Located in the South western tip of the UK, it is harder to explore all corners of Cornwall by public transport from main cities like London, but definitely worth a visit so as some of the major places are still easily covered. No wonder many movies and books are set in this land of stories, since I visited here I have not stopped thinking of what life was like here back then. I hope you enjoy this road trip itinerary to Cornwall and embark on your Cornish adventures.

READ: Best Scenic Drives in the UK

2 Days Cornwall Road Trip Itinerary

Cornwall is located in the South West coast of England, and the homeland of the Cornish people. Surrounded by Atlantic Ocean and English channel, Cornwall is very famous for its coastal scenery. Cornwall has a rich history with its own kingdom and dynasty, which makes it a very unqiue English county amongst others. Cornwall was a mining centre in the middle ages with copper and tin mining making a large part of its economy apart from fishing, which declined by 1990s. Today, Cornwall is famous for its tourism, which caught up after the railway operations began with the main station at Penzance.

Cornwall Road Trip Itinerary Map

JOURNEY OVERVIEW:

We drove to Cornwall from Bath/Bristol area and stayed in Newquay as our base while we explored the different parts of Cornwall. If you are not a full time traveler, you can easily do this taking one or two days off from work, closer to a weekend with a bank holiday. I would totally recommend having a rental car or camper van to explore the corners of Cornwall. You could also visit for a long time and explore the coastal walks if you have more time. The itinerary covers all the top landmarks to explore in Cornwall, even if it’s a weekend road trip from London or other main cities by car or a long holiday here which included more coastal walks etc. I honestly think I could spend here months happily- the setting of this place demands it, mixed with the landscape and historical vibe.

Top Places to Stay in Cornwall

Some of the top places to stay in Cornwall include the major harbor cities – St Ives, Padstow, Penzance, Newquay, Truro and Falmouth. The options here are plenty ranging from cottages, holiday rentals, Airbnbs, hotels and hostels. During my search for accommodation here, I was very convinced to stay in the Cornish cottages seeing the unique experiences, but there are plenty of beach hotels and Airbnbs to aim for as well that suits your style. For camper vanners, there are multiple campgrounds as well.

Top Tips for Driving in Cornwall

Driving in Cornwall is straight forward unlike elsewhere in England, which can be confusing for internationals not used to complex round about. However, the roads are really like the extreme countryside of England, very narrow and with less visibility of incoming traffic with elevated roads like in mountain ranges. If you are renting, I would advise to get small vehicles to Cornwall and to reduce driving time to avoid road fatigue as it is not a very flat ride. If you are a good driver, but not used to England, Cornwall is not tricky when it comes to complicated rules. So go for coastal road tripping if you would like to

Day 1: South East Coast

1. Perranporth Beach

Perranporth beach is one of the finest and longest beaches in Cornwall, filled with golden sand along the Atlantic ocean. The vast beach is exotic with its cove like rocks, sand dunes and surfs which attract youngsters, tourists as well as families.

The beach is so big that you can enjoy a nice beach walk along the coast watching the stunning sea scenery and waves. The beach is very family friendly that pets and kids will particularly enjoy playing at the beach.

Tips: There are multiple cafes and bars in Perranporth beach for a drink or a bite, especially filled during holiday seasons. There is also a big parking lot near the beach including some benches for those who would like to stay on the land and watch the sea.

2. St Ives

St Ives is one of the well known and celebrated fishing harbor towns in Cornwall, being a popular setting for so many movies and stories set in Cornwall. No wonder it wins one of the top holiday destinations in England regularly, this fishing town feels like a dream in its first sight.

This quaint town of fishing cottages, and harbor, and attractive coastal activities like boat tours and even a scenic railway, this Cornish town definitely has the soul of the Cornwall experience that anyone dreams of. At the moment, I was feeling like a character in a book or a movie while I enjoyed seafood here and watched the harbor.

3. Cape of Cornwall

Cape Cornwall is one of the two capes of England, well located in a coastal route from St Ives. Cape is one of the iconic historic landmarks of Cornwall with the mine here a memorial to the mining history of this area. Being located in the southern coastal tip closer to Lands End, the landscape here is one of the best in Cornwall and not to miss.

Tip: If you are by car, there is a parking closer to the coast and then you can take a coastal walk from there. The road here is narrow, so be careful and go only with a small vehicle.

4. Land’s End

Land’s End is in the western south end of England and a geographic landmark that attracts many tourists around the year.

Apart from the sign post here, which is any traveler’s dream, Land’s End is a big tourist complex nowadays with lots of fun attractions, holiday stays and a large shopping complex.

READ: Two weeks Scotland Road Trip Itinerary

As we visited during the covid pandemic, everything was closed, however Lands End overall seemed to have a playful atmosphere, and a fun place to hang out with family and friends.

The Lands End cliffs here is a stunning view and the coastal walks the prettiest. Walking here reminded me of the John O Groats experience, which is the northern most tip of UK and a must add to a Scotland road trip itinerary.

5. Porthcurno Beach

Porthcurno is a sandy beach with turquoise water near Penzance, which is a beach paradise and one of the best in Cornwall. This beach is surrounded by stunning cliffs with a grand view and you will be mesmerized by the waves. It is perfect for swimming and surfing, but make sure you check weather conditions and tide times.

I was awestruck to see this beach, as you would not believe you are in England when you are here. The turquoise water, soft white sands and outstanding natural beauty here is very unique to this beach and a must addition to your Cornwall road trip itinerary and to your UK bucket list.

Just around the corner is the Minack theatre, granite cliff made open theatre is known as one of the best in the world for the epic view from here.

Tips: About 200 m behind the beach, there is a pay and display car park and there is also a public toilet here. There is a steep step down to get here, which is easily done by a healthy person.

6. Mousehole

Mousehole harbor is a pretty little town near Penzance, which is very picturesque. Parking spaces and shops are limited compared to other places, but it is unique and especially famous among writers. It is a typical Cornish village with beautiful views, perfect for a scenic walk and enjoying a cream tea. It is very close to Penzance and it is about a three mile walk here.

Tip: Best route to walk to Penzance to Mousehole is via Newlyn, which gives you a glimpse of the fishing industry here while also enjoying the coasts.

7. Penzance

Penzance is one of the major cities in Cornwall with the railway station from the rest of England, and a popular Cornish harbor town with a range of activities. Popular beaches like Porthcurno, Praa sands and long rocky beach are nearby as well as the Minack theatre with the granite cliffs. St Michael’s mount is a spectacular tidal island here, visited by a granite causeway, only accessible during low tide. The town also has some of the best seafood restaurants and fish market.

Tip: Don’t miss walking through the Chapel street which is in the middle of the Penzance Centre and is filled with restaurants, galleries and boutiques. And of course, there is a church here, named St Marys church.

Day 2: North East Coast

8- Carnewas and Bedruthan’s Steps

Located in the north west coast path between Newquay and Padstow, Carnewas mine and Bedruthan steps offer one of the epic coastal sceneries in Cornwall, with a grand view of the Atlantic ocean. The beach here is just like Porthcurno with turquoise water and the Bedruthan steps reminds heavily of the Scotland’s Duncansby stacks. Bedruthan steps have a cliff top campsite and a car park, and is a popular destination on the Cornish coast.

Tip: Being in the open, the view here is completely weather dependant. It is best to hike around here on a sunny day. For enjoying the weather, it is best to go here on a sunny day like everywhere else in this area. I am mentioning this particularly for it being one of the best south west coastal views not to miss during Cornwall visit.

9- Padstow

Padstow is another popular fishing port on the north Cornish coast, with many attractions nearby, making it a strong candidate for Staycations. The town is filled with fisherman’s cottages and merchant’s houses, and epic holiday resorts making it a tourist hub. Some of the top beaches here include St George’s cove and Hawker’s cove that is walkable distance and there is also beached of Rock, which can be accessed by a ferry ride. Padstow harbor is bustling, with many shops and cafes around. We even saw some paddle boarders enjoying in the water. Padstow is very famous for the seafood restaurant by Rick Stein, who is a famous chef. I found the goodies pretty costly but enjoyed a stroll in the Rick Stein branded shops here.

10- Polzeath Beach

Another gem in the North Cornwall, Polzeath beach is another long sandy beach especially famous for surf lessons. This is also a family friendly beach, one of the most safest, where you can take your kids and pets. There is also parking at this beach, making it super accessible.

11- Port Isaac

This quaint fishing town is very well celebrated among tourists too, very popular as the film Doctor Martin was shot here. Houses here are clear depiction of Cornish white-washed architecture and the winding streets giving it a pretty vintage look. The village is down the coast and there is a car park at the top of the hill for visitors. When we visited, it was pouring when we reached here, so we could not stop and explore unfortunately.

12- Tintagel

Tintagel is one of the most historic and dramatic Cornwall coastal area to visit. Crowned with a castle, a stunning bridge and an outstanding cave, this British heritage site is also another place well celebrated by artists and writers.

The coastal scenery here is unmatched and the coastal walk here is highly recommended. During our visit, the weather was not safe and the tides high, so we could not go to the castle or take the alk, you shiuld have seen my disappointment face that day as I have been dreaming of walking that bridge from so long. Nevertheless, look at the coastal scenery here! Just Vow!

Even though, we could not walk around much, we did enjoy exploring the sorroundings. The view is too good from all angles.

I sat down and admired the coast for sometime, and reliving this dreamy Cornwall trip, as it was time to bid bye to Cornwall and move northwards to North Devon. I told myself that I am returning Tintagel, with plenty of time to snatch that good weather to go on that dreamy coastal walk and cross the Tintagel bridge.

Pin this Cornwall Road Trip Itinerary

Hitting the Scottish highlands has always been a dream bucket list item. I planned this 2 week Scotland road trip itinerary to the cover Scottish Highlands and nearby islands in August 2020, during covid lockdown restrictions. This ultimate Scottish highland road trip itinerary covers all the major parts of the Scottish highlands and North Coast 500 (NC500) in a week and some of the top islands and mountain regions in the mainland for another week.

Scotland Road Trip Planner

Planning this road trip was one of the most tedious itinerary planning I have ever done- largely because it is long, almost every stop throughout any route you pick is amazing and I wanted to see them all. To achieve this, I narrowed down the road trip route to take first and then came up with a complete itinerary plan, as shared below, with each itinerary item color-coded per day after reading many many blogs and consulting with travelers in my social media travel community. I am so grateful for everyone’s suggestions, as it was so helpful to make sure I covered as many classic bucket list items for a Scottish road trip.

Scotland Road Trip Planner: Top Things to Note

Scotland is part of the UK and vast but has got its main cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee in the South or Central lowlands. The northern highlands and islands which are very scenic are pretty remote.  The weather changes heavily and is extreme sometimes, hence careful planning is needed in terms of when to visit, where to stay, and even for driving if you are traveling internationally. Some of the top tips for a Scotland Road Trip to cover the Scottish Highlands are stated below.

Best Time to Visit Scotland especially for a Scenic Road Trip

The best time of the year for a road trip in Scotland aimed mainly at enjoying the scenery of highlands and enjoying the lochs will be the late Spring/Summertime between May and September. Late April will still be muddy and rainy and late may is the best. June, July, and August are the best time to visit but the busiest which makes finding parking lots and accommodations hard. Due to the popularity, it is much better to plan this trip thoroughly.

Autumn is pretty with the fall colors and winter is famous amongst tourists as well for stargazing and aurora chasing. Winter is best to avoid crowds and the scenery is pretty snowy. Your plan should really depend on which seasonal view are you aiming for. Ask me?  I plan to visit once in every season since I went there  

Driving in Scotland

As everywhere in the UK, driving is on the left-hand side of the road here and roads have roundabouts. If you are an international, you definitely want to learn about navigating roundabouts. Also, I would suggest for you be with an experienced driver and are narrow and can be challenging. You do want to take all the scenic routes for the best experience. If you are renting a car, make sure you take insurance.

