The Great American Road Trip. We’ve all heard of it. We’ve all wanted to do it. Lots of us have done it. But what is “it” exactly? What is the Great American Road Trip? LA to New York? Seattle to Florida? Minneapolis to Dallas? The number of different routes are infinite (or, at least, quite numerous. A wide selection, if you will).
One of the greatest road trips in the country, a classic, is up Route 66. Also known as the Main Street of America. Also known as one of the original highways in the United States. It has an important history as a leading contributor to the economies of the cities through which is passes, and as one of the biggest routes taken by people moving westward towards California in the early 1900s. And though it is no longer called Route 66, it is still considered Historic Route 66, the memories of the official US highway living on in music, history books, and most importantly, our wanderlusting hearts.
In the summer of 2015 I scooped up my little sister Meredith, on summer vacation and about to enter her sophomore year at University of Maryland, and my tiny rescue chihuahua Stella, hopped in my trusty 2013 Toyota Corolla, and departed Phoenix for good. After much thought, and after receiving an offer in both Phoenix, AZ and Stamford, CT during my senior year of college, I decided to take the Arizona offer. It paid less, but it was a whole new world and a chance for me to experience life away from my friends, family, and everything I knew, while still 
being able to work full time and learn the ways of being a corporate slave. I mean, of being a corporate employee. Of course.
Over time, it became apparent that Arizona summers are not suitable for my Scandinavian blood and it was time for a new adventure. I secured a data analysis job in Washington DC, and here I am today, getting ready to go to sleep so that I can wake up and be a corporate drone on the eastern side of the country. And I thought to myself in the time before my move: why not drive? West to east? A cross-country road trip? There is no better opportunity for an end-to-end road trip than during a move, saving you on car rentals or the need to drive back to return your own car home.
And so, following Route 66 up through Chicago, taking a detour through Canada, and descending into the Mid-Atlantic, we drove. This route was INCREDIBLE. I have detailed each of the pit stops of the trip in their own special individual posts; take a look at the route we drove and loved, as well as ideas for the best things to do along the way.
Stop #1: Sedona
One of our country’s greatest instances of what we call “natural beauty,” right up there next to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Jennifer Aniston. The red rock in Sedona is unique to the Sedona region, and the number of outdoor activities available to you here is through the roof! Feel like doing something active? Go on a hike and enjoy the rock formations surrounding you on all sides. Feel like doing something a little more laid back? Hop in a Jeep and sit back while you drink in those views, or shop in the galleries for Native-American-made souvenirs.
Plus, you are but a hop, skip, and a jump away from Flagstaff, so if the time of year is right, head on over on your way out of Sedona (if you ever are able to make yourself leave) and ski in one of the country’s favorite skiing towns. read more…
Stop #2: Albuquerque
Albuquerque was Albuquirky, you know what I’m sayin’? (I wish I could say I made that up) The downtown buildings were funky and unique, the Indian Pueblo culture is well-preserved and treasured, and Old Town Albuquerque was full of historical relics, mariachi bands, and plenty of shopping opportunities. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the hot air balloons dotting the sky, practicing for the annual International Balloon Fiesta that takes place in early October (or, plan your trip around being there for the fiesta itself!). read more…
Stop #3: Oklahoma City
Who would have thought Oklahoma would be home to such a cool town? If you look at lists of top cities to visit in the United States, Oklahoma City is never on it. But you know what? I would say it should be. It is charming, beautiful, and offers the perfect blend of old western cowboy and modern urban influences. Can LA say that? Can New York? Nope, they can’t. OKC is A-OK, and cannot be missed on this cross-country route. read more…
Stop #4: St. Louis
You would be hard-pressed to find another city that has as much free stuff to do as St. Louis. We were there for two days and literally never stopped moving, going on to the next neighborhood, the next park, the next cookie shop.
You want to spend a whole day in a 1400 acre park? Exploring museums? Taking photos under the famous Gateway Arch? The possibilities never end! On the entire road trip, St. Louis was one of our favorite cities; the entire place felt like home, and the beauty in every nook and cranny of the city was something to behold. read more…
Stop #5: Chicago
The cleanest city you will ever step foot in. Don’t let anyone catch you walking your dogs in some of the parks in this town (trust me, we learned this the hard way). Dogs are dirty. Chicago is clean. Chicago is huge. Chicago is BEAUTIFUL. Perfect summer weather, less windy than you’d think, and hours upon hours upon hours of endless exploring potential beyond The Bean (plus, those freakishly thick deep-dish pizzas that are better than any New York slice). read more…
Stop #6: Toronto
Okay, so Route 66 had to end somewhere, and we were still in the middle of the country. That baby took us far and introduced us to some American gems, but it was time to find our own way. Originally we thought to drive through Cleveland, Ohio and head straight east, but last minute decided to zip on up into Canada for a weekend because, well, why not. The Great American Road Trip has become the Great North American Road Trip (sort of).
As first-time Canada visitors, we had a lot to learn about the True North, and we came away with nothing but love and respect for our lovely, welcoming neighbors. read more…
Stop #7: Niagara Falls
I will say that I would not recommend Niagara Falls for any more than a few hours, unless you enjoy suffocating crowds and massively over-priced lunches (and unless you’re masochistic, I am assuming you would be happy to avoid both). Niagara Falls and the New York town that boasts them are touristy, yes, but that does not mean you shouldn’t stop to see them at least once in a lifetime. And why not stop if you’re entering the USA from Toronto? You’re passing right through. And those Falls are truly something else. read more…
Stop #8: Pittsburgh
We went a little bit off the cuff by swinging over to Pittsburgh rather than cutting through Philadelphia, but I had never seen this Western Pennsylvanian city and was curious about it. And what a good call that was (good job, me).
The city is brimming with evidence of its industrial history, is home to one of the oldest colleges in the country (with some really cool Gothic-revival architecture on campus), and offers tons of museums, riverside parks, and amazing restaurants. PLUS, it was named one of the “Best Places to Travel in 2016” by Travel and Leisure. Are you really going to try and argue with that? read more…
This road trip could not have been more perfect (unless it had lasted just a little longer and given us more of an opportunity to see each and every place that we stopped), and it is a route I would recommend to anyone. It is a fantastic chance to see what else the USA has to offer OUTSIDE of those high-ticket cities (i.e. New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, etc. You know the ones). The United States is a truly diverse place with so many different things to see and experience, so many different types of people to meet. And my best advice for a cross-country road trip? Bring your best friends. I couldn’t have done this without mine.
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