Believe it or not, but we are not very far off the end of January by which point many of us will have abandoned their New Year Resolutions. If you are still sticking to yours and you would like to take a road trip in 2013, hopefully this mini guide from Door2Tour coach tours will help decide which routes you should experience and what you will see there. On the other hand, if you have already been on a road trip, tell us of your experiences…
Route 66 – USA
This has to be one of the essential icons of America,
for both Americans and for people abroad. Why not hire a Cadillac and cruise Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica or vice versa? Some of the amazing sights you’ll see along the way are: The Chain of Rocks Bridge, the beautiful scenery of Devil’s Elbow, head to the Big Texan in Amarillo where you can eat a 72oz steak (within the hour though), Cadillac Ranch, Petrified Forest National Park, a meteor crater between Flagstaff & Winslow as well as the site of the world’s first McDonalds restaurant located in San Bernadino, California and the Painted Desert so make sure you’ve got your camera close at hand!
The Great Ocean Road – Australia
Wind the windows down as you cruise down this magnificent road and you’ll smell the sweet aroma of bush and beach
combined. The Great Ocean Road weaves its way along classic surf beaches before sliding into the Otway Ranges after Apollo Bay. As you cruise along with the wind in your hair, make sure you have your camera at the ready to spot some of these fabulous sights along the way: the Twelve Apostles, Island Archway, The Grotto, secluded bays, Blowhole and Thunder Cave.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road – Austria
If you don’t fancy travelling too far, why not head over to beautiful Austria and instead of discovering the
‘Sound Of Music’ – hop in your card and take to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road? This fabulous road, with its 36 bends, will take you through the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park past blooming alpine meadows and up to an altitude of 2,504 metres. As you venture higher up, you should glimpse pine-scented forests, mist shrouded cliffs and the awesome Grossglockner – the highest mountain in Austria.
The Icefields Parkway – Canada
Considered by many as the most spectacular journey in the world and you’ll
soon agree as you travel the Icefields Parkway through the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. You’ll get to see pristine mountain lakes where you won’t know where the sky begins or ends, ancient glaciers and sweeping valleys, not forgetting a peak at the awesome Rocky Mountain Range too. As you cruise along the Parkway, it maybe a little tricky to keep your eyes firmly on the road as all sorts of wildlife can be spotted during your journey from grizzly bears to Big Horn Sheep, cougars, elk and the Mountain Goat. If you spot something interesting, pull over safely to view!
Hai Van Pass – Vietnam
Apparently Jeremy Clarkson has referred to this stretch of road as ‘one of the
best coastal roads in the world’ and it’s not difficult to see why. At the crown of the Pass you will have travelled to an altitude of 3,848 feet but at the foot, you will see the South China Sea (a view not to be missed)! The Hai Van Pass is one of the most scenic hillside roads in Vietnam but don’t be fooled as you will encounter several hair-pin curves. You will certainly be in for the journey of your life and stunning vistas, sweeping valleys and a dash of the old Vietnam await you!
So have any of you experienced one of these road trips? What were your highlights?