When you are in Scottish highlands, the best accommodations to explore are the Bed&Breakfasts here to experience the local life. There are some amazing B&B’s to try available on all major booking sites, but for budget travelers, Airbnb comes with many B&B options too to stay with locals. Another experience not to miss here is to actually stay in a castle. There are luxurious to budget-friendly options for that. 

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. I would appreciate the support.

The Ultimate Scottish Highlands Road Trip Itinerary: Overview

We planned our Scottish highland road trip itinerary dividing into two-week blocks. We covered the Northern Highlands and North Coast 500 route during our first week and then did the islands and the northern mainland around Fort William in the second week. Dividing this way helped us find accommodations easier and cheaper as we planned everything around two main cities together. Week 1 was mainly around the city of Inverness and Week 2 was around Fort Williams and Oban. 

I will add all these here, so that you can decide the leg of the journey and move it around based on accommodation, where you would like to stay more, how long is your duration, etc. High-level destinations are covered and the length is below.

• Week 1: Scottish Highlands & NC500
  • 2 days: Cairngorms National Park, Inverness, Lochness
  • 5 days:  North Coast 500 (NC500) – Isle of Skye
• Weekend:
  • 2 days: Isle of Skye
• Week 2: Scottish Highlands and Islands
  • 3 days: Fort William
  • 2 days: Oban, Isle of Mull, Staffa
• Weekend:
  • 2 days:Isle of Kerrera, Loch Lomond National Park

The following route map shows the high-level view of the road trip route we took over the two weeks. Note that I have visited Loch Lomond and Edinburgh in an earlier separate road trip, so this Scottish highland road trip itinerary starts to the north of the main Scottish cities locations mainly around Inverness and Scottish highlands.

Scotland Road Trip Week Maps

How to Use the Scotland Road Trip Route Map?

The screen arrow button on the top left shows you the different parts of the journey with a list of landmarks to cover. You can use the share button on the map to share the map with yourself.
You can also copy the map for your perusal by going large screen and then downloading it to your Google Maps and creating your personal copy including making updates.

Tip: View in large screen for better readability by clicking the full-screen button on the top right

Scotland Road Trip Map: Downloadable Map of Full Route Taken

Scotland Road Trip Itinerary Map: Downloadable Itinerary of Week 1

Scotland Road Trip Itinerary Map: Downloadable Itinerary of Week 2

Scottish Highlands Road Trip Itinerary: Week 1

Day 1: Inverness, Scotland

The journey started from England until Inverness for us, but you can also start from anywhere in the south of Scotland to start this journey. If you are flying internationally, you can fly to Glasgow/Edinburgh and get your rental vehicle there. This is not enough to fully see Cairngorms National Park, but we got a good afternoon exploring the main lochs here and a dinner at Aviemore. We aimed to reach Inverness this day as we found accommodations there. Another option is to stay in Aviemore and give more time to Cairngorms National Park and see Lochness before going to Inverness. Lochness needs a full day to enjoy it properly.

Top Experiences of Day-1 Scotland Road Trip

• Pitlochry : A cute village perfect for a staycation in Scotland famous for the Pitlochry Dam, and some old distilleries like the Blair Altholl Distillery. There are some nice nature walks, museums and many outdoor eateries to enjoy here making it perfect for a weekend staycation. 
• Cairngorms National Park: Cairngorms and Glenmore National forest is very famous among campers and outdoor lovers. We picked two fresh water Lochs for the day as we didnt intend to stay but wanted to add open water swimming to the road trip itinerary.
  • Loch Morlich is a water sport gem in Cairngorms very famous among families. We spent some time enjoying the scenery and watch folks kayaking etc. 
  • Loch Uaine is a hidden loch in this area which is actually very shallow and perfect for an outdoor swim. We enjoyed the walk through the forest to get here. We were too late here to actually try swimming, but totally recommend it for a swim or camping in a peaceful atmosphere.

Highlights of Day-1 Scotland Road Trip

• Pitlochry
• Loch Morlich

Where To Stay & Eat?

• Inverness
• Aviemore

Day 2: Fort Augustus, Scotland

We started the day in Inverness exploring major attractions in Inverness. One of the highlights was seeing dolphins from land in Chanonry point which is an unbeatable experience in Scotland not to miss.  After the dolphin-watching experience, we spent the afternoon taking a round trip drive around Lochness with stops in the Dores beach for a lunch picnic, and in Fort Augustus for a coffee. Lochness is also the best place to aim for a staycation as the Dores have water sports which reminded me of Europe and of course lots of outdoor excursions to take. The drive from Inverness to Fort Augustus is very scenic and our first encounter of the Scottish highlands is epic in this Scotland road trip. Unfortunately, Urquhart Castle was closed due to covid, so we just got a sneak peek. 

Top experiences of Day-2 Scotland Road Trip

• Inverness Castle : A castle with the city view and very unique structure.
• Inverness Chanonry Point: One of the top places in the world to see dolphins swim from the land.
• Fairy Glen: A waterfall walk 
• Lochness Drive: Best in this area with beaches, highlands and castles on the way. Don’t miss it!
• Fort Augustus: Has the canal staircase system, try to aim to watch how boats cross this staircase if you can.
• Urquhart Castle: A castle with a view. You can see it from both sides of the Lochness if you are taking a round trip.

Highlights of Day-1 Scotland Road Trip

• Land watching dolphins in Inverness and the drive around Lochness

READ: Dolphin Watching in Chanonry Point

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Inverness
• Lochness Towns

Day 3: Wick, Scotland

We started the Scotland Road Trip 500 along the North Coat 500 route from Inverness and covered up until Wick. You can see one of the best castles in Scotland, Dunrobin Castle on this route which is worth a stroll. Whaligoe steps are another landscape in this route to not miss.

READ: Best Castles to visit in Scotland

Top experiences of Day-3 Scotland Road Trip

• Rogie Falls: This waterfall river has a unique experience to offer in summer. You can watch Salmons jumping to get back to its birth place. 
• Black Rock Gorge: This gorge is on the way, but we missed it
• Durobin Castle: This is a giant castle with a stunning garden overlooking the sea. Dont miss it and it is worth paying for.
• Camster Cairns: We missed this too as we spent a lot of time at the castle
• Whaligoe Steps: These steps to get to the sea is very unique. The landscape is huge with coves around. Fisher women used to climb these a stairs up and down in the olden daya. I was done doing this once, it is pretty much a workout but the view ia amazing. There is a cave below where you can take boat tours. This was closed due to covid so we could not experience this.
• Wick: This little town is a perfect place to stay or eat in this route. It has a large super market.

Highlights of Day-3 Scotland Road Trip

• Whaligoe Cove Steps

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Wick
• John’O Groats

Day 4: John’O Groats, Scotland

We continued the journey along the North Coast 500 route from Wick until Tongue covering the Northern tip of mainland UK called John-O-Groats. You can take a ferry from here to the Orkney Islands which is very famous for its castles, wildlife tours in this area. The Orkney Islands are also one of the best places to see the Northern lights in winter. We skipped Orkney islands during this Scotland road trip, but you could plan a day into Orkney and even stay there.

Top experiences of Day-4 Scotland Road Trip

• Ebenezer Place: Smallest street in the world located in Wick
• Duncansby Stacks :  The stacks here is massive and gives a glimpse of the Game of Thrones like landmarks in Scotland. If you are lucky you can see puffins here in July/August time. We didnt see any but I had such a grand experience of sheep traffic here.
• Dunnet Head/John o Groats: Lovely small town with a picturesque view and very iconic landmark as this is the Northern tip of the UK. What not to miss here is the Fish and Chips truck, which is one of the best I have veer had in the UK
• Thurso: Thurso is a popular town in this route famous among surfers with high Surfing waves. There are many options for accommodation here.
• Dunreay Nuclear research centre: This is a landmark marked as a photo stop but we missed it.
• Coldbackie beach: This is the first sand beach we saw in the route, fully occupied by campers and some great seafood. We didnt have time to enjoy here but worth adding more time if you love beaches.

Highlights of Day-4 Scotland Road Trip

• Duncansby Stack

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Thurso
• Tongue
• Durness

Day 5: Smoo Cave, Durness in Sutherland, Highland, Scotland

We explored the North and East of the North Coast 500 this day. Smoo Cave is pretty unique and the drive around Lochinver is one of my most favorites in NC500.

Top Experiences of Day-5 Scotland Road Trip

• Smoo cave in Durness: A cave formation with a scenic view. Entry fee is 4 pounds and it is worth to pay.
• Choco Mountain: Very famous chocolate factory in the highlands and here you can taste their fresh produce. The hot chocolates and truffles here are not to miss. 
• Sango Sands beach: A very nice beach in this area with white sand, perfect for a picnic but cant be droven into. It is about 5 miles walk from the car park and hence we didnt make it. If you would like a beach day out, you could add more time here. Our main issue was not able to find accommodation around Durness.
• B869 drive: This route along clashnessie, Clachtoll, Achmelvich beaches is a must route not to miss in your NC500 roadtrip.
• Lochinver: One of the best routes in NC500 and the bridge here is stunning. The Peers restaurant here is famous or get a pie from Lochinver Larder. This village is one of the prettiest towns for a staycation in Scotland too.
• Loch Assynt drive by  Ardvreck castle: This is a nice scenic drive, castle not so sure

Highlights of Day-5 Scotland Road Trip

• Lochinver Drive

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Durness
• Lochinver
• Ullapool

Day 6: North Coast 500, Scotland

We covered the northwestern side of the North Coast 500 route this day. This was a very rainy day and hence we took it easy and covered little on the list, but here are the top stops planned for your reference.

Top Experiences of Day-6 Scotland Road Trip

• Ardessie Falls –  Located at Garve IV23 2QY on roadside as entering Ardessie village.
• Mellon Udrigle beach: White sand beach for a non-rainy day.
• Gairloch Charlestown: You can take whale watching boat tours from here.

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Ullapool
• Torridon

Day 7: Scenic Villages in Scotland

We covered the southwestern side of the North Coast 500 route this day, which is one of the best parts of the NC500 route. It covers some of the best scenic villages in Scotland and routes of NC500 that, if you don’t have time to go up North, you could just do this drive from Ullapool to experience a great portion of NC500. Beach Na Ba drive is splendid with great views of the Skye and nearby islands.

Top Experiences of Day-7 Scotland Road Trip

• Glen Torridon drive through to Shieldaig:  Torridon  is a picturesque village and this route is very scenic. This area is perfect for a staycation, and also to see wild animals native to Scotland.
• Baelach Na Ba Drive: One of the most prettiest and complex route to drive in the NC500. It is a very narrow route, so go via this route only if you have small sized vehicles. The view of Isle of Skye from here is amazing.
• Applecross: A tiny village by the coast, and charming. Dont forget to book the restaurant “Apple Inn” here beforehand.
• Ullapool: One of the bigger towns in the NC500, absolutely amazing for seafood. You will find lots of accommodation here and the harbour is very pretty.

READ: WILD ANIMALS IN SCOTLAND AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Highlights of Day-7 Scotland Road Trip

• Baelach Na Ba View

READ: Best scenic drives in the UK

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Apple Cross
• Torridon
• Ullapool

Scottish Highlands Road Trip Itinerary: Week 2

Day 8: Southern Route of NC500

We explored the southern route of NC500 enjoying the sun in Plockton and then drive up to the Isle of Skye in the evening. The Isle of Skye was so mystical when we got there but that view is amazing. 

