The United States of America is one of the most diverse and beautiful countries on this planet. It has world-renowned national parks and cities. Mountain regions and canyons. IT has desert plains and dense forests. It is a nature lover’s dream. It is a city-lover’s dream. It has something for everyone, and you could spend a lifetime trying to see it all.
The US is more than just it’s top ten sights. If you truly want to experience this great nation, you will have to go beyond Google’s suggestions and get into what the locals know and love. It doesn’t matter how long you are at your destination, it should feel special, unique, and completely perfect for you, which is why you should follow these steps to create the ultimate itinerary for your American road trip:
- Keeping the Road Trip Fun
When choosing destinations for your road trip, you will likely have a few non-negotiable. Base your route around these non-negotiable destinations, and then find what is on the way. Long drives can be dangerous, but mostly they can be very exhausting, so break the long drive up with stops along the way. There are many destinations to explore, and it’s up to you to find them.
- Using Local Travel Sites
International travel magazines are usually not the best to go to when you want the insider’s look of a destination. That’s because they have so many beautiful and stunning hotspots to choose from they don’t need to and can’t focus on the hyper-local to-do lists that local magazines specialize in. That’s why searching through Facebook or Google for local sites can help you find what the best places are for every destination on your trip.
- Don’t Plan Your Itinerary, Prep It
When you are traveling with a group of friends, it can get quite frustrating. People want different things, and road trips, in particular, are very uncomfortable situations. As a result, your carefully planned out, step by step itinerary can become useless before you know it. Instead of planning your every move, have options and pick and choose on the day.
- Events, Experiences, and Exhilaration
Going to see sites and eat at nice places is a good trip, but if you want to have a great trip, you need to opt for experiences. Check ticketsales.com to see if there are any concerts you are interested in, book a tour through one of the stunning national parks, go kayaking or dancing or to a rodeo – the point is to try new things. Experiences are more valuable than trinkets and can transcend any trip to one of a lifetime.
At the end of the day, the quality of your itinerary will depend entirely on how much effort you put into it. The best places are typically local secrets, and then, of course, there are also popups, special events, new businesses and more than relying on a top-ten list won’t show you. Read up, be open to discovery, and remember to take a few pictures while you’re at it.