america – Roaming free – tales of wanderlustbykelley

Tips for Anyone Travelling Down the East Coast

With so much unique stuff to see and do, it’s hardly surprising that so many people enjoy travelling down the East Coast of America each year. You can move between different cities and states, and experience the kinds of things you’ve never ever experienced before. If you’re new to this part of America, it really will be an experience that you never forget.

There are some things you should make sure you do on this trip though, as well as things you should know that will make the experience much better and much smoother for you. We’re going to talk about all those things now, so read on for some essential tops for anyone planning on travelling down the East Coast of America.

Plan Your Route and Know the Busiest Roads

It’s worth planning out your route carefully before you head anywhere on the East Coast. Look at a local traffic report for the location you’re in and make sure that you’re avoiding the busiest roads at the busiest times. The traffic can be pretty terrible at times, and you’ll want to avoid the worst of it. So plan your route out as best you can and take steps to avoid sitting in huge jams for too long at a time.

Get Off the Beaten Track

Getting off the beaten track is a must when you’re taking any kind of road trips. Sure, the major towns and cities along the way are all great, and you’ll have a wonderful time seeing and exploring them. But there’s so much more tro travelling the East Coast than simply spending time in the major cities. Head to places like New Haven and Charleston along the way. These places might be a little off your beaten track but they’re worth it.

Spend Plenty of Time in New York City

Yes, we just said that you should get off the beaten track, but that’s not to say the beaten travel is all that. And in the case of New York City, it’s actually pretty amazing and frankly unmissable. If you haven’t been to NYC before or you feel like you haven’t spent enough time there, you should definitely make the most of this opportunity to enjoy it and spend as much time as you can there.

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Don’t Rush Things

It’s important not to rush this trip if you can help it because when you give yourself the chance to spend more time in each place and visit more of those small towns along the way, you will have so many more unique experiences. There’s so much to see on the East Coast, so rushing down it is only going to mean you miss out on things that you really won’t want to miss out on, so take your time.

Explore American History in Washington

Washington is another place that you’re definitely going to want to stop off at during this whole trip. When you spend time in Washington, you get the chance to really explore and delve into American history and what made this country the way it is. There’s actually a lot to do, see and discover in Washington, so if you’ve never really spent time there before, that’s something that should definitely change.

Take Friends

Having some great friends come along for the right and enjoy the whole journey with you has got to be a good thing. So if you’re planning this big trip, don’t do it alone. See if you can find a close friend of two that want to come along and enjoy it alongside you. When you have the right company, it makes the whole journey and the whole experience so much more enjoyable.

Finish Things Off in Miami

Miami is the natural end point of any long trip down the East Coast, and it’s an amazing city that’s capable of capping off any trip of this kind. It’s a stunning city, and it’s the perfect place to spend time during the summer. You can take to the waters on a boat or simply enjoy the sun and the beautiful beaches before bringing this whole trip to its final conclusion.

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There’s so much to see and do along the East Coasts and so many fantastic states to explore. You should make the most of the chance to experience everything that’s on offer in this varied and interesting part of the country. If you haven’t made a trip like this before, you’ll have a great time.

Top US Hiking Destinations For an Outdoor Adventure

If the varied and undulating terrain of the US is calling your name, then you must be a fan of the great outdoors. And from east coast to west of the United States of America, there are a variety of great places to visit for a walking or outdoor adventure vacation. It isn’t all about Route 66 and the ‘typical’ tourist spots. So where will it be to next? Here are some of the best places to take a walking vacation in the good ol’ USA.

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Glacier National Park, Montana

If you are looking for a place that is pretty far away from the bright lights and busyness of a city, then Glacier National Park is one of the top spots. It has over 700 miles of walking trails, mixed with lakes, glaciers, and everything in between. As such, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve got all of the right equipment for your walk. So it can be worth looking online to find out more about the kind of clothing you’d need to pack for a hiking or climbing trip. The park is full of wildlife as well, and you may spot elk, wild goats, and even grizzly bear.

