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Mississippi Blues Trail Road Trip

Avalon Travel — Fri, 13 May 2022 18:21:00 +0000

There are nearly 200 sites included as part of the Mississippi Blues Trail, and visiting all of them is a considerable undertaking. Must-see stops delve into the history and influence of blues greats, while others are mere markers or plaques about artists from the town or what happened on that spot. The Blues Trail app gives details on them all.

A selective tour of the Blues Trail travels through the Mississippi Delta and hits sights in the towns of Tunica, Clarksdale, Cleveland, Indianola, and Leland in about 170 miles (273 kilometers) of driving.

Where to start: Memphis is a great jumping-off point for the Mississippi Blues Trail. Take Highway 61 south to Clarksdale, stopping in Tunica on the way. In the morning, hit a couple more Blues Trail towns, Cleveland and Leland, on your way to Jackson.

Top Stops on the Mississippi Blues Trail

Gateway to the Blues Museum. Photo © Calvin L. Leake/Dreamstime.

The must-stop 3,500-square-foot (325-square-meter) Gateway to the Blues Museum (13625 U.S. 61 N., Tunica; 888/488-6422) has six different galleries, where you can learn about the history of the blues and how the geography contributed to the genre. There’s even an exhibition where you can record your own blues song (which will be emailed to you).
Created in 1979, the Delta Blues Museum (1 Blues Alley Ln., Clarksdale; 662/627-6820) is the state’s oldest music museum. The cabin where Muddy Waters was born has been relocated here from its original site a few miles northwest.
Juke joints, lively, no-frills places with great music and cheap drinks, have long been associated with the blues but tend to come and go. An authentic juke joint with an erratic schedule, Red’s Blues Club (390 Sunflower Ave., Clarksdale; 662/627-3166) offers live blues by some of the best local musicians behind a hard-to-find entrance—it’s the door to your right as you approach the building.
The spectacular Grammy Museum Mississippi (800 W. Sunflower Rd., Cleveland; 662/441-0100) is the institution’s first outside Los Angeles and has more than 12 different interactive exhibits that do an excellent job of linking the blues to other genres.
The impressive B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center (400 2nd St., Indianola; 662/887-9539) chronicles the legend’s rise to fame. In addition to showing his importance as a musician, it also lets his personality shine through (and if you don’t know why he named his guitars Lucille, you’ll find out).
The Highway 61 Blues Museum (307 N. Broad St., Leland; 662/686-7646) is a labor of love, jam-packed with blues artifacts and info compiled by local enthusiasts. This particular museum has more visual art, including paintings and photography by Delta artists, than most music museums. If you call ahead, they’ll do their best to have some musicians show up to play while you peruse, an experience no blues fan should miss.

Mississippi Road Trip: 5-Day Itinerary

If you’re looking to extend your trip, this 5-day road trip itinerary covers a portion of the Mississippi Blues Trail and explores local history, both ancient and recent.

Eudora Welty House in Jackson. Photo © C5Media/Dreamstime.

Day 1

Start in Jackson, and head to the Two Mississippi Museums, one devoted to the state’s civil rights history and the other covering the state’s 200-year history. Check to see if the Eudora Welty House is open, and take a tour to see the home the way the writer set it up.

Day 2

From Jackson, embark on a brief jaunt on the Natchez Trace Parkway heading north, heading to the Bill Waller Mississippi Craft Center, just east of Jackson, and browse the items made by local artisans.

Stop for lunch in Starkville, home to Mississippi State University. While you’re there, be sure to pick up a cowbell to show you’re a true fan.

After lunch, go to Bynum Mounds to see 2,000-year-old Indigenous burial mounds. From there, hop back on the Trace to Tupelo, where you’ll spend the night

Day 3

This morning is devoted to Elvis, with a tour of his birthplace home. Afterward, drive west 2 hours to Clarksdale, your first stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Check out the Delta Blues Museum, and hit Red’s Blues Club, an authentic juke joint, for live music.

Day 4

It’s more blues today: Drive south to Cleveland, home of the Grammy Museum Mississippi, and then to Indianola for the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. Make sure to try some Delta tamales while you’re in the area.

If you can squeeze in one more museum, head to Leland’s Highway 61 Blues Museum, before calling it a day in nearby Greenville.

Day 5

From Greenville, take the Great River Road along the Mississippi to Vicksburg, where there is a famous Civil War battlefield. From there, turn east to go inland back to Jackson.

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Day Trips from Boston

Avalon Travel — Tue, 10 May 2022 00:08:23 +0000

By Cameron Sperance, author of Moon 52 Things to Do in Boston
Sometimes you just need an afternoon away to feel refreshed. If you’re looking for adventures close to home that you can fit into a single day, here are some day trips ideas that are all easy to get to from Boston.

Get transcendental at Walden Pond

Why go: Visiting Walden Pond is a perfect way to experience the great outdoors (and literary history) within minutes of some of the most congested streets of Boston and Cambridge.
Where: The Walden Pond State Reservation is about a half-hour northwest of Boston and Cambridge, accessible via Route 2 from Cambridge and via Interstates 90 and 95 from Boston. The Massachusetts State Parks service offers the most up-to-date information on trails, parking, and hours of operation.
Timing: The park is open year-round for walks, running, and hiking, but summer is the best time to visit if you want to swim or boat in the pond. If you do head up in the summer, be sure to arrive early—parking lots fill up quickly! Boat ramps are closed from early December through early April.

Roughly half an hour from Harvard Square is Walden Pond State Reservation, just outside the town of Concord. Made famous by the transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau who wrote Walden; or, Life in the Woods here in the 1850s, beautiful Walden Pond has become a favorite destination for Bostonians looking to de-stress and unwind while enjoying the simple beauty of nature.

Go beyond Harvard Yard in Cambridge and Somerville

Why go: Harvard and MIT are the two visitor magnets for Cambridge, a city separated from Boston by the Charles River. But these storied learning institutions have fueled a building boom in Cambridge and the neighboring city of Somerville, which have become lovely towns with exciting restaurant scenes and plenty of charm.
Where: The easiest way to get to Cambridge and Somerville is on the MBTA’s Red Line subway. Most Cambridge destinations are within walking distance of three stops (Kendall, Central Square, and Harvard), while Somerville’s best hotspots are found near the Davis MBTA station.
Timing: Autumn strolls around Cambridge and Somerville are the most scenic, with the changing leaves and the spectacle of the Head of the Charles Regatta. But winter is a good time to curl up in a cozy Harvard Square restaurant or Davis Square speakeasy. Spring can be rather hectic, especially during graduation season. Visit in summer to get sunny days without as many students.

Harvard Square and nearby Davis Square in Somerville (two stops north on the MBTA Red Line subway) have always been popular with college students, but they are also becoming more popular with the post-grad crowd. The growing food scene, fun nightlife, and an array of interesting shopping options surrounded by historic buildings all lend to the youthful energy here.

Get inspired at Mass MoCA

Why go: The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is a great, cultural motivation to head to western Massachusetts for a day or, even better, a weekend to explore the surrounding Berkshires region.
Where: Mass MoCA is a little over two-and-a-half hours northwest of Boston on Route 2. The easiest way to get there is to drive. • 1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, 413/662-2111
Timing: Fall is my favorite time to visit the museum, as it is also a perfect time to take in the colorful foliage in the Berkshires. But there is plenty to do year-round and particularly in non-winter months: Mass MoCA offers live events with dance and musical performances 40 weekends out of the year. You can spend at least an entire afternoon at the museum but incorporating it into a weekend trip is even better.

You may not expect one of the biggest forces of contemporary art in New England to be well beyond the confines of Boston’s urban core, but the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, also known as Mass MoCA, is just that: 26 restored, red-brick factory buildings in the Berkshires enclave of North Adams, packed with modern art.

