USA Roadtrips-The Big Sur

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Mark

The Big Sur is one of the most spectacular coastlines I have every seen. Even the beautiful valleys and coasts of Hawaii just don’t come close to this amazing beauty of the Big Sur. Translated from Spanish Big Sur is ‘El Sur Grande’ which translated into Big South.

The Big Sur coastline covers about 90 miles, more or less bordered by the Carmel River northwards and about 120 miles south of San Francisco. Along these far-reaching, swooping seascape of woodlands, sheer cliffs and mostly little used beaches, Highway 1, finished in 1937 with inmates used as labor, makes its occasionally alarming, but always a spectacular drive.

It is not for the faint of heart because this is a steep winding drive with turns that will slow you down to a few miles an hour. Many travelers ask if they can take their RV on this portion of Hwy. 1 and the answer is yes. I have done it in a 25 foot trailer and I have seen 40 foot rigs make the trip, just be prepared to drive slow and very cautious.

Point Lobos State Park is a must see. Here you will find a variety of wildlife including sea lions, sea otters and grey whales. Point Lobos is about 20 miles north of The Big Sur near the town of Carmel More beautiful stony scenery abounds somewhat farther south at Garrapata State Park.

Big Sur stays sparsely inhabited, with about 1000 residents. The citizenry of Big Sur nowadays are a various blend of descendants of the first colonist and ranchers, artists and additional creative people, along with affluent residents.

There are no urbanized areas, but you will find gas stations that sell gas at very high prices, some great restaurants and motels.. A great deal of the land on the coast is privately owned or belongs to the state park system. The Los Padres National Forest and Fort Hunter Liggett Military Reservation cover almost all of the interior areas. The mountainous terrain, environmentally aware occupants, and deficiency of property acquirable for exploitation has preserved Big Sur all but unspoiled, and it continues to be an isolated part of California.

If you plan to travel to this area during the winter months be aware that when there is heavy rain in the area parts of the road wash away right into the ocean. Be sure to carry emergency supplies, water and food. Sometimes Highway 1 can be closed for weeks. The closest civilization is the town of Carmel which is about 20 miles north up the coast if you can make it.

Also during the summer months fire is a great danger. The Basin Complex Fire of 2008 forced residents and visitor to evacuate for 2 weeks and of course Hwy. 1 was closed also.

Nowadays Big Sur continues to comprise to be a preferred place for local and foreign artists of every type. Art galleries located along Highway 1 display beautiful visual artistry.

A great deal of of the area is controlled by the state and federal park systems, and hiking trails can be found throughout The Big Sur. The Los Padres National Forest, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Garrapata State Park and Andrew Molera State Park is known all over the world for their bedazzling scenery, and with good reason. Each park bears its personal unique ambiance, and no 2 hikes are similar.

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USA Roadtrips-Sanibel Island Florida

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Mark

Sanibel island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Florida. It is easy to get to off of Interstate 75 at exit 131. This route will take you to the causeway where it will cost you six bucks to cross the causeway from the vicinity of Fort Meyers

There is plenty of parking but you will have to pay. The good news is that there is plenty of free parking at the restaurants and shopping districts. If you are traveling in an RV you will have plenty of parking but only one RV park on the Island.

From January through April it is best to make reservations.

Sanibel Island is know for it countless shells on the beach, the local government allows you to take as many as you want but please be careful not to take any shells with live critters is them. Let’s respect our wildlife and it is also against the law and prohibited by the local authorities.

There is one place on Sanibel Island where the taking of shells is totally prohibited and that’s in the Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Just like in all Refuges across the county the taking of anything, even a piece of wood in prohibited.

And now that we are at the Darling National Refuge don’t forget to spend some time here. If you are a bird lover you will be in heaven.. Living among the mangroves you will find a rich variety of avian wildlife including herons, egrets, ospreys, and many other avians. The visitor center is a must see with great exhibits and books for sale.

One of the unique aspects of this Refuge is that you can explore on foot, take a 4 mile tram ride, rent a kayak, canoe or a bike. Next to the refuge is Tarpon bay where you can arrange for fishing and nature tours.

Talking about fishing, there is plenty of it. You have the ocean for saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing on the mainland. Don’t forget to get your license for the mainland, none is needed for saltwater fishing. There are boats to charter from the many marinas on Sanibel Island.

Love to play golf? There are two public golf courses on the Island. The Beachview Golf Club and the Dunes Golf and Tennis Club.

