Millions of Americans are planning summer vacations this year, but the economic climate has prompted travelers to seek vacations that are both exciting and affordable. One way to do this is to plan a vacation road trip that integrates inexpensive yet visually rewarding scenic drives in an area with a good network of local attractions. By traveling to these concentrated areas of scenery and attractions, you’ll reduce travel, lodging and food costs by linking your fun and excitement meter to fewer days of travel overall. There are three US states that stand out from the crowd for their ability to offer travelers beauty and convenience: Colorado, California, and Tennessee.
It’s no secret that California is considered by many to be the ultimate vacation state, combining an almost endless variety of tourist attractions spread throughout what is considered one of the most picturesque states in all of the United States. No matter what your age or interests, there are attractions that will satisfy just about anyone. Traditional amusement parks abound in this state and include Disneyland, Sea World, and Lego Land, as well as the Hollywood movie-themed Universal Studios Theme Park. If roller coasters and big crowds aren’t on your bucket list, there are more eclectic attractions like William Hurst Castle, Alcatraz Prison, and the Carmel Mission.
Adults will especially enjoy the wineries of Napa Valley and Sonoma, the cosmopolitan mecca of San Francisco, and the shops and restaurants on Monterey’s Cannery Row. If natural beauty is high on your list, wonderful coastal scenery is available along California’s Pacific coast from the many free public beaches. For a unique coastal experience, take a boat to Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles. Or if you want to sample the wide diversity of coastal California, start in the south near San Diego or Los Angeles and travel north. It will begin with the gentle sandy beaches of Southern California and culminate in the dramatic rocky shorelines that are characteristic of Northern California. As you travel along this coast, you’ll potentially be traveling along the most famous scenic drive in the world: Highway 1 along the California coast. When you’re done with the oceanscape tour, head inland and enjoy areas of redwood forests, or the alpine mountain scenery of Lake Tahoe, or the famous collection of waterfalls in the incredible Yosemite National Park. The list and the possibilities go on and on in The Golden State.
If you’re looking for a vacation that provides some treasured mountain memories, Colorado is an ideal choice. It is home to an expansive part of the US Rocky Mountains; approximately half of the state is made up of mountainous region. And it’s blessed with a particularly inspiring stretch of the Rocky Mountains, as a large number of its peaks extend past the 14,000-foot altitude mark… “fourteen,” as mountaineers call them, are an elite bunch. of peaks found in just four US states: Alaska, California, Colorado, and Washington. And, if you use the number of “fourteen-year-olds” as an objective way to measure a mountain state’s level of “mountain majesty,” then Colorado is the hands-down king, being home to 54 of the 88 peaks in the US. USA that exceed this milestone.
In the non-winter months, you can travel through the mountainous areas and enjoy world-class Rocky Mountain National Park, see the sheer topography of the Royal Gorge, join the club of hikers who have climbed the famous Pikes Peak , try your hand (and paddle) at whitewater rafting, indulge in world-class mountain biking, travel through the mountains in a vintage steam locomotive, the list goes on and on. In the winter months, of course, you can enjoy the world’s best downhill skiing, as well as mountain snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and even good old-fashioned sledding…with the help of ski lifts to reach the top again. There is no shortage of possibilities in the “Centennial State,” and if you’re looking for a state with a good mix of impressive scenic drive possibilities along with a strong selection of tourist attractions, Colorado should be high on your list of candidate states. . .
Finally, the US state east of the Mississippi River that has the most to offer travelers seeking both a smorgasbord of scenic miles and a wide variety of exciting attractions is Tennessee. Tennessee’s dominant scenic feature is the majestic Appalachian Mountain Range that characterizes the eastern part of the state. Within this area you can visit a jewel of the US National Parks system: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This premier US National Park encompasses over 500,000 acres of pristine Appalachian Mountain region and offers all the amenities of a premier national park including: camping, hiking, horseback riding, workshops about nature and a wonderful collection of paths that wind through mountain valleys as well as over the top of high fertile peaks that rise. If you want more of the great outdoors, you can also find robust whitewater rafting, ATV riding, and, of course, hunting and fishing in Tennessee.
In addition to the rural mountain areas, the state is also home to some cities that are favorites for many tourists. Nashville Tennessee is known as the city of music and has a great collection of museums and cultural centers, as well as a healthy nightlife. Close to Knoxville Tennessee and conveniently located near the entrance to The Great Smokey Mountain National Park is tourist magnet Gatlinburg Tennessee. This city is full of things to do and see for children and adults. Attractions like the 400 “Mountain Mall” store, live entertainment and all the kid’s favorites like miniature golf, go-cart tracks, arcades, bungee jumping and water parks. In addition, it has a very strong network of lodging facilities ranging from large traditional corporate hotels, small family run motels, bed & breakfasts and a host of various handcrafted accommodations inspired by ski chalets, Indian teepees and quaint log cabins. There’s no doubt about it, in the eastern half of the US, Tennessee, like its many mountain peaks, rises above the crowd in vacation and road trip options.
