Every summer I attempt a road trip with one goal in mind: Reconnection.
When I say reconnect I mean with God, with myself, and with my loved ones. It pretty much works. Everytime.
It is no secret to moms, dads, and even teens everywhere that screens are stealing our lives away. This is one of the many reasons I have been attracted to natural settings and fun activities while on road trips that appeal to the senses as no screen ever can. Granted, there are some historical stops that are worth a little screen exposure, but, in general, my goal has been to discover the hidden jewels of America. You might be surprised at the choices available and with a simple picnic, some good music, and a cooler full of iced drinks in real glass bottles…life can be really good.
So, with that said, here some of my top picks for an American roadside adventure in alphabetical order by state (obviously Alaska and Hawaii will have some air travel first):
- Alabama – The Wharf Marina at Orange Beach
- Alaska – Denali National Park
- Arizona – Havasu Falls
- Arkansas – Brady Mountain Resort
- California – Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
- Colorado – Estes Park
- Connecticut – Bluff Point State Park
- Delaware – DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, Fenwick Island
- Florida – Crab Island
- Georgia – Callaway Gardens
- Hawaii – Makapu’u Tide Pools (not for too small children)
- Idaho – Shoshone Falls
- Illinois – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
- Indiana – Amish Acres
- Iowa – National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
- Kansas – Museum of World Treasures
- Kentucky – Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory
- Louisiana – Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tours
- Maine – Fly fishing the Penobscot River
- Maryland – Antietam National Battlefield
- Massachusetts – Pilgrim Memorial State Park
- Michigan – Torch Lake
- Minnesota – Mystery Cave State Park
- Mississippi – Mississippi Petrified Forest
- Missouri – Meramac Caverns
- Montana – Glacier National Park
- Nebraska – Audubon Rowe Sanctuary
- Nevada – The Black Canyon
- New Hampshire – Cog Railway
- New Jersey – Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area
- New Mexico – White Sands National Monument
- New York – The Adirondack Park
- North Carolina – Bald Head Island Conservatory (by Ferry)
- North Dakota – International Peace Garden
- Ohio – Amish Country
- Oklahoma – Great Salt Plains State Park
- Oregon – Columbia Gorge Express
- Pennsylvania – Hershey’s Chocolate World
- Rhode Island – The Antique Yacht Collection
- South Carolina – Island Skiff Adventure Tours Hilton Head
- South Dakota – Black Hills & Badlands
- Tennessee – Mud Island River Park
- Texas – Big Bend
- Utah – Arches National Park
- Vermont – Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
- Virginia – Virginia Museum of the Civil War
- Washington – Hoh Rainforest
- West Virginia – The Greenbriar Falconry
- Wisconsin – Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Wyoming – Pilot Butte Wild Horses
Having read through this list, I encourage you to make one of your own and intentionally plan a road trip that makes sense for you. It was extremely hard to select one location per state. There are hundreds. I issue a challenge to search for rainforests and mystical caves, salt mines and red desert rocks. These places can break up the digitally mundane moments of life for something far more thrilling.
In addition, don’t be afraid to be a total travel nerd and keep a log, and old family calendar, or the tradition of your choosing. I have historically bought a Christmas ornament at each stop, remembering the most meaningful ornaments in my collection like those my parents purchased while on a road trip such as the 1984 World Fair. Whether or not it is an ornament that ends up being that special keepsake—yes, buy the t-shirt, but, DO document the trip and the memories. Save it for that one day when it will make the most special gift ever.
The greatest gift, other than a journal, will be the connections made on a trip like this that can never be erased. As our children grow into adults and we grow older, let us raise a generation that knows how to slow down and spend quality time with other humans, the art of conversation, and how to laugh while relishing both the senses and intellect in nature’s playground. A good picnic in a faraway place will never be forgotten.