Top Experiences of Day-8 Scotland Road Trip

• Plockton: One of the top scenic villages covered in many movies and famous for seafood.
• Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie: One of the best castles of Scotland located in the middle of a loch and has lots of history attached. It is worth paying to go in.
• Kyle of Lochalsh: A magical loch with lots of little island views and very mystical with a great view of Isle of Skye. Don’t forget to stop at the bridge to the Skye, the view is very good from the bridge. I have noted this place for a staycation too.
• Isle of skye – Portree: Capital city of Isle of Skye was pretty mystical and magical. This little town is like in the fairy tales with colored houses and a cute harbor. The shops here are so cute and attractive.
• Fairy Glen/Cullins: We took a drive to the Fairy Glen here, which is a bit of a walk and we were too late to get in the water pool but the drive in this area is very scenic and not to miss. You will get a great view of the Cullin Hills. 

READ: Best Scottish Highland Towns to Visit in Summer

Highlights of Day-8 Scotland Road Trip

• Enjoying the fresh seafood at Plockton and Isle of Skye

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Plockton
• Kyle of Lochalsh
• Isle of Skye

Day 9: Portree Outing, Scotland

We explored the Isle of Skye taking a round of Skye which is pretty doable in a day. We only hiked the Old Man of Storr and Quaring and missed Elgol from the list. We could not make it as it was too far from the North and we only had a day. You need a day here ideally to take a boat trip to the most scenic loch in this area.

Top Experiences of Day-9 Scotland Road Trip

• Portree: The weather was better and we have been exploring Portree briefly again, this time not so mystical. Don’t miss visiting the Cafe Ariba in Portree, nice food and great view of the harbor. Portree is easily one of the top Scottish villages for a staycation.
• Old Man of Storr: We hiked up the Old Man of Storr, which is very near to Portree. The view is great on the top so be prepared to hike up for two hours
• Quarring: Most famous amongst the tourists for an easy hike!
• Uig: A harbor town in the Skye you can visit if you take a round in the Skye with pretty view.

Highlights of Day-9 Scotland Road Trip

• Old Man of Storr

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Portree
• Elgol

Day 10: Sanna Bay, Scotland

We explored the Sanna Bay the whole day driving from Fort William and back. This is a pretty beach, warm enough to try swimming and some great wildlife experience in this route. Mallaig was on the list too, but we could not make it. Another way to get to Mallaig is to catch the Harry Potter Jacobite train from Fort William.

Top Experiences of Day-10 Scotland Road Trip

• Fort William
• Sanna Bay
• Mallaig

Highlights of Day-10 Scotland Road Trip

• Swimming in Sanna Bay Beach

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Fort William
• Mallaig

Day 11: Glencoe Region, Scotland

We explored the Glencoe region and Fort William area this day. Glen Etive where the James Bond movie Skyfall is shot is marvelous.

Top Experiences of Day-11 Scotland Road Trip

• Glencoe Valley
• Glen Etive
• Kinlochleven
• Ben Nevis

Highlights of Day-11 Scotland Road Trip

• Glen Etive Valley

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Fort William Region

Day 12: Glenfinnan, Scotland

This was a Harry Potter day exploring Glenfinnan and catching the Jacobite train. We headed off to Oban from here, which is the ferry capital city in this area from where you can catch ferries to almost any island.

Top Experiences of Day-12 Scotland Road Trip

• Glenfinnan
• Neptune’s Staircase
• Oban

Highlights of Day-12 Scotland Road Trip

• Watching the Jacobite Train

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Oban
• Fort William Region

Day 13: Tobermory, Scotland

We took a ferry to the Isle of Mull and also took a boat tour to Staffa and Fingals Cave.

Top Experiences of Day-13 Scotland Road Trip

• Isle of Mull- Tobermory
• Staffa
• Fingals Cave

Highlights of Day-13 Scotland Road Trip

• Staffa and Fingals Cave

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Oban
• Isle of Mull

Day 14: Isle of Kerrera, Scotland

We explored the Isle of Kerrera taking a ferry from Oban and then headed to the Inveraray area for the night as we were going to return to England the next day.

Top Experiences of Day-14 Scotland Road Trip

• Isle of Kerrera, Tea Garden, Oban

Highlights of Day-14 Scotland Road Trip

• Gylen Castle

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Oban
• Glasgow

Day 15: Inveraray, Scotland

We explored Inveraray which was a surprise visit for me as I had no clue how charming it was. We just had gone to see the castle. We stopped by the Falls in Loch Lomond and then took the famous Ballach route back to England. It was fun to see the village Luss which I have been to before on our way as well as say Hello to Edinburgh. 

Top Experiences of Day-15 Scotland Road Trip

• Inveraray Castle
• Inveraray Town
• Loch Lomond Falls of Falloch
• Balloch

READ: Best castles to visit in Scotland

Where to Stay & Eat?

• Loch Lomond
• Inveraray
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow

READ: Best Scottish Highland Towns for a Staycation

Inveraray Village

That brings us to the end of this Scotland road trip exploring the Scottish highlands, NC500, and islands nearby.

Final Thoughts on 2 Week Scotland Road Trip

This epic Scotland road trip was a true mix of diverse experiences with scenic drives, mountains, lochs, wildlife spotting, island hopping, castles whatnot. I would go as far as singing “those were the best days of my life”. Hope you enjoyed it!  The plan worked very well for me covering all the highlights in these areas, landscapes, castles, islands, wildlife hunting you name it. As I traveled during the Covid situation, I was definitely nervous about this travel plan including being on the remote route in the middle of nowhere for long periods of time. But everything came together very well, including the journey, the stays, and the food options. I am thrilled to share my itinerary here and subscribe to my blog for upcoming journey highlights, tips, guides, etc.

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Pin This Scotland Road Trip Itinerary to Plan Your Scottish Adventures

Planning an Arizona Road Trip?

What is the Best Time to Visit Arizona?

Arizona is a desert region in America. The best time to visit Arizona falls between November to April when it is not too hot. Remember there is heavy tourist traffic to Sedona and Grand Canyon throughout the year.
The weather is known to be perfect during early November.

Need a Rental Car to Explore Grand Canyon, Arizona?

If you are flying into Arizona, you could go for a rental car option. Remember that you drive on the right side of the road in the USA. Your international driving license is valid if you feel comfortable driving. The rules are pretty easy with wide roads and clear junctions combined with the fact that most of the cars in the USA are automatic.

Where to to stay in Arizona?

Arizona is a typical American city. You could find motels, hotels, and Airbnbs everywhere. I stayed in motels during my journey booked via top hotel booking websites.
I would recommend using Airbnbs only in the cities and going for well-established hotels or motels in remote regions while on the road.

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. I would appreciate the support.

The Journey to Sedona and a Perfect Grand Canyon Vacation: Day 1

Road Trip Route in Google Maps

My friend Arun and I started our journey from Phoenix around 10 in the morning and it was expected to be a 3 hours trip to the south rim of the Canyon and the national park. As a regular Grand Canyon Visitor, our aim was to reach there late afternoon and see the Canyon during sunset. We put on some good music and excitedly started catching up on what happened in our lives since we studied together ~8 years back.

We were soon enjoying the long drive, with occasional sights of cacti and palm trees along the way, which showed the true spirit of a desert. Arun decided to make a stop for some fresh air in the middle of nowhere- totally empty but for a fascinating desert view. As soon as we stopped, another car came and stopped right in front of us with four people inside and the first thing that grabbed my attention was the four gun stickers on the rear window.

Arun was already standing outside the car while I remained inside. I silently tried to point him to the front car which left both of us super alarmed and scared. Pretending like we were just enjoying the fresh air and relaxing, we managed to spend ~10 minutes there before fleeing the situation. What a good start to the adventurous trip – guns were our most concerning element of visiting America and it turned out to be the first thing we encountered during this trip.

Sedona Red Rocks

The city of Sedona was not originally part of the itinerary of our Grand Canyon vacation and came to our attention as we entered the red rock city on our way. The red color of the rocks was very striking as we approached. A quick google search showed that this was an important landmark not to miss and to learn about.

The theme of red makes this city so beautiful especially when the sun is up. We entered the city when it was cloudy, but were lucky to get some stunning views when the sun came out shortly.

Finding a parking place here is really difficult as there are no park services. I would recommend visiting here and even stay here for a hike if you have time. This is something I gotta do again as I felt FOMO severely not knowing about this place before to have included it in our itinerary.

We continued our road trip to Grand Canyon after taking almost a two-hour break here, enjoying the views of Sedona. We even stopped at the visitor center to make some inquiries.

Grand Canyon National Park

The journey ahead from Sedona presented a wide variety of scenery including pine tree forests, cloudy skies, and desert mountains which we saw while driving on the famous Hermit road. Driving in America is such a fantastic ride especially with the wide roads and vast sky views across the horizon presenting a great view throughout.

On our way, we saw this board of Bearizona Wildlife Park in Arizona, which was our next item on our list of fears for the journey. This initiated a discussion on how dangerous bears can be, where they are found, and whether we were likely to see them.

In the evening, we also experienced some picture-perfect clouds in the sky that reminded me of how we used to draw clouds as children with horizontal bottom- such a surreal sight that validated so many childhood drawings.

Approaching the canyon, we started to see red rocks and large mountains which was very thrilling as we were very close.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon lodge very late in the evening around 6 pm, almost 3 hours later than the plan. The first sight of these marvelous rocks forming different shapes and waves of little mountains was striking.

While on the road it was pretty hot in Arizona as during all Arizona road trips and based on that we thought the temperature would be okay up in the Canyons, which turned out to be completely wrong. It was freezing there and was very difficult to survive in our thin jackets and without gloves, miles away from our comfortable hotel rooms. We somehow managed to spend a few minutes there taking some pictures while watching the sunset and the Colorado River, which was one of the most stunning views I have experienced during my Grand Canyon vacation and even during whole my life.

Activities in Grand Canyon: Day 2

Kaibab National Forest

We first drove to the Kaibab National Forest, which was a thrilling ride as it allowed driving inside. After having prolonged conversations about how bears can kill humans the previous day, we both were pretty scared and cautious while being inside the forest. It was a fun experience in the forest and overall in the South Kaibab, where we spotted some animals and took some adventurous pictures always being cautious of wild animals jumping at us at any moment – that were us accepting the risks of a Grand Canyon vacation.

Arun kept playing tricks on me by crying out there were snakes, bears, etc. behind me every time I posed for some photos. It was also fun to have a photoshoot with my less scary animal friend Catty, while Arun continues shouting about bears and snakes, that I even left Catty at the tree while I thought I was running for my life at some point.

And of course, every road trip deserves a picture climbing on the car as a ritual that I try to follow

The Grand Canyon Hike

We explored Grand Canyon and the national park in the daytime, taking a short hike around and viewing this unmatched natural beauty. The hike is a great experience and I highly recommend it. The hiking pathway is very cute and scenic while you hike around the canyons. A perfect add-on to your Grand Canyon vacation itinerary.

The look of the canyon reminded me of a big temple town scattered with many little temples. The side view of the canyons appears like waves formed of rocks.

The close-up view is amazing to see how the erosion has formed very regular shapes in steps and cuts like how you would build a building. It almost feels like a mother-nature-architected town to me. While we were hiking, we met many fellow hikers from different parts of the world including some crazy cyclists.

Hiking the Grand Canyon was a great experience. Though the planning of the trip got disrupted, it was definitely worth the extended stay. With all those good memories, we looked at our road trip itinerary and set out on Highway 40 to Las Vegas in the evening.

The detailed itinerary of all the top bucket list destinations that can be covered in this road trip below is the exclusive blogs of all parts of the journey. 

• USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California covers the itinerary of a two week road trip in South West, USA.
• The Nevada Road Trip to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam covers the most scenic routes in Nevada apart from Las Vegas.
• Los Angeles Road Trip part covers the journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles vacation and its main attractions.
• San Diego Road Trip blog covers our adventures in San Diego for three days. 

Pin the Arizona Road Trip for Future Reference

We arrived in San Diego from Los Angeles taking the California Amtrak, which was an exciting journey with great views throughout. During our visit, we explored the San Diego parks, coves, beaches, kayaking, and had a relaxing time with good food and the San Diego tourism vibes. Though we did not see the Bio-luminescence effect, my memory of San Diego remains very blue from the blue water, skies, and reflective skyscrapers I saw throughout my stay.

