planes of Fame

Photo by sandy.redding, Flickr

Next, travel on to Fairmount Park in Riverside, where you can have a picnic, play a game of tennis, rent a pedal boat or do some fishing.
Then, head back west along Mission Boulevard, and catch a movie at Rubidoux Drive-In Theatre!

Riverside has plenty of accommodation options, so you can stay the night there.

Day 3

Get back on the Pomona Freeway, which becomes Moreno Valley Freeway, and head southeast.

Stop at Moreno Valley for a game of golf (there are three courses to choose from), a horse ride or to let the kids spend some energy at one of the many playgrounds. And if you’ve brought your dog along for the trip, make sure you visit Hound Town!

Keep driving along Moreno Valley Freeway until you reach the interchange at Beaumont. Take the exit that leads onto Interstate 10. Keep going till you reach Cabazon, where you’ll find Cabazon Dinosaurs. Be prepared to be overshadowed!

Cabazon Dinosaurs

Photo by amanderbear, Flickr

Get back on the Interstate and, just past White Water, take exit 117 to merge round onto Twentynine Palms Highway (remember the Robert Plant song?).

Drive up a way, turn right into Pierson Boulevard and stop at Desert Hot Springs. Relax and enjoy a hot mineral-water spa at one of the many resorts. Stay for the night.

Day 4

We’ve left the best till last.

Head down Palm Drive and get back onto Interstate 10 (heading southeast). Take exit 168, and turn left onto Cottonwood Spring Road, which becomes El Dorado Mine Road/Pinto Basin Road. (It will take about an hour-and-a-half to get from Desert Hot Springs to here.)

Head on up into Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree

Photo by henrikj, Flickr

(Look anything like the cover of a certain U2 album?)

Spend the day being blown away by the landscape, the wildlife and the many outdoor activities available.

Make sure you zip round to the city — don’t worry; this is not LA—at some stage, too. There you’ll find great food, beautiful gift shops, art galleries and a National Park Visitors Centre.

Then drive back up to the park to do some stargazing at night. Stay in the camping ground, while you’re at it.

And when you’ve had your fill of desert life, head on back to LA to discover some new things there!

Los Angeles Theatre

Photo by darylfurr, Flickr

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