January is known for being a tough month for people, it’s cold, dark and we’re all feeling the pinch of the financial hangover that tends to follow the holiday season. The kids are back in school, we’ve gone back to work, and it’s times like this when our minds drift off toward the summer – in particular, planning a family adventure that is filled with magical moments, like the ones captured in the Robin Williams film RV.
However, the first thing to consider is your vehicle of choice and how you’re going to fund this trip. While it can feel tempting to hit Google looking for the best personal loans, a more sustainable, sensible and satisfying way to fund this year’s big vacation is by finding ways to make an extra income such as through mystery shopping, having a garage sale or selling things you no longer need on eBay.
Now, for the fun part. Get ready to hit Pinterest hard as you research these incredible possibilities.
CALIFORNIA STATE ROUTE 1
The best time to take this drive is in summer as your trip will be soaked in sun with optimal daylight hours. The route takes you along the Pacific coast. The route starts near San Diego and leads through Los Angeles (be prepared for heavier traffic than you may be used to) where you’ll drive through Long Beach, Malibu, Santa Barbara (known for its great wines) Santa Cruz and Big Sur (known for its surfing) and San Francisco. This route is a 745-mile journey that predominantly hugs the coastline.
US ROUTE 20
If you want to travel coast to coast then Route 20 is known for being the longest road in America covering a distance of 3,365 miles from Newport, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts. Going around Yellowstone National Park makes an adventure while covering 3,365 miles. The route is fast and easy to drive; you should be able to cover it in two to three weeks – but the best way would be to take a little longer, so you can experience the Real America along the way, maybe plan for a few nights here or there at some of the nations most notable historic places.
ROUTE 66
Perhaps the most famous “road trip” in the world, Route 66 will soon celebrate its 100th birthday, as one of the first numbered roads in the US. Ending in California this trip from Chicago to Santa Monica covers 2,451 miles mostly through what could be the set of an old western movie.
MONUMENT VALLEY
Starting out of Route 17 in Phoenix, Arizona you can visit Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, and cowboy landscapes on the Arizona/Utah border. Then, progress to Route 191 to enter Winslow using Route 66. The top tip for this trip is to take a Jeep Safari along Diamond Creek Road, as this way you get to drive along the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
FLORIDA KEYS
The US 1 from Miami to Key West is an ocean-focused 150-mile drive that takes in a variety of the keys (little islands) sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The most amazing section of this drive is the Seven Mile Bridge.
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