Find quintessential New England in Newburyport

Historic downtown area of Newburyport, MA. Photo © Jiawangkun/Dreamstime.

Why go: For the varied group torn between a beach getaway or finding a cute town in which to shop and dine, Newburyport has a little bit of everything for everyone.
Where: Newburyport is a 45-minute drive north of Boston near the New Hampshire border on the Atlantic Ocean coast. It can also be reached in just over an hour on the commuter rail from Boston’s North Station.
Timing: Newburyport and Plum Island can be enjoyed year-round.

There are oodles of cute seaside towns up and down the coast of New England—yet I find myself returning, at least once a year, to Newburyport and adjoining Plum Island. The mix of boutique shopping, cobblestoned streets, delectable restaurants, and seaside views in just a few blocks packs a lot into this coastal enclave. Nearby Plum Island is a barrier island and home to some of the more popular beaches where Newburyport locals go in the warmer months. The sandy dunes and expansive coastline make this a great spot for beach picnicking, sunbathing, and playing in the waves.

Go apple-picking

Why go: A fall apple-picking trek is a treasured New England pastime.
Where: Carver Hill Orchard, 101 Brookside Ave., Stow, 978/897-6177 • Smolak Farms, 315 S Bradford St., North Andover, 978/682-6332 • Dowse Farms 30 Rockwood St., Sherborn, 508/653-2639
Timing: September and October are the best times to visit the orchards, but some, like Carver Hill Orchard, begin their picking season as early as July.

Apple-picking season is one of my favorite times to get just beyond the city and collect ingredients for some impressive farm-to-table pies. Lucky for me (and for you), there are several farms less than an hour outside Boston to satisfy fruit and cider cravings. No matter the farm, you’ll need to purchase their empty bags and containers, varying in size (typically $10-30), before venturing out into the orchards and farms for fresh produce. Fruit and veggie ripeness and availability are dependent on weather from year to year, so each year can bring an unexpected surprise, like late-season fruit, or an unpleasant disappointment, like fewer fruity options than you hoped. It’s never a bad idea to call ahead to see what’s in season and ready for picking!

Slurp oysters in Wellfleet

Why go: Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and areas “down Cape” tend to get the heaviest summer crowds, as visitors flock to their beaches. Even Provincetown, at the very end of Cape Cod, gets packed due to its relatively easy access via the Provincetown Fast Ferry. But Wellfleet is known for more than just beaches. Its eponymous oyster is a mainstay in seafood restaurants, so head straight to the source to slurp down a dozen (or more) of these briny delicacies.
Where: Bostonians reliably use the flexed arm as a Cape Cod map, and Wellfleet is about halfway up the forearm. It’s about a two-hour drive from downtown Boston.
Timing: Wellfleet is a fairly easy day trip, especially if you’re planning on timing your visit around OysterFest in October. Leave Boston by mid-morning to arrive just in time for lunch. The late afternoon drive home can be longer, especially in peak summer months when traffic on Route 6 backs up from everyone leaving the Cape.

The Wellfleet Oyster is an integral part of any New England restaurant menu, as these smooth bivalves are a popular meal starter. Often overlooked by crowds passing through en route to Provincetown to the north, the fishing town of Wellfleet is the mecca of the authentic New England oyster experience. From beach shacks to fine dining, the Wellfleet Oyster’s namesake town offers many ways to enjoy a few of these salty gems of the sea.

Cruise Cape Cod on Old King’s Highway

Route 6A in Sandwich, MA. Photo © Smitty411/Dreamstime.

Why go: The path that became Cape Cod’s Route 6A, or the Old King’s Highway, predates the founding of America and gives drivers a sense of what life on the Cape looked like before the rush of tourists, surf shops, and lobster shacks along the Cape’s more bustling roadways.
Where: Route 6A runs 34 miles from the Sagamore Bridge in Bourne to the Orleans rotary. It banks north for the final 28 miles to Provincetown.
Timing: If you don’t mind traffic, the peak summer travel season is the best time to visit due to the seasonality of some of the shops and restaurants along the way. But locals prefer the spring and fall shoulder seasons to avoid crowds.

While those clamoring to get to Provincetown on the Outer Cape as fast as possible might hop on the modern Route 6 to avoid stoplights, Route 6A (also known as the Old King’s Highway) provides a leisurely way to get a sense of the old Cape before it became a summer vacation hotspot. The highway starts in Bourne and meanders east through historic districts of quaint Cape Cod towns. It eventually banks north, and finally ends in Provincetown. The winding drive along scenic beaches, cranberry bogs, and town centers is a great alternative to the modernized highway of nearby Route 6.

Head East on the Mohawk Trail

Why go: Opened in late 1914, the Mohawk Trail is New England’s first official scenic route. The 63-mile stretch passes through 50,000 acres of Massachusetts state parks and forests, offering a variety of seasonal attractions for year-round enjoyment.
Where: Start the Mohawk Trail near Taconic Trail State Park on the Massachusetts/New York border, a roughly three-hour drive northwest of Boston via Interstate 90 and Route 7.
Timing: Take advantage of the chance to admire the natural beauty of fall foliage on your drive by cruising the Mohawk Trail in September and October.

Few things are better than loading the car up with tasty snacks, listening to a great playlist or audiobook, and cruising down the highway, enjoying beautiful views. In Massachusetts, a simple road trip is made even better when combined with cute towns, stunning landscapes, and famous historical landmarks. The Mohawk Trail, less romantically known as Route 2, offers the perfect 63-mile stretch through Massachusetts state parks and forests to make your scenic drive dreams come true.

Take in fall foliage

Why go: Driving to see fall foliage, or “leaf peeping,” brings millions of visitors each year to admire the vibrant changing colors of trees across much of New England. Why not see it for yourself?
Where: Fall foliage can be observed anywhere in New England, from the trees of Boston Common to open fields in northern Vermont. But scenic drives in New Hampshire or Maine are some of the best and most popular options for taking in fall foliage.
Timing: Leaves typically begin to change into their autumn coats of yellow, orange, and red in northern New England in September, while in areas farther south, the leaves turn a little later in the season. Most leaves have usually dropped by November, depending on when the first major frost or snow occurs.

Once you start to see the first hint of red or orange on a tree in New England, brace yourself: leaf peeping season has begun—and it’s serious business. The pumpkin spice lattes flow through the streets, plaid dancing troupes frolic through town, and apple cider donuts are the only thing you’ll find on local menus. Okay, I’m exaggerating—but not by much!

Plaid does tend to get a little more prevalent in the local sartorial spirit during these crisp months, and you will notice a significant spike in pumpkin-flavored anything on menus. This is also when many locals head to area farms for apple- and pumpkin-picking. And throngs of people take to the roads and head out of the city to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine to catch the first fall foliage of the season. If you want to join in (and you should; the foliage here can’t be beat), you have several options for a lovely scenic drive.

Shop local in Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth waterfront. Photo © Alpegor/Dreamstime.

Why go: Skip the outlet malls and support local shops in a charming waterfront town.
Where: Portsmouth is roughly an hour’s drive north of Boston on Interstate 95. It’s the northernmost city on the New Hampshire coast before you cross the border into Maine.
Timing: Warmer months are typically the best for strolling through downtown Portsmouth, but there is something idyllic about holiday shopping in the cold of December.

It’s easy to pass up Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as a weekend getaway opportunity when compared to the bigger Portland, Maine, to the north or Providence, Rhode Island, to the south. But this charming seaside city offers a jam-packed day trip’s worth of shopping opportunities. It’s also fun to just stroll along the streets and admire the many window displays in the lovely boutiques.

Portsmouth is only an hour-long drive from Boston—on paper. I can’t stress enough that timing is everything here, as leaving basically anytime between 3pm and 6pm can turn this into a multi-hour voyage. Make a day of it and leave before breakfast to avoid traffic. Getting out of the city in the morning isn’t typically an issue, as most commuters are heading into the city.

