Road Trips

New England is the perfect place to go for an early summer road trip. The flowers have bloomed, humidity is still fairly tolerable and the hoards of tourists are still at bay for a few more weeks. Although this northeastern corner of the United States may seem small in size, it packs a lot in terms of culture, food, history and attractions. You can decide between stops at quaint beach towns to bustling cities all along the Atlantic coast.

Start out by visiting the resort town of Newport, Rhode Island, just 30 miles south of Providence. It offers marvelous sandy beaches, mansions, vineyards and a variety of ocean activities. This maritime city has one of the highest concentrations of colonial homes in the nation and a well-preserved and documented history at the Newport Historical Society. You can also find a strong naval influence due to it being a major U.S. Navy training center and home to the U.S. Naval War College and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

The harbors are teeming with crafts of all kind ranging from commercial fishing boats to fancy power boats. Newport is also known as the sailing capitol of the United States and has hosted many series of yacht races for the America’s Cup in the past. Choice walking and hiking trails can also be found throughout the city and its surrounding state parks.

After a few days of quiet R&R you might want to give your vacation a jumpstart by heading on up to beantown to get a dose of big city life. Boston is the largest city in New England and has been the location of many important events in our history such as some battles of the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party and the Siege of Boston. The city also is home to numerous colleges and universities, including Harvard, which add to its intellectual reputation.

All you sports fans should take the time to head to Fenway Park for a Red Sox game and watch them defend their 2007 World Series title. If baseball isn’t your thing, then you can also watch the Boston Bruins tear it up on the ice or the Boston Celtics battle it out on the basketball court.

Finish up your trip with a stop in Portland, Maine whose Old Port districts have a high concentration of eating and drinking establishments. The 2007 Food Network Awards even nominated it as one of the three finalists for “Delicious Destination of the Year.” Wander down the streets and pop into any local restaurant to try some delicious seafood such as boiled Maine Lobster or a cup of savory clam chowder. Portland is also home to many parks, art museums and auditoriums so you can find a place to relax after a hearty meal.

The landscape of New England is breathtaking during any point of the year, and no matter where you decide to stop, you are sure to end up in a place rich with history, culture and natural beauty.

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When traveling to a new country, renting a car might just be the best way to see everything you want to see. Road tripping through Europe may not be what you think of when you plan a trip, but it is not only a great way to see the natural beauty that Europe has to offer, it’s one of the only ways to truly experience the small-town Europe that cannot be seen by just visiting the major cities.

Following RealTravelers Dementia Adventure through their road trip through Europe shows sides of the continent that are not usually seen by the average traveler. Beginning in Ireland, these travelers rented a car to see small town Ireland, visiting Bray, Cork, Castlebar, Blarney, and Dublin.

“We are at Castlebar tonight. The drive today was interesting as we progressed from the usual countryside with a sprinkling of houses all over the hills and valleys to no houses. We passed lots of areas where they had been digging peat and it left quite a mess.”

“The significant stop today was Kylemore Abbey which was completed in 1871. The property has a church, walled garden and family mausoleum all in an idyllic setting on the shores of a salmon lake. It was originally a family home but was taken over and restored by Benedictine Nuns. A beautiful place and the pictures tell the storey.” (More…)

These travelers not only explored Ireland by road, but they plan on taking their road trip to mainland Europe. As described by the travelers, “We are looking to cover an area of about 300km wide along the route the vans will take and drive in one car for an hour or so to get to the places of interest. Things are so close together and it is surprising what you can get to. We have a general route in mind but it will not be firm until a day or so in advance.”

Read more about Dementia Adventure’s tour through Europe for ideas and advice on how to make a road trip both economical and fun.

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