Current Top Five USA Trips

When I first began traveling outside the USA, I found it odd that most people did not own cars, or even have a license. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and have been exposed to vehicles all my life. My parents drove me home from the hospital in their own vehicle. I grew up working on cars and small engines. I got my first vehicle was I was 15, my grandpa’s 1995 Dodge Dakota, I spent more time under it than in it.

Automobiles are hard-wired into the fabric of American culture, it’s in our DNA. With more space than most other countries, it’s no surprise that vehicles are a part of our society. Earle Hitchner once said that “the difference between America and England is that Americans think 100 years is a long time, while the English think 100 miles is a long way.”

Here are the top five trips I want to take within the United States. This list is nowhere near all that I want to complete. To be honest, if I ever grasp the opportunity, I’d rubber tramp it for a couple of years and ride across the continental United States, witness the majesty of the landscape, explore the different ways of life, and taste the freedom of the road.

1. Shawnee National Forrest, Illinois

To start off, I’ll keep it simple. Being from the suburbs of Chicago, a trip to Shawnee National Forrest in Southern Illinois is reasonable, easy to achieve, and won’t break the bank. Located between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Shawnee National Forest is approximately 300 miles south of Chicago.

Within the National Forest is an over 3,000 acre wilderness area called the Garden of the Gods. The scenic beauty calls all nature lovers, and the sandstone rock formations are a wonder. Areas for camping, picnics, hiking, etc. can be located at the recreation areas.

Shawnee National Forest has over 400 miles of trails for hikers, rock walls for climbers, and scenic views for those of us who want to get lost in the landscape. When researching the forest, something that caught my…