If you like to bike there a plenty of shops that rent them. The island has marked bike routes in town or you can go out on your own and explore the countryside.

Don’t worry about getting hungry, as there are plenty of restaurants on the island. You can have your choice of just about anything you want including seafood, steaks, hamburgers and a variety of other great dishes.

Here are some resources so you can obtain more information about Sanibel Island.

Lee County Visitor And Convention Center 800 237 6444 Sanibel Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce 239 472 1080 Darling Wildlife Refuge 239 472 1100. After you finish your adventures on Sanibel Island, don’t forget to visit Fort Myers which also has plenty to do and a great beach.

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How To Do Your Hotel Research

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Mark

BEFORE YOU GO

Do your hotel research on the net looking not only for the cheapest rates but also considering the amenities and services provided, location, possible references from other people. Travel guidebooks can also be very helpful for choosing the hotel that suits you best. Be as much flexible with your trip schedule as possible. For example, business class hotels often have lower weekend rates.

As soon as you reserved the room(s) online, document all information about the hotel(s). The easiest way is to print out the whole page off your computer screen so you will have a clear statement that you can use as evidence in case of misplacing or incorrectly entering your information by a hotel clerk. Take a copy with you, make another one for your relatives so they will know when and where you are going to stay so they can contact you in emergency cases.

WHEN CHECKING-IN

Learn the proper check-in and check-out times. Confirm the amenities and services the hotel provides. Ask for directions, a local map. Get a card with the hotel’s name, address and phone number so you can show it to a taxi driver or a passer-by in the street if you get lost.

Some hotels may provide extra services that you may not know about unless you ask for it:

- laundry service,
- hair dryers,
- voltage converters/ adaptors,
- newspaper service,
- complementary meals,
- access to fax machine, copier, printer, computer, Internet connection,
- cable TV, rental movies, video games,
- portable beds, baby cribs,
- complementary shuttle service to airport,
- rental safe for your money, jewellery, documents,
- telephone access charges,
- fees for using mini-bar,
- guided tours, excursions.

AT THE HOTEL

Safety should be a priority for everybody and you have to take some precautions. We devoted a whole separate page to travel safety including hotel safety measures so we will skip this part here. When you go out for the day, leave your key at the reception desk. Confirm closing time. Some hotels do lock up at night and you’re expected to keep the key if you stay out late.

BEFORE LEAVING YOUR HOTEL

Check out your room for left-behind items. If you need extra time for staying over the regular check-out time (usually it ranges from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m), make a request in advance or the hotel may charge you an additional night.

Review the hotel bill making sure that all charges are accurate.

We wish you a successful and safe trip!

Don’t forget to click on the links below to see if we have free rooms at your destinations.

7 Night Condo            2 Night Hotel Or Motel

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USA ROAD TRIPS-COMEDY ROAD TRIP CLIP

Posted on November 13, 2010 by Mark

Found this very funny video on YouTube. Enjoy

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USA ROAD TRIPS-THE CITY OF RENO

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Mark

The City of Reno, Nevada is conveniently located off of Interstate 80 and California 395. California 395 is very popular in itself and is a great road trip just exploring this Highway.

Driving in from California on 80 from the Sacramento area will take you close to Lake Tahoe and some beautiful landscapes over the Sierra Nevada’s. If you are traveling in the late fall, winter or early spring you want to keep an eye on the weather and possibly carry chains as it snows often.

Along route 395 from South To North is another spectacular drive on your way to the City of Reno. 395 runs along the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range which essentially divides California in half. It is surrounded by so many national forests I can’t even begin to list them here. Lakes abound, but the most unusual is Mono Lake with it’s spectacular formations and tufts. This is a must see!

Ok, so back to the City of Reno. As you may know the City of Reno is known as the “biggest little city in the world” and is the county seat of Washoe County. The city is best known for it’s casinos and is the city where Harrah’s got it’s start.

The city of Reno has always been a gambling town and it’s #1 attraction is it’s casinos. But what to do if you do not gamble?

There are plenty opportunities for the adventurous in and around the City of Reno. There is mountain biking, camping and backpacking, rock climbing, plenty of jeep tours and great fishing. To find the best fishing spots check out the Nevada Division Of Wildlife web site

For the outdoor enthusiast there is plenty of hiking. You can find a list of local hikes and nearby areas on many of the trail sites offered on the Internet.

