Tag: Featured

Finding the best driving route is essential for a smooth, stress-free journey. There are many online tools that can help you do this, and in this article we will discuss the best of them. We will talk about how these planners can help you save time, money, and aggravation on your next road trip.

We all know the feeling of sitting in traffic, wasting time and money on gas, and getting frustrated with the whole process. But what if there was a way to avoid all that? With a little planning and some help from technology, you can make your next road trip a breeze.

There are many different route planners available online, but not all of them are created equal. Some are more user-friendly than others, and some have more features. But which one is the best?

Here is a list of the best driving route planners, based on our findings:

1. MapQuest – Route Planning Made Simple

MapQuest is another popular driving directions service. It has a user-friendly interface and offers features such as traffic updates and estimated drive times. MapQuest is a great option for those who like to plan out their trips in advance. You can easily print directions and save your maps to your account with the My Maps feature so no need to plug in directions every time.

• Biggest Pro: Simplicity and ease of use
• Biggest Con: Missing advanced mapping features like street view

2. RoadWarrior – The Best for Delivery Drivers & Couriers

The best route planning app for delivery drivers and for those who make multiple stops. The route is customizable and allows you to avoid tolls and takes into account things that are out of your control like traffic, school zones, business availability, and more. It has a free version you can test out and more advanced paid features for couriers to increase routing efficiency like uploading routes from spreadsheets, which can save a lot of time for multi-stop deliveries.

• Biggest Pro: Routes optimized for multi-stop efficiency
• Biggest Con: Not designed for different transportation devices like walking, biking, and train travel

3. Waze – The Best for the City Driver

Waze is a free, user-friendly app that is beloved by many drivers. It has a clean interface and provides real-time traffic updates, which can be very helpful in avoiding congestion. It also offers alternative routes if your original plan is not working out.

• Biggest Pro: Gamification of maps
• Biggest Con: Too many icons covering map and small street routes hard to navigate if you are not a local

4. Google Maps – Most Comprehensive for the Technophile

Google Maps is a widely used, reliable tool for route planning. It offers turn-by-turn navigation and traffic updates, and can even reroute you if there is a problem with your original route. The options are endless with this routing tool, with 9 map options like terrain, satellite, traffic, street view and more and routes for many different transportation methods like bike, train, plane, walking, car and bus.  Your route can be extremely customized to exactly what you are looking for if you are tech-savvy.

• Biggest Pro: Advanced route customization
• Biggest Con: Too many options and difficult to navigate for those new to tech

5. TomTom – The GPS Device Leader

TomTom is a more comprehensive route planning tool, offering features such as real-time traffic updates, GPS navigation, and live parking information. It is a bit more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but it may be worth it for the added peace of mind.

• Biggest Pro: Cross-device, can use on GPS units and phones
• Biggest Con: Expensive service and device costs

6. AAA TripTik – Best Option for the Brand Loyal

AAA TripTik is a comprehensive online trip planner offered by the American Automobile Association. It can help you plan your route, find gas prices, and even make reservations for hotels and attractions along the way.

No matter which driving route planner you choose, taking some time to plan your trip before you hit the road can save you a lot of time and hassle. So do your research, map out your route, and enjoy a smooth journey.

• Biggest Pro: Well-known and trusted brand name
• Biggest Con: Outdated map and features

While Florida may initially seem like a basic vacation destination, there’s actually a lot more history and culture to the area than you’d think! Florida has been a travel magnet for tourists for generations because of its year-round warm temperatures, sandy beaches and beautiful hotels, which happen to be some of the most prestigious and historic in the United States. From Clearwater to Orlando to Sarasota to the Florida Keys, follow along as we roundup some of Florida’s most incredible historic hotels and landmarks.

10. Fontainebleau Miami Beach

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach continues to make history as one of the most famous hotels located in one of America’s most desirable locations. Situated on 20 acres in the heart of Millionaire’s Row, the Fountainbleau completed a stunning $1 billion makeover in 2008 that expanded total guestrooms to 1,504 and reconfirmed its long-time standing as one of the nation’s most luxurious resorts. It originally opened in 1954 with 554 rooms, making it the largest hotel in Miami Beach. Designed by noted architect Morris Lapidus, the Fontainebleau in 2012 was named the “Top Building in Florida” by the American Institute of Architects for its distinctive curved façade facing the Atlantic Ocean. The original hotel tower featured a 17,000-square-foot lobby with bowtie marble floor and the famous two-story “staircase to nowhere.” The elevated, 6,500-square-foot pool was the setting for a memorable scene in the James Bond classic, “Goldfinger.” Today’s Fountainbleau features a 40,000-square-foot spa.

9. Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club

The Vinoy has stood watch over Tampa Bay since it opened with great fanfare on New Year’s Eve 1925 and after a $93 million restoration in 1992, it ranks among Florida’s most luxurious resorts. The salmon-colored, Mediterranean Revival building hosted everyone from presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover to Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmy Stewart and Babe Ruth during its heyday. It was converted into a training center for the U.S. Army Air Corps and military cooks during WW II. The hotel reopened in 1944, but eventually fell out of favor to the point that it became a boarding house charging just $7 per night. It closed in 1974 but was saved from the wrecking ball by St. Petersburg residents in 1984 due to its cherished place in the city’s history. Today, the 361-room resort boasts a 74-slip marina, golf course, 12 tennis courts and a 5,000-square-foot fitness center.

8. The Breakers Palm Beach

Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, The Breakers stands as a testament to the resilience of great places in beautiful locations. Originally constructed as the Palm Beach Inn in 1896 by Henry Morrison Flagler, the hotel burned down in 1903, rebuilt in 1904 and burned down again in 1925. After $7 million in construction, The Breakers opened in 1926 and today spans 140 acres along Palm Beach. The 540-room, Italian Renaissance-style resort was inspired by Italian villas of the 1400s and features a majestic, 1,040-foot main drive leading to the Florentine Fountain patterned after the Boboli Gardens in Florence. The main lobby’s inspiration was the Great Hall of the Palazzo Carega (circa 1560) in Genoa. Today, it’s better than ever with two golf courses, four swimming pools, eight restaurants, a half-mile of private beach, 20,000-square-foot spa, 11 onsite boutiques and new 6,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor oceanfront fitness center.

7. Loews Don Cesar

The Loews Don Cesar has been a Gulf Coast icon since it opened in 1928. The landmark pink castle on St. Pete Beach showcases Mediterranean and Moorish architecture with balconies and terraces lining the 10-story masterpiece. Named for Don Ce-Sar in Vincent Wallace’s opera Maritana, it has been the playground for the famous including Clarence Darrow and F. Scott Fitzgerald. In 1942, it was purchased by the U.S. Army to serve as a sub-base hospital and convalescent center for airmen returning from WW II. It didn’t reopen as a hotel until 1973, when it regained its status among Florida’s elite resort hotels. Its unique design has served as the backdrop of two notable movies—“Once Upon a Time in America” (Robert De Niro and James Woods) and “Forever Mine” (Ray Liotta, Ralph Fiennes). Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the 277-room hotel recently completed an extensive renovation.

6. National Hotel Miami Beach

The South Beach Art Deco Historic District in Miami is among the coolest collections of American architecture around and nowhere is it better displayed than the National Hotel Miami Beach. Opened in 1939, the National was designed by Roy France, one of Art Deco’s most revered architects. New owners and management did an extensive restoration in 1997 of the hotel that has 116 rooms in its iconic, 14-story tower as well as 36 luxury cabanas and suites. Today, original furnishings can be seen throughout the property including terrazzo flooring in the Martini Room cigar bar, the oak bar that anchors the Blues Bar and the Oval Ballroom’s original, restored carpeting and chandelier. Polished chrome light fixtures and dark wood furnishings also are original. During the restoration, a narrow, 205-foot-long, infinity-edge pool was created to mimic Art Deco’s streamlined style. The ultra-hip, palm-lined pool is Miami Beach’s longest.

5. Casa Monica

As the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the U.S., it’s natural to assume St. Augustine is home to some really old hotels like the Casa Monica. The circa 1888 hotel was purchased shortly after it opened by Standard Oil co-founder Henry Flagler who changed its named to Cordova and built a bridge in 1902 to connect it to another hotel nearby, the Alcazar. It officially closed in 1932 after Flagler abandoned the complex during the stock market crash, and it became the St. John’s County Courthouse in 1968. It was restored and reopened as a 138-room hotel in 1999. Today, the Moorish Revival-style hotel showcases hand-painted Italian tile, Spanish tapestries and hand-painted gold-leafed archways in the lobby. Rooms are elegantly appointed with Spanish-style furnishings, mahogany tables and four-poster, wrought-iron beds. In 2001, the king and queen of Spain visited what has become one of Florida’s most luxurious boutique hotels.

