5 Alive Road Trips in America's West

Choose the mountains, prairies, forests, ocean or canyons. America's west has them all. Road trips are for everyone - from families with young children to Baby Boomers beginning their retirement years.

Choose the mountains, prairies, forests, ocean or canyons.  America’s west has them all.  Road trips are for everyone—from families with young children to Baby Boomers beginning their retirement years.  It is one of the most rewarding and cost effective ways to vacation and see America.   You can book airline tickets and accommodations online.  Planning consists mainly of where to eat and sleep near the attractions you want to see and enjoy. 
 
1.  California’s Redwood Forests
Begin driving north from San Francisco to Crescent City, about a 400 mile drive that takes you through the redwood forests along California’s northern coastline.  After crossing Golden Gate Bridge on California Route 1, plan a half-day visit to Port Reyes National Seashore.  Sonoma Coast State Beach offers lots of relaxing time near the water.  Fort Ross State Historic Park is a rebuilt fort from 1812 and the town of Mendocino is full of art and Victorian buildings.  Head for redwood country on US 101 and Humboldt Redwoods State Park where you will find the Avenue of Giants.  Don’t miss Redwood National Park and look for some great hikes off the beaten trail.

2.  Colorado Mountain High
If you are looking for fourteeners (mountains over 14,000 feet tall), look no further than the San Juan Mountains in west and southwest Colorado.  Between Montrose and Gunnison, you must see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the deep, narrow gorge that cuts through it.  Take a riverboat tour or visit the Ute Indian Museum.   Drive south from Montrose to Ridgeway and then on to Ouray and Telluride for some spectacular scenery.  Traveling further south, you may want to ride the narrow gauge railroad from Durango to Silverton and back, a breathtaking ride on the sides of steep mountain passes.

3.  Oregon Coast with the Most
Cresting EzineArticles.com Editors Interfacewaves strike up against Oregon’s rugged coast with magnificent ocean views—you may even see migrating whales at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.  From Portland, take US 30 northwest toward Astoria, following the Columbia River.  A visit is in order at the Columbia River Maritime Museum then head south on Hwy 101 to Fort Clatsop National Memorial where Lewis and Clark spent a tough winter in 1805-06.  You will want to see crashing waves up close in Devil’s Churn at Cape Perpetua and the huge sand dunes at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

4.  Pioneer Trails of Nebraska
Nebraska is famous for its wide open spaces and its green rolling hills and valleys where the pioneer spirit still lives.  On I-80 you will find the Homestead National Monument of America in Beatrice which tells the story of early pioneer hardships.  The deep ruts of wagon trains gone by are still visible at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park.  Fort Kearny State Historical Park features sod houses and how they were built.  Continue west to Ogallala and Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area for boating, fishing and swimming.  Get your exercise by climbing to the top of Oregon Trail Museum near Scottsbluff.

5.  Canyon Country Kaleidoscope
You are in Utah and heading for your first stop—Zion National Park taking I-15 and Route 9.  Here you will find steep, red sandstone walls, hidden canyons and wonderful hiking trails.  Follow Utah Route 9 to Bryce Canyon National Park, known for its towers of rock called hoodoos.  Then on to Route 12 along the northern edge of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and see magnificent canyonlands, petrified logs, and isolated waterfalls.  Capital Reef National Park offers more outstanding rock formations and steep canyon walls.

For more information about all segments of the travel industry, visit www.ChadsTravel.com.  This website and online travel agency specializes in saving consumers money on airline tickets, cruises, rental cars, lodging, vacations and much more. Judy Moor is a experienced traveler and author who is committed to trying to make life more meaningful and fun for Baby Boomers, people who travel on business and all others that travel. Be sure to check out her #1 rated work-from-home opportunity too.