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Traveling North America this summer

At a pizza dinner after the women’s group, the subject of summer travel came up. Two women who travel together reported that their trip to Eastern Europe had been postponed yet again after being rescheduled three times since 2019. No one could have predicted a pandemic and now a war. Others considered cruises, but the horrifying stories of being trapped on a boat in a foreign port because of COVID-19 put the kibosh on that choice. Same for plane trips to foreign shores—who knew when a lockdown might keep you from coming home? Only one brave person was going to Belize to join her family—but that’s at least on the same continent.

We wound up discussing travel within the U.S. I love car and train trips and voted for staying close to home because of all the uncertainty. If you are itching to get away this summer, here are some trips to consider.

Road trips:

• Pacific Coast Highway. One of the more spectacular road trips in the United States, U.S. Route 101 travels the Pacific Coast through Washington, Oregon, and California for nearly 1,600 miles. You can see the ocean crash against the shore from towering cliffs, seals congregating on rocks, picturesque small towns, and numerous cultural attractions, including the famous Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Here’s a guide to the entire route to help you pick your trip.
• Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway. Take the grandkids (or yourself) for a fossil hunt. According to this site, which describes a variety of Colorado trips, “this loop trip begins and ends at Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado, situated along its border with Utah. You’ll be able to channel your inner paleontologist while traversing a landscape that’s home to some of the most significant dinosaur fossils on Earth.” 
• Blue Ridge Parkway. According to the Blue Ridge Traveler, “the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic roadway that stretches from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and down to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Western North Carolina. Along the way, it weaves among mountain peaks and forested coves, connecting visitors to hiking trails and waterfalls, wildflowers, wildlife and countless breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Train trips: 

These were the most affordable ones I could find, all starting at under $2,000 per person.

• Grand Canyon Railway. This six-day rail vacation includes round-trip travel on Amtrak's Southwest Chief from Chicago, a 64-mile journey on the historic Grand Canyon Railway, hotel accommodations, and sightseeing at the Grand Canyon. You’ll have time to explore on your own as well. 
• Alpine Canadian Train to the Rockies. This six-day trip from Vancouver to Calgary or Calgary to Vancouver includes stays at the small towns of Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. The scenery is breathtaking, and you get your own sleeper cabin for overnight travel.  
• Jazz Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll. If you’re an Elvis fan, this nine-day rail journey may be for you. It starts in Chicago with a bus tour of the city plus visits to famous blues sites. Then you’ll head to Memphis to visit Graceland and other local attractions. The final stop is New Orleans with a sightseeing tour of the Latin Quarter, a ride on a paddleboat, and a jazz brunch.  

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Traveling by unicyle

Jesse doesn't live his life on autopilot. Instead, he's constantly finding new ways to be active—in every sense. With hobbies from unicycling to reading, see how his days are anything but boring in this video.

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Bargain-hunting

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