There are also a few pages in the front of the book that point out the best destinations for hiking, climbing, paddling, winter sports, biking and birding in each region of the US. We never would have thought to visit this canyon without the map. This turned out to be a fantastic find! Catwalk Canyon is a scenic walk along waterfalls and pools built around an abandon mine. However, we have found quite a few destinations on this map we hadn’t seen listed in our initial searches of the area.Ĭatwalk Canyon in New Mexico, for example, was something we decided to stop at on a whim because we were driving by one of those red dots.
Many of these points of interest are quite well known. Throughout the atlas, you can find little red dots that indicate pitstops and points of interest. Not only does it have the roads marked out, but because it is an adventure edition map, it has extra sections dedicated to explorers. The atlas is big and detailed, it has a sturdy cover and lists all 50 states in the US. The National Geographic Road Atlas – Adventure Edition is one of the most unexpectedly useful things we had purchased before beginning our cross country trip. Blackburn, a guest writer, is The Oracle adviser.Even with all of the technology we have at our fingertips, one thing we can’t recommend enough for safety purposes is traveling with a paper map. Hitting the open road is a great way to enjoy the summer, and regardless of where you end up going-whether it’s down the coast or across the United States-you’ll definitely create some memorable moments. Use your best Twitter skills to write a short “wish you were here” message. Postcards are an inexpensive way to say hi from the road, and your friends will appreciate getting something more fun than junk mail in their mailbox. When I was writing for the “Let’s Go: USA” travel guide during college, my editors enjoyed the many postcards I sent them along the way. With Facebook, it’s much easier to “check in” and let people know what fabulous places you are visiting, but don’t forget that a lot of folks love real mail, too. It was amazing to get such a vivid sense of history, and while I may have grumbled at the outset, it was a journey worth taking.Ĥ. Another great adventure was the year my brother planned a trip around Civil War battlefields, including Gettysburg and Appomattox. We drove down more dirt highways than I’d ever been on, and the back of our van was covered in mud, but the scenery and sense of adventure were well worth it. One of the best trips my family and I took was when we drove to the Artic Circle and back (in our trusty minivan, of course). Though I am pretty sure I will never visit the Corn Palace again, it makes for a fun conversation starter, and I am always surprised when I meet someone who have also had the pleasure of visiting it.ģ. My favorite fun fact: the Corn Palace was apparently the first indoor ice skating rink in the U.S., but only because the main building flooded one winter in the late 1800s and then froze over. To spare you the trip, the Corn Palace is a building decorated with large murals made yearly from corn and native grasses. My parents were fascinated by the many signs advertising the World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, and to my dismay I woke up just as they were pulling into the parking lot of this random place. I learned this lesson one year when I fell asleep on Interstate 90 through South Dakota on the way back to college. I’m not knocking being impulsive, but if “roughing it” isn’t your style, plan ahead.Ģ. This was in middle school, so my younger brother was skinny enough to sleep on the floor between the front seats and the middle seat of our minivan, but it wasn’t the most ideal set-up for any of us.
The most interesting night I spent on a road trip was at a truck stop in Alaska, where my family (including my aunt) slept in our minivan because we got into town too late to get a hotel room. Being prepared includes having a route in mind, and possibly even calling ahead to book a room for the night. Okay, yes, this may be obvious, but it’s a good place to start. Although technology has made jumping in the car and taking off for the great unknown easier (thank you, Google maps, wi-fi and online reservations) there are still some basic tips that come in handy. As someone who went on a road trip with my family every summer until I was in my early 20s, it’s safe to say that I am somewhat of an expert on road trips.
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