Top Things To Do During A San Diego Road Trip: Itinerary

San Diego is a destination for both tourists and locals alike, with some of the top things to do in California rightly available here. Visitors to San Diego will be able to take part in all sorts of activities that they would not likely find anywhere else- from world-famous zoos and aquariums, stunning beaches with some of the best surfing waves on Earth. Here are five top things visitors should do when visiting San Diego:

• La Jolla Cave
• Windansea Beach
• Old Point Loma
• Old Town San Diego
• Fifth Avenue
• Coronado Ferry Landing
• Kayaking in Coronado

La Jolla Cove

We visited La Jolla Cove on the first day after we freshened up and grabbed some lunch. La Jolla is a posh neighborhood with a very long beach famous for breath-taking sunset views and is a real tourism gem in the United States. It was so relaxing for us to walk around the beach enjoying the weather, especially after my long and hectic week of being on the road.  Considering the beauty of La Jolla, it is no surprise that it is one the top of Trip Advisor’s San Diego Itinerary recommendation lists.

The beach features majestic sea lions along with sea birds. I saw sea lions for the first time here, and they looked as relaxed as if they had just finished a feast and were sleeping it off on the rocks. Their roar sound is special and echoes on the beach.

We spent the entire evening here waiting for the sunset, watching folks enjoying kayaking and surfing as well as the sea lions.

Typically, while we were eagerly waiting for the sunset, clouds came from nowhere and filled the sky. This did not meet my expectations during my trip to San Diego but still was a nice treat for the eyes. Sunset is still a sunset (: wink

After watching the sunset, we left to meet my friends Surabhi and Aneesh for dinner. They were both my classmates during my undergraduate degree in India. I don’t recall the name of the restaurant but I do remember sharing their famous Mango Margarita on Surabhi’s recommendation and that it was situated in the old town.

We started the day by heading to the University of California, San Diego, where my friend Divya studied. I met her during an internship in 2013 and we had not seen each other for 5 years. She was aware of my San Diego vacation, so Divya joined us for this day and we started off by treating ourselves to a giant American Breakfast with pancakes, fruit, omelets, and french toast.

Windansea Beach

We first went to the Windansea beach near La Jolla and had a short walk along the shore, which was very quiet and calm.

Old Point Loma

We then headed to the Point Loma peninsula which has a park that features a lighthouse. We first saw the lighthouse and I found it interesting to see the mock-up of the old facilities arranged for sea travelers. The southern tip of Point Loma has the Cabrillo National monument, which is a spectacular view of the sea and also for the San Diego naval base.

Old Point Loma offers a cliff-top view of the sea and the heavy naval traffic. There is a big USA flag flying here and the brisk sea wind provided a very invigorating stroll.

While we were watching the sea and naval activities, we spotted a submarine approaching in the distance. This was an exciting experience as I had never seen a submarine before. We stayed a very long time watching it very closely. We even saw a whale-watching cruise ship.

After spending some more time here chit-chatting and taking pictures, we reached another cove in Point Loma Park, as part of our San Diego Road Trip.

Old Town San Diego

We drove to the Old Town San Diego to spend our late afternoon there. The old town is a fantastic area for great Mexican food, music, and cute shops. It is worth paying a visit to see the charming specialty shops and enjoy the outdoor vibe at its cafes and restaurants.

After we finished eating here, we wandered around looking at the cute shops before leaving to spend the night in the city.

Live Music Joint in Fifth Avenue

We spent the night on Fifth Avenue which has some really cool places for a night hang out. The famous Tiny Roof pub hosts ‘A Live Music Joint’ with some really cool live music performances that reminded me of a few English pubs. I really enjoyed my time here and was envious of my friends who live in this city.

Around midnight we called it a day as Andriani and I had to check out of the Airbnb early the next day as it was our last day and we had a booking for Kayaking at Coronado.

Coronado Ferry Landing

Coronado Island is a pretty amazing location which is a must-visit in San Diego, filled with many specialty shops, water sports activities, and restaurants. It has a backdrop of a spectacular view of the sea, the harbor, and the skyscrapers of San Diego. Coronado Island and San Diego city are connected by a bridge that is 200 feet high allowing for even large aircraft carriers to pass underneath. So, I started filling in my Coronado activities list and was so excited.

While we were walking around, we met with a group of girls who were singing and dancing. I approached them and requested to dance with them, much to the embarrassment of Andriani, and they were kind to agree. I at least thought those girls were really cool and definitely enjoyed the experience of joining them to dance.

Kayaking in Coronado

We went to the tour company we booked Kayaking with. It was our first time and we were assigned a guide to instruct us. We started with our full energy chanting “Left”,  “Right” to helps us row the kayak in the right order, while listening to the guide explain the history of Coronado and San Diego. Things got real when we were in the middle of the sea, far away from Coronado beach. There were fierce waves demanding a heavy workout to come back. Our guide was a young guy who had traveled a lot in South America and shared his travel stories with us throughout our venture, which was very entertaining.

Once we made it back, we spend the rest of our time in Coronado visiting shops in the city and having a delicious Greek lunch in a cute downtown restaurant. Andriani, who has a Greek origin, did not approve of the Moussaka we ate, but I thought it was good Not a bad ending for our San Diego vacation. San Diego is perfect for a weekend getaway as well with many fun things to do such as camping at the beach.

A Silly Weed Giveaway Adventure

While we were chilling and we had just a few hours before we flew back to the UK, Andriani remembered that we were still carrying the weed we bought in Los Angeles (Blog story here). As we couldn’t fly with it, the obvious answer was to throw it in the bin. However, as we know weed is very precious for some people, it felt wasteful to throw it away (says someone who is constantly scolded for wasting food as I can never finish my meal), we came up with this brilliant idea of gifting it to our kayaking guide.

We went back to the shop and asked to speak with our guide who was away but was called upon our request. When he came, we proceeded to have the most awkward conversation ever. We asked him if he smoked to which he hesitantly responded yes and naturally asked why. We told him we had some weed but we couldn’t fly with it and wanted to give it to someone.  He blushed and agreed to take it but first I demanded that he show me his ID so that I could verify his age. He went back to the shop to find his ID, while Andriani tried to contain her laughter. At this point, we also had other shopkeepers from the nearby shops getting curious about our conversation watching us. When he returned, I verified his ID and handed over the goods. He was also laughing and stated it was one of the most awkward encounters he ever had too. Oh well, we hope he had a good time with it

Leaving San Diego and the USA

It was time for us to leave and end our amazing San Diego vacation and while driving to the airport, we captured the massive blue bridge that connects the city with Coronado.

The San Diego vibe was so good and it was the perfect end to my ten-day-long road trip. With the fine weather, amazing food, and ultimate beach experience, San Diego definitely qualifies to be “America’s Finest City”.

Other USA South West Road Trips

• USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California covers the itinerary of a two week road trip in South West, USA.
• The Arizona Road Trip from Phoenix to Sedona & Grand Canyon covers the major attractions in Arizona around Sedona and Grand Canyon.
• The Nevada Road Trip to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam covers the most scenic routes in Nevada apart from Las Vegas.
• Los Angeles Road Trip part covers the journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles vacation and its main attractions.
• San Diego Road Trip blog covers our adventures in San Diego for three days. 

Pin the San Diego Road Trip for Planning Your Trip

1- Colorado National Parks

One of the best road trips in the USA has got to be in the great state of Colorado. With 4 national parks within Colorado, there’s no shortage of sights to see in this area. In this road trip itinerary, you can cover the following national parks.

National Parks

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Great Sand Dunes National Park

Best time to go: While the absolute best time to go on this Colorado road trip is summer, you’ll see less crowds in the national parks during the other seasons.

Duration: To see all four unique national parks in Colorado, you’ll want a minimum of 5-7 days to fully enjoy this road trip.

Colorado Top Stops/Itinerary

Starting in Boulder or Denver, the first national park on the list is the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is located just northwest of Boulder, and is a unique gem in the United States. Be sure to witness the alpine tundra at the Alpine Visitor Center, where the summit is over 12,000 feet! Or grab your hiking shoes and hit the trail, with over 350 miles of hiking trails available in the park.

The next park on this Colorado road trip is Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The scenic drive through the 7-mile South Rim Drive is phenomenal! Be sure to visit the Painted Wall Overlook, Devil’s Lookout and Pulpit Rock Overlook. As an international dark sky park, this is a perfect spot for stargazing, too!

In the far southwest corner of the state of Colorado is Mesa Verde National Park. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and truly a sight to see. The must-see spot in this park is the ‘green table’ where there are 600 cliff dwellings and over 4,000 archaeological sites. See how the Ancestral Puebloans lived as you marvel at this ancient community.

The last national park stop on this road trip is the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It’s a great demonstration of how diverse the landscapes truly are in the state of Colorado. If you’re up for an adventure, go off-roading up the scenic Medano Pass Primitive Road. Or go sand sledding on some of the largest sand dunes in North America!

With such a variety of sights in the great state of Colorado, this road trip has something for everyone.

2- Pacific Coast Highway- PCH California

Hands down, one of the best road trips in the USA lies in the beautiful state of California. Specifically, along the coast. The California’s Pacific Coast Highway, lovingly called PCH for short or Highway 1, hugs the entire state’s coast line, winding around curves that overlook the Pacific Ocean. You will visit one of the famous national parks during this trip.

National Park:

Redwood National Park

Duration: At the very minimum, plan for your trip to take three to four days to allow you to stop at a few sites.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

PCH Top Stops/Itinerary

The road trip technically starts in Southern California, Orange County to be specific. As you make your way up the coast, you’ll pass through the cities of Malibu, Santa Barbara, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and even San Francisco. The road trip will give you a chance to experience the most scenic landscapes in California, as well as cultural hot spots and cities throughout the state. You will also get to pass by famous sites such as the Madonna Inn, Hearst Castle, the Santa Cruz boardwalk, the Golden Gate Bridge, and even a beach whose pebbles look like colored glass. The PCH goes through one National Park, Redwood National Park, and you will discover the tallest trees in the Americas as you drive under their canopies – for free!

Best Time to Go: The best season to do a road trip along the Pacific Coast highway is between late spring and late summer/early fall. At the tail end of the hot season, California will often have wildfires raging the mountainsides, making the view muggy and ashy at best, or completely close the roads due to safety hazards at worst. Likewise, winter and early spring are California’s rainy season, turning the coastal cliffs into scary slick roads at best…or completely closed at worst. It’s best to avoid both fire and mudslide seasons all together to prevent getting stranded. 

Submitted by Kay from The Awkward Traveller

3- Arizona & Nevada

Arizona is home to some of the top national parks in USA, with incredible landscapes formed of red rocks being one of the major highlights. Nevada, the neighboring silver state is most famous for Las Vegas, but also has many scenic routes filled with range of mountains and attractions making it an amazing destination for road trips. Traveling from Arizona to California via Nevada can be a long road trip to plan for central and west America which you can even add Utah as a stop. Within Arizona, a loop road trip can be done covering some of the major highlights and national parks below.

READ: USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California via Nevada

National/State Parks:

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Sedona Red Rock State Park
• Petrified Forest National Park

Duration: This itinerary for Arizona, Nevada will take 10-14 days fully explore this area, you need at least 2 days in each of the Grand Canyon and Sedona national parks.

Best Time to Go: This road trip can be done all year around, but the best time to visit Arizona will be in spring/autumn. Summer is too hot and winter can be hard to drive.