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Day Trips & Weekend Getaways from Chicago

Avalon Travel — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 23:56:16 +0000

By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, author of Moon 52 Things to Do in Chicago

From scenic lakefronts and mouthwatering bites to refreshing hikes and literary history, there are plenty of options for a Midwest escape. Enjoy an afternoon away with these unique day trips from Chicago or head out of state for a weekend getaway—whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered.

Day Trips

Explore the eclectic in Evanston

Gross Point Lighthouse in Evanston. Photo © Jim Roberts/Dreamstime.

Why go: Find unexpected attractions in this quirky lakefront suburb.
Where: 13 miles north of downtown via Lake Shore Dr./U.S. 41 • L train Purple Line to
Davis
Timing: Spend a day wandering the town’s sights.

Set along the shores of Lake Michigan and dotted with Victorian homes and landscaped boulevards, Evanston is a picturesque village that draws lots of attention. Home of Northwestern University and noted for its diversity and liberal political activism, it’s the rare suburb with a hip reputation. Adding to its progressive renown, in 2021 Evanston became the first city in the United States to approve a reparations program for African Americans. The town’s progressive politics and openness to different perspectives has created an environment that has spawned quite a few quirky sights.

Retrace Hemingway’s footsteps in Oak Park

Why go: Head to this leafy suburban village to gain insight into one of its famous sons.
Where: 10 miles west of the Loop via I-290 • L train Green Line to Oak Park
Timing: Although only a 20-minute drive from downtown, Oak Park feels worlds away and deserves a full afternoon to explore.

With Victorian houses painted in crayon colors and rolling, emerald lawns flanked by blooming trees, Oak Park is a picturesque small town. It’s also famously the home of the world’s largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings. But, for me, the most defining Oak Park creative is Ernest Hemingway, one of my favorite writers.

Walk in the woods at Morton Arboretum

Why go: Wander through miles of majestic landscape that make you feel like you’re in another country.
Where: 25 miles west of downtown Chicago via I-290/I-88 • 4100 Rte. 53 • Lisle, IL • 630/968-0074 • www.mortonarb.org • $15 adults, $10 children
Timing: The drive to the arboretum from downtown Chicago takes 45-60 minutes, so once you’re here, settle in for the day. While a trip to the arboretum is worthwhile any time of year, it’s particularly spectacular in late October, during fall foliage.

Chicago is home to numerous parks and nature preserves, but if you want to feel like you’ve traveled to another part of the world, head to the Morton Arboretum. For a day out, I pack a hat, scarf, snacks, and a book, just like when I board a plane. On the drive up, the arboretum at first glance looks like just another strip of land amid the suburban sprawl. But once you park in the lot, you’ll start to catch glimpses of the gardens. Established in 1922, the Morton Arboretum is recognized as one of North America’s most comprehensive collections of trees and shrubs, encompassing 17,000 acres, with areas devoted to oaks, beeches, and maples; honeysuckles, roses, and magnolias; and the flora of Appalachia, Europe, Korea, and China.

Hike in Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park. Photo © Eddie Rodriquez/Dreasmtime.

Why go: Wander trails through one of the state’s most beautiful landscapes.
Where: 100 miles southwest of Chicago via I-55 and I-80 • 2678 E. 875th Rd., Oglesby, IL • 815/667-4726 • free
Timing: The park is a great natural escape from the city for a day or weekend. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive there from downtown.

Starved Rock State Park became Illinois’ first state park in 1911. It covers 2,630 acres and contains several different ecosystems: oak, maple, cedar, and pine forests; prairies; and wetlands. It’s renowned for its 18 jaw-dropping sandstone canyons, formed by glacial meltwater and erosion over time. Every season at the park supplies a special treat. In spring and summer, the canyons glisten with waterfalls; in fall, the oak and maple forests turn deep crimson and gold; and in winter there are fewer hikers on the trails, the waterfalls transform into icefalls, and you might spot bald eagles soaring over the river—Plum Island, a 45-acre sanctuary in the middle of the Illinois River right across from the park, is a wintering spot for the birds.

Weekend Getaways from Chicago

Go back in time in Galena, Illinois

Why go: This remarkably preserved riverfront town transports you to the 19th century.
Where 165 miles northwest of Chicago via I-94 and U.S. 20
Timing: It takes about three hours to drive from Chicago to Galena. Expect to spend a relaxing weekend.

Illinois is filled with small towns, but few are as charming as Galena, located in the state’s northwestern corner. Surrounded by rolling hills and green valleys, and with red-brick Victorian buildings set along the Galena River—a tributary of the Mississippi River—this port town is a visual delight. Most of its streets and structures look as they did during the town’s 1860s heyday. Galena boasts more than 1,000 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is justifiably hailed as “an outdoor museum of the Victorian Midwest.”

Hit the beach in St. Joseph, Michigan

Why go: Bask by the lake in the charming “Riviera of the Midwest.”
Where: 100 miles east of Chicago via I-90 and I-94
Timing: It takes about 1.5-2 hours to drive to St. Joseph from Chicago. A weekend is the perfect amount of time to enjoy its offerings. Summer and early fall are the best seasons for a visit; many venues close by late fall.

St. Joseph’s is called the “Riviera of the Midwest.” Perched on a bluff along Lake Michigan’s shoreline and dotted with dune-filled beaches, it’s my favorite Midwestern beach town. It may be based around the same lake as Chicago, but the waters here seem to sparkle in a way I’ve never seen in the big city. The surrounding countryside, dotted with orchards and vineyards, also lends charm. Like most beach towns, St. Joe’s keeps a relaxed pace; this isn’t the place to be in a hurry or focusing on checking off a to-do list. Attractions can get crowded quickly, and service is slow-paced, but the warmth and friendliness of the locals make up for that.

Indulge in brats and brews in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee River. Photo © Alena Mozhjer/Dreamstime.

Why go: Delight in the delicious perks of this Midwestern city’s German heritage.
Where: 90 miles north of Chicago via I-94 • Amtrak’s Hiawatha line to Intermodal Station in downtown Milwaukee
Timing: It takes about 1.5 hours to drive to Milwaukee from Chicago. Make a summer weekend of it.

Milwaukee has its own sensibilities, a bit slower paced and grittier than Chicago, with a quirky German personality and burgeoning arts-friendliness and sophistication. Like Chicago, the city sits along Lake Michigan and was originally inhabited by Algonquin, Potawatomi, and Ojibwe people. French fur traders and missionaries established the area as a trading post in the late 18th century. Polish, Irish, and German immigrants poured into the city during the mid-19th century, the latter bringing their brewing and sausage-making traditions with them, heavily influencing the city’s developing culture.

Relax at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Why go: Unwind in this charming 19th century-era resort town with modern amenities and amusements.
Where: 150 miles north of Chicago via I-94
Timing: It takes about 2.5 hours to drive to Elkhart Lake, which is a great place for a weekend getaway in the summer. Many venues close outside the prime season (Memorial Day-Labor Day). Book at least a month in advance for hotels.

Sometimes there’s nothing like leaving the fast pace of the big city and immersing yourself in the quiet of a small town. Elkhart Lake fits the bill. The pretty lakeside village has less than 1,000 residents and offers a singular vacation experience. Edging the shores of a pristine, sapphire blue lake—named by its original inhabitants, the Potawatomi, for its resemblance to an elk’s heart—and enveloped by the canopy of the lush Kettle Moraine forest, the town is a dreamy retreat.

Dine lakeside in Madison, Wisconsin

Why go: There’s no better way to enjoy this vibrant city that’s sandwiched between two lakes than by partaking in its waterfront food scene.
Where: 150 miles northwest of Chicago via I-90
Timing: It takes about 2.5 hours to drive to Madison. Spend a weekend in the summer.

