Paths Of Discovery: Themed Road Trip Ideas

Traveling took on a different feel in the U.S. over the last year. With few flights to catch, vacationers turned to the timeless tradition of the great American summer road trip. Millions of people hit the road to take in new scenery while staying safe and socially distant. In fact, road trips made up 97 percent of all summer travel in 2020—an estimated 683 million trips. There is an endless number of routes one can drive to see our beautiful country, so why not try a fun twist and organize your trip around a theme? Whether you and your family are interested in sports, nature, history, or food, here are several routes for you to consider.

Last year, Major League Baseball played an abbreviated season with only cardboard cutouts of fans in attendance. Most teams plan to allow a limited number of spectators during the 2021season, though each state has a different timeline and scale for reopening. Even if tickets for the games are a bit scarcer, a baseball-themed road trip of the Midwest will stop by many of the region’s most exciting destinations. Don’t forget to start your tour at our very own Target Field in Minneapolis.

Known until recently as Miller Park, American Family Field has some of the best tailgating among MLB stadiums. This home of the Milwaukee Brewers hosts the famous Johnsonville Sausage Race during the sixth inning and sings “Roll Out the Barrel” during the seventh-inning stretch. While in Brew City, take a tour of the 160-year-old Miller Brewery, stop by Harley-Davidson Motor Company and, if you’re there in August, indulge in an Original Cream Puff at the Wisconsin State Fair.

The historic marquee on the front of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs’ home stadium, is worth the drive in and of itself, but there is much to see and do in and around Wrigleyville. The north Chicago neighborhood has myriad sports bars to choose from, including Murphy’s Bleachers and The Cubby Bear, that have been hosting loyal Cubs fans for decades. Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the White Sox, is on the south side of town near some of Chicago’s most iconic attractions, including Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile and the Art Institute of Chicago. The Chicago Sports Museum, with interactive exhibits and tons of memorabilia, is an additional must-stop for any sports fan. And you can’t leave town without having a classic Chicago-style hotdog at Chicago's Dog House.

At Busch Stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, you can build your own Fredbird mascot (àla Build-A-Bear) and take in the panoramic views of the downtown skyline, including the GatewayArch. Make sure to visit the impressive Missouri Botanical Garden and the eccentric City Museum, then head up to The Hill neighborhood for toasted ravioli at Italian favorites Mama’s on The Hill or Charlie Gitto’s.

The Kansas City Royals play at Kauffman Stadium, a park perhaps best known for the magnificent fountain and waterfall display behind its right-field fence—the largest privately funded fountain in the world. Kansas City also has an impressive array of museums, including the Nelson-AtkinsMuseum of Art, Science City and the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Before you leave Missouri, don’t forget to try some Kansas City classics: burnt ends, pork ribs and gooey butter cake.

There are few ways to better familiarize yourself with a new place than trying the regional delicacies. You can learn much about the history, culture and traditions of a place in just a few bites. Here’s a sampling of the iconic flavors you can discover during pitstops on your next road trip.

When it comes to barbeque, many states claim to have the best. We couldn’t pick just one either, so we are highlighting two. If you’re on the hunt for beef brisket, The Great Coastal Texas Barbeque Trail is concentrated in Victoria, Texas, and features classic establishments (including a historic dance hall) that serve ample platters of no-frills Texas barbecue. For smoked pork, North Carolina might have the greatest variety of barbecue of any state. There, you can choose between Lexington-style (tomato-based sauce on pork shoulder) and eastern-style (whole hogs dressed with a vinegar-based sauce). You’ll find the best of both styles on the North Carolina Barbecue Society’s Historical Barbecue Trail, which winds across the state and highlights 21 pits that meet their criteria for authentic, old-fashioned Carolina barbecue.

With over 60 artisan cheesemakers making 600 varieties of cheese, Wisconsin proudly touts itself as the cheese capital of the country. With a cheese-centric attraction on practically every highway exit, the hardest part is narrowing down where to stop. Travel Wisconsin has created an official three-day itinerary to sample the state’s finest. Notable destinations include Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, home to famous cheese curds; Widmer’s Cheese Cellars in Theresa, which still uses decades-old bricks to make their cheese; and Weyauwega Star Dairy, a family-owned cheese factory known for Guinness Record-setting string cheese.

Green chiles are undoubtedly tied to the Southwest—specifically New Mexico. This smoky, medium-heat pepper (also known as a Hatch chile) is used frequently in Southwestern cuisine and happens to be a standout burger topping. It’s tough to find restaurants in the area, even national chains, that don’t have a green chile dish on the menu. A few establishments always top the list for cheeseburgers: The Owl Bar & Cafe in San Antonio, New Mexico, Blake’s Lotaburger (several locations around Albuquerque) and El Parasol (six locations, in and to the north of Santa Fe).

Authentic Cajun cuisine is tough to come by in the Midwest, so we’re ready to hit the road to Lafayette, Louisiana. Once named to Southern Living magazine’s list of the “Tastiest Towns in the South,” Lafayette and the surrounding parish host a wealth of gems serving Cajun classics. Café Vermilionville in Lafayette is home to dreamy crawfish beignets. Boudin sausage is also a local favorite, and great versions can be found in cafes, roadside shacks and even gas stations. Avery Island, the birthplace of Tabasco sauce, is only a short drive south of town.

When you think of lighthouses, you’ll often picture the rocky shores and quaint seaside towns of the East Coast. But in reality, Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state, boasting more than 100 along the vast shorelines of both Lower Michigan and its Upper Peninsula. A perfect destination for history buffs and nature lovers alike, lighthouses are often steeped in lore and ideal places for photo ops.

This popular destination on the shores of Lake Michigan stands out with its signature black and white stripes. Big Sable Point is found within Ludington State Park, which has campgrounds and plenty of space to explore. Visitors can check out the original keeper’s quarters (now a gift shop)and pay to climb 112 feet for a view of the vast Michigan landscape below. Only 40 miles south, Little Sable Point Lighthouse is located among the beautiful sandy beaches of Silver Lake State Park. Both offer incredible sunset views.

Built on Old Mission Peninsula, this lighthouse has a charming vibe similar to that of a Cape Cod beach house. Visitors can check out the second-floor museum, the gift shop or climb the tower to the lantern deck. Sea kayaking is a popular way to take in the sights, as the bay offers shelter from the winds and waves of Lake Michigan. You can’t go to the Traverse City area without sampling wine—there are 10 wineries located on Old Mission Peninsula alone.

One of the most popular lighthouses for tourists stands at the intersection of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Located on the tip of Mackinaw City, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse has a museum and a picnic area on its castle-like grounds. Exhibits include living quarters restored to their 1910 appearance and hands-on displays and original artifacts. A demonstration of the fogsignal whistle led by a costumed performer occurs several times per day.

Old Presque Isle Lighthouse is one of the older U.S. lighthouses still in existence and open to visitors. Built in 1840 and rumored to be haunted, it comprises two buildings—the keeper’s dwelling and the light tower. The keeper’s dwelling is now a museum where visitors can examine artifacts, blow foghorns and even ring the bell from the Lansing CityHall clock tower. Less than 1 mile up the road is the considerably taller New Presque Isle Lighthouse, which stands on a 99-acre township park with a pavilion, picnic area, playground and nature trails. The Presque Isle Harbor Range Light is around the corner with a statue of Anna Garrity—a former keeper—dedicated to all of the women who have served on the Great Lakes Coast Line.