Taking the All-American Road Trip

Summer is the perfect season to take a holiday. I think everyone should, if at all possible, try to get away at least for a short time.

That could mean traveling abroad to Europe or some other exotic locale around the globe. But it could be anywhere, really. Some of my greatest childhood memories were staying in a cottage on Mullett Lake near Cheboygan in northern Michigan each summer. We live in a beautiful state. Just get away if you can.

I would highly recommend visiting any of our National Parks. Earlier this month, I loaded up my truck with my fishing pole, camping gear and some provisions. Oh yeah, and my family. We pointed west, and hit the gas. Nearly 5,000 miles and two weeks later, we pulled back into the driveway.

In between, we were able to visit some of America’s iconic National Parks, including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Sequoia and Yosemite. We also visited plenty of national monuments and national forests, camping most nights in beautiful canyons under a blanket of stars.

All I can say is America is an amazing place, filled with natural treasures that attract people from all over the world. I was really surprised by how many foreign visitors were at the parks. It was just another reminder how fortunate we are to live in this country. Standing in the shadow of General Sherman, a massive sequoia that is the largest tree in the world, and looking out over the magnificent Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon, Utah were two of the highlights of our trip, but there were many others including a serene sunset drive through Yosemite Valley. They were experiences you can’t really explain to someone. It’s something you have to do and see on your own, like looking out over (or hiking into) the Grand Canyon.

Our National Parks truly are magical places. If you let them, they will speak to your soul and recharge your batteries. They did for me.

I’d love to hear about your travels, whether it was to a National Park, or anywhere else for that matter. And, if you take along The Rock and snap a photo, we’ll feature it in an upcoming issue. Just email it to me at kurtkuban@therockimagazine.com. Summer isn’t over yet, so you still have some time to hit the road. I highly recommend it.