 I’ve spent a lot of time telling you about my experiences on the road. Hopefully something I said has entertained, interested, amused or enlightened you. But far more important to me is if it has inspired you to do something you have always dreamed of doing. And if that dream has been about traveling the USA, the world, or just getting to know your state a little better, I hope this last chapter will motivate you to get your motor running and head out on the highway (link to iconic road trip anthem here).
I have come across a lot of fellow travelers who told me wonderful stories about their journeys. For example: When DP Gates was just 22, he drove a 35 foot Hummer to 48 states in 48 days. It was right after September 11th and he describes his trek as an amazing experience...Jennifer Calaway Ricci and her extraordinary son, Tristan made a decision to travel to all of the national parks in the US. They started when he was about 10 years old and Tristan is now in high school and there are only a few more they need to check off their list...Jerry and Yolanda Davis took both work and home on the road in the form of an RV. They traveled the US extensively and loved the experience so much that they would often stay in their RV when they returned to their home...And lastly on the “don’t try this at home” list is my friend, Kal Klass. He said he had a buddy in college that got a national list of train routes. So the two of them used to hop trains and go across country. I don’t know about you, but that just makes me smile. The beauty of travel is that you can do whatever it is that YOU like to do. With that said, some very clever people have put together some trips that they are excited about – and judging by the reaction, the internet seems to share their enthusiasm. Contrary to the TV show title, It’s (Not) Always Sunny In Philadelphia. However, if you follow this road trip map by Brian B, it should always be 70-80 Degrees where ever you go anytime of the year. If you want to see the majesty and diversity of thee US national parks, here’s a map put together by engineer Randy Olson that will quickly guide you to Every National Park in the contiguous US. And if you are a senior citizen – or know one you can talk one into going with you – you can do some if not all of the parks on your America The Beautiful Pass. If you don’t have a lot of time, but want to do something epic, here’s another time-saving map from Randy Olson to Every State Capital. I know what you thinking right now. What a capital idea! Randy has also routed super efficient routed to see National Landmarks AND Best Cities in the USA. However, if you are feeling up to a bigger challenge, here’s a 217,605 plus mile trip that will take you to nearly 50,000 of the sites listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. And finally, if are one who wants to quench their thirst after a long day’s drive, here is the Top Brewery Road Trip, Routed Algorithmically. So you get an awesome road trip AND the best beer in the United States? Hey, I'll drink to that. If you’ve always dreamed of traveling, but held off because you didn’t think you could afford it, here's some ways you can spread your wings and fly. In The Lazy Person's Guide to Travel Hacking, blogger Kristin Wong shows you the easiest ways to get free or super affordable flights. In The Ultimate Travel Hacking Guide, writer Nomadic Matt explains how to get free or inexpensive hotels, attractions, flights and more. And in Hate lines at the airport? 3 ways to beat them you can find ways to get where you want to go much faster. Lastly, just as I was able to make and save money on this trip, there are countless others who are doing it far better than I am. In Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days, best selling author, Chris Guillebeau offers lots of ways people are turning their passions into paychecks. In The Sharing Economy: 200+ Ways to Make Extra Money in Your Spare Time, author Nick Loper shows you how to earn extra or full time income practically anywhere in the world. In The gig economy is a boon for boomer retirees, writer Steve Vernon touches on some of the many ways seniors are cashing in on side gigs. In 5 Work from Home Jobs & Where to Find Them you'll find some tried and true resources. And finally, to see how travel and making money can work together in real life, check out “After quitting her job as a teacher, this woman traveled to 95 countries and turned traveling into a career.” by Lisa Niver of We Said Go Travel. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories Comments are closed.
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