Arizona-Nevada Top Stops/Itinerary

This road trip can begin in Phoenix or Las Vegas depending on your choice. The itinerary is laid out for starting from Phoenix. The first visit is Saguoro National Park in Tucson to see the Sonoran desert cacti beauty Arizona has to offer. You can stay the night in Saguoro or Holbrook depending on when you prefer driving etc. Cover Petrified Forest National Park and monument valley over the next 1 or 2 days. Don’t miss the famous Forrest Gump point for a picture in monument valley. From there, head onto Antelope Canyon and the Horse shoe bend the next day. You could stay somewhere near Page that day and head to Sedona the next day. It is best to see the red rocks in Sedona during sunset or sunrise. Spend 1 or 2 days in Sedona and head onto Grand Canyon National Park. Spend another 1 or 2 days exploring the Grand Canyon and drive towards Las Vegas via Hoover Dam. This drive has some epic highways not to miss. At this point you could either fly home from Las Vegas, or end your trip returning back to Phoenix from the Grand Canyon not covering Nevada at all.

4- New England – South & North

New England on the East Coast of the USA is referred to as the Europe of USA. Many places are named after European cities like Cambridge in Boston, Montpellier in France, Manchester in Vermont etc. With islands and charming B&B’s and Cottages, this region is one of the most popular touristic destinations and has some charming scenic routes to take for an epic road trip. You need at least 2 weeks to fully see this region, but you can always choose to cover only the South or the North of New England to cut down time as needed.

READ: An Epic Fall Foliage Road Trip Itinerary for Vermont

National Parks/Forests:

• Green Mountain National Forest
• White Mountain National Forest
• Acadia National Park

Best time to go: The best time for a New England road trip is Fall, with some of the world’s best autumnal views. Winter is famous for a visit as well with multiple winter outdoor sports destinations.

Duration: You need at least 3-5 days for Vermont to explore the scenic routes including the Scenic 600 route. New England also needs at least 3-5 days to fully explore, or a weekend for going to the Acadia.

Vermont Top Stops/Itinerary

This road trip can begin from Boston or even New York if you don’t mind the longer drive. The itinerary here is listed based on starting from Boston. Head to Wilmington to start the scenic route 100 in Vermont northwards up to Stowe. A fall foliage road trip in Vermont is best done with just this route to take in the beauty. Some of the top stops in this route include Woodstock, Mount Killington and Montpelier where you can find plenty of places to stay. This covers a good part of Green National Fort. Explore Montpelier, the capital city of Vermont for at least a day and visit Burlington if you have time from there. This can be a 3-5 day trip on its own. For further exploration head towards the North of England via White National Forest to Maine. Maine has many scenic towns to visit. The next major destination is Acadia National Park which can be explored in 2 days. Then drive towards Boston via Portland and Portsmouth, two major towns worth spending one day each. Other places to visit in this region include Martha’s vineyard,

5- Utah National Parks

Utah is home to five stunning national parks and you can see all of them in one epic road trip! 

National Parks

• Zion National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Arches National Park
• Canyonland National Park

Known as the Mighty 5, the national parks Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands, are full of red rock canyons, and vistas reminiscent of the old west. 

Duration: To fully explore all the five national parks, you would need 10 days minimum.

Utah Top Stops/Itinerary

To start your road trip, you’ll want to fly into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. From there, hit the road in a car, but make sure you set aside about ten days to make the best of this Mighty 5 road trip. 

In Zion you’ll need to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails. The Narrows is a bucket list worthy hike that’ll have you hiking in the river 20 to 30 feet wide, while canyon walls tower up to a thousand feet above you. 

After Zion, Bryce Canyon does not disappoint. The amphitheater is what the park is best known for, and the views at sunrise and sunset are incredible. Bryce also sits at a higher elevation, so expect cooler weather. 

Capitol Reef is perhaps the most underrated of all the parks, and has the least crowds. Check out the orchards, have a pie, and hit the trails here as well. 

Finally, you’ll end the trip in Moab, home to Arches and Canyonlands. The hike to Delicate Arch at Arches is a must do! In Canyonlands, the views go on for miles. 

Try this road trip in the spring or fall months for best weather, and smaller crowds! 

Submitted by Ale Leon from Sea Salt & Fog

6- Utah: Moab (Arches to Canyonlands via Gemini Bridges)

Moab is home to some of the most alluring desert magic the USA has to offer, and this road trip is all about exploring the Mars-like views this slice of Utah has to offer.

Moab Top Stops/Itinerary

To start the road trip off, head to Arches National Park and spend the day exploring the park to hit up the most beautiful arches it has to offer (Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch are a must). The Arches Scenic Drive is a 36-mile drive where you’ll get to see some of the biggest highlights of this national park if you’d rather not break a sweat during a hike. Drive back to Moab or spend the night camping in Arches (it’s renowned for being one of the best places for stargazing, so camping is a real treat here!).

Next, head to Canyonlands National Park via the Gemini Bridges – this is one of the most scenic drives in Moab and offers some insanely good views of Arches and the La Sal Mountains in the distance (note that you’ll need a high clearance vehicle for this road!).

Once in Canyonlands, you can visit the Island in the Sky District to see even more arches and strange rock formations on easy hikes or opt to drive the Island in the Sky Scenic Drive which provides views of the sheer cliff drop-offs into the canyons below. 

If you want to make your road trip a little longer, you can also visit the southern section of The Needles, where you’ll find hikes for more intrepid travelers, try your hand at off-roading, or go all in and go on a backpacking adventure.

Submitted by Gabby Abbott from Journey to the Destination

7- Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a beautiful, scenic drive spanning 469 miles from Cherokee, North Carolina to Charlottesville, Virginia. This parkway through the Appalachian mountains has beautiful views, amazing hiking trails, and plenty of waterfalls. The Blue Ridge Parkway has even been named “America’s Favorite Drive” and it definitely deserves that title! 

Duration: While the Blue Ridge Parkway can technically be completed in a day, I would recommend spending 3-7 days experiencing the parkway! This will give you enough time to go hiking, see the waterfalls, and spend some time in each town.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Blue Ridge Parkway Top Stops/Itinerary

With so many great stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway, it can be difficult to decide what to do. I recommend spending some time in Cherokee, NC to learn about Cherokee history and culture, Asheville, NC to enjoy some craft beer, Mount Mitchell, NC to reach the highest point east of the Mississippi River, and Roanoke, VA to learn more about America’s past.

While the Blue Ridge Parkway goes through some amazing towns, this roadtrip is an outdoor lover’s dream! Spending some time hiking and exploring waterfalls is a must.

Here are some of the best waterfalls to check out during your trip:

• Linville Falls
• Crabtree Falls
• Looking Glass Falls
• Graveyard Fields Falls
• Apple Orchard Falls 

Here are some of the best hikes to do during your trip:

• Graveyard Fields
• Devil’s Courthouse
• Waterrock Knob
• Humpback Rocks Loop
• Flat Top Mountain

Submitted by Gabby Abbott from Journey to the Destination

8- Western National Parks

One of the USA’s best road trips is the stunning drive to see three of the best national parks in the west.

National Parks

• Glacier National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park

Duration: 5-7 days

Western National Parks Top Stops/Itinerary

Starting in Montana at Glacier National Park, you’ll want to spend at least 2 days exploring Lake McDonald, Avalanche Lake, and the iconic Going To The Sun Road. If you have the time, take a day to visit the gateway town of Whitefish, Montana.

Afterward, you’ll head south to America’s 1st National Park, Yellowstone. Yellowstone is massive and spans three different states. You’ll want at least 2-3 days to do justice to this epic national park. Yellowstone is unique for its location on top of a supervolcano. It’s a hotbed of interesting geothermal activity, so the main activities are viewing mesmerizing hot springs and exploding geysers. Make sure to see Old Faithful Geyser go off, then hike to Fairy Falls with a stop at the Grand Prismatic Overlook, and the trek along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. If you have extra time, take a scenic drive through the Lamar or Hayden Valley to see if you can spot bison, bears, wolves, or elk.

Next, you’ll take the quick one-hour drive to see your last National Park, Grand Teton. While they’re close in proximity, Teton is nothing like Yellowstone. Teton is an excellent hiking destination with gorgeous alpine lakes to dip into on a hot summer’s day. It’s a small park, so one day is enough to take a hike around Jenny Lake and watch the sunset over the Teton Mountain Range from Colter Bay. If you have more time, you’ll want to include some time in the hip mountain town of Jackson, Wyoming.

Best Time To Go: The best time to make this National Parks road trip is from late spring to early fall. Summer is the ideal time, but you might have to deal with crowds and expensive lodging. If crowds aren’t your thing, the best time is right after Labor Day weekend when the weather is still warm enough to enjoy water activities, and the crowds will have thinned out.

Submitted by Christina from Live A Wilder Life

9- Oregon Coast

One of the best road trips around the Pacific Northwest is exploring the Oregon Coast. The area is filled with beaches, rainforests, shipwrecks, cute coastal towns, waterfalls, sand dunes, and wildlife. There is so much to do, and the best part is that you can visit here all year round. 

Oregon Coast Top Stops/Itinerary

If you are starting from Northern Oregon, start at Fort Stevens State Park. This black sand beach has a neat shipwreck called Peter Iredale Shipwreck and is a great place to photograph. Next, check out Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park. The sea stacks in this area are out of this world. There are also many beaches and hikes to enjoy and people also love to bring their pets. Next, check out the underrated hug point. Hug point is absolutely stunning and has many sea creatures, caves, and a waterfall. Yes, a waterfall on a beach! 

Afterward, make sure to check out Cape Kiwanda for sunset. This sea stack is breathtaking and is a great spot to have a picnic with the whole family. The last area that is highly recommended is the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor area. The dreamy vibes of the natural bridge is one of the most photographed places in Oregon.

Best Time to go: No matter when you go, the Oregon Coast is a magical and whimsical experience for any outdoor lover. 

Submitted by Michelle from The Wandering Queeen

10- Big Bend National Park, Texas

A road trip from Austin to Big Bend National park is an epic road trip experience like no other. From mountains to valleys, to desserts – you will experience nature at its finest and get to take in some of the best art and culture that Texas has to offer. 

National Park:

Big Bend National Park

Duration: This trip can be done in 3-5 days

Big Bend Top Stops/Itinerary

Start your adventure in Austin. Ideally, you’d want to spend 2 days here. Start off with a visit to the Texas State Capitol, followed by lunch at Hop Doddy’s or at Guerro’s Taco Bar on South Congress. Enjoy the afternoon checking out the cute stores on South Congress. Finish off with a walk down South Congress bridge to see the bats in the summer or kayak down the beautiful Ladybird lake. For dinner head over to Rainey Street and stop at one or many bars that line the street while enjoying a local band. On Day 2, you can hike or bike downtown lake and then head over to Barton Springs Road to enjoy the awesome food trucks. Take a dip in Barton Springs pool or relax by Zilker Park post-lunch. End the day by taking the music scene on 6th street. 

The next stop is Marfa which is 6.5 hours away. Marfa is popular for its many unique art galleries including Prada Marfa and the mysterious Marfa Lights. Spend at least a day exploring this unique and artsy city. Stay at one the epic tipis at El Cosmico. 

End your trip at the spectacular Big Bend National Park. Spend 3-4 days exploring Big Bend. Do some hikes, do some stargazing, camp at one of the campgrounds or try glamping. If you have more time, you can explore some other places around Big Bend. Most of Big Bend gets very hot in the summer and lacks shade on trails. The best time to go would be between November and April when the days are cooler. You’re guaranteed a great time!.

Submitted by Preema from Wine Travel Kids

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Being an ultimate Norway fan, Tromso was my obvious city of choice to chase Northern lights or Aurora and I spent 3 days in Tromso in winter in January.  At the same time, I also wanted to explore the picturesque villages and fjords outside the city, as well as experience some of the arctic adventures like whale watching, dog sledding, and many more. during my visit. Keeping all this in mind, I planned a one-week road trip for my Arctic expedition with 3 days in Tromso. While venturing out on multiple Northern Lights chases in around Tromso, we experienced nothing short of epic Norwegian landscape on the neighbouring islands and fjords.