Yosemite, California

There are plenty of popular trails in the Yosemite Park, but with it being so huge, you are likely to not bump into too many people. So make sure that you have a route planned out or that you bring a map and a compass. It is one of the most stunning places in the us, though, with the famous (and huge) redwood trees. It is breathtaking!

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Can a list about walking trails in the US be complete without the mention of the Grand Canyon? I think not. But it does deserve its place here as it is a fantastic destination for an outdoor adventure or walking vacation. There are miles and miles to hike with varying levels of challenge too. The south rim is simpler and more popular, but the north rim has the more challenging Kaibab Trail.

Lake Tahoe, Nevada/California Border

Lake Tahoe, as the name suggests, is a large lake full of panoramic views and plenty of walks. It is a fairly flat area so is popular with families, beginners to hiking, cyclists, and even runners. There are some treks like Eagle Rock and the Mount Tallac Trail, but they are both pretty steady, with Eagle Rock only being half a mile to the summit. And be sure to visit in the sun for the walks, as it is all about skiing or snowshoeing in the winter months.

Canyonlands National Park, UtahThe red rocks of the Utah based National Park is a must for hikers as it is such a stunning place to walk. There are plenty of National Parks in Utah to choose from, but Canyonlands is one of the top ones. It was made famous by the ‘127 Hours’ book and movie, where a man was trapped in the Blue John Canyon in the Canyonlands National Park.

Taking the great American road trip

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Whether you live in America or halfway across the world, just about every self-proclaimed traveller has dreamt about driving across the country as part of a great American road trip. After all, the U.S. is an absolutely huge place, and the fact that you can reach every inch of it by car, without any sort of roadblock, is incredibly appealing. Road trips are the perfect option for those looking for an affordable and adventurous holiday, but only if you plan them really well. Keeping that in mind, here are four things you should do to make your great American road trip truly great.

Plan A Rough Itinerary

Whether you like it or not, most road trips do come with a time limit, so it’s vital that you have a route and rough schedule planned before you hit the road. There are a number of incredible American road trips you could consider, but, if none of those appeals to you, then you could always use a road trip planner to create one of your very own. Just make sure that you’re not driving too much each day, as this is dangerous and could also ruin the experience for you.

Look After Your Car

When you’re travelling long distances in your car, it’s more important than ever that you take proper care of it. With that in mind, you should make sure that you have your car inspected by a mechanic at least a week before you set off. You should also pack your car with tools, a spare tire, a brake bleeding kit, a tire pump, and more, and learn how to complete basic repairs and maintenance. This way, you will be able to help yourself if and when there’s an issue on the road.

Choose The Right Companions

Although you could head off on your own, road trips tend to be a lot more fun when you take friends or family with you. That being said, this is only true when you choose the right companions. You’re going to be stuck together in a car for hours at a time, so it’s vital that you bring people that you really get along with. Unless you really love driving, you should also make sure that whoever you bring is willing to share the wheel time with you.

Budget Your Money Wisely

Road trips can be incredibly affordable and budget-friendly, but this is only true when you spend time planning your budget and manage your money wisely. With gas, toll costs, food, souvenirs, attractions, and more, road trips can get incredibly costly very quickly. To avoid this, you need to consider all possible road trip costs and decide how much money you’re going to spend on each one. You should also have an emergency stash of cash for any unexpected expenses.

Heading off on a great American road trip is a dream for most avid travellers, but this dream can quickly turn nightmarish if you’re not prepared. To ensure you have an amazing time, make sure you remember the advice above.

The Midwest

Moving on from the mountain states, it was time to travel through part of the Midwest region of the US. We didn’t spend much time in each place, lots of just driving through. First state, Nebraska. Here we found a nice lake to camp at. Next, Iowa, followed by Illinois. Next state was Indiana, here we spent a day exploring the capital city, Indianapolis. Last state, Ohio.