The idea of taking your car and travelling to wherever the road takes you, is highly appealing to those who don’t like to be bound by strict routines, ‘must see’ lists and package tour schedules. Fill up your gas tank, put the pedal to the metal and take in the beauty of some of the world’s most beautiful cities and sites. These are just a few you should see in your lifetime:
- Big Island, Hawaii
This road trip is ideal for Nature lovers, who will delight in a varied landscape comprising verdant jungles, a mystic lava dessert, tranquil farmland, sunny beaches, scenic highlands, active lava flows and gentle valleys, to name just a few natural treasures. If you live nearby and don’t mind subjecting your own car to a bit of wear and tear, then you can brave the lofty mountain and sandy beach rides with no fear provided you are protected by a comprehensive policy. However, if you are flying in from overseas, rent your car at the airport; you will need your own vehicle to make your way through the island at your own pace.
Begin your journey at Kailua-Kona, a gorgeous church built of coral and lava rock, across the road from the Hulihee Palace, built in 1838 and now a museum showcasing beautiful furniture and artifacts. Check out the sealife with a quick dip in the pristine ocean and see the native sealife. Nearby is Ahuena Heiau, whose surrounding village was once the capital of the islands. Also not to be missed on your road trip are the Kona Coffee Living History Farm (with its array of sweet seasonal fruits), Coffee Shack (built upon a coffee plantation and serving exquisite Kona coffee) and St. Benedict’s, also known as the Painted Church owing to its sophisticated trompe l’oeil-painted interiors, fashioned after traditional European cathedrals by a Belgian priest in the early 190ss. Other must-sees are the lava fields and forests, the Hawaii Volcanoes National park and Honokaa, where you can look over the dreamlike Waipio Valley and rive down to a black-sand beach (only four-wheel drives are permitted to undertake this journey).
- Asturias, Spain
In Spain, big cities like Barcelona or Madrid can easily be seen without a vehicle, owing to the sophisticated public transport system. The same cannot be said of Asturias, a natural paradise located between the sea and the mountainside. Places to visit include Cangas de Onís, the city which welcomes you to the famed Peaks of Europe National Park. Must see sites include Buxu cave (featuring an important collection of Paleolithic art) and the stunning Roman bridge, with its priceless ‘Cross of Victory,’ a stunning ancient wooden cross covered in gold and precious stones. Also not to be missed are the famous glacial lakes of Covadonga (located in the Peaks of Europe National Park), and the Covadonga Sanctuary, an impressive basilica built in neo-Romanesque style. A chauffeured wine tour from Madrid to Ribera can be found here.
- The Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Amalfi Coast is ideal for those who prize bathing in warm, sparkling waters, marvelling at stunning scenery and indulging in gastronomical delights. Places to visit include Vietri sul Mare (a quaint village offering dramatic views of the coastline) and Ravello (a romantic town featuring verdant gardens and lofty views of the coastline (the town soars 1,198 meters into the sky). The Amalfi Coast route runs from Sorrento to Salerno and makes for a scenic drive (though if you want a closer look a private walking tour is available here).
- British Columbia, Canada
Canada is famed for its majestic scenery, combined with top class museums, and rich cultural heritage. Set aside at least a week to take in Vancouver (with its gorgeous flower gardens in Queen Elizabeth Park), Victoria (an excellent place to enjoy the company of seagulls, artists and musicians), Nanaimo (a paradise of coves and rocks and home to the Nanaimo District Museum) and Shannon Falls Provincial Park, where you will find British Columbia’s third highest waterfall. Also not to be missed are skiing haven, Whistler, the Nairns Falls Provincial Park in Pemberton and the gold rush monuments at Lillooet.
- Cascade Lakes, Oregon
Home to the glorious Cascade mountain range where bubbling volcanoes once raged, Cascade Lakes in Oregon also boasts lush forests filled with mystic hemlock and fragrant Douglas firs. Mother Nature shines in her most glorious fashion here, with a host of colorful meadows, volcanoes, bubbling streams, lava flows and serene lakes delighting your senses and imbuing a powerful sense of peace and joy. Must see areas include the dense Mount Bachelor (busting with pine, fir, spruce and hemlock trees), Todd lake (a favorite site for a refreshing swim) and Devils Hill, comprising black lava boulders that remind us of the power and unpredictability of Nature.
– This post was written by Anne Vale.