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. I would appreciate the support.

Chasing Northern Lights in Tromso

If watching Northern Lights is big on your travel bucket list, DONT MISS our Ultimate Guide to Chasing Northern Lights Guide I have written from my first hand experience of a one week road trip around Arctic including Tromso. The guide shares top tips including top locations in a list of best places to see Northern lights in the Arctic and the smart phone applications to use for maximizing your chances of seeing the lights.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Chasing Northern Lights

Best Time to Visit Tromso

The best time to visit Tromso/Arctic for seeing the Northern Lights is in winter- starting from mid-September until mid-April. I visited  Tromso during peak wintertime in January to also enjoy other winter adventures like whale watching, dog sledding, reindeer sledding etc. Personally, I would recommend aiming for the “Peak Winter” period, between November and February. But, if you hate brutal winter, try October/November or February/March.

Driving in Tromso in Winter

If you are visiting internationally flying into Tromso or other Arctic cities in Sweden, you could opt for rental car option if you would like to drive around and chase Auroras yourself. Remember that you drive on the right side of the road in Europe same as in the USA. Your international driving license is valid if you feel comfortable driving. Rental cars come fully equipped for a winter drive. If you are wondering if it is safe to drive in Tromso in winter, the answer is it is a bit tricky to drive in extreme winter here. We encountered icy roads many times and some of us who had prior experience driving in snow hard. So my suggestion is to only go for it if you have advanced driving experience- Safety First! 

Find Best Rental Car Deals Here

Where to to stay in Tromso?

Tromso and other Arctic cities around give you the opportunity to experience Scandinavian living. There are many Airbnbs and cottages that are worth a stay. I would particularly recommend staying in the colorful cabins of Tromso. We stayed in multiple Airbnbs, both modern Scandinavian as well as in remote cottages- they were all amazing diverse experiences. One top tip is to check accommodation reviews with the possibility to see Northern Lights from the stay itself. If you don’t have a car, just stay in the Tromso city itself, as it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I recommend the bridge view.

Waking up to Tromso was like waking up in a dream, the Airbnb where we stayed was just behind a lake with a great view. I really love the houses painted in teal, green, grey, etc.

What to Pack for Tromso in Winter

There are many different things to pack for your trip depending on what activities or events will best suit you during your stay. Your packing list must include:

• Snow boots
• Merino wool socks/underwear
• Thermal layers
• Fleeces
• Ski pants
• Waterproof jackets
• Gloves
• Scarf
• Beanies/Winter Hat

These are really important and remember it is not about having one thick jacket but many layers in cold climates. Another top tip is if you care to have good pictures get a coloured jacket, as it is just 1 or 2 hours of sunlight during this season.

Tromso Road Trip Planner

Planning a road trip in Tromso was one of the most exciting things ever. Our main goal for a road trip was to go on a northern light chasing trip all around the North Arctic countries covering Norway, Sweden, Finland. We made a list of things to do in winter in these regions and planned a route to cover the major destinations while planning winter outdoor activities during the dark day time.

Within Tromso, our route mainly involved the famous locations for Northern lights as listed below, apart from all the major attractions in the city itself.

• Kvaloya
• Ersfjordbon
• Tromvik
• Sommaroy and
• Camp Tamok

We visited Camp Tamok for the dog sledding tour and also went on a whale watching tour from the Tromso harbour. Arrival in Tromso was a magical experience as we landed while it was snowing heavily and our first moments there were already so fascinating and much of a contrast to what we’d left behind in UK.

Things to Do in Tromso in Winter

Best way to spend your Tromso days in winter is to visit some of the top landmarks and nearby villages and spend the night hunting for a longer Aurora experience. Here are the top activities to explore Tromso in Winter.

1- Stay at a cozy wooden cabin in Tromso Mountains or Coast

One of the best ways to experience Tromso magic is to stay in a cozy cabin surrounded by the snowy landscape of the season. The Airbnb we stayed at offered a stunning view of the city and sea and if the skies were clear, would have been a great location to see the Northern lights from but we weren’t so lucky.

2- Explore the Snowy Fjords and the Sea by taking a walk

Norwegian snowy landscape is a visual treat in this season and taking a walk around the coast is highly recommended for stunning views. When we went for a walk, I fondly recall how everyone walked in different directions to explore this calm and silent world as opposed tothe usual city trips where we are all constantly chatting along with the usual hustle and bustle.

3- Visit the Arctic Cathedral

The Arctic Cathedral (Tromsdalen Church) in Tromso has a unique triangle shape with colourful stained glass windows, and is a popular landmark to visit in this area. You will see it often when you drive across the Tromso bridge, a stunning white architecture standing tall. While the exterior is super pretty (check out Google for some stunning aerial shots.) the interior leaves something to be desired. I would not recommend going in unless you love to visit churches or want to support the locals by paying for the entry fee.

4- Ride the Tromso Funicular/Cable Car

Tromso also has a cabel car or funicular service to take you up the snowy mountains. If you go up the funicular you land on the snowy mountain to get one of the best views of this city, which easily ranks as my most favourite city view so far. There is a glorious shape to the city from the top, showcasing the islands, bridges, and mountains. It was a lot to digest how pretty a city and parts of the planet can be sometimes. We did not manage to capture stunning shots really as it was always a battle between getting the light settings just right and still being able to feel your fingers, but trust me this was breath taking.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Chasing Northern Lights

Note that this is a prime location to see the Auroras on a clear sky day. As you can see there were clouds for us and although we waited as long as we could, we did not see the lights here. either (: bad luck:) The sky did get slightly clearer at some point so that we could see this oval shape of light surrounding the moon. This is a very common view in the Arctic sky and is a treat to the eyes, while we pondered about the magnificent universe and galaxy we are revolving in for every moment we spend on the planet.

5- Go on a Northern Lights Tour

As we didn’t manage to see lights from our own attempts of chasing Northern lights driving around Tromso, we decided to seek expert help. We booked our trip with the company Tromso Safari (Read details in my Aurora hunting blog, why we chose the company etc.). We boarded their bus from the city hoping to see the lights that night and praying to the weather god to bless us.

The snow mountain camp we were taken to was amazing with little huts organized to welcome the guests. You get all essential gear here including ski jackets, tripods, etc. We were also served some delicious Norwegian cheese dessert and tea as we sat waiting for the sky to get clearer. The fireplace really added extra warmth to this whole experience.

Click here for an Aurora Chasing Tour in Tromso

While we waited for the Auroras, we had some fun there playing with some photography tricks. I tried to showcase my handwriting skills with the torch on my phone while the fellow photographers clicked. I am super jealous of these folks now as I don’t have this Norway-printed picture. Gotta do this againnnnnn.

6- Aurora Hunting in Tromso Island: Kvaloya

Road tripping around Tromso at night chasing Northern lights is one of the unique experiences here, which was the primary goal of this trip. We drove around Kvaloya, Tromvik, and Ersfjordbotn but were not successful to see the lights, but some of our friends who visited after a week did see the lights in this area. Having favourable weather is such an important factor in seeing Auroras.

7- Go on a Whale Watching Tour

Tromso is one of the best places for whale watching in Europe, with lot of whale watching tours organized during the season. The cruise takes almost 4-5 hours as they take you to the ocean where the whales live, but the tour is incredibly worth it for the fjord views throughout which is dramatic and breath-taking.

If you get sea sick, don’t forget to grab the sea sickness tablets which do work like a charm. Most of the tours provide appropriate clothing and refreshments. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the wildlife very close.

8- Go on a Dog Sledding Tour or Reindeer Sledding Tour

Another great Arctic winter experience is to go on a dog sledding tour or a reindeer sledding tour in the fjords. This is a fun family friendly activity that lets you discover the mountains while sledding with some cute huskies or reindeers. There are many organized tours for this both during the day time or night time. The night time sledding can be combined as a northern light tour, as the sledding company takes you through locations where you can watch Aurora Borealis on a clear night sky.

READ: Dog Sledding in Tromso, Norway

Final Thoughts: 3 Days in Tromso

Tromso is a great place to visit in winter. There are many things you can do here to keep yourself entertained, including visiting museums and taking tours of the city. If you’re looking for a winter vacation destination that’s completely different than the rest, Tromso is worth considering. With its snowy mountains and Scandinavian charm, this Norwegian town has something to offer every traveller in one way or another.

• Book a Dog Sledding Experience
• Book whale watching in the fjords

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Las Vegas to Hoover Dam Road Trip : Overview

Las Vegas to Hoover Dam is more than just a car ride. It’s an epic journey with plenty of stops along the way for exploring and sightseeing. 

Distance from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam

From the city of Las Vegas, Route 93 North takes you through 60 miles and two hours on your way to Hoover Dam. You can do this road trip in between an hour and a half hours and two hours depending on traffic conditions.

Las Vegas Airport to Hoover Dam

If you are driving from Las Vegas International airport you’ll be happy to know that the drive to Hoover dam is less than two hours and 60 miles. You might want to consider a tour with one of the many exciting options if you are not able to take a rental car yourself.

Hoover Dam Visitor Centre

The Hoover Dam Visitor Center is a modern, interactive museum that provides visitors with an up-close experience of this engineering marvel. With exhibits and tours for all ages, the visitor center offers something for everyone.

– All ages can enjoy the exhibits and tours at Hoover Dam Visitor Center. The museum is geared toward kids with interactive displays that teach about electricity and engineering while still being engaging for adults visiting on their own or in a group.

– You can also take an elevator ride to see the inner workings of this iconic landmark from a bird’s eye view!

Pro Tips: Arrive early if you want to beat the crowds as lines tend to get longer later in the day. Daily guided tour times are offered every hour on the half-hour from noon – 12 pm ET.

Las Vegas to Hoover Dam Road Trip Itinerary: Top Stops

Stop 1 – Lake Mead

On your way, you will first stop at this spectacular man-made lake which is one of the best lakes I have ever seen. Lake Mead is a manmade reservoir that supplies water for the surrounding area and also produces hydroelectric power. It has fluctuating levels due to the release of water downstream, but it always provides essential services in addition to being one of America’s largest lakes!

Stop 2- Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is one of America’s most iconic landmarks. It spans the Colorado River and creates Lake Mead, a man-made lake that can store up to 29 billion cubic meters of water. The dam also produces electricity through hydroelectric generators for millions living nearby. Hoover Dam is located on the border of Arizona and Southern Nevada, where the dam is constructed across the Colorado river whose middle forms the border of these two states. 

READ: Best Road Trips in USA covering major national parks

The water is very clear and almost still with tiny ripples making it a very calm atmosphere. The Hoover Dam bridge is very similar to the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls, Canada. This dam near Vegas gives a good view of all the engineering work done for its construction and operation and will leave you awestruck.

Stop 3 – Boulder City

We took the route via Boulder City to catch the I-15S highway, as our next destination was Los Angeles in California. Boulder City is a nice small city with some amazing art spotted here and there, where we stopped briefly in the city for a short break and a coffee. The number plate board in different designs of various states was interesting and I have got one of them.

From here, we continued our journey to Los Angeles taking the highway I-15S. On our way, I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. I was lucky to find a quick stop to capture the moment.

READ: An Epic Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

Explore other Road Trips in the USA South West

If you wish to find out more about all these top bucket list destinations for road trips, below are the detailed blogs of all parts of the journey. 

• USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California covers the itinerary of a 2 week road trip in South West, USA.
• The Arizona Road Trip from Phoenix to Sedona & Grand Canyon covers the major attractions in Arizona around Sedona and Grand Canyon.
• Los Angeles Road Trip part covers the journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles vacation and its main attractions.
• San Diego Road Trip blog covers our adventures in San Diego for three days. 