4. Gasparilla Inn & Club

The tip of Boca Grande Island has long been a special place with its deep water and reputation as one of the best tarpon fishing spots in the world. The Gasparilla Inn & Club opened in 1913, largely as the result of phosphate rock being discovered nearby and subsequently mined for use in detergents and other products. Built originally to appeal to visiting business barons and wealthy Northerners seeking a winter escape, the Inn has been a favorite over the years for celebrities and business tycoons alike including J.P. Morgan, Henry DuPont, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Katharine Hepburn and George H.W. Bush. Through careful stewardship, Gasparilla remains one of the best examples of old Florida luxury and style. The original pillared Inn has 63 guestrooms, while surrounding cottages offer 74 more. Sandy, private beaches, 18-hole golf course and 250-slip marina keep new generations coming back to this Florida classic.

3. Le Meridien Tampa

The Le Meridien Tampa is relatively new, having just opened in 2014, but the former Federal courthouse that houses it dates back to 1905. More than $27 million was required to renovate this Greek Revival-style hall of justice into a luxurious hotel in downtown Tampa. The courthouse was built to last, and remnants of its former life are prevalent throughout the hotel. A former witness box now serves as a host stand at its restaurant, while a witness selection desk has been repurposed as a business center. Former courtrooms are now ballrooms or meeting rooms with witty names like the Verdict Boardroom and Sidebar One. What’s special about this place is how the new hotel tastefully blends old with new, like modern chandeliers illuminating traditional marble floors and granite columns. Rooms are decidedly modern with 42” flat-screen TVs, contemporary furniture and carpet and WiFi.

2. Terrace Hotel

Air conditioning and railroads had much to do with the creation and enduring popularity of the Terrace Hotel. The railroad boom of the late 19th century had 25 trains stopping daily at the Lakeland depot by the 1890s, bringing increasing numbers of visitors from the Northeast U.S. The Terrace Hotel opened in 1924 with the big new innovation—air conditioning—which made it popular with A-list guests such as Henry Ford, Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Sinatra. The 10-story landmark was Lakeland’s first high-rise structure and featured breathtaking crystal chandeliers imported from Italy, floor-to-ceiling arched windows and patterned Cyprus ceilings in the lobby. After a long run of popularity, it faded from the limelight and eventually became a flop house for transients before closing in 1986. The 73-room hotel was restored and reopened in 1998 as the anchor of Lakeland’s revitalized downtown historic district.

1. Marquesa Hotel

The Marquesa Hotel in the heart of Key West’s historic district and is comprised of four Victorian-style homes built in 1884. Together, the pastel-colored houses frame two pools and an interior garden so lush with tropical plants and rock waterfalls that guests will be tempted to simply kick back and relax all day. Those who do venture out will find all the attractions on Duval Street only one block away. The Gulf of Mexico is just four blocks. The luxury boutique hotel features decadently decorated rooms with antiques, plush bedding and marble baths. It has been included on “best hotels” lists from the likes of U.S. News & World Report and Travel & Leisure, while Zagat named its fine-dining, 50-seat Café Marquesa Key West’s top restaurant. The owners emphasize comfort and quiet for their guests, and children have to be at least 14 years old to stay there.

International trips are often seen as luxurious and expensive, out of reach for most people except for once every few years. But this doesn’t have to be true! You can travel the world on shoestring budget if you’re willing to trade luxury for a few personal items and a backpack.

Backpacking can refer to those hiking and camping while carrying everything they need for the trail on their back. It can also refer to a low-cost form of travel, often staying in inexpensive accommodations like hostels, while carrying all necessary possessions in a backpack. Both are wonderful ways to see cities, as well as the natural world.

Of course, you can technically go anywhere if you’re backpacking, however there are cities and parts of the world that are particularly welcoming to travelers who are backpacking. To help you choose here to take your next adventure, we’ve put together this bucket list of some of the world’s best backpacking destinations…

Taman Negara, Malaysia

Taman Negara is Malaysia’s most-visited national park, strung with Amazonian rope bridges over the untamed wilderness. Your hiking journey starts by boat aboard the Kuala Tembling Jetty and leads you through hidden caves, elephant trails, fields of giant mushrooms, and lush jungle. Don’t make this just a weekend stop-over – plan to spend some time in this tropical rainforest.

