Taking off Travel blog

It’s time for another edition of Friday Five, highlighting some of the best travel posts we’ve seen recently. Here are this week’s picks:

First, from Anil Polat at FoxNomad, a mind-bending series of three posts called Combating 2.5 Million Years Of Evolution – How To Prevent Your Paleolithic Brain From Scaring You Out Of Travel: Part 1. (Here are Part 2 and Part 3). Why mind-bending? Because the series goes inside your brain to see what’s really holding you back . My favorite bit was about cognitive dissonance, two words you don’t often see in blog posts, and the whole series is worth a read.

Second, it’s another series, from the Ciao Bambino blog, which shows what you can do in 72 Hours in London with Kids. (Here are part 2 and part 3). I know London pretty well, but I’ve not explored it from the viewpoint of what would interest a child, so this was a fascinating exploration, combining sightseeing with just walking around and happening upon interesting experiences.

Third up is Mike CJ, who explores Lanzarote in a wheelchair, coming to some uncomfortable conclusions about how accessibility laws are applied:

Everybody is doing the right thing, from finding a way to help people get onto the beach, to providing great toilets for them to use. But it’s the attention to detail that lets these things down.

Fourth, on Woman Seeks World, an article on 6 Ways To Stay Motivated To Achieve Your Location Independent Goals. This article advocates good planning, inspiration and celebrating successes, which seems a great recipe to me.

Fifth and last, Travel Online Partners examines current travel trends after a visit to the US Travel Association’s International Pow-wow. This article outlines some food trends and highlights some unusual travel experiences – you’ll be surprised at what some people are doing.

Happy reading!

Getting the most from frequent flyer programs requires patience, persistence and preparation, according to an article by Joe Brancatelli on Portfolio.com. It’s been a while since we covered frequent flyer programs here on the Taking Off Travel Blog, and it seems that things are changing in the frequent flyer world, not least because next year will see the marriage of the United and Continental miles programs.

Mr Brancati says frequent flyer programs have little to do with flying, describing them as:

unregulated lotteries because airlines are not legally required to disclose the odds of “winning” or even give away a single seat.

He also urges people not to get carried away by the miles game, commenting:

Convenience of schedule, reliability of service, and price are all more important than the specifics of a carrier’s frequent-flyer program. And the quality of an airline’s alliance network—in other words, a carrier and its flight partners—may now be more important than the frequent-flyer plan too.

It’s time to get smart about using miles to book tickets, says Mr Brancati, adding that it pays to call around to get the best seat bookings. (Yes, he did say call as there may be options that aren’t listed on the airlines’ websites.)

Does this match your experience of cashing in your miles?

This is the second and last part of Nicole Rodgers’ article on US road trips.

6. Going-To-The-Sun Road
If there’s ever been a reason to visit Montana, it would be to check out this amazing 52-mile expanse of land that will show off Glacier National Park in its full glory. The main caveat is that it’s only open from early July to mid-October, or basically until the first snowfall of the season. However, nature buffs will appreciate amazing views left in the Continental Divide, including the 6,000-foot high Logan Pass and the Jackson Glacier Overlook. This is definitely one of the best scenic roadtrips in the US for those who love unadulterated panoramas.

7. Utah Highway 12
One of the only designated All-American Highways, Utah Highway 12 lives up to its name by showing off the Southwestern United States in its full splendor. Imagine red sunsets and wide mountain expanses as cars speed down towards great locations as the Capitol Reef, Boulder Mountain, and Dixie National Forest. For those who have lost their faith in the wide expanse of American Natural Beauty, all it will take is a few days on this glorious stretch of land to convince them otherwise.

8. California State Route 1
Encompassing a majority of the Pacific coastline, this is perfect for travelers who wish to capture a vast majority of Southern California in a single trip. Starting in San Luis Obispo, this takes drivers all the way to the lush forests of Monterey, stopping in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego along the way. This is one of the better roadtrips for families, since the younger ones will love stopping in the cultural districts in the major cities, while the adults will be able to fully appreciate the natural wonder that is the California coastline.

9. Hana Highway
Despite being a group of islands, Hawaii is home to one of the most scenic roadtrips in the United States. Starting out in Paia on the island of Maui, this ride features coastal vistas, amazing shore views, and some of the most serpentine roads in history. This is great for travelers who want to put the top down on their car and just feel that amazing Hawaii breeze through their hair in one of the most spectacular trips out there.

10. Blue Ridge Highway
Even if the Southern Appalachian Mountains might not be the first guess when one thinks of amazing US roadtrips, but it should be taken into consideration that this roadtrip involves going through Virgina’s Shenandoah National Park and North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains. Hence why this expanse has been lovingly referred to as “America’s Favorite Drive.” Measuring in at 469 miles long, it’s certainly one of the most ambitious drives on this list, but one that rewards the traveler in some truly awe-inspiring sights of rolling greens and pristine mountain views.

These are just some of the most scenic roadtrips in the US. These are best to be taken when one has a few days to spare for diversion and possible stops in accompanying cities. Of course, always make sure to bring a camera with plenty of batteries, since you’re going to have more opportunities than you can count to take some truly epic pictures.