Madison is mostly noted for being a college town—home as it is to the flagship University of Wisconsin campus—as well as the state capital, but it’s also one of only two cities in the country built on an isthmus. Downtown is nestled between Lake Mendota to the west and Lake Monona to the east, lending this mid-sized Midwestern town a breezy urban oasis vibe. Madison is also an unexpected foodie destination with a thriving restaurant scene. The best way to enjoy this atypical town is to combine these two features.

Enjoy the bounty of Door County, Wisconsin

Why go: From beaches and forests to orchards, vineyards, and culinary treats, this striking peninsula has it all.
Where: 235 miles north of Chicago via I-94 and I-43
Timing: It takes almost four hours to drive from Chicago to Sturgeon Bay, the closest and largest city in Door Country. Plan on a long weekend, at least.

If you’ve never traveled to Door County, Wisconsin, you’ve been missing out on the ultimate Midwest getaway. This stunning, pine-covered peninsula is your best bet for a nearby, year-round excursion. It’s been called the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” with its 300 miles of shoreline and historic lighthouses. A narrow strip of land between Green Bay and Lake Michigan—only about 18 miles wide and 70 miles long—it’s truly a natural paradise, featuring an unusual landscape of wetlands, forests, sand dunes, limestone slopes, sea caves, and outlying islands. Adding to the magic, Door County encompasses a number of delightful small towns offering their own charms. Sturgeon Bay is the peninsula’s gateway town. But my favorites to base myself in are Fish Creek, Ephraim, and Sister Bay—all located in close proximity farther north along the peninsula’s western side—which offer great restaurants, inns, and access to parks. Highways 42 and 57 are the primary routes around the peninsula, and it takes about an hour to drive from one end to the other.

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9 Best Museums in the USA

Avalon Travel — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 21:30:32 +0000

Get to know the history and people of the United States on your next road trip with visits to the best museums and cultural centers in the country.

Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Photo © Jon Bilous/Dreamstime.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

New York City, New York
Perhaps the most famous museum in the country, the Metropolitan Museum of Art houses one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of modern art in the world, including over 200,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Cleveland, Ohio
I.M. Pei’s postmodern, geometric Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is perhaps the most iconic building in Cleveland. Opened in 1995, the museum is much larger than it looks, with a significant portion underground.

Start your tour by heading down the escalator to the permanent gallery, where a sensory feast awaits visitors with music, videos of live performances, costumes, memorabilia, and instruments from the biggest names in popular music. The gallery tells the story of rock and roll’s evolution, starting by recognizing early influencers in blues, gospel, country, and folk and moving through every decade to the present.

The actual Hall of Fame Gallery is on Level 3, with an exhibit on the year’s inductees and the Power of Rock Experience, a 15-minute compilation of some of the induction ceremony’s musical highlights. Elsewhere in the museum, try your hand at playing some classics, brand your own band logo, and shop in the massive gift shop.

Chickasaw Cultural Center

Sulphur, Oklahoma
The Chickasaw Cultural Center’s extensive facility recounts the history and cultural traditions of the Chickasaw people through permanent and temporary exhibits of fine art and artifacts, a re-creation of a traditional village, and interpretive programs. In addition to the indoor displays, the 109-acre (44-hectare) grounds feature gardens, sculptures, and an elevated viewing platform that looks over the traditional village.

Recreated village on the grounds of the Chickasaw Cultural Center. Photo © Jonesrj35/Dreamstime.

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Cooperstown, New York
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1939 as an homage to America’s favorite pastime. It’s loaded with state-of-the-art displays covering every aspect of the sport, from famous ballparks and women’s baseball, to the World Series, Negro League, and baseball in the Caribbean. Jackie Robinson’s warm-up jacket, Hank Aaron’s locker, Willie Mays’s glove, and Yogi Berra’s catcher’s mitt are among the memorabilia on display.

Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
The stunning selection of famous and familiar works in the Art Institute of Chicago include such icons of U.S. art as American Gothic and Nighthawks.

Freer and Sackler Galleries

Washington DC
Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the connected Freer and Sackler Galleries display an impressive array of Asian art.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Los Angeles, California
Arguably the best museum on the West Coast, the complex of buildings that comprise the LACMA house fine and decorative art and artifacts from around the world.

Rosa Parks exhibit in the National Civil Rights Museum. Photo © R. Gino Santa Maria/Dreamstime.

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel

Memphis, Tennessee
The pursuit of equality for all continues, and this unforgettable museum traces where we’ve been and what we’ve achieved. The National Civil Rights Museum was built on the Lorraine Motel site, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Exhibits display original letters, audio recordings, photos, and newspaper clippings from events including the Montgomery bus boycott, Brown v. Board of Education, Freedom Summer, and the march from Selma to Montgomery.

Heard Museum

Phoenix, Arizona
It is possible for the observant visitor to the Heard Museum to come away with a rather deep knowledge of the cultures, religions, and histories of the state’s Indigenous peoples. The museum has 10 galleries featuring the art, artifacts, and historical narratives of each of the state’s tribes. The large display on the Hopi is particularly comprehensive and includes Barry Goldwater’s kachina collection. It’s not all static history, though. Several galleries feature contemporary art by Native Americans and others. Sculptures dot the grounds while artists demonstrate their methods to onlookers. If you’re in the market for Native American art (or if you just like looking at it), especially that produced by Hopi and Navajo artists, don’t miss the museum’s store.

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6-Day Idaho Road Trip + Scenic Drives

Avalon Travel — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 01:37:01 +0000

Outdoor recreation in the Sawtooth Mountains and elsewhere in the state is making Idaho a popular destination. Experience it yourself with this 6-day road trip or choose a scenic drive through mountains, farmland, and vineyards.

When To Go
Summer is peak season in most of the state, including Coeur d’Alene, the Sawtooths, and Island Park in southeast Idaho. Wintertime brings tons of snow to the mountains, making Idaho’s mountain resorts like Sun Valley, McCall, and Kellogg, popular destinations for skiers and snowboarders. Spring and fall are also good times to visit the mountain resort towns for biking, fishing, and hiking: The streets are less crowded, and room rates are lower.

Downtown Boise. Photo © Charles Knowles/Dreamstime.

Idaho Road Trip Itinerary

DAY 1
Upon arrival in Boise, stretch your legs with a stroll or a bike ride along the Boise River, before heading to the State Capitol (700 W. Jefferson St.) and Basque Block for a few local history lessons. After checking out the city, enjoy some wine and Basque pub fare before having a cocktail and calling it a night.

DAY 2
After breakfast in Boise, get in the car and drive 35 miles (56 kilometers) west to the Sunny Slope area of Caldwell. This is the beating heart of Idaho’s wine country, the Snake River Valley, where you will find about a dozen wineries with tasting rooms. Head back to Boise for dinner and to spend the night.

DAY 3
From Boise, head north along Highway 55 for 2.5 hours until you reach Ponderosa State Park. Check into your reserved cabin and spend the rest of the day hiking and biking around the wooded park that juts out on a 1,000-acre (404-hectare) peninsula into Payette Lake.

DAY 4
Get up early and drive 1 hour (48 miles/77 kilometers) to Riggins for a day of rafting on the Salmon River, world-famous for its wild rapids. Expect to get a little wet along the way, but the river professionals who work this stretch of the river are good at keeping the rafts upright. Or you could book a trip on a wooden dory with Wapiti River Guides.

After shooting the tube all day, head to a restaurant in Riggins for dinner (an elk burger, perhaps?) and a few microbrews.

Rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Photo © Mkopka/Dreamstime.

DAY 5
After breakfast, travel north on U.S. 95, until you come to the Clearwater River near Lewiston, about 2 hours and 110 miles (177 kilometers) from Riggins. Here you’ll find the interpretive center for the Nez Perce National Historic Park, an excellent spot for a picnic and to soak in some of Idaho’s Native American history.