Patagonia, Chile and Argentina

Panoramic views are what Patagonia (from the Chilean and Argentinian side) is all about. It truly is one of the most beautiful places in the world. However, only serious trekkers should attempt to traverse this multi-day obstacle-strewn landscape made up of frozen cliffs, glaciers, and azure lakes. You have to be in pretty good shape to hike here, and thorough planning is required, but the vivid, uncultivated landscape is worth the sore muscles.

Glacier National Park, Montana, United States

Up North in America’s Montana is Glacier National Park, which is a stunning park to backpack in, complete with a tent and your food for the duration of your trip. The park preserves more than one million acres of forest and boasts alpine meadows, clear blue lakes, and glacier-carved valleys between rugged peaks. Here, you can see aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, year-round, though springtime is optimal viewing time. There are 65 campgrounds with a total of 203 campsites, so there are a number of different routes you can take.

Porto to Algarve, Portugal

Portugal is a stunning coastal haven for backpackers with beautiful beaches and fascinating sea caves. Most fly down and begin their trek at Porto, making your way leisurely to the Algarve, at the southernmost tip of Portugal on the border of Spain. The walk is fairly easy; in fact, you can take advantage of the stellar public transport system and stop along the coast for wine tours, gorgeous scenery, lively festivals, delicious seafood, and friendly locals.

Bali, Indonesia

If you’re traveling on a backpacker’s budget, but want to sunbathe, dine, drink, and explore like royalty, then a trip to Bali, Indonesia is within reach. Not only are the golden beaches stunning, the accommodations and food are super cheap. However, the laid back surfers, other backpackers, and jubilant monkeys you’ll have for company during your journey will be priceless.

Inca Trail, Peru

The Inca Trail has long been coveted as a prime destination for adventurous backpackers seeking the mysteries of Machu Picchu. However, this South American destination offers more for the explorer than simply the forgotten city. If you trek along the Peruvian coastline, you’ll find rich culture, secluded beaches, lively little towns with festivals, great spicy food, and friendly locals.

Bay Islands, Honduras

Bay Islands in Honduras is a cheap place to explore and lay down your weary head after a long day of trekking. It’s also home to stellar scuba diving in the island’s crystal clear waters that are filled to the brim with a colorful collection of marine life, such as vibrant schools of fish, stingray, and whales.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Backpacking amidst the beauty of Halong Bay is like stepping into a fairytale. You’ll be awestruck by the islands and islets that make up the landscape (over 1,600 in all) to form an extravagant seascape of limestone pillars, hidden caves, crevices, and blue lagoons.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Feel like a sultan in Cappadocia, Turkey’s uniquely gorgeous landscape of windblown rocks and hidden crevices. In this city the locals carve out their little homesteads on the side of cliffs and gutted boulders. This land of colorful painted churches is filled with people that are just as colorful and ready to offer a cozy place for tea and a pit stop along your journey. It’s popular “fairy chimneys” – cone shaped rock formations – alone make it one of our top picks!

Yosemite, United States

Yosemite National Park has some of the best overnight hikes in the country, located in America’s California Sierra Nevada mountains, with majestic peaks like El Capitan and Half Dome and treacherous canyons like Tenaya. You’ll be camping in tents and preparing your own meals outdoors here, so you’ll want to make sure you have the right gear. Be warned – Yosemite backpacking requires experience, and isn’t for beginners, though there are suitable day hikes such as the Mirror Lake Loop (easy) and the Four Mile Trail (strenuous, but beautiful). However, the backpacking trails promise gorgeous giant ancient sequoia trees and jaw-dropping views around every switchback to those who make the climb.

Santa Elena, Costa Rica

Howler monkeys will announce your arrival along the Central America backpacking trek of Santa Elena. The small and rustic Costa Rican town is made up of an environment that is almost as charming as the gracious locals who will take you for a salsa twirl, show you where to get the best seafood, find the most comfortable accommodations that are cheap, or walk among the trees via canopy tour.