Los Angeles Vacation : Overview

This epic Los Angeles road trip itinerary which is the third instalment of a USA South West road trip from Arizona to California via Nevada. During our visit, we explored the LA life visiting some beaches, Hollywood staples and had my ultimate La La Land experience gazing at the Californian sky at night from Mount Hollywood.

We drove ~300 miles non-stop from Las Vegas to LA on Highway I-15S which I think was the most difficult drive during the trip to California, especially when getting closer to LA. There was very heavy traffic and restless drivers switching lanes often without warning, which felt like a video game where you only get one life. If you don’t feel like driving yourself, you can find some cheap bus tickets from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on Wanderu and let someone else do the driving.

While I was in LA, the traffic reminded me of the opening song of La La Land, Another day of sun, showcasing bored drivers dancing in a LA traffic jam. It was very obvious why Los Angeles is one of the best places to visit in USA judging from the first look and vibe.

7 Unique Things to do during a Los Angeles Vacation

Los Angeles has so much that you could do, so don’t forget to include some of these top ten things on your itinerary during your Los Angeles vacation. Some of the unique attractions in LA include:

1. Beaches: Los Angeles has some great beaches to relax and explore. The first place I would recommend to visit is LA is the Venice Beach boardwalk. On a sunny day, this place can be so beautiful with all of its bright colours and people walking to their destination. Enjoy some seafood at one of the restaurants that line up along the beach side or take in some entertainment from street performers on Santa Monica pier!
2. Universal Studios: If you love theme parks, you may want to check out Universal Studios Hollywood which features famous attractions such as King Kong 360-degree Experience and Water world. These attractions are not only great for children, but also fun for adults!
3. Museums: With more than 400 different museums located within city limits, Los Angeles offers something for everyone when it comes to sightseeing. Museums range from art galleries such as LACMA and MOCA to space exploration centres like NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
4. Rodeo Drive: For those who love shopping then Rodeo Drive is the perfect place to go with its luxury brands lining up store front after store front. Or if diamonds are what sparkle in your eye, there is no better location than Beverly Hills’ famed jewellery district known as “The Block”.
5. Art Galleries: LACMA & MOCA, both art galleries offer their own special exhibits that can range from modern art pieces to space exploration technology.
6. Disneyland/Disney California Adventure: If you are a disney fan or not, these theme parks are just so fun filled for anyone.
7. JPL Space Exploration Museum: If space exploration is what intrigues you then this may be one of your favourite spots during your stay – it features everything from Mars rovers to space expeditions all within city limits!
8. Griffith Observatory: Located atop Mount Hollywood, this observatory offers one of the most breath-taking views in Los Angeles as well as a planetarium, exhibition hall and educational resources for all.
9. Hollywood Wax Museum: Here you can take your family to see some of Hollywood’s biggest stars – such as Marilyn Monroe or Leonardo DiCaprio – right before your eyes!

Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

So ready for some adventure in Los Angeles? Here are some ideas for your first time Los Angeles road trip itinerary, based on our first road trip here:

• Explore Venice City & Beach
• Santa Monica Pier
• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Beverly Hills
• Hollywood Sign Board
• Griffith Observatory
• Universal Studios

Venice City Beach

If you’re looking for some adventure, head on over to Venice Beach! You can’t really say you have been to LA without visiting this historic beach town. Venice Beach is an artistic hub and a mecca for all things summer. To get there, take the 10 freeway going South. It’s about a 20 minute drive from downtown LA. Park near the pier and walk up the boardwalk to the street.

Venice is a neighbourhood with residential and commercial areas next to a beautiful beach and gains its name probably from the residential complexes being connected by canals resembling the Italian Venice.

The Venice beach vibe is too good with folks and families all around enjoying activities such as cycling, running, skateboarding, BIRD-ing and you will also come across surfers, artists, performers, etc. I envied a few folks who were reading books in hammocks tied around the palm trees.

The public Art Walls of Venice are definitely worth a visit during your California vacations, they showcase stunning street art, not just on the walls themselves but also on nearby trees. We met and spoke with some artists busy painting while we were there and found some had travelled from around the world to paint on these walls. Graffiti artists are one of my favourite people on the planet, just like musicians, they can put out a lot of their thoughts so loudly via their paintings. Respect!

The Venice Beach Boardwalk is a one-mile street market that runs parallel to the beach and has lots of many funky shops and street performances by free-spirited people. While you enjoy all the weird and wonderful creative activities, you can also try a wide variety of food here. We were aware that in California marijuana is legal so when we saw the underground based marijuana shops, we decided to go try that too. If you are feeling adventurous, you need your passport to get hold of one.

Santa Monica Pier

Head on over to Santa Monica Pier for an iconic LA experience. The pier is a great place to take in the beauty of Southern California, and get some fresh ocean air! You can sit at one of the many restaurants, snack bar or ice cream shop that line the boardwalk. There are also carnival games and other amusements such as “The Revenge from Mars” arcade game you can play (even if you’re not into video games)!

Santa Monica Pier is very charming with lots of fun activities and parks making it a great place for a family day out. We strolled around for around two hours enjoying some live music, street shopping and even watching some scuba divers in the blue sea.

To reach Santa Mo in LA, take the 101 or 110 freeway going West. The pier will be on your left as you reach Pacific Coast Highway, just before Lawry’s Restaurant.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

We headed towards Hollywood Boulevard to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame first – one f the main destinations during a trip to Los Angeles This street has brass stars of all the famous celebrities engraved on them. We followed the star lane and managed to spot one name which we all recognized as the star of the American guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. 

Rodeo Drive & Beverly Hills

Next, it was time to head towards the famous Beverly Hills which is a popular hunting ground for celebrity spotting as many famous celebrities live nearby. We have all watched many of those videos of celebrities shopping around here, so we wanted to make sure we saw this place. Of course, we had no intentions of scrutinizing people’s faces or quizzing anyone if they had seen any celebrities around

Sunset Boulevard

While we were strolling around, we were approached by many tourism agents who were offering to take us for a ride and offering their vacation packages to show us some celebrity houses. We were not going to pay the price for the guide but got intrigued and decided to take the Google approach to hunt celebrity homes. We read an article about a boy in Sunset Boulevard who sold maps containing the location of all the celebrity homes in the area and we became determined to obtain one for ourselves. We set off focused on hunting the celebrity map boy and almost forgot about hunting for the celebrity houses themselves. Throughout our searching we didn’t manage to spot anyone on the streets and found the majority of houses had huge gates that blocked any views, so after almost an hour we conceded defeat and decided to go check out the Hollywood sign instead since we at least knew where that was.

Hollywood Sign Board

We were pretty convinced that Hollywood board wouldn’t be anything pretty but for the sake of ritual we needed to check it off our list of California road trip ideas, as couldn’t say we’d been to LA but not seen the famous board itself. We drove as far as we could up the hill and discovered that to get to the sign itself required a long hike but after our unsuccessful celebrity hunting we didn’t have the energy left for this and decided the view from the Griffith Observatory in Mount Hollywood would be good enough for us.  

I captured a LA traffic from the top of the Hill when it again reminded me of the La La Land song, Another Day of Sun, and the lyrics.

“Climb these hills,
I’m reaching for the heights,
And chasing all the lights that shine,
And when they let you down,
You’ll get up off the ground,
‘Cause morning rolls around,
And it’s another day of the sun”

Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek
Music Composer, Lyricist

It was sooo…… relieving to get a picture with the Hollywood board from the Griffith Observatory before the sunsets. 

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is a public astronomy site also located on Mount Hollywood and gives one of the best views of the LA basin. The observatory makes a perfect location for either a romantic or geeky day out, or both, with a variety of attractions including a planetarium, geeky shops, cafes, and a public telescope to gaze at the Californian sky. It is a heaven for science lovers and when I saw Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s books in the stores, I just wanted to sit there and read them all maybe another time!

One of the main attractions here was the Pieces of Sky exhibition,  which displays actual meteorite pieces that had been excavated across the US. I found it so exciting to see these pieces that had originated far out in the solar system and fell to Earth many years ago.

Overall the Griffith Observatory was my favorite landmark in LA, and it gave me the ultimate La La Land experience. The sunset and city views from here were so magical and dreamy. I walked around many times and was constantly reminded of the La La Land movie poster. 

Other USA South West Road Trips

• USA South West Road Trip from Arizona to California covers the itinerary of a two week road trip in South West, USA.
• The Arizona Road Trip from Phoenix to Sedona & Grand Canyon covers the major attractions in Arizona around Sedona and Grand Canyon.
• The Nevada Road Trip to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam covers the most scenic routes in Nevada apart from Las Vegas.
• San Diego Road Trip blog covers our adventures in San Diego for three days.

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Vermont Road Trip Planner

New England on the east coast of the USA is one of the most gorgeous places to experience the ultimate beauty of Fall and the state of Vermont takes the crown. During the Autumn season here, you will have one of the best leaf-peeping experiences– whilst enjoying the natural Fall exhibition just during your drive, strolling in scenic state parks, hiking mountain ranges, or even exploring stunning waterfalls in this area. I came back with strong feelings for the state of Vermont and its people- it is by far my most favorite state in America. I will also go again, so let us say this was a beginning for me too.

Some of the top places to visit in Vermont in Fall include:

• Green Mountain National Forest
• White Mountain National Forest
• Montpelier
• Burlington
• Stowe
• Scenic Route 100

Why Fall is the Best Time to Visit Vermont?

The Fall foliage starts in mid-September and lasts until mid-October. I visited at the beginning of October when the leaves are more reddish however if you’re looking for yellow colors, visiting earlier is advised. Personally, I would recommend aiming for “Peak Foliage” in mid-October and the USA long weekend of October 12th for Columbus day is perfect for this Fall Road Trip.

Where to to stay in Vermont?

Vermont is more like a European Travel experience when it comes to the stay. There are many inns and B&Bs run by locals which I would recommend as your first choice to experience the local life. I stayed in a lovely Airbnb which was very similar to a Scottish B&B and I would rate my stay here as one of the best Airbnb stays ever.

Need a Rental Car in Vermont?

If you are visiting internationally flying into New York or Vermont, you could go for a rental car option. Remember that you drive on the right side of the road in the USA. Your international driving license is valid if you feel comfortable driving. The rules are pretty easy with wide roads and clear junctions combined with the fact that most of the cars in the USA are automatic.

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. I would appreciate the support.

3 Day Itinerary for a Fall Foliage Road Trip in Vermont

We embarked on a Vermont Fall road trip as part of a Week East Coast Road trip traveling from Florida to Boston. This Vermont road trip itinerary starts from Albany and made our up North with stops at villages and parks in the Green Mountain National Forest until arriving at Montpelier, the capital city of Vermont. In the following days, we also covered the Vermont scenic 100 route and two mountain ranges, Mount Mansfield and Killington. Below is the route we followed color-coded per day for this amazing fall foliage road trip in Vermont. Let us enjoy the fall visual show of Vermont together.

READ: Best Road Trips in USA for your American Road Trip Bucket List

Day 1: Green Mountain National Forest

Stop 1: Jamaica State Park

Our first stop in Vermont was the Jamaica State Park which is located in a small picturesque village Jamaica in the south of Vermont. The state park needs a pass to enter and it is best to check the activities before you go. We only strolled around the village. 

The short walk from the village to the park is stunning with amazing views of colorful houses embedded into nature along the West River and an amazing bridge called the Wardsboro bridge forming a great frame.

There is a hike from here to the Ball Mountain Dam via Hamilton Falls which we missed as our itinerary was tight, I would advise planning to spend a long time here. From here we headed upwards to the village of Weston. On the way, you will get this stunning view which is the same as my feature image. Here is the exact stop: 60-52 River Road, Jamaica, VT 05343.

Stop 2: Weston Village

Weston felt was like walking through a European town with the houses, roads, and shops here reminding me of Austria/Switzerland. Adding to the Autumn charm, the village houses were fully decorated with pumpkins all ready for Halloween. I really loved the orange theme in this postcard-perfect Green Mountain Town village in autumn.

