AAA Travel Blog – Roadtripping made easy

As the summer travel season approaches, the current economic downturn has many Americans concerned about discretionary spending. To assist travelers in planning memorable, affordable vacations that fit their budget and interests, AAA has featured eight of its more than 100 member-exclusive AAA Drive Trips(r) on its recently launched travel blog, at AAATravelViews.com. Available to all travelers, AAA TravelViews features travel stories and photos, tips and information, industry news and insights from AAA insiders.

AAA offers more than 100 flexible, preplanned AAA Drive Trips itineraries that range in length from two to five days and travel through most of the United States and Canada providing many options for travel close to home. The AAA Drive Trips include photos, an overview map, driving itinerary, mileage and estimated driving time for every leg, sightseeing information and links to detailed information on cities, attractions and events. Where overnight stops are suggested, users can link directly to the TourBook(r) lodging listings for that region for information and bookings.

The AAA TravelViews blog contains travel stories and photos, tips and information, industry news and insights from AAA insiders. These insiders include the editors who create AAA TourBook information, inspectors who evaluate lodgings and restaurants, travel agents who provide trip planning and reservations, and research professionals who monitor the industry. Visitors can also gain insight from fellow travelers who submit comments, pose questions and vote in the weekly polls. For those who want to explore vacation options immediately, the blog provides easy links to AAA travel information and trip-planning tools on AAA.com.

Trips are geographically diverse and a variety of lengths, so whether vacationers have two days or a week, they can choose from one of AAA’s popular itineraries featured on AAA TravelViews.

Cape Cod: Cherish memories of this Cape Cod adventure including fresh ocean culinary delights, whale watching and antique hunting. This trip explores Martha’s Vineyard, Provincetown and small villages nestled along Cape Cod Bay. Two legs, 174 miles.

Hershey/Pennsylvania Dutch County: Settle back at a slower pace to observe a simple way of life that has endured for generations in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. This trip also explores the battlefields of Gettysburg and stops in York, which once served as the nation’s capital, and the century-old town known for chocolate, Hershey, Pa. Three legs, 174 miles.

The Turquoise Trail and Beyond: Soak in some of the most spectacular scenery in the American Southwest on this excursion from Albuquerque to Taos. This trip travels on the Turquoise Trail and visits an old mining town and everything from ancient Pueblo Indian dwellings to modern art galleries. Three legs, 275 miles.

Historic Virginia: Entrenched in history and entwined with tradition, Virginia not only embraces the past, but thrives on it. This trip explores intriguing eras in U.S. history visiting George Washington’s boyhood home, civil war sites and more. Four legs, 397 miles.

Central and Northern Arizona: Discover the richness of this area’s natural beauty, history and culture from Phoenix to Flagstaff. This trip also explores Prescott, designated the state’s first capital by President Abraham Lincoln. Three legs, 327 miles.

Rocky Mountains: City meets snow country in this drive tour, as Denver’s steel-and-glass skyscrapers give way to towering Rocky Mountain monoliths. The contrast of man vs. nature artfully blends to create an amazing adventure on this trip including opportunities to visit big-city museums, hike through wildflower-filled meadows, thrash about on rushing rapids, gaze at storybook vistas of snowy crests or marvel at the Cadet Chapel’s modern architecture. Four legs, 435 miles.

Washington Cascade Loop: Dubbed the Grand Tour by early roadway adventurers, this dramatic route travels from the mossy rain forests of the Pacific Coast to the dry and sunny fields of eastern Washington, looping across “America’s Alps,” the Cascade Mountains. Four legs, 483 miles.

Vancouver-Cascade Mountain: This excursion explores British Columbia’s natural beauty and culture visiting Vancouver, a great port, cultural center and tourist area and the Cascade’s lush valley, system of rivers, lakes and protected ocean waterways. Four legs, 743 miles.

Available free to all travelers, links to printable itineraries are available on AAATravelViews.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.