Recreate some of the most famous American road trip movies for your next USA holiday!

If you’re looking for inspiration for your next holiday, look no further than your favourite films. Whether it be an intimate tale of friendship and self-growth, a high stakes police chase thriller, or even a silly American teen fest, for decades road trip movies have thrilled and inspired us with the endless possibilities that come with travelling on the open road.

Film critics and bloggers everywhere believe there’s an undeniable link between the concept of the road, movie and the spirit of the USA as a country. So if you’re booking flights to the States anytime soon, take a cue from some well-known flicks and get road tripping, big-screen style.

THE MOVIE: Thelma and Louise (1991)

This classic starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Brad Pitt sees two small town girls embark on the journey of their lives as their quiet weekend getaway turns into a gripping police chase across the south of America as they attempt the drive from their home town of Arkansas to Mexico.

DO IT YOURSELF:

Thelma and Louise travel from Arkansas to the Grand Canyon via Oklahoma – a journey of roughly 23 hours without stops, but there are plenty of reasons to take some breaks along the way. Oklahoma City and Albuquerque are perfectly placed to make overnight stops along the way, and there’ll be plenty to see while driving through changes in scenery, from vast desert plains, to mountains, to acres of trees and greenery.

Thelma & Louise (20th Anniversary)

THE MOVIE: Highway (2002)

Set in 1994, this independent cult film sees two friends played by Jared Leto and Jake Gyllenhaal flee their home town of Las Vegas after Jack (Leto) is caught sleeping with a Vegas thug’s wife. The pair hit the road and make their way to Seattle, encountering a plethora of wild characters and odd experiences along the way.

DO IT YOURSELF:

The real trip from Las Vegas to Seattle is a long but beautiful scenic drive through mountain passes and plenty of national parks. There are a few different routes to take, all of which offer plenty of things to do for the nature lover. If you opt to start off along the mighty Great Basin Highway, Route 93, Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge offers fishing, hunting and miles of hiking trails, while Nesbitt lake is also a popular and fishing spot. The trip is approximately 20 hours of driving without stops.

Highway

THE MOVIE: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Another cult favourite starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Torro, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas follows the twisted drug-addled story of a wild journalist and his lawyer who trek from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race.

DO IT YOURSELF:

You don’t need a boot full of drugs to recreate this road trip (in fact, we’d advise strongly against any kind of illegal behaviour…)The journey from LA to Vegas is one of the most well-known and popular road trip routes in America so expect traffic on the way, especially if you’re making to the trip on a weekend. Although it’s a relatively short drive of around 5 hours, there’s no reason to go straight from A to B. Make sure you stop past Baker to see the World’s Largest Thermometer, and there are plenty of outlet shops just outside Vegas to keep you busy for a few hours. Once in Vegas, it’s also easy to find cheap airfares to anywhere else in the country.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

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Where is Washington DC?

Formally the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States, located on the North Bank of the Potomac River and is surrounded by the states of Virginia to the Southwest and Maryland to the other borders.

Fourth of July Activities In Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. is one of the most quintessential American cities there is. There are so many things to do in DC that it’s easy to get lost in all the American history. Renowned DC attractions like the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the U.S. Capitol building pull in a majority of tourists, but there’s so much more to do and see! Arguably the best time to visit the Capitol is on the most American day of them all: the 4th of July. Just being in the city for the amazing patriotism that is showcased is enough to make anyone feel like a real American, but Washington D.C. pulls out all of the stops to make our Nation’s birthday one to remember for you and yours. Some 4th of July events are as follows:

• Washington D.C.’s Independence Day Parade beginning at 11:45 a.m. proceeds from Constitution Avenue and 7th to 17th street.
• 4th of July at the National Archives beginning at 10 a.m. and going to 9 p.m.
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (July 4th).
• White House Visitor Center Family Events between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the White House Visitor Center.
• Concert on the Washington Monument Grounds kicks off at 6 p.m. with the U.S. Army Concert Band right in the shadow of the Washington Monument.
• The famous A Capitol Fourth Concert that goes from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (admittance begins at 3 p.m.) on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Of course there’s so much else to do in the city that will be boosted up by the fact that it’s the 4th of July. There’s dozens of D.C. museums that it’s easy to fill your days to the brim of red, white, and blue. Over a 150 museums like The Smithsonian National Museum(s), the Newseum, and the National Museum of Crime and Punishment are all ready to let you see history up close and personal.

Amongst the most popular sites, including The Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, there’s a large amount of activities and/or tours to engage in. This includes Ford’s Theatre Tour, Ghost Tours, Lincoln Assassination Tour, and Old Town Alexandria Tour; all of which are walking tours. Before, during or after, you may also want to check out places like The Capital Visitor Center, Whitehouse Visitor Center, or The U.S. Capital Building; all of which are highly popular amongst tourists. You will then need somewhere to stay and Washington DC vacation rentals can assist you with this.

All of these attractions are amazing but nothing compares to listening to “Stars and Stripes Forever” while the sky lights up over the city with hundreds of fireworks throughout the night. Independence Day is an amazing time to celebrate America, but with all these amazing events there’s no place better to do so then the Nation’s Capitol.

Fodor’s Washington, D.C.

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Washington DC

One Great Reason to Visit Washington DC

One great reason to visit this travel destination during the 4th of July celebrations is for the numerous activities and wonderful sites to visit.

Travel Guide – Washington, DC

For More Information

• Wikipedia
• Official Site

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Where is Lancaster County?

Farming in Lancaster County

Lancaster County located in Pennsylvania, is the heart and soul of the Amish people. These people originated from Switzerland and Germany during the early 18th century and settled in Pennsylvania. Today they continue to speak their original language referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch.

They farm their fertile farming lands but not using any modern day equipment, in fact their beliefs are to keep their way of life as simple as possible and for this they are known as the “Plain People”. They wear plain, dark clothes, have no electricity or telephones in their homes, and use horse-drawn buggies and horse-drawn power for their farming.

This simple way of life encourages the people to pass on learnt crafts to each generation. The Amish people are well known for their fine quilts and quality furniture.

Lonely Planet Guide Book – Philadelphia & the Pennsylvania Dutch Country

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Lancaster County

One Great Reason to Visit Lancaster County

One great reason to visit Lancaster County is to learn about and experience the Amish people’s ‘simple’ way of life.

Explaining the Amish Way of Life

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Where is Molokini?

Molokini Crater

Molokini Islands is a volcanic crescent-shaped crater with the much of it submerged and only the very tip showing. Molokini is found a couple of kilometres off Maui in the Hawaiian group of islands. It has been designated by the State of Hawaii as a Marine Life and Bird Conservation District and attracts many visitors to enjoy its natural beauty.

Snorkeling and diving are by far the biggest attraction to the crater and one of the premier destinations for this activity in all of Hawaii. The bowl of the crater is a mass of colour from the variety of fish that can be seen there.

Don’t be caught out not having the ability to snap the under water life when visiting such a unique travel destination. Consider grabbing yourself a terrific, little underwater camera that will do just the job.

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Molokini

One Great Reason to Visit Molokini

One great reason to visit Molokini is definitely for the diving/snorkelling experience – the video says it all!

Scuba diving, Molokini Crater, Maui

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