Alternative Routes

The Royal Gorge is an impressive canyon located near Caon City on the Arkansas River in Colorado. Royal Gorge is 10 miles long and is one of the deepest canyons in the state of Colorado. Royal Gorge Bridge and Park is a tourist attraction in which you can experience the majesty of Royal Gorge.

Royal Gorge is absolutely breathtaking. At the park, you will be able to view the scenic Royal Gorge alongside one of the loveliest bridges in Colorado. The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension Read the rest of this entry »

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most relaxing and breathtaking roadways in the world. This 469 mile stretch of 2 lane highway running from the southern end of the Skyline Drive to the Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina is said to be the most popular roadway in the US National Park System.

One of the best times to enjoy the parkway is in spring when its numerous specimens of trees and wildflowers are in bloom. The area is home to more species of mammals and birds than anywhere on the entire continent of Europe. At Grandfather Mountain, Read the rest of this entry »

The Appalachian Trail is a trail 2,181 miles long that stretches from Mt. Kathadin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia. The trail passes through 14 states and is scenic and a chance to experience the Appalachians in a natural way. This is a trail that has many serious hikers called through hikers, hiking the expanse of the trail every year. More casual hikers will tackle a portion of the trail every year,as the trail is within a days drive of 2/3 of the population of the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

Sure, hiking the Grand Canyon can be a lot of fun and is one of the most common ways for visitors to get to the one-mile bottom of the 277 mile long national park. But if you want to experience the journey the way that explorers may have hundreds of years ago, you might want to consider one of the park’s mule trips. They are offered for visitors to both the north and south rims of the canyon, and range from a one hour trip to overnight rides. Obviously the one hour ride will not get you to the bottom of the canyon, but it will give you an opportunity to experience the magnificence of the canyon’s walls from a different perspective as you traverse the Canyon’s rim. An overnight ride will let visitors spend a night at Phantom Ranch which is nestled deep in the canyon very near the rustling Colorado River. These rides include Read the rest of this entry »

Talk about alternate travel options the stagecoach was just the way to do just that before the advent of railway transport (and everything which followed). For those trivia buffs, the term “stage” in the name of the mode of travel refers to the distance between stations along a route with the coach traveling in “stages” to get to its ultimate destination. But the history of the stagecoach in the United States dates back to 1744 when the first one was used in New England to carry passengers between the region’s cities and towns. Eventually overland stages followed which encompassed continuous travel for up to 22 days through all types of weather conditions with only brief stops at weigh stations. Because these conditions were so Read the rest of this entry »

With so many navigation systems on the market, choosing one can be overwhelming. Most GPS products fulfill the same basic travel needs: however, it doesn’t mean they provide the same quality. We’ve compared the systems from different brands and made a list of the three most recommended navigators.Magellan RoadMate 1700The longest running company, Magellan has been in the navigation business since 1986. The fact that Magellan is such a highly recommended brand is attributed to its features. Take for example the RoadMate 1700. The 1700 has distinctive features: such as a 7″ screen and an AAA Tourbook and Roadside Assistance program. The GPS also contains multidestination routing, a WAAS receiver, and voice navigation. For its large screen and useful applications, you can’t go wrong with a Magellan RoadMate. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re planning a trip to England, you may have stumbled across the South West in your search of must-see regions. Home to the Roman baths in Bath, and Shakespeare’s Stratford Upon Avon, the area offers many infamous British towns. However, one town you may not have come across is Bourton on the Water.This cozy town is nicknamed “Venice of the Cotswolds” for its beautiful river, which is enclosed by luscious stretches of grass as well as shady willow trees. The town’s natural beauty is perfect for picnics or an afternoon walk. But if you forget the picnic basket, the area has a variety of delicious eateries which offer a traditional British lunch: such as the Mad Hatter Tearooms or the Riverside Caf. Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t have a GPS? Forgot your guide book? No worries, with today’s technology, there’s plenty of alternatives to finding your way around. If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, we’ve listed three of our favorite map and travel apps.Google MapsLocate your favorite eateries and stores, obtain directions, and get zoomed in images of the streets you need. The app comes with your iPhone or iPod Touch.UrbanspoonThe app calculates your location and helps you find local restaurants. Alongside searching by area, you can also list results by price or type of food. Better yet, the app is free!Flight TrackTired of peering over crowds at the airport flight listings? Download the Flight Track for 4.99 and monitor flights throughout the world. If you’re flight is late or cancelled, you’ll know, and can locate a different plane in just a few clicks.