For family fun, there are many things to do. Some of the most popular are the Wild Island family adventure park which consists of a water park, miniature golf and bowling, check them out at wild island.com. Another popular park the Ultimate Rush Thrill Park. This parks main attraction is the “Ultimate Rush”. This is a sky diving attraction where you free fall from an 185 foot tower, attached to a bungee cord of course. This park also includes miniature golf, go carts, bumper cars and more. The Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary which is comprised of 38 acres is just northwest of the City of Reno. Animals can be seen through viewing windows in their natural habitat. In Northern Reno you will find the Sierra Safari Zoo with a wide variety of animals to view.

If you love to skate don’t forget to visit Roller Kingdom. Right in the center of the city Reno, it offers awesome music to skate to, friendly DJ’s and a fantastic lighting system If you are traveling with children don’t miss a visit to Circus Circus. Much like it’s Las Vegas counterpart is offers fee acts on the mezzanine starting about 11:00 AM. If you love to play golf you are going to love the City of Reno even more. I don’t know how true this is but they say because of the altitude the balls will fly 10% further. There are also so many courses to choose from they can’t all be listed here, but within 90 minutes of the City of Reno there are over 50 golf courses. The city of Reno is a place for fun, be it indoors or outdoors there is something to do for everyone.

The nightlife, dining and casinos are superb. The city of Reno has changed quite a bit over the years. So if you have not been there in a while check out this great USA Road Trip.

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Automobile Artificial Intelligence

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Mark

Imagine going on your USA Road Trip without driving.

What next? If our vehicles are going to be driving themselves, ho long will it be before we become cyborgs ourselves, or maybe there will just be nothing to do anymore as computers, programs and robots do everything for us.

On October 31, the New York Times reported that Google has a project using a Toyota Prius that drives itself. They say that the car can drive itself using artificial intellligence software that can sense anything near the car and mimic the decisions made by the driver.

They claim that seven test cars have driven 1,000 miles without human intervention and more than 140,000 miles with only occasional human control.

A little scary and also against our currrent laws as every states motor vehicle laws require a driver to be in control of the vehicle. You may say if a airlline pilot can put his aircraft on autopilot and take a snooze, why can’t we pt our vehicle on autopilot.

As strange as all this sounds, one way or another it is going to happen.  Years ago engineers were working on roads that would have sensors to direct vehicles to their destinations. Now it seems there may be a different road to take.

So if you are still young you may be taking your next USA Road Trip hands free.

Personally I enjoy driving and don’t think this is something that would entice me at all. To me driving on a road trip is half the fun.  USA Road Trips would like to hear your comments on this subject. So send us a comment and let us know what you think!

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USA Road Trips-The Top 50 Scenic Road Trips

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Mark

The article was posted by the Good Sam Club on their blog courtesy of RV business.  We have been on many of these USA Road Trips and will be posting information about them throughout the year.

If you have been on any of these trips please tell us about your road trip in the comment section and share your USA Road Trips  adventures and experiences with our readers.

According to a new national survey from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and America’s Byways, 70% of Americans are planning to take at least one road trip this autumn and a combination of stable gas prices and abundant scenic routes should contribute to opportunities for weekend road trips or getaways.

The survey also finds that most travelers want their journey to be something that is beautiful and unique, not just another trip on a superhighway. In fact, the overwhelming majority of people (80%) would opt for a scenic, touring drive rather than driving directly to their destination. Unlike summer road trips, which focus on the destinations, fall getaway trips are built on the overall experience of the journey.

“Our survey showed that 97% of Americans planning a fall road trip agree that their overall comfort is the key to enjoying it, so we joined together with America’s Byways to unveil a list of the ’50 Most Comfortable Touring Drives,’” said Gary Medalis, general manager for Goodyear consumer tires. “These top 50 touring drives encompass comfort and scenery to enhance the trip and are all within reasonable distance of major metropolitan areas.”

“This fall, for not a lot of money, travelers can skip the superhighways and exit to the smaller roadways to experience some of the best roads America has to offer,” said Derrick Crandall, spokesperson for America’s Byways and president of the American Recreation Coalition. “While there are hundreds of fantastic drives along America’s Byways, we worked with Goodyear to create a list of some of the best, providing Americans with what they told us they are looking for — comfortable, nearby drives that provide scenic and unique landscapes. The list follows”