Next, continue heading north on U.S. 95 for 2 hours (116 miles/186 kilometers) until you reach the shores of Coeur d’Alene Lake, where you’ll be spending the night.

DAY 6
Spend the day in Coeur d’Alene frolicking in the lake and relaxing on a lawn chair at City Beach. Nearby, Sherman Avenue has a multitude of cool shops and art galleries to peruse, with a few strategically placed ice cream shops along the way.

Watch the fiery sunset on Tubbs Hill, a nature preserve with scenic hiking trails next to Coeur d’Alene Resort. Your drive back to Boise the next day will take 7 hours (380 miles/611 kilometers).

Scenic Drives in Idaho

Stanley Lake. Photo © Mkopka/Dreamstime.

Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway

The Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway winds its way through 53 miles (85 kilometers) of bountiful agricultural land, ranging from near the Oregon border to Walter’s Ferry in the Owyhee hinterlands. Parma is the western starting point for the byway. From this spot, the route meanders southeast along the Snake River on a series of well-marked rural roads, passing by family-run farms, fruit orchards, and vineyards.

You’ll go through the winery district of Sunny Slope before ascending onto a sagebrush-dotted bench that skirts the river canyon, where Map Rock near Walter’s Ferry shows ancient petroglyphs. Up here, dormant cinder cones punctuate the landscape, and the deep-canyon rim—long ago carved out by the Bonneville Flood—offers dramatic views of the Owyhee Mountains. Besides cattle, bison, and sheep, also expect to see abundant wildlife, like deer, coyotes, badgers, and red-tailed hawks, along this spectacular drive.

Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway

Hwy. 21
Spectacular mountain vistas and vast meadows awash in wildflowers combine to make this stretch of pavement, along Highway 21 east of Boise to Sawtooth and Stanley Lakes, one of the most beautiful drives in Idaho. Several angler access roads branch off the highway and lead down to meandering Valley Creek, while other spur roads lead south off the highway to campgrounds at the foot of the Sawtooths.

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Death Valley Scenic Drive Ideas

Avalon Travel — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 22:47:56 +0000

By Jenna Blough, author of Moon Death Valley National Park

Many visitors treat a visit to Death Valley as a car-only tour, an approach that makes sense during summer due to the extreme heat. But during spring, fall, and winter, you can experience the nuance of the desert and enjoy your own little piece of it by hiking some of the canyons or taking one of the many lightly traveled roads. Here are some scenic drives to choose from on your visit to Death Valley National Park.

Furnace Creek and the Amargosa Range

Dirt roads in this region vary in their accessibility. Some roads require only high clearance and may be passable with a passenger car, while others require a serious four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle. Several of the dirt roads in this area, including the West Side Road and the Greenwater Valley Road, are graded and may be passable with a passenger car in good weather and road conditions. A 4WD vehicle opens up your possibilities for canyon or other more remote exploration.

West Side Road. Photo © Thomas Vieth/Dreamstime.

West Side Road

West Side Road visits the rugged canyons of the Panamint Range; experience the orchards of Hungry Bill’s Ranch or the bubbling oases of Hanaupah Canyon. There are plenty of backcountry campsites and hikes where you can enjoy the intense quiet of the desert and the translucent glow of the night sky from the salt-crusted valley floor.

The West Side Road is a graded dirt road; high clearance is recommended due to washboards and pockets of soft dirt. After rain it may be closed due to washouts or flooding. There are two access points: From the junction of Highway 190 and Badwater Road, the northern access is 6 miles south; the southern access is 39.2 miles farther south. West Side Road runs for 37 miles and takes about 1 hour to drive, depending on road conditions. Note that the West Side Road may be closed in summer due to extreme heat.

Southeastern Corner

Located at the southern end of the Amargosa Range, the southeastern corner yields scenic springs, ghost mines, and pristine dunes. Ibex Spring mining camp and Saratoga Spring offer a rare look into desert wetlands and the endemic plant and animal species.

From Furnace Creek, take Highway 190 east for 30 miles to Death Valley Junction and Highway 127. Continue south on Highway 127 for 44 miles to Ibex Spring Road; plan 1.75 hours for the drive. Another option is to access Highway 127 via the Badwater Road and Highway 178, a drive of about 2.5 hours.

Stovepipe Wells and the Nevada Triangle

This region as a whole is well worth exploring. Mining wasn’t as prevalent here as it was in other areas of Death Valley, and the main features are the deep, scenic canyons in the Cottonwood and Grapevine Mountains. The region is a strange mix of the very inaccessible and the easily accessible. The Cottonwood Mountains are so remote that there is not a single road that traverses the entire range. The only road that even attempts it is the Cottonwood Canyon Road, which runs for 19 miles from its starting point at Highway 190 outside of Stovepipe Wells. It ends beyond the canyon mouth at Cottonwood Springs.

The Grapevine Mountains are relatively accessible compared to the other mountain ranges in the region. The paved Scotty’s Castle Road runs north-south along the base of the Grapevine Mountains, giving access to scenic canyons such as Fall Canyon and Red Wall Canyon. The Grapevine Mountains can also claim the Titus Canyon Road, a scenic popular backcountry drive in the park and the only canyon traversed by a road in the southern Grapevine Mountains.

Titus Canyon. Photo © Nicholas Motto/Dreamstime.

Scotty’s Castle and the Eureka Valley

Three main roads explore this region: Big Pine-Death Valley Road, South Eureka Road, and Racetrack Valley Road. Of these, only Big Pine-Death Valley Road has paved sections, allows access to other parts of the park, and can serve as an entrance or exit route from the park, road conditions and vehicle permitting.

Big Pine-Death Valley Road

When Highway 190, the main paved road through the park, ends at Ubehebe Crater, Big Pine-Death Valley Road takes over the north-south traverse. The 48-mile road is mostly gravel with only four miles of pavement. High clearance is recommended due to washboard and drainage dips. It runs along the northeastern side of the park to the northern park boundary, providing access to theEureka Dunes Road along the way. It continues to wander west through the Inyo Mountains, connecting with the paved Highway 168 and which eventually intersects with U.S. 395 and the town of Big Pine on the western side of the park in 75 miles.

South Eureka Road

The high-clearance, dirt South Eureka Road is less than 10 miles long. It starts from Big Pine-Death Valley Road, and ends at the Eureka Dunes with deep sand and washboard near the dunes. An extremely rugged road for 4WD vehicles, Steel Pass Road, continues 29 miles all the way to Saline Valley Road on the west side. The harrowing climb through the narrow, sharp dry falls of Dedeckera Canyon makes it suitable only for expert 4WD drivers with the right vehicle, extra gas and water, tools, and a detailed map.

Road to Racetrack Playa. Photo © Sbures/Dreamstime.

Racetrack Valley Road

Racetrack Valley Road may be an adventure if you’re not used to driving on backcountry roads, or even if you are, depending on the time of year and the condition of the road. High clearance with off-road tires are recommended due to loose gravel and sharp rocks. This road is infamous for flat tires. From the end of paved Highway 190 at Ubehebe Crater, it drops 26 rocky miles down to the Racetrack Valley in the eastern Cottonwood Mountains. The most popular spot is the Racetrack itself, but Racetrack Valley Road also leads to several other hikes and sites in the area. It officially ends at the Homestake Dry Camp, the primitive campground at the southern end of the Racetrack. From here, an incredibly rough Jeep road takes over to eventually connect with Saline Valley Road.

Lippincott Mine Road has the dubious distinction of being the roughest road in Death Valley. Although it is just under 6 miles, it has a reputation for being steep and narrow with cliff-edge washouts. Like Steel Pass Road from the Eureka Dunes, this road is only for expert 4WD drivers with the right vehicle, extra gas and water, tools, and a detailed map.

