Maine to California?

Hi, my name is Kevin and I am planning on driving to California this summer from Maine. I was wondering which route has the best scenery and the best attractions? Of course when I check Google Maps for directions it just says to stay on the interstate the whole time and I would imagine that probably isn’t the best way to really see anything. I don’t care how long it takes me to get to California. I am hoping the drive will be the best part. I was just wondering if you had some recommendations on what high ways to take or what places to stop? Thanks!

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Hi Kevin --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- sounds like you have a big adventure ahead of you.

You also have the entire country to cross, so needless to say the possibilities are just about endless. Depending upon where in Maine you start, and which places you already know, I would suggest you kick off your trip by heading west, exploring the Presidential Range of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont, starting out along old US-2 from the Bethel ME area.

This is some of the prettiest scenery in New England -- and since you are embarking on such an epic trip, why not have a symbolic start atop Mount Washington, a majestic peak on which you can drive all the way to the top!?

From New England you can run across (or around) the Adirondacks of New York, exploring some of the historic towns along the Erie Canal (Rochester an Buffalo are both worth a look). Not to mention Niagara Falls. which is a road-trip Must See. I cover this route in detail in my US-20 "Oregon Trail" chapter.

From here you have a big decision to make -- would you prefer to enjoy a rural ride, winding along the north shores of the Great Lakes (and passing into and out of Canada?) Or would you prefer the industrial experience of the "Rust Belt," the once mighty cities of Detroit and Cleveland. And still-mighty Chicago, which is perhaps my favorite American city to explore.

It's a big decision -- but then again you could opt for one on your westbound trip, and another route on the way back. You are coming back, aren't you?

The next stage of the trip offers even more possibilities -- national parks of the northern Rockies (Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are two more Must Sees, along with iconic Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota.)

Or the Spanish and Native American cultures of the Southwest? If you opt for New Mexico and Arizona, then Route 66 is your way to go.

So here are a number of suggestions -- I hope this helps, and I hope you get a chance to check out my book, which has 900+ pages of things for you to do when you're "on the road" this summer.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
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Road Trip USA

NYC to Boston -- best route?

Hi Jamie

My friend and I are coming over (from Australia) to the states for a trip. A small part of our holiday is dedicated to a road trip between NYC and Boston. A friend told me about your site and books and when I visited your website I noticed that you can provide advice for trips. So, I'm emailing to ask if there are particular stops or routes you would recommend for our road trip.

Any tips are greatly appreciated.

Best wishes

Lisa

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Hi Lisa --

Thank you for writing in to Road Trip USA, and many thanks to your friend for spreading the word about my website, and my Road Trip USA books!

So, you're taking a road trip between New York City and Boston? You could do the drive in around 5 hours, following the busy I-95 freeway, but this would not be much of an edifying or memorable experience.

Fortunately, there are any other nicer routes, which will get you there and give you something to look forward to along the way. Question is, what do you like? Some people would make trips to see historic sights (of which there are millions here), while others like me might go off in search of the perfect piece of pizza. (If your holy grail includes the ideal hot dog, I'd recommend a stop off I-95 in Fairfield CT at SuperDuperWeenie's (URL: http://www.superduperweenie.com/ )

:-)

For scenery and more "cultivated" interests, one good route I know pretty well follows along the famous Appalachian Trail hiking route, north from the Hudson River Valley outside NYC, then along US-7 in western Connecticut and up into the lovely Berkshires of western Massachusetts, from where you could veer east, along the Mass Turnpike (I-90) or the more enjoyable Mohawk Trail (Route 2) into Boston.

You'd want a couple of days to really enjoy this trip, but if the weather cooperates and you get to see the sights, traveling here in western New England is an amazing experience -- there are just so many literary / artistic / scenic spots to enjoy along the way.

I cover these routes in the book Road Trip USA, and there are some descriptions on the RoadTripUSA.com website (under the Appalachian Trail and Oregon Trail chapters. )

Hope this helps you have a great trip!

Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
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Road Trip USA