  • Delaware River Scenic Byway — New Jersey.
  • Merritt Parkway — Connecticut.
  • Great Lakes Seaway Trail — New York, Pennsylvania.
  • Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway — California.
  • Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway — California.
  • San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway — California.
  • Historic Route 66 — Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma.
  • Lincoln Highway — Illinois.
  • Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway — Delaware.
  • Historic National Road — Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway — North Carolina, Virginia.
  • Journey through Hallowed Ground — Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia.
  • George Washington Memorial Parkway — Virginia.
  • Millstone Valley Scenic Byway — New Jersey
  • Baltimore’s Historic Charles Street — Maryland.
  • Woodward Avenue Automotive Heritage Trail — Michigan.
  • Red Rock Scenic Byway — Arizona.
  • Stevens Pass Greenway — Washington.
  • Chinook Scenic Byway — Washington.
  • Mountains to Sound Greenway — Washington.
  • Grand Rounds Scenic Byway — Minnesota.
  • Florida Keys Scenic Highway — Florida.
  • Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway — Florida.
  • A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway — Florida.
  • Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail — Florida.
  • Lariat Loop Scenic & Historic Byway — Colorado.
  • Gold Belt Tour Scenic & Historic Byway — Colorado.
  • Ohio River Scenic Byway — Ohio, Illinois, Indiana.
  • Amish Country Byway — Ohio.
  • Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail — Ohio.
  • Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route — Illinois.
  • Mt. Hood Scenic Byway — Oregon.
  • West Cascades Scenic Byway — Oregon.
  • Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway — South Carolina.
  • Natchez Trace Parkway — Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi.
  • Connecticut State Route 169 — Connecticut.
  • Nebo Loop Scenic Byway — Utah.
  • Loess Hills Scenic Byway — Iowa.
  • Woodlands Trace — Tennessee, Kentucky.
  • Selma to Montgomery March Byway — Alabama.
  • Flint Hills Scenic Byway — Kansas.
  • Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway — Kansas.
  • Talladega Scenic Drive — Alabama.
  • Alabama’s Coastal Connection — Alabama.
  • Las Vegas Strip — Nevada.
  • Death Valley Scenic Byway — California.
  • Route 1, San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway — California.
  • Santa Fe Trail — New Mexico, Colorado.
  • Turquoise Trail — New Mexico.
  • Lincoln Heritage Scenic Byway — Kentucky

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USA Road Trips-A Road Trip On The Ocean?

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Mark

No, I am not crazy. A road trip to a port closest to your departure point can be very exciting and at the end of your road trip you board a beautiful cruise ship with all the luxuries an amenities you can imagine.The best part is that it’s so easy, no flying (unless you choose to do so), There is always plenty of secured parking at the docks and all you have to do is walk right on the ship and sail away.

Almost all major seaport cities have a cruise terminal. For starters there is LA/Long Beach which will mainly go to Mexico or cruise the Pacific coast. Then of course there is Portland and Washington which is mainly for ships traveling to Alaska. Texas has many ports and Florida is great, especially if you like to cruise the Caribbean.

FYI, most cruise lines will be repositioning their ships in Florida that sail to the Caribbean to Europe.  This is due to many factors, but the bottom line is that they can make more money in Europe than they can here. So now is the time to go before they are all gone.

The reason for this post is that I love to cruise and subscribe to a lot of newsletters and blogs to catch the best deals. This week I have been seeing prices the lowest they have been in many years. How about a 7 day Mexican cruise for only $399 per person. There are many more out there. So if you love to cruise then check out some of the banner links at the end of this post. I guarantee you, you will find some fantastic deals.

If you hear of any good deals please pass them on to our other readers in the comment section.

Celebrity Cruise LinePrincess Cruise LineRoyal Caribbean Cruise LineNorwegian Cruise Line
CruiseDirect






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Road Trip Tips

Posted on October 30, 2010 by Mark

Road Trips USA wants you to have a safe and pleasurable adventure. We offer these road tip trips on staying safe, saving money, how to avoid traffic and more.

Road Trips Tips #1 To stay alert get plenty of sleep the night before you road trip. Have a good breakfast and take a thermos of coffee also. If you don’t want to take a thermos my suggestion for great coffee is McDonald’s, they have the best coffee of any fast food restaurant, it’s cheap, and if you are a senior you can get it for 65 cents. A stay awake road trip tip!

Road Trip Tips #2 Make use of the many rest stops across the country. Take breaks when you need to, especially if you get sleepy. Also many rest stops on your car trip will have picnic tables and facilities in beautiful areas.

Road Trip Tips #3  If you are not driving alone, have you companion share the driving responsibilities. This way both of you can take naps, do some route planning and even check on the driver to make sure he is not falling asleep. Don’t ruin your road trip by getting into an accident

Road Trip Tips #4 A GPS is a must. It will save time, gas and frustration. Today’s models just talk to you and tell you where to turn and what direction to go in. You do not even have to look at the screen. Plus most models will tell you where specific places to eat are, gas stations, points of interests, motels, hotels, RV parks and much more.