Hunter Canyon Road connects to the Racetrack Valley at Teakettle Junction. It heads south through the Hidden Valley and Goldbelt Mining District (scant remains) for 24 miles, roughly paralleling Racetrack Valley Road, until it intersects with the southern end of the Saline Valley Road at the South Pass. It is a 4WD road with rough patches and steep grades, but it is much tamer than Lippincott Mine Road, the other 4WD track that provides a route to Racetrack Valley.

Panamint Springs and the Saline Valley

The western Panamints start on Bureau of Land Management land and stretch east into Death Valley National Park. The 4WD routes here are rugged with shifting conditions, and they require technical skill and equipment. Only one road goes through clear to the other side—the Goler Canyon road via Mengel Pass—but to call Mengel Pass a road is a stretch. It’s a cliff-hugger and a nail-biter. Do not attempt it unless you have experience and the right equipment. Other canyon drives in the area only flirt with the mountain passes before they head back down to the Panamint Valley. Roads in Jail Canyon and Pleasant Canyon, for example, nose their way toward Death Valley but end without going all the way through.

Saline Valley Road. Photo © Lukich/Dreamstime.

Saline Valley Road

Saline Valley Road’s condition has improved over the years, but it remains long, nearly 80 miles pavement to pavement from Highway 190 in the south to Big Pine Road in the north. Despite its remoteness, many people drive this road in all forms of vehicle—from apocalyptic 4WD desert beasts with military tires to adorable little VW buses with matching curtains. When the road is dry in optimal conditions, it is passable by any manner of vehicle, but the going is not smooth. Rocks, washboard, sand in places, and the sheer length of the road make it an endurance test; getting a flat or two is a distinct possibility. On the bright side, alpine forests, abundant Joshua trees, stellar views, remote sand dunes, bird’s-eye views of the Saline Valley, and access to powerfully beautiful canyons make it worth the haul.

Summer brings intense heat and keeps most visitors away. Winter can bring snow, ice, and road closures; carry chains. Be prepared with gas, food, and water.

For more information on visiting the park or scenic drive options that are best traversed with a 4WD vehicle, grab a copy of Moon Death Valley National Park.

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Fall Foliage Driving Tours: Best October Road Trips

Avalon Travel — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:46:19 +0000

Think October and you probably imagine a color: vivid orange, from Halloween pumpkins and the vivid leaves of a highland forest. While you can find excellent fall color in almost every part of the country, from the mountains of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to streamside groves in Utah and California, for drivers “fall color” means touring along New England country lanes or winding over Blue Ridge Mountain passes in search of the most intense red and gold maples, yellow birches, and purple dogwoods.

The actual times and qualities of peak fall color has to do with weather and elevation (summer rains followed by cold fall nights makes for the best displays). So timing is everything—leaves are at peak condition for only a few days, usually one side or the other of October 1st, starting earlier in the north and later in the south. Check this fall foliage prediction map to find leaves at their peak across the United States.

Autumn sunrise in Shenandoah National Park. Photo © tonda/iStock.

To see peak fall color, heading north to south, you can follow the leisurely flow of changing leaves; coming from the south to the north, you’re bound to cross the peak color at least once. More help: most “fall color” states, especially in New England, have online or telephone hotlines where you can get day-by-day status updates about the color of the leaves. Another thing to keep in mind: all month long, “leaf peepers” fill all the available B&Bs, motels and hotels to capacity, so plan ahead if you want to stay overnight.

Appalachian Trail Leaf Peeping

In the eastern US, wherever you start there’s no better route to follow in your quest for fall color than the legendary Appalachian Trail, which snakes along the crest from Maine down to Georgia. Early in October, make your way to the White Mountains area of New Hampshire, where a drive up Mount Washington will give you a grand overview of the heart of New England. Moving south, cruise through Pinkham Notch or over the Kancamagus Highway, and spend some time in idyllic Hanover, home to Dartmouth College. In Vermont, take a hike through Gifford Woods or Granville Gulf, then drive along the Green Mountains via Route 100 into Massachusetts, where quaint towns and villages dot the Berkshires. Between the Berkshires and the outer fringes of New York City, US-7 makes a leisurely run south across the western edge of Connecticut, where towns like Salisbury and Kent are welcome rest stops amidst the fall color scenery.

Fall along the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. Photo © Jen Rose Smith from Moon New England Road Trip.

Though the changing leaves aren’t always as intensely colored as those in New England, October is a great time to take a drive along the middle sections of the Appalachian Trail, within a day’s drive of Washington DC. Running through Delaware Gap and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, past the Civil War battle fields at Gettysburg and Antietam, then on to the historic town of Harpers Ferry, this driving route offers much more than leaves to see. In Virginia, the route is better known as the Skyline Drive, and the forests of Shenandoah National Park are home to cascading waterfalls and high-flying hawks as well as offering stunning autumn color. In the valleys below, detour down to visit Thomas Jefferson’s Charlottesville or Woodrow Wilson’s Staunton.

Map overview from Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip travel guide.

At its southern end, running across western North Carolina and northern Georgia, the Appalachian Trail route rises to its highest heights along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic drive through the Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mountains. Starting near the nostalgic Americana of Andy Griffiths’ fictional Mayberry (in real life: Mount Airy NC), the route winds past beautiful mountain hamlets before detouring down to the delightful small city of Asheville. The Blue Ridge Parkway ends up at the magnificent forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most popular park in the US, which is at its scenic best (and busiest!) during the October fall color season.

Fall foliage along Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo © Rick Berk/iStock.

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Other Fall Foliage Drives in the US

The Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee and Mississippi

Natchez Trace Parkway. Photo © Anton Foltin/Dreamstime.com.

One of the best places in the South to see the leaves change, fall is a popular time to drive the Natchez Trace Parkway. Stark white cotton balls in bloom are a breathtaking contrast to the rich yellows and golds on the trees. This is also a great time of year to explore Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans, as the temperatures are cooler and the crowds have dispersed. Plan your leaf peeping trip along the Natchez Trace with help and updates from the National Park Service.

Alpine Loop in Utah

Alpine Loop View. Photo © Relato/Dreamstime.com

Aspens turn gold in the high country in late September-early October, followed by colorful displays of oaks, cottonwoods, and other deciduous plants in lower canyons. This can be a wonderful time to travel in Utah.

A great fall road trip is Alpine Loop. From its start at the mouth of American Fork, the road climbs through a stunning canyon past Timpanogos Cave National Monument. (Stop for a cave tour if you have most of the day to make this drive.) It then climbs to an 8,000-foot summit with views of Mount Timpanogos. Just past the summit, consider taking the turnoff to Cascade Springs to see spring water gush from the ground and flow down a series of lushly vegetated travertine terraces. Back on the main scenic drive, the road continues through a grove of aspen trees, passes Sundance Resort (worth a stop) and descends to Provo Canyon. Ticket booths at either end of the drive sell the required $6. Don’t aim for a winter drive here; snow usually closes the road from late October until late May.

Historic Columbia River Highway in Oregon

Historic Columbia River Highway. Photo © Paula Cobleigh/Dreamstime.com.

The Historic Columbia River Highway, also now known as U.S. 30, is made up primarily of two drivable, disconnected stretches that still preserve the magic of the old road, leisurely guiding you to many of the region’s highlights: panoramic viewpoints, roadside waterfalls, and trailheads that allow you to explore the breathtaking scenery in more depth. Plan to tour the Columbia River Gorge in late September to the middle of October.

Baraga to Copper Harbor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Peninsula on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Photo © Sne Hit Design/Dreamstime.com.

