Take A Break From Flying: Alternative Ways To Explore America

When trying to explore the vast country that is America there are several ways to get from point A to point B. Flying definitely covers a lot of distance, but the downside is that you don’t actually see much of the country in between destinations, and it can get pretty expensive if you want to visit more than one state. Not to mention, there are so many other ways to travel that you should definitely try before you die. To make your next vacation a little more interesting, here are a few ways you can try to explore America. 

Road trip

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Since the American highway system was developed in the 1950s, the road trip has become an integral part of America’s cultural DNA. Today, many still dream of getting in a car and driving into wide open spaces for months on end. You might not have months, but it is possible to plan a road trip that fits into your ideal schedule, or maybe even for the duration of summer vacation. Sometimes the cost of renting a car will cost less than driving your own across America, especially if you choose a rental car that’s more fuel-efficient than the one you own. You’ll end up saving over the course of a long trip and you’re not on the hook for the maintenance that follows a long-haul journey. You also bring down the cost of the trip by staying at cheap motels, booking at Airbnb, or even by camping at inexpensive sites.

Boat

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You might not believe it, but there are some fantastic things to see along the coastline of the country. You can plan your perfect trip around the coast by buying a boat with help from boatfinancing.co, or you could get some friends together and split the cost of hiring a chartered boat for the duration of your travels. If you’re charting the course, you have full control over where you go, and how long you stay there. Alternatively, there are some amazing cruises that let you see more of the country; cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, or the Caribbean are popular because they combine amazing scenery with adventure. Not to mention the cruise itself has a lot on entertainment and activities on board, so you never feel bored while you’re travelling. 

Train

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Few people know that you can travel around the whole country by rail with Amtrak.com. The most scenic route is the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco, which is one of world's greatest train journeys. In around 48 hours you will cross the farmlands of Nebraska, scale the Rockies beyond Denver while you eat egg & bacon for breakfast in the diner, snake through rocky river valleys in Colorado and pass through the Sierra Nevada mountains to reach Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area. Amtrak offers USA Rail Passes for 15-day, 30-day or 45-day trips. If you’re savvy about using public transport in each stop on your tour, they’re an affordable way to see the country.

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