Weekend Road Trip Deals

Trip Highlights: San Francisco to Los Angeles

• Ostrichland USA: Solvang
  Roadside Ostrich farm allowing up close bird feedings for $7. The farm is just a few miles from Danish-themed Solvang, a city known for its European architecture, windmills and pastries.
• Madonna Inn: San Luis Obispo
  Kitschy “pink palace” and hotel famous for its themed rooms. Be sure and visit the Bubble Gum Alley in nearby downtown San Luis Obispo. 
• Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery: San Simeon
  Well known spot near Hearst Castle for observing elephant seals in their natural habitat.
• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Santa Cruz
  Kitschy oceanfront amusement park boasting the largest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast, plus carnival games, thrill rides, mini golf and more.

Trip Highlights: Miami to Key West

• Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen: Key Largo
  Roadside diner covered head to toe in vintage license plates and serving up Florida Keys classics like conch fritters, alligator tenders, Caribbean-style crab cakes and more.
• Post Card Inn: Islamorada
  Ocean-facing hotel boasting the legendary Holiday Isle Tiki Bar, a kitschy outdoor watering hole serving tropical drinks and famous as the birthplace of the Rum Runner. Come at sunset.
• Anne’s Beach: Islamorada
  Lowkey and pretty beach located about halfway between Key Largo and Key West and ideal spot for an afternoon of swimming and sunbathing. 
• Old Seven Mile Bridge
  Century-old feat of engineering that parallels the new and improved Seven Mile Bridge. Ideal for biking, walking and fishing, but closed for renovations until 2021. Still a great photo op.

Trip Highlights: NYC to DC

• Asbury Park: New Jersey
  Classic Jersey Shore city famous for its beach boardwalk and retro charms. Native sons Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi have rocked famous clubs like the Stone Pony and Wonder Bar. 
• Federal Donuts: Philadelphia, PA
  Local eatery beloved for its twice-fried chicken and wide selection of doughnuts and now boasting a half dozen citywide locations
• Fort Delaware State Park: Delaware City, DE
  Fortress and prison surrounded by a moat and notorious for housing tens of thousands of Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Accessible via ferry.
• Hampden: Baltimore
  Kitschy cool neighborhood made famous in part by film director John Waters. Main drag 36th Street, aka “The Avenue,” includes Café Hon, a cozy pitstop

Trip Highlights: Dallas to San Antonio

• Dr. Pepper Museum: Waco
  Former bottling plant turned free museum featuring exhibits focused on the iconic soft drink and soda fountain replica. Across the street from the Magnolia Market Silos of HDTV fame.
• Salt Lick BBQ: Round Rock
  Celebrated Texas-style barbecue joint featuring finger lickin’ good classics like smoked brisket and pulled pork and served with traditional sides like beans, potato salad and coleslaw.
• Forever Bicycles: Austin
  Riverfront public art installation and Instagram photo op constructed by artist Ai Weiwei and featuring 1,200 bicycles fused into a large-scale sculpture.
• Gruene Historic District: New Braunfels
  German-settled small town now absorbed into the city of New Braunfels and boasting a charming downtown featuring, antique stores, eateries, souvenir shops and honkytonks. 

Trip Highlights: Houston to New Orleans

• Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier: Galveston, TX
  Family-friendly pier featuring a Ferris Wheel, rollercoaster and carnival games. Down the beach one mile is Gaidos Seafood Restaurant, an elegant Gulf-facing fine dining restaurant.
• Gator Country Adventure Park: Beaumont, TX
  Alligator theme park featuring more than 550 rescued and rehabilitated alligators, crocodiles and reptiles. Hands-on activities include holding and feeding baby gators.
• Avery Island, LA
  Rural farm where the McIlhenny Company has been makings its legendary Tabasco products for five generations. Self-guided tour and museum illuminates the process of Tabasco sauce.
• Mosca’s Restaurant: Terrytown, LA
  Family owned and very popular restaurant since 1946 serving up Louisiana Creole Italian dishes in a roadhouse off Highway 90 just a stone’s throw from N’awlins. 

Trip Highlights: LA to Vegas

• Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch: Oro Grande, CA
  An iconic roadside attraction, this sprawling art installation and “ranch” is constructed entirely of old glass bottles.
• Calico Ghost Town: Calico, CA
  A kitschy ode to the Wild West. This abandoned mining town offers up ghost tours, gold panning, meticulously restored facades and more.
• Kelso Sand Dunes: Mojave National Preserve, CA
  Devastatingly beautiful and Instagrammable desert sand dunes off I-15. Check out the World’s Largest Thermometer in nearby Baker on your way to the Preserve.
• 7 Magic Mountains 
  An unmissable series of brightly colored, boulder totems located on South Las Vegas Boulevard about 20 minutes from the Strip. On display through 2021.

Trip Highlights: Memphis to Nashville

• Central BBQ: Memphis
  One of many ‘cue joints in town, Central BBQ boasts three citywide location and is famous for its slow-smoked, dry rub victuals and choose-your-own varieties of sauce.
• Tina Turner Museum: Brownsville
  A collection of stage outfits, gold and platinum records and video and audio commentary (provided by Turner) dedicated to the music legend and located inside her former schoolhouse.
• Storytellers Museum: Bon Aqua
  Historical venue dedicated to all things Johnny Cash. Sprawling grounds include a museum, farm, the “One Piece at a Time Car,” live music events and more. 
• Leiper’s Fork: Williamson County
  Rustic village famous for its art galleries, antique shops and live music and close to several breweries and the swank city of Franklin—home to numerous country music stars.

Trip Highlights: Hana

• Mama’s Fish House: Paia
  Landmark North Shore restaurant located right on the Hana Highway. Famous for its Polynesian décor, extraordinary ocean views and menu of fresh-caught seafood favorites.
• Twin Falls: Mile Marker #2
  Duo of waterfalls that feed into a popular swimming hole. Beloved for their accessibility and proximity to the Hana Highway.
• Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread: Haiku
  Roadside fruit stand famous for its freshly baked banana nut bread best smothered in passion fruit butter. A single loaf will last the entire journey.
• Wainapanapa State Park: Hana
  Oceanfront state park located just a stone’s throw from the town of Hana and famous for its lush and crescent-shaped black sand beach and freshwater caves.