Planning a fall color tour of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula can be tricky, as the timing of peak colors is often unpredictable. The risk is that you’ll arrive a week early and be met with a landscape of midsummer green, or you’ll come too late and be greeted by a sea of bare trees. But the fortunate traveler is in for a real treat. If your timing is right, all you need to enjoy the glory of countless trees in their peak color is the will to get outside. The Keweenaw Peninsula from mid-September to early October showcases the best colors. A leisurely drive from Baraga to Copper Harbor (the base of the peninsula to the tip) is about 150 miles and takes about three hours.

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Scenic Drives in Utah’s National Parks

Avalon Travel — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:16:54 +0000

By Judy Jewell and W.C. McRae, authors of Moon Zion & Bryce

Sometimes you barely need to get out of the car to enjoy southern Utah. These scenic drives are perfectly enjoyable from behind the windshield, but all offer chances to stop and explore stunning national parks and monuments.

Zion-Mount Carmel Highway

Starting point: Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Ending point: Mount Carmel Junction (at Hwy 9 and Hwy 89)
Mileage: 24.5 miles (39 km) one-way
Driving time: 2 hours

From Zion Canyon Visitor Center, this road climbs through a series of switchbacks, passes through a long tunnel (or a much shorter alternate), and provides access to the canyons and high plateaus east of Zion Canyon, where you’ll find fewer hikers than on the canyon trails. Take the easy 1-mile (1.6-km) round-trip Canyon Overlook Trail to peer down at the Great Arch of Zion, a “blind” arch that’s not carved all the way through.

Even if you’re not up for a hike, be sure to stop and admire Checkerboard Mesa, a huge lump of hatch-marked sandstone right at the road’s edge. From the east entrance to the park, the road continues about 13 miles to its junction with Highway 89. From here, head north to Bryce Canyon National Park or south to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, the town of Kanab, and the southern part of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Bryce Scenic Drive

Starting point: Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
Ending point: Rainbow Point
Mileage: 36 miles (58 km) round-trip
Driving time: 3-4 hours

As you head out from the visitors center, don’t be immediately tempted by the turnoff for the amphitheater: continue south and climb 18 miles (29 km) and 1,100 feet (335 m) to Rainbow Point. Here you’ll get an overview of most of the park. A short walk away, Yovimpa Point looks out onto the cliffs and terraces of the Grand Staircase. Turn the car around and take your time coming back. (All sites will now be on the right side of the road, making turns easy since you’re not turning against traffic.). Stop to photograph the Natural Bridge and the panorama from Farview Point.

After about 15 miles (24 km), stop to check out the views of the hoodoo-studded amphitheater from Bryce Point and Inspiration Point. Head to the lodge for a bite to eat and the half-mile walk on the Rim Trail to Sunrise and Sunset Points. For one last view, turn in to Fairyland Point; the access road is just before you leave the park (but after the pay station).

Highway 12

Starting point: Junction of Hwy 89 and Hwy 12, near Panguitch
Ending point: Junction of Hwy 12 and Hwy 24, Torrey
Mileage: 123 miles (198 km) one-way
Driving time: 4 hours-1 week

This “All-American Road” from Highway 89 near Panguitch to Highway 24 in Torrey packs in more parks, monuments, and geology than just about any other road in the country. Pass through red rock arches in Red Canyon, skirt the edge of Bryce Canyon National Park, get within close range of Kodachrome Basin State Park, and continue east through the northern edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, crossing the Hell’s Backbone Bridge and the narrow Hog’s Back to Boulder. The road turns north to cross over Boulder Mountain, with views of the Colorado Plateau, and practically lands in the lap of Capitol Reef National Park. You’ll pass cliffs, rock spires, petroglyphs, and views of the Grand Staircase. There are lots of chances to get out and explore.

The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive

Starting point: Capitol Reef Visitor Center
Ending point: Capitol Gorge
Mileage: 21 miles (34 km) round-trip
Driving time: 1.5-2 hours

Head into the heart of the park on this short but absolutely scenic excursion. As you set off from the Capitol Reef visitors center, you’ll pass the early settlement of Fruita; stop here coming or going (or both) for pie and ice cream at the century-old Gifford Farmhouse or fruit from the U-pick orchards. The road climbs out of the Fremont River valley beneath a tall escarpment with tilted layers of rock. Stop to walk into the dry channels of the Grand Wash or continue on to Capitol Gorge (once the area’s main highway, now a hiking trail that passes between tall sandstone walls and leads to petroglyphs and early settler signatures carved into the rock walls).

Notom-Bullfrog Road

Starting point: Hwy 24 at eastern edge of Capitol Reef National Park
Ending point: Bullfrog Marina, Lake Powell
Mileage: 70 miles (113 km) one-way
Driving time: 3 hours

The views of the eastern edge of the Waterpocket Fold are a highlight of this drive. The partially paved road goes from the eastern edge of Capitol Reef to Bullfrog Marina in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The drive itself is long and slow but beautiful. Consider taking the whole day to explore the relatively uncrowded hikes up dry washes and into slot canyons.

From Bullfrog, take a car ferry across the lake to Halls Landing and follow the easy route to Natural Bridges National Monument, or head back north on a paved road to Hanksville and Goblin Valley State Park.

Tips for Driving in Utah’s Parks

During the summer, patience is the key to driving in Utah’s national parks. Roads are often crowded with slow-moving RVs, and traffic jams are not uncommon.

If you’re traveling on back roads, especially in the Grand Staircase-Escalante area, make sure you have plenty of gas, even if it means paying top dollar at a small-town gas pump.

Summer heat in the desert puts an extra strain on both cars and drivers. It’s worth double-checking your vehicle’s cooling system, engine oil, transmission fluid, fan belts, and tires to make sure they are in top condition. Carry several gallons of water in case of a breakdown or radiator trouble. Never leave children or pets in a parked car during warm weather; temperatures inside can cause fatal heatstroke in minutes.

At times the desert has too much water, when late-summer storms frequently flood low spots in the road. Wait for the water level to subside before crossing. Dust storms can completely block visibility but tend to be short-lived. During such storms, pull completely off the road, stop, and turn off your lights so as not to confuse other drivers. Radio stations carry frequent weather updates when weather hazards exist.

If stranded, stay with your vehicle unless you’re positive of where to go for help, then leave a note explaining your route and departure time. Airplanes can easily spot a stranded car (tie a piece of cloth to your antenna), but a person walking is more difficult to see. It’s best to carry emergency supplies: blankets or sleeping bags, a first-aid kit, tools, jumper cables, a shovel, traction mats or chains, a flashlight, rain gear, water, food, and a can opener.

Traveling by RV

Traveling the Southwest’s national parks in an RV is a time-honored tradition, and travelers will have no problem finding RV rentals in major cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas, which serve as gateways to the parks of Southern Utah. The parks have good campgrounds, and towns like Moab and Springdale have some very spiffy campground options with extras like swimming pools and fine-dining cookouts. Note that some parks limit RV access—during high season, no vehicles are allowed in Zion, where shuttle buses have replaced private vehicles along the scenic Zion Canyon Road. In Bryce, vehicles measuring 20 feet/6 meters or longer are restricted from the Bryce Amphitheater area during shuttle hours.

Maps

The Utah Department of Transportation prints and distributes a free, regularly updated map of Utah. Ask for it when you call for information or when you stop at a visitor information office. Benchmark Maps’ Utah Road and Recreation Atlas is loaded with beautiful maps, recreation information, and global positioning system (GPS) grids. If you’re planning on extensive backcountry exploration, be sure to ask locally about conditions.

If you’re looking for USGS topo maps, you can download them for free at www.topozone.com.

Looking to explore Utah’s parks on a longer trip? Check out our 9-day Utah road trip itinerary.

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5 Simple Ways to Be a Sustainable Road Tripper

Avalon Travel — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 20:54:48 +0000

Road trips provide us with the freedom to travel slowly, to learn about different cultures, and to discover a variety of natural landscapes on our own time. These experiences are undoubtedly profound, yet they generate a lot of waste in our ecosystem. These simple tips will help you save money, reduce waste, and support local businesses without a lot of extra effort.

