{"id":11868,"date":"2018-09-20T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2018-09-20T14:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/?p=11868"},"modified":"2018-09-20T17:33:55","modified_gmt":"2018-09-20T21:33:55","slug":"5-themed-road-trips-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/5-themed-road-trips-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Themed Road Trips in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

Ah, the open road. The road trip is a classic American getaway and a leisurely way to see the local side of life. Here are five of the best ideas for a themed road trip, from scenic coastal drives to the best stretch of historic Route 66.<\/p>\n

1. Foodie road trip<\/h2>\n

Nashville, TN<\/a><\/em> to <\/em>New Orleans, LA<\/a><\/em> (590 miles)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Via Flickr\/Travis Wise<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Stop 1: Nashville, TN <\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-try: Hot chicken at Hattie B\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Stop 2: Lynchburg, TN <\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-try: Miss Mary Bobo\u2019s Boarding House for classic comfort food; the Jack Daniel Distillery for southern spirits.<\/p>\n

Stop 3: Birmingham, AL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-try: Fine dining at Highlands Bar & Grill, a 2018 James Beard award winner.<\/p>\n

Stop 4: Montgomery, AL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-try: Local secret K&J Rib Shack for mouthwatering barbecue.<\/p>\n

Stop 5: Mobile, AL <\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-try: Gulf shrimp scampi and Alabama crab cake at The Trellis Room.<\/p>\n

Stop 6: New Orleans, LA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-try: Caf\u00e9 Du Monde for beignets and coffee.<\/p>\n

2. Baseball road trip<\/h2>\n

Washington, DC<\/a><\/em> to <\/em>Boston, MA<\/a><\/em> (440 miles)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Via Flickr\/Ryan Wenban<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Stop 1: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Fun fact: The home field of the Nationals was the nation\u2019s first LEED-certified major stadium.<\/p>\n

Stop 2: Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fun fact: Ken Griffey Jr. was the first and only player to hit the warehouse wall in the Orioles outfield.<\/p>\n

Stop 3: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fun fact: Since moving here in 2004, the Phillies have won a World Series and two National League Championships.<\/p>\n

Stop 4: Yankee Stadium, New York, NY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fun fact: The Yankees\u2019 home field is the most expensive baseball stadium in the country, costing $1.5 billion.<\/p>\n

Stop 5: Fenway Park, Boston, MA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fun fact: Fenway Park is the most historic MLB stadium\u2014the Red Sox have been playing here since 1912.<\/p>\n

3. National parks road trip<\/h2>\n

Jackson, WY<\/a><\/em> to <\/em>Whitefish, MT<\/a><\/em> (550 miles)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>


Via Shutterstock.com\/Lee Prince<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Stop 1: Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, WY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-see: Grand Teton peak is the most well-known choice, but don\u2019t forget Mormon Row and Jenny Lake.<\/p>\n

Stop 2: Yellowstone National Park, Canyon Village, WY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-see: No road trip in the Midwest is complete without a visit to the famous Old Faithful geyser and the rainbow-colored Grand Prismatic Spring.<\/p>\n

Stop 3: Lolo National Forest, Missoula, MT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-see: Love big trees and you cannot lie? Don\u2019t miss the Big Tree, a ponderosa pine, and Gus, the world\u2019s largest western larch tree.<\/p>\n

Stop 4: Glacier National Park, Whitefish, MT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Must-see: Breathtaking scenery like Lake McDonald and the ADA-accessible Trail of the Cedars make this park a top pick.<\/p>\n

4. Historic road trip<\/h2>\n

Historic<\/em> Route 66<\/em>, <\/em>Flagstaff, AZ<\/a><\/em> to <\/em>Amarillo, TX<\/a><\/em> (610 miles)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Via Flickr\/Marianne Serra<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Stop 1: Flagstaff, AZ<\/strong><\/p>\n

Historic stop: Dance the night away at The Museum Club, a country music club in a 1930s-era building.<\/p>\n

Stop 2: Holbrook, AZ<\/strong><\/p>\n

Historic stop: Completed in the 1950s, the Wigwam Motel\u2019s novelty factor has never faded. Only two other Wigwam motels survive today.<\/p>\n

Stop 3: Gallup, NM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Historic stop: Jane Fonda, Katherine Hepburn, and Ronald Reagan stayed at El Rancho Hotel<\/a> in its heyday\u2014now it\u2019s your turn.<\/p>\n

Stop 4: Albuquerque, NM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Historic stop: Tour the neon signs of Albuquerque\u2019s historic district, then have a \u201960s diner experience at the 66 Diner.<\/p>\n

Bonus: East of Albuquerque, near Tijeras, the Musical Road plays \u201cAmerica the Beautiful\u201d if you drive 45 mph.<\/p>\n

Stop 5: Santa Rosa, NM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Historic stop: Bono’s Route 66 Auto Museum and the Comet II Drive-In are throwbacks to the \u201950s.<\/p>\n

Stop 6: Amarillo, TX<\/strong><\/p>\n

Historic stop: Cadillac Ranch is one of Historic Route 66\u2019s most photogenic stops. In town, don\u2019t forget Oliver Saddle Shop, the oldest in Texas.<\/p>\n

5. California road trip<\/h2>\n

San Francisco, CA<\/a><\/em> to <\/em>Santa Barbara, CA<\/a><\/em> (350 miles)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>


Via Shutterstock.com\/Mada_Chris<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Stop 1: San Francisco, CA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal views: See the iconic Golden Gate Bridge from Lands End Lookout, then head to Gray Whale Cove, one of the best hidden spots along the Pacific Coast Highway.<\/p>\n

Stop 2: Santa Cruz, CA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal views: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalks has classic roller coasters and games for all ages.<\/p>\n

Stop 3: Big Sur, CA <\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal views: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is home to the stunning rock formations of Pfeiffer Beach and the 80-foot-tall McWay Falls.<\/p>\n

Stop 4: San Simeon, CA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal views: Catch a glimpse of your favorite finned friends at Elephant Seal Lookout, then tour Hearst Castle for a taste of the finer things.<\/p>\n

Stop 5: Santa Barbara, CA <\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal views: This is the place for souvenirs\u2014local art in The Funk Zone, brand-name shopping on State Street, and unique keepsakes at Stearns Wharf.<\/p>\n

Header Image Via Shutterstock.com\/Michael Urmann<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ah, the open road. The road trip is a classic American getaway and a leisurely way to see the local side of life. Here are five of the best ideas for a themed road trip, from scenic coastal drives to the best stretch of historic Route 66. 1. Foodie road trip Nashville, TN to New<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":11869,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[209],"tags":[1640,1642,1623,794,1643,1618,869,541,1621,1631,1622,1626,1637,308,1639,1634,1628,1636,1638,1629,1632,1617,1633,385,1619,1616,1627,1620,1297,545,1300,1644,679,1585,1641,1624,1635,1625,1630],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Themed Road Trips in the U.S. - AARP Travel Center Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you have four wheels and a free spirit, it\u2019s time to cue up your best playlist. 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