There are some really cute little shops here selling local crafts and produces. I had heard that this town is perfect to celebrate Christmas in, and the Christmas shop here really had strong European vibes so you can note this village if you’re planning a European-style getaway in the USA.

Another attraction is here the Old Mill Museum, which has a mountainous backdrop and a stunning waterfall. We did not go inside the museum as it was closed the day we visited however the view from the outside museum was breathtaking enough for us. Someone from the village had even left a pumpkin beneath the trees, how cute!

Stop 3: Plymouth

The route to Woodstock via Plymouth was one of the best scenic routes during the trip. We didn’t stop in the town itself but we just stopped along the way to admire the views.

The view of mountains and reflections in the lake is simply splendid. This route is just stunning throughout so much so it was confusing which pictures to take and which pose would be best. In the end, I can see we ended up taking fewer pictures and spent more time just enjoying the view. 

Stop 4: Woodstock Village

We arrived in Woodstock village around sunset, of course, this is what happens if you take a scenic route and keep stopping. Woodstock village is very famous in New England and is on the top list of scenic towns with amazing houses and post-card views around. Though we missed exploring the village properly, we could experience the local shop here which was so thrilling with lots of diverse farm productions. I almost wanted to buy everything and the bakery here was calling to us loudly.

These pumpkins and Squashes are just a small part of what they produce. Aren’t they so diverse? I have never seen these shapes and colors before, I spent a lot of my time just staring at pumpkins and I wished I could have brought them home with me. 

After strolling here, we headed towards Montpellier where our Airbnb was booked for the night.  I definitely need to go back to Woodstock as I could not explore it properly. We arrived late in Montpellier, found a local Thai restaurant to eat at, and headed to the Airbnb to crash.

Day 2: Scenic Route 100

Stop 5: Plainfield

Waking up in Plainfield, Montpellier in our Farm Stay Airbnb is still one of my most favorite stay experiences. This house is located in a private estate with a lake and the morning view was breathtaking. Our host was such a lovely lady who had everything sorted for us like a typical B&B in Europe. They also had an Apple tree with such low-hanging apples that I tried to act eating one while standing on the ground.

The Airbnb farm house has a vintage style and is decorated very well. The prayer flags caught my attention and I added them to my list of home decorations straight away. I wish we had more time here, I will definitely go back and stay exactly here again if it is still available.

The Airbnb was in a hilly area far away from the city. We headed towards Montpellier city first.

Stop 6: Montpelier

We stopped at Montepellier and went via Cliff Street towards Hubbard Tower to get a top view of the city. There were a lot of hikers around here and would recommend not missing this view if you visit. This town qualifies to be the most scenic Fall Town view in my mind, just like I have Tromso for the best winter view. The capital city of Vermont and the vibes here caught my attention, there is something so positive about the people and region here.

Stop 7: Vermont State House

The State House of Vermont is located in its capital town, Montpelier. Stopping by this cute statehouse was a heartwarming experience as it stood gorgeous and constantly reminded me of the Glory of this State and its People. It was just stunning with its golden dome and fall backdrop. 

We drove towards Stowe taking the scenic route 100. This drive was just epic and was sad I could only do a part of it and hope to revisit and finish the full route.

Stop 8: Ben & Jerry’s Factory, Waterbury, Stowe

We arrived at the original Ben and Jerry’s factory which is the Mekkah for Ice-cream lovers. The vibe here is too cheerful, both adults and kids queued up to get their hands on their favorite flavor. 

Here you can taste all their new flavors and pay a visit to the ice-cream graveyard where there is a gravestone for every flavor that didn’t succeed in the market.

Stop 9: Mount Mansfield

One of the highlights of my trip was the drive and hike up to Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain point in Vermont. This literally felt like being in a Hollywood movie even looking at cars coming down from that steep hill while we queued to drive up. 

Climb up and you are in the middle of a FALL HEAVEN literally. It is all Yellow, the Coldplay song was singing in my head throughout the drive here. This mountain is a not-to-miss and the best for leaf-peeping and complete with a cute little chapel.

Tips to remember while traveling to Mount Mansfield

The drive can be tricky here and we saw a couple who had got stuck with their car tire wedged in a ditch.
There are multiple trails you can do here and it is best to plan time if you wish to hike.

We just did a short section of the Sunset Ridge Trail as we did not have much time left of the day. The view from here is amazing.

A list and map of trails can be found here.

Day 3: Killington

Stop 10: Killington

At this point, one of our friends had to leave so we had a short break in the trip before the rest of us continued to visit Killington the next day which is another mountain range famous for skiing. Look at the view- amazing isn’t it?

The Killington Mountain Lodge is very popular among families and was packed during our long weekend visit. It is perfect for a Fall Foliage road trip in Vermont, particularly for a weekend getaway and they have amazing rooms to stay in here. 

Click here to find some amazing accommodation options in Killington

Final thoughts on the Fall Road Trip in Vermont

Fall Road trips in Vermont are the best for leaf peepers, nature lovers and foodies. What attracted me the most during my Vermont visit, apart from the leaf-peeping experience, and picturesque villages are the really nice people and their commitment to using local products that even McDonald’s does not exist there. Vermont is known for its natural landscape, and its capital town Montpelier is amongst the least populated cities of the USA. It definitely is an Autumn Wonderland!

Pin This Fall Road Trip in Vermont for Planning Your Trip

Spring in the Netherlands

Book your Keukenhof Tulip Garden Ticket 

Book a Day Trip to Keukenhof and Giethoorn

Netherlands Spring Road Trip Itinerary

Our plan was a budget-friendly road trip in the Netherlands to explore the Giethoorn village highlights and hunt free tulip fields while traveling to the north of Holland, where the Dutch dikes are located. Rather than visiting the typical touristic destinations to see the Holland flowers, we decided to just explore Flevoland in Lelystad, a beautiful place with open tulip fields. For a better view of spring flower beds in Holland, check this out. I would recommend visiting Keukenhof Gardens, which is known as the most beautiful spring garden in the world. 

The itinerary we followed was a very simple day road trip. 

I lived in the Netherlands for two years while I did my masters, and was lucky to have friends who took me on a spring road trip in the Netherlands – a day trip to the iconic Giethoorn village and to the open tulip fields in Flevoland near Lelystad in the north of Holland for my birthday.  This trip checks off multiple bucket list items- self-driven boat tour in canal only village, open tulip fields, and seeing the dutch dikes. Here is a guide to organizing a spring day trip in the Netherlands from Amsterdam or any other popular city.

Start: Eindhoven/Amsterdam- you can start this from anywhere near Amsterdam

• Giethoorn Village
• Flevoland Flower Route
• Lelystad

End: Back home in Eindhoven

As we were locals we just took our car. In case, you cannot afford a rental car, the public transport system is pretty easy to follow. You could take a train or bus to the Giethoorn village.

Getting to Giethoorn from Amsterdam by Public Transport

Take a train to Steenwijk from Amsterdam Central and buy bus tickets to the stop called Dominee Hylkemaweg stop. The bus number is 70 and the ticket costs 4 Euro. Then you walk for 10 minutes following Google maps and you will reach the Giethoorn village.

Stop 1: Giethoorn Village

The Netherlands, as you may know, is a very small but densely populated country, known for its biking culture, tulip fields, canals, and multiple UNESCO world heritage objects. Giethoorn is an idyllic Dutch town in the northernmost tip of Overijssel, which is entirely canal-operated and there are no roads or cars, making it only accessible by boats. 

It feels like a fairy tale village consisting of 55 miles of canals connecting the water-side homes, eateries, and museums in this little town center. There are over 180 wooden arch bridges over the canals for pedestrians and cyclists to get around, but many houses are only accessible by boat.

Giethoorn village with its many waterways and bridges is well-known as the Dutch Venice or the Venice of the Netherlands or Little Venice making it a splendid destination for a road trip in the Netherlands.

As the unique experience here is to travel by boat, we booked a private tour to ride an electric boat online before we arrived, as during this time of the year it can get pretty busy with both tourists and locals. Note that there are also guided tours available for the canal cruise if you would like a guide. The private boat tour was a fun and unique experience driving the boat even in the midst of a huge boat traffic jam.

During the journey, we passed many cute wooden bridges and unique thatch-roof cottages that keep you indulged by the charming scenery throughout. As we were busy driving the boat, I am regretful that we didn’t manage to take as many pictures as we should have from my road trip in the Netherlands. Check out this video of Giethoorn Netherlands on Youtube, for a detailed view.

The boat journey across the village was a fresh and fulfilling experience, with sights of nature, pretty houses, and ducks paddling in the water. My friends captured a picture of me driving the boat at the same time there were bikers passing by, which I think is a clear depiction of the spirit of Holland and one of my favorite pictures of Giethoorn  

Giethoorn is an excellent day trip from Amsterdam, providing a unique experience of navigating a super cute village completely operated by water transport. The village has shops and restaurants to cater to the many visitors, including Airbnb stays as I discovered later. Houses in this village reminded me of the scenery pictures that were popularly used as backdrops in photos, greeting cards, and picture frames, while I was growing up.

Book a budget-friendly day trip to Giethoorn, Volendam, and Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam

Stop 2: Hunting Free Tulip Fields in Flevoland

Being students on a shoestring budget, we wanted to see the tulips and avoid going to expensive touristic places like Keukenhof filled with people during the tulip season mainly during April and May. My friend Avi had a good idea that tulips are grown in bulk in the northern province of Flevoland where the dikes are also located. Therefore, we decided to drive northwards from Giethoorn to the route Flevoland and hunt some open tulip flower fields that can be seen for free.  

Flevoland Tulip Fields

Flevoland is famous for its long stretched Flower Area and flower festivals. After a long ride along the anticipated tulip route in the direction of the towns of Emmeloord and Dronten, we started to spot the tell-tale colors.

These Holland flower fields are a striking sight of a never-ending carpet of flower bulbs in various colors, a true flower parade, which is as spectacular as usually portrayed in pictures. 

Picking Tulips: Honesty-Box System

One interesting thing I came across here was an honesty box left for anyone who wishes to pick a flower to pay for it. I was awe-struck by this system that trusts society to be honest and considerate. Later, a Dutch friend told me this is a practice that farmers also use for vegetables and other crops. Isn’t that a super ideal society and how we all would wish the world to be like?

Stop 3: Dikes in Netherlands (Lelystad)

We continued our journey to Lelystad, which is a large municipality surrounded by two lakes, Markermeer and IJsselmeer. All of the land here has been claimed from the sea with the help of dikes. There is a famous saying that “God created the world, but the Dutch created The Netherlands”, which is based upon how this country is engineered to exist even when half of the land area is below sea level. Dikes are the fundamental water management infrastructure used to keep the land from flooding. To learn more about how dikes help with this, you can visit the museum Nieuw Land (‘New Land’).

There is a famous statue of a giant man crouching and overlooking the IJsselmeer lake, near the dike road between Lelystad and Enkhuizen. It is known as Exposure and due to the sitting position locals call him the “pooping/shitting man”. The statue is 25 meters high and made of iron pylon structures which took 6 years of work to complete.

Other Top Spring Break Destinations in Netherlands

Some of the other places to enjoy spring in the Netherlands include:

• Lisse
• Bollenstreek

Apart from tulip fields, there are also daffodils fields and hyacinth fields to see in Holland during the spring season.

Book a Drive it Yourself Tulip Trip in Lisse

Final Thoughts on the Spring Road Trip in Netherlands

This blog covers some major sightseeing that can be done in the Netherlands in a day around the north of Amsterdam. Cities such as Amsterdam, Den Hague, and Utrecht are also super pretty during this season and are popular among tourists. Apart from the boat ride which was possible in Giethoorn village, another activity is to go biking in cities and countryside by renting a classic dutch bike.

Pin Spring Break Road Trip Ideas for Netherlands