Saving starts at home:

Energy savers: Before you head out on your trip, consider adjusting the thermostat and closing window shades to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. In addition to turning lights off, unplug appliances. These small yet important actions will reduce energy usage and your electricity bill while you are away.

Revisit your shopping list: Buying patterns will change the week before your road trip. Modify the quantity of perishable items in your shopping list, and consider buying snacks like nuts, granola, and dried fruit in bulk using a glass jar rather than a plastic bag from the store. Evaluate food in the fridge and freeze items that may expire or use them for lunches or snacks on the road. Place them in reusable containers for easy access on the go.

Pack like an eco-pro:

Packing in a way that is efficient and light not only helps with your fuel economy, but it also reduces waste throughout your trip. Consider the bonus points: you use everything you packed!

Use reusable items for your luggage: Fill travel bottles with your favorite hair and skin products. The compact size saves space and weight in your luggage. Organize clothes, shoes, and other accessories in reusable bags so your belongings are easy to find.

Use reusable items for snacks and meals: Hydrate and caffeinate on the road with reusable bottles. Purchasing a set of reusable plates, silverware, and straws are another way to minimize waste. Not only are they light and compact, they can be used anywhere. Pack perishable food and beverages in a portable cooler with reusable ice packs to ensure items are fresh and safe for consumption.

Prepare your car:

Preventative maintenance: Make time to check the oil and tire pressure prior to your trip. These checkups provide a sense of safety and increase fuel efficiency.

On the road: Excessive acceleration minimizes fuel economy; use cruise control to regulate the speed. If the climate is right, open windows and enjoy the fresh air. These tips not only save on fuel and preserve the condition of your car, they help you slow down to enjoy your experience.

Support local when possible:

Seek locally-owned restaurants, markets, or fruit stands and have a picnic with your locally purchased items. Place any leftovers in your cooler for a delicious snack on the road. If fast food is the only option, ask to minimize extra packaging when placing the order.

Pay attention to the labels on your trash or recycling items to ensure they are disposed of properly. Photo © Sophia Hyder Hock.

Environmental considerations:

Create memories instead of extra waste: Road trips are a great opportunity to experience and appreciate nature and the sacred lands of this country. Consider the Leave No Trace Principles on hikes, walks, and pit stops.

Pay attention to the labels on your trash or recycling items to ensure they are disposed of properly. If receptacles are not immediately available, collect the garbage in one place until it can be placed in the right location. This may entail placing garbage in your vehicle until a proper disposal is found, but it will be well worth the trip.

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About the Author

Sophia Hyder Hock is the Founder and CEO of Papilia, a company committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices for destinations, travel organizations, and content creators. She integrates human-centered design methodologies to empower her clients to be sustainable thinkers and travelers through a greater understanding of diverse perspectives, mindful leadership principles, and communication styles.

As an international yoga instructor and yoga life coach, Sophia incorporates wellness ideologies into all her projects as a holistic way to inspire people to be their best self through life’s many challenges. Her love for travel started at the age of 10 when she moved from California to Sri Lanka. Since then, Sophia has been to 35+ countries and plans to inspire her toddler to be a citizen of the world through mindful travel and learning about his Bengali-American heritage.

Learn more about Sophia on her personal website and Instagram.

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Northeast Road Trip From New York City

Avalon Travel — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 17:36:01 +0000

By Road Trip USA author Jamie Jensen

This road trip through the northeast winds along pastoral valleys and ancient mountains connecting three dynamic cities–New York, Boston and Montreal–while passing through quaint country retreats and revived Rust Belt towns. The landscapes are perhaps more varied than anywhere in the country: Cape Cod’s broad beaches, the rugged seascapes of Acadia, powerful Niagara Falls–joined together by endless hardwood forests that come alive with fall colors. There are also plenty of chances to sample regional food at roadside pancake houses, soft-serve ice cream stands, lobster pounds, and seafood shacks.

This itinerary assumes driving 200-400 miles a day; add more time if you want to linger or simply get out of the car more often. Note that all mileage estimates and driving times are approximate.

Starting Point: New York City
Total Driving Distance: ~2,300 miles
Suggested Trip Length: 14 days

Day 1

Driving Distance: ~200 miles
From New York City, follow the “Appalachian Trail” through the historic Hudson Valley to the bucolic vacation resorts of the Berkshires.

Highlights:

West Point: The U.S. Army’s famous military academy boasts a small museum, guided tours of the grounds, and scenic Trophy Point.
Norman Rockwell Museum: Take a stroll through the museum’s collection of Norman Rockwell’s art. The surrounding town of Stockbridge is worth exploring, too.
Hancock Shaker Village: Tour the living museum’s exhibits and see working artisans interpreting the rural lifestyle and famous design skills of the Shakers.

Overnight: Lenox, MA

Days 2-5

Driving Distance: ~300 miles
Connect with US-20 (“The Oregon Trail“) in Williamstown, then follow the scenic “Mohawk Trail” road east to Boston and Cape Cod.

Highlights:

Concord: Get a sense of the lives of four influential American writers: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott.
Boston: Visit a plethora of historical landmarks including the Old North Church and the Paul Revere House, or catch a game at Fenway Park.
Plymouth Rock: Like the Liberty Bell and Mt. Rushmore, it’s something every American tourist has to see.
Provincetown: Visit the Pilgrim Monument and Museum and admire the best panorama on the Cape.

Overnights: Concord, MA; Boston, MA; Provincetown, MA

Day 6-7

Driving Distance: ~400 miles
Return via New Bedford to I-95, then zoom north to Acadia National Park.

Highlights:

New Bedford: Along with learning about the town’s whaling history, fan’s of Herman Melville can visit Seamen’s Bethel, which was featured in a chapter of the classic Moby Dick.
Lowell: Take a walking tour of Jack Kerouac’s hometown and learn about his life there.
Bar Harbor: Enjoy the most authentic lobster pound around at Thurston’s and browse in the town’s gift shops and art galleries.

Overnights: Lowell, MA, and Bar Harbor, ME

Day 8-10

Driving Distance: ~430 miles
From Acadia National Park, follow US-2 (“The Great Northern“) west across New Hampshire and Vermont to Montreal.

Highlights:

Cadillac Mountain: Experience a breathtaking panorama over Mount Desert Island, the surrounding inlets and islands, and the coast.
Mount Washington: Ascend the mountain to the summit and visit the historic Tip Top House.
Fairbanks Museum: This charming but quirky Victorian-era center of knowledge was established by Franklin Fairbanks in 1889 and hosts a fascinating array of oddities.
Ben & Jerry’s: Vermont’s number-one tourist attraction offers tours, a gift shop, and a variety of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet flavors.
Lake Champlain: Stroll along the boardwalk of Waterfront Park and take a sunset cruise on board the Spirit of Ethan Allen.

Overnights: Gorham, NH; Montpelier, VT; Montreal, QB

Days 11-14

Driving Distance: ~900 miles
From Montreal, journey via Ottawa to Niagara Falls, then follow US-20 (“The Oregon Trail“) to Cooperstown and back to New York City.

Highlights:

Mount Royal Park: The park’s stairs and paths lead up to a belvedere, from which you will have a sweeping view of the city, the St. Lawrence River, and the southern suburbs.
Niagara Falls: Stand on the brink at Prospect Park or Goat Island or venture underneath the falls on a Maid of the Mist boat tour.
Erie Canal: South of Rochester, I-390 runs alongside one of the only still-intact sections of the original waterway.
Baseball Hall of Fame: Peruse a timeline of dioramas and display cases that walk you through the sport’s greatest—and most embarrassing—moments.

Overnights: Ottawa, QB; Buffalo, NY; Cooperstown, NY

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