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging for 3 years; she currently helps people use budget software to plan their finances to travel and she always buys a t shirt to commemorate the places she has traveled. (Photo: Ash Crowe)

If you’re looking to get away for a few days, be sure to check out the 10 best scenic roadtrips in the US. The United States is best known for its natural beauty and amazing vistas, which is why the following scenic roadtrips are sure to please any traveler. While rising gas prices might get you down, the following scenic roadtrips are some of the best and least expensive ways to explore the great outdoors of the United States.

1. U.S. Route 1
If you’re looking for a great scenic roadtrip in the US with amazing historic value, consider driving across US Route 1. Encompassing 5 beautiful states across New England, namely Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, this is perfect for those looking to spy great autumn foliage. Starting in Connecticut, drivers can travel up the coast of the Atlantic towards Maine, driving through Rhode Island’s historic colonial sites and the heart of Boston’s industrial districts. Moreover, Maine offers amazing outlet shopping, wonderful vistas, and gorgeous national parks that are perfect for families and couples alike.

2. Sonoma And Napa Valleys
This is one of the best scenic roadtrips in the US for younger or older couples. Starting in Santa Rosa, which is just north of San Francisco, travelers will cruise through 132 miles of gorgeous California highway, such as the Sonoma Highway, St. Helena Highway, and Redwood Highway. Tourists will be greeted with panoramic ocean views, rolling hills covered with scenic forests, and of course, rustic vineyards with dozens of exotic flavors of wine. While drinking and driving is certainly something that should be avoided, this is the perfect roadtrip for two who want a week to immerse themselves in great wine and even better natural beauty.

3. Seward Highway
This is one of the roadtrips on this list that might not be as accessible as the others, simply because it involves traveling all the way up to Alaska. Once there, however, interested parties are greeted with some of the most beautiful wilderness in America. Trailing from Anchorage to Seward, a small portstown on Resurrection Bay, this roadtrip will take travelers through pristine white forests, alpine meadows, and truly breathtaking glaciers. This is definitely the type of trip that will make a photography enthusiast squeal with delight, given that it has a seemingly-endless supply of great picture-taking opportunities.

4. Red Rock Scenic Byway

At only 7.5 miles, it might seem like a paltry addition, but the Red Rock Scenic Byway is anything but ordinary. Flanked by beautiful desert scenery and gorgeous rock formations, this is the roadtrip picked specially for those looking to get out in the great outdoors. Stand in awe of the power of nature with rock formations and mountains that look like they’re straight from the movies, and revel in the luxurious green plains you’ll find near them. State Route 179 near Sedona is definitely the place to be for those who don’t want to commit too much time to a roadtrip but still want to be immersed in the splendor of it all.

5. Million-Dollar Highway
Breaching through western Colorado and parts of San Juan, this is truly a scenic roadtrip that lives up to its name. Passing through US 550 to see old mining towns such as Silverton and Ouray will definitely please American History buffs, while views of the Red Mountain Pass and Uncompahgre Gorge will look like they’ve been plucked right from a postcard. The views in the springtime include unprecedented amounts of wildeflowers and rolling greens to make New Zealand jealous, while the great prevalence of bears, deer, and elk along the roadside are proof enough of the great expanse of land that is the Western United States.

Nicole Rodgers has been traveling all her life; she current helps people find great deals on designer eyeglasses and uses Savings.com to find great deals online.

(Photo: dougtone)

A recent article on cutting the cost of road trips sent me running to do some research. I wanted to find out which are some of the great apps if you’re going on a road trip. I know we’ve already done a roundup of the best iPhone apps for travelers, but what if you’re going on the road rather than in the air? Here are some iPhone and Android apps to consider.

GasBuddy

GasBuddy helps you find gas stations near you – or near where you’re going to be. Plug in the zip code to see a list of gas stations sorted by price and you can pick the kind of gas, too. Stations are also shown on a map, so you can easily navigate to them. This free app is available for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone.

UrbanSpoon

Available for iPhone and Android (or via your mobile browser), Urbanspoon provides restaurant recommendations for meals on the go. The app version works like a slot machine – just shake it to find a place near you to try. You can also see lists of all nearby eating establishments, as well as a comprehensive range of reviews. This app is free.

Yelp

If you need more than just food, then consider Yelp. It has a large database of places to eat, shop, drink, relax and play and you can narrow your search by location, distance and price. You can also find businesses near you. There are versions of Yelp for practically every phone OS so you won’t have to miss out.

Trip It

Trip It, available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry, is a free app that helps you track your itinerary. Plan your trip, email your confirmations to the Tripit email address and get your itinerary in one easy-to-browse screen.

Trapster

Want to know where speed traps and other hazards are on your road trip? Then you need Trapster, available for a range of smartphones as well as GPS devices. Trapster uses GPS to keep track of your current location and provides an early warning system for police checkpoints and the like. It also incorporates functions from some of the other apps, such as displaying a range of businesses (including parking lots) on the map. You can report your own traps too.

Bonus: Foursquare

If you want to have a little social fun on your road trip, add Foursquare to your mobile device, so you can check in wherever you are. Be warned, though, you may not always want to make your check-ins public, especially if your home is empty.

Watch out for two posts on road trips later in the week!