Tasmania, Australia

Australia’s Tasmania was once a jail for British outlaws, which earned this island its unbridled reputation. You’ll believe it to be true when you witness the untouched beauty, preserved forests, sprawling vineyards, and wide open spaces that lead directly into the Southern Pacific Ocean. Stop along the way for a dip in the ocean, to discover the unique rock formations, and perhaps get a glimpse of one of the world’s rarest species, the Tasmanian devil, itself.

When it comes to retirement communities in America, it’s important to find a location that brings you ultimate happiness and allows you to reap the rewards of your working years. Are you an active person looking for a lively city? Or are you looking for a more relaxed, low key environment? Maybe you are on a budget and looking for the cheapest places to retire? Follow along as we round up some of the best towns, cities and states to retire in the country based on current data:

10. Prescott, Arizona

If you love the outdoors and vibrant culture, you should consider retiring in Prescott, Arizona. Located in the north of Arizona, this old mining town experiences a cooler summer than southern Arizona, helping you steer clear of sweltering summer temperatures. A growing economy, rich history, and affordable housing costs make this place a real contender for retirement.

9. Venice, Florida

Venice is a small retirement community found on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. Named after Venice, Italy, this community has many canals and rivers that run through it and has been designed with architectural influence from Italian renaissance. Calm traffic and low prices mean peaceful retirement and it’s particularly well suited to slightly older residents. Parks, beaches, golf, tennis, and proximity to the beach will keep you busy, and proximity to nearby Sarasota will mean you have everything you need.

8. Austin, Texas

This big city offers plenty of activities to keep the retiree busy and engaged. Home to the University of Texas, this cultural hub boasts a terrific economy, warm weather, plenty of volunteering opportunities, open air art markets, galleries, museums, performing art theatres, low crime, and it’s the live music capital of the world. With so much going on, this city would be best suited for lively retirees who aren’t looking for too much peace and quiet!

7. Beaufort, South Carolina

The quaint southern community of Beaufort, South Carolina, is an ideal retirement spot. This charming old river town offers plenty of golfing and fishing during the mild winters and hot summers. The military installations in the city solidify the economy and diversify the population. While Beaufort is home to a growing retirement community, there are many families here as well.

6. St. Augustine, Florida

The historic community of St. Augustine, Florida, is a perfect retirement location for history buffs. The local economy is driven by tourism, so if you’re keen to volunteer and stay an active part of your community, this might be the city for you. On the north east coast of Florida, this city experiences cooler temperatures than other areas in the state.

5. Abilene, Texas

If you’re looking for an affordable retirement, head to Abilene, Texas. With the costs of living over 10% below national average, this old railroad shipping town has a growing retirement community of residents. Year round warm weather and excellent recreational and social opportunities for senior citizens of Abilene will keep you entertained and in good company all year round.

4. Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho makes a great retirement destination for active adults. Are you interested in biking? This city was rated one of the best cities to live and ride in the rankings. Love the outdoors? The mountains are at your doorstep, and the river offers whitewater adventures for the adventurous retirees out there. In downtown Boise, there are many shopping, eating, and cultural opportunities as well. Walking paths and low crime rates mean that you will feel confident stepping out into this great retirement city.

3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Whatever you are looking for in your retirement locale, from metropolitan living to a planned community, this South Carolina beach has what you need. Some of the highlights are the Grand Stand – a vast stretch of pristine sandy beach, trendy shopping and restaurants, low cost of living, great theater, quality medical care, and enough golf courses to keep things exciting. All these reasons will make you love your retirement life in sunny Myrtle Beach.

2. Palm Springs, California

Located in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is one of world’s most famous retirement communities on the list. The breath taking landscape and rich culture draw people from all around the globe to retire here. Active retirees can enjoy the golf scene and the nearby Joshua Tree National Park, and everyone can enjoy the 350 days of sunshine a year. Watch out though – summers here are so hot you’ll have to retreat to the air conditioned indoors!

1. Salt Lake City, Utah

Nestled into the Wasatch Mountains of Utah and next to the Great Salt Lake, the beautiful Salt Lake City is a picturesque place to retire. Perfect for the active adult, you can enjoy golf and winter sports galore. Clean air, booming economy, plenty of volunteering opportunities, and an above average doctor per capita rate make this city a quality retirement spot! Salt Lake experiences cold winters and hot, dry summers, so skip this city for retirement if you aren’t a fan of the cold!