Road Trip Tips #5 I can almost assume that everyone has a laptop or smart phone these days. Use your devices to plan around inclement weather. Sometimes a minor detour can make your USA Road Trip a much more pleasurable experience. If you only have a lap top Verizon has several broadband plans for your mobile laptop for 1 day, 1 week or a month.

Road Trip Tips #6  Another great road trip idea is to plan your route around major cities especially during rush hour. Many cities such as Phoenix have by-pass routes that go right around the outskirts of the city.

Road Trip Tips #7 Bring a map! We love Microsoft Streets and Trips and check our routes with this software even before we depart, and of course our GPS is used on the road. But even still, my wife gets maps from the Auto Club which can come in very handy especially when your GPS can’t find an address.

Road Trip Tips #8 At the time of this post gas prices are around 3.00 a gallon, but I can assure you as the economy recuperates prices will go back up to the 5.00 range. This may dissuade you from your road trip America, but there is one thing you can do to save a ton of gas. JUST SLOW DOWN. The gas savings are enormous. I once drove from Las Vegas to Palm Springs in my gas guzzling GMC Yukon at 55 mph, a 280 mile trip on just a half tank of gas. Slow down, save lots of money.

Road Trip Tips #9  Getting Hungry? Take a cooler and purchase all your favorite snacks, sandwiches or whatever at you favorite grocery store. DO NOT buy food at convenience stores on the road. You will spend twice as much, unnecessarily depleting your traveling funds. 10. Make sure you belong to so type of roadside assistance program. After all these years Auto Club is still the best but there are many more to choose from. Most insurance companies offer this service for just a few dollars more each policy period.

Road Trip Tips #10 Make sure you belong to so type of roadside assistance program. After all these years the Auto Club is still the best but there are many more to choose from. Most insurance companies offer this service for just a few dollars more each policy period.

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USA ROAD TRIPS-DESERT HOT SPRINGS

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Mark

If you want to get away from the crowds and expense of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs is the place to go. About 5 miles from Palm Springs, this small city is growing and improving every year.

In Desert Hot springs you will find many accommodations for any budget, and best of all, just about every hotel, motel and resort has natural hot springs & Spas for you to enjoy and soak in.This town is built above one of the worlds best natural hot water aquifers. The water is clean, the air is clean and the scenery of the mountains are spectacular.

Hot mineral water enthusiasts come from all over the word to soak in the natural hot springs and spas which is available in almost every hotel, motel & spa.

Because of it’s higher elevation it is usually 5-10 degrees cooler than on the valley floor in cities like Palm Springs.

It’s only about 120 from Los Angeles and besides the attractions in Palm Springs and the other desert cities nearby. (The whole valley is called the Coachella Valley which includes Palm Springs, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Indio, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Thousand Palms, Desert Hot Springs and maybe a few more.

If you enjoy the outdoors there is plenty of golf courses, Desert Hot Springs is located right next to Joshua Tree State Park which should not be missed and the surrounding mountains have many quaint towns in the cooler elevations such as Idyllwild, Pioneer Town and Mount San Jacinto State Park which is accessible by car or the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which is another must do activity.

Also is you need to cool off and need an activity for the kids, there is a great water park just a few miles away.If you prefer to stay indoors when it gets too hot the many casinos in the area is the place to go.There is always special deals and almost all of the larger casinos have world class entertainment.

Getting to Desert Hot Springs is easy. From Los Angeles just take Interstate 10 to the Desert Hot Springs exit, which also may be signed as Gene Autry Trail. From the San Diego area just take interstate 15 to Interstate 10 and then go east. From Phoenix is a straight drive west on Interstate 10, a great scenic desert drive. The main exit and main drag is Palm Drive. Do not get it confused with Date Palm Drive which is one exit over.

Even though most days are sunny and moderate (330 days of sunshine a year), be prepared for an occasional cold snap.

Many locals will just abbreviate the city name to DHS. And many visitors will by winter homes in the area especially Canadians as they visit in droves during the winter months. At the time of this article, homes in DHS are amongst the lowest price in the nation. You can buy a beautiful home in this area for under 100,000

So if you love warm weather, plenty to do inside and outside, without the expensive hotel crowds and traffic of Palm Springs, DHS is the place to go and a great USA Road Trip.

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