Road Trip: Road Trip FunThe millions of miles of highway that weave throughout the country truly unite the United States. With so much freedom presented to anyone with a driver's license, it begs the question: where to go and what to see? This quartet of routes promises sublime experiences and vivid memories.

Red Rock Scenic Byway – Arizona

Just hours south of the Grand Canyon lays the Red Rock Scenic Byway, a small sliver of Southwestern splendor. Measuring 7.5 miles, this dazzling desert byway begins in Sedona and arcs through red rock mesas and the Pinyon pines of Coconino National Forest. Drivers won't want to miss the awe-inspiring Chapel of the Holy Cross; it's built directly into a mesa's crest and welcomes all faiths. As you travel along “Arizona's First All-American Road,” you'll feel the urge to escape the confines of your car and uncover its every desert secret. The byway is dotted with many trail heads and off-road paths to continue your expedition on foot. Slip on your hiking boots to traverse the prehistoric red rock formations of Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock, two of Greater Sedona's renowned vortexes—spiritual locations where mystical energy is said to saturate the surroundings.

In order to help you offset the high cost of gas, I wrote an article on how you can save money on gas. In 2007, the article became very popular due to the higher cost of oil. Now we are heading back in this direction and we may eventually surpass those levels as the economy rebounds.

I took advantage of the low cost period and replaced my cars with hybrids. Most of the tips in the previous extensive article are valid for hybrid drivers as well. I highly recommend that you read them too in order to maximize your potential. Those tips will teach you how to drive with efficiency in mind.

Expensive Gas in CaliforniaI love going on Road Trips, but the increasing fuel cost can put a damper on my mood to drive long distances. Due to the recent hike in gas prices, I wanted to share this article about fuel efficient driving techniques with you. As a student I didn't have a lot of money and the cost of gasoline was always a major issue for me. I have learned many ways of saving money for gas by improving my gas mileage. There are many things you can do, aside from going out and buying a more fuel efficient car, that will help you tremendously to cut down your gasoline expenses. Many require only minor adjustments to your driving style. I am going to review some well known techniques and some of my own that I used as a student. I have always been able to exceed the specified gas mileage of my car (even meeting the specified numbers is pretty tough). In my previous article on gas prices, I speculated that those high prices are here to stay and that we will never see really cheap gas again. In this article I am going to talk a bit about what you can do to save gas.

Update: I bought two Hybrid cars since I wrote this article and learned many new techniques that helped me with Hybrids: Improving Hybrid Car Gas Mileage 

Baton RougeThe Capital City of Louisiana stands proudly on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was founded back in the 1700's and is still steeped in history. Over the centuries, it became a major inland port and shipping activity today continues to bring wealth to the city through trade in oil and gas.

The city is home to the Southern University and the Louisiana State University, which add character to a southwestern district that is characterized by upbeat shops, as well as lively restaurants and nightclubs.

Being built in a low-lying area along the Mississippi River requires more flood protection than the Istrouma Bluff naturally provides – the city fathers have added an extensive levee system to better protect the riverfront and low lying farming areas.

West Virginia State Capitol BuildingCharleston is the Capital City of West Virginia. Its name is derived from Charles Town, which was founded in 1670, and later relocated to Oyster Point on the banks of the Ashley River in 1680, where it was officially renamed Charleston in 1783.

One of the ten largest cities in the United States prior to the 1840 census, Charleston is also known as The Holy City because of the large number of church steeples that lift above the low-rise cityscape. It was also one of the earliest centers in the original thirteen colonies to allow a degree of religious freedom – although this was originally restricted to non-Catholics.

West VirginiaThe State of West Virginia is known as the Mountain State because of its central location within the Appalachian Mountain Range, with approximately 75% of it lying within the Cumberland and Allegheny Plateaus. Charleston, the largest city of the state, is also its capital city.

Geography

Although not displaying many high altitude areas – the average elevation is 460 meters - the two plateaus are nevertheless rugged in the extreme and provide a number of magnificent natural environments, most of which are under some form of conservation.

Check-in Counter

With the travel season in full swing, well-informed travelers have a hard time finding the best deals amidst the new charges Airlines have invented.

Instead of comparing ticket prices, travelers should calculate the total cost of the flight, including baggage charges, food, drinks, entertainment, and many more fees that Airlines have come up with in an attempt to disguise the true ticket price.

In this article, we reveal additional fees to help you calculate the true cost of your trip.

The following lists are not exhaustive and fees are not guaranteed. All information provided applies only to coach and only to domestic flights (continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii).

This article was last updated July 1, 2010.

 

French Qarter, New OrleansMost of us think New Orleans when talking about Louisiana - and in turn, we equal New Orleans with good food, friendly people, Mardi Gras, and the French Quarter.

French Quarter

The most striking feature of the French Quarter is the architecture that can be found here. But it is the atmosphere that keeps people coming back for more. There are the beautiful antique shops and museums on Royal Street, fun bars and clubs on Bourbon Street, and great entertainment on Jackson Square. One great way to take it all in is by horse-drawn carriage.