Have an adventure in your own backyard with Lonely Planet
We all dream of dropping everything and traveling around the world, but the weak dollar and the cost of plane tickets is making some of us think twice about that global adventure. But all is not lost. Fortunately your money is still worth plenty in the USA, and you don’t have to go far to feel far away (saving you a pretty penny on gas prices too). Yup, with some imagination and some inspiration you can have a spectacular adventure in your own backyard! Here are some places you’ve likely always wanted to visit, but maybe haven’t hit just yet. Now is the time, folks!
National Parks
Greening the planet is a red-hot topic, but when it comes to wilderness, people today get less and less of the real thing. In fact, untamed, unfettered wild space might scare us a little. Fear not. With the USA boasting 58 national parks and hundreds of state parks, there are tons of chances to get out in the great outdoors. Heard of the Grand Canyon? Still here, still freakin’ big. Yellowstone? Geysers, grizzlies, boiling mudpots- what more could you want from a vacation. Las Vegas airport is a great jumping off point to hit several parks, including The Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion.
Key West
Anyone will tell you Key West is a little kooky – and darn proud of it. In the worlds of one local; ‘It’s like they shook the United States and all the nuts fell to the bottom.” There’s only one road in and it’s not on the way to anywhere. In other words, it’s an easy place to do your own thing. People flock to Key West to soak up the sun, the mellow atmosphere and more than a little booze. They listen to talks of the past. They snorkel the crystal clear water. And they find their internal clocks set to ‘island time.’
White Mountains, New Hampshire
What the Rockies are to Colorado the White Mountains are to New Hampshire. New England’s grandest mountain range is a magnet for adventurers, with boundless opportunities for everything from hiking and kayakers to skiing. Those who prefer to take it in from the comfort of a car seat won’t be disappointed either, as scenic drives wind over rugged mountains ripping with waterfalls, sheer rock faces and sharply cut gorges.
Tennessee, Nashville and Graceland
So you’re an aspiring country singer, arriving in downtown Nashville after days of hitchhiking, with nothing but your battered guitar on your back. Gaze up at the neon lights of Lower Broadway, take a deep breath of sooky, beer-perfumed air, and say to yourself ‘I’ve made it.’ This ain’t no country club baby, this is Nashville. Once you soak up all the attractions Nashville has to offer, from the Country Music Hall of Fame and the revered Grand Ole Opry House, to historic buildings and big-name sports, it is just a 3 hour pilgrimage to Memphis, the land of the blues, and the home of our dearly departed King.
Excerpts are from the new Lonely Planet USA Guide 5th Ed.
For more US travel ideas including One Tank Getaways and Top 10 experiences visit www.lonelyplanet.com/backyardadventures