AOL Travel Ideas

3 Great Cities to See on Foot

MapQuest Discover — 2013-05-17T07:00:00+00:00

Some of the coolest travel destinations around are best explored the old fashioned way: on your own two feet.Santa Fe (pictured) looks pretty sharp thanks to its artsy attractions -- and for travelers who love to walk, the New Mexican hub packs a big punch in a small stroll-friendly city center. Madison, Wisconsin, the provenance of Olympian Eric Heiden, has more than 120 miles of trails and more than 260 urban parks. Gastronomes, meanwhile, can counteract their calorie consumption as they eat and walk their way through Asheville, North Carolina's burgeoning culinary destinations.

Ready to strike out? Slip on your most comfortable walking shoes and check out Sauntering Santa Fe's Art and History, Meandering Through Madison's Favorite Hot Spots and All In A Day's Fork: A Foodie's Guide To Asheville By Foot on AOL's MapQuest Discover.

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5 Summer Road Trips Inspired by Hollywood Movies

AOL Travel Staff — 2013-05-16T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Arts & Culture, Road Trips

The crazy, fun-loving buddies' road trip in The Hangover has inspired countless others to set out on their own memorable adventures. Two Hangover movies -- including the upcoming finale The Hangover Part III -- later, it's clear you don't have to head to Las Vegas to have the movie-inspired road trip of your life. From the stomach-dropping Grand Canyon scenery in Due Date to The Descendants journey along the lush roads of Hawaii, there's more than enough cinematic ground to be covered as you plan your next trip.

Check out the video below for a look at those and other summer road trips inspired by popular movies. For other movies that inspire travel, hop on over to Moviefone.

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Paia and Dinner on the North Shore: Maui Upcountry Road Trip

Chris Gray Faust — 2013-05-15T12:19:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink, Road Trips

I left the dairy and continued heading toward the coast. While this technically ended my Upcountry tour, Maui's North Shore has its fair share of local flavor, albeit of the surfing variety. As you might expect from those who live wave to wave, the North Shore's main town, Paia, is geared toward those on a budget-well, as budget as Maui gets. Its few blocks of storefronts are full of bikini boutiques, crowded indie cafes and more than one head shop. To be honest, it seemed a little grungy to me, particularly when compared with the upscale galleries and shops in Makawao.

Luckily, my hotel, the Paia Inn, proved to be a suitable refuge. From the street, you can't tell that the cheerful yellow building housing the lobby is just one part of a sprawling complex of beachy-boutique cabins that wind down to the water. My apartment-sized room came with a living room, full kitchen and outdoor patio (and shower!). I had time for a quick dip before dinner so I grabbed a complimentary body board and headed out to the ocean, where I floated for an hour or two.

Road Trip Starting Point:
Exploring Maui's Upcountry

My job requires me to eat by myself quite a bit, and while I'm used to it, I always appreciate it when servers go out of their way to make sure that things go smoothly. That means they are solicitous without being overbearing, chatty without being familiar -- and they don't assume that you'll tip less. When I saw the crowds at Mama's Fish House, an iconic restaurant outside Paia that finds itself on many of Hawaii's top foodie lists, I worried that I'd feel out of place among the noisy vacationers and family groups. I didn't need to worry, as my server proved appropriately casual.

The entree prices, however, were anything but. While I'm used to splurging on occasional meals, entrees in the $40-$50 price range are still a shock. Sure, the menu points out exactly who caught the fish (I was told that my Ono, for example, had been caught "along the north shore of Maui by Jeff Holland"). And I did love my sashimi appetizer, served with delicious Hawaiian salt varieties that I vowed to buy later. Yet it seemed an indulgence, particularly on a weeknight; I felt a little guilty splurging on such a rich meal without my husband along to share. I can see why many people save this spot for their big night out on Maui.

Afterward, I took a walk along the sand out front (along with several couples, strolling hand in hand). As I looked out onto the water, the moon peeking through the palm trees, I realized how relaxed I was. My day in Upcountry had worked its aloha magic.

<< Previous Stop: Hanging 10 with the Goats
Starting Point: Road Trip: Exploring Maui's Upcountry >>

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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Hanging 10 with the Goats: Maui Upcountry Road Trip

Chris Gray Faust — 2013-05-15T12:16:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink, Road Trips

From here Route 37 continues south before turning east into the Piilani Highway, an alternate route to Hana that skirts Haleakala National Park. It's a two-hour drive along rugged and rocky roads along the ocean that can be a little rough -- not all rental car companies allow you to bring your car there. Instead, I turned around and backtracked north on 37. Here, it's easy to suss out Upcountry's priorities: Every other business along Route 37 seemed to be a homeopathic shop and/or massage studio.

Before I passed through Makawao, I turned on Omaopio, a decidedly rural road that winds past farms and dusty dirt roads. This is the heart of the island's agricultural community, where traditional crops include the famous sweet Maui (Kula) onion. I had milk instead of veggies on my mind today, however, as I pulled up to my next destination, the Surfing Goat Dairy.

Road Trip Starting Point:
Exploring Maui's Upcountry

Owned by German expats Thomas and Eva Kafsack, the Surfing Goat is one of only a handful of goat farms in the U.S. that have earned designation for humanely raised products. Their main product is artisan cheese, which is free of hormones, antibiotics and preservatives; it's served in upscale Hawaiian restaurants, including Alan Wong and Mama's Fish House, and also sold in some grocery stores on the mainland.

The parking lot at the surfboard-bedecked dairy was full on a summer weekday afternoon; the farm is a popular tourist stop for families, as they watch their kids play with goat kids. While there's no restaurant on-site, you can purchase the dairy's handmade spreads and goat cheese truffles, take a tour and even take part in the evening milking ritual ($12 for kids, $15 for adults).

After admiring the baby goats (it is hard to resist their cuteness), I did a quick sample of the cheeses that they were featuring that day at the homey wooden window. On my visit, standouts included Purple Rain, made with bits of Maui lavender; Rolling Green, full of fresh chives; and Men's Challenge, peppered with horseradish. The chevres tasted so good that I almost splurged on an $89 take-home six-pack, which included an insulated cooler to put in your checked luggage. Maybe next time.

Maui Upcountry Road Trip Stop Five: Paia and Dinner on the North Shore >>
<< Previous Stop: Lavender and Lunch near Kula

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Lavender and Lunch near Kula: Maui Upcountry Road Trip

Chris Gray Faust — 2013-05-15T12:12:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink, Road Trips

The road out of Makawao passes through sugar cane fields, where you can glimpse the ocean through the waving grasses. I turned my car onto state Route 37 and headed toward Kula, home of the Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm.

The Haleakala crater, the remnant of a once-active volcano, dominates Upcountry Maui, and the soil on the leeward side supports many farms, including this one, which looks like something you'd see in Provence. The sustainable farm sits at a 4,000-foot elevation, which offers perfect cool weather for the 55,000 lavender plants. It's a popular place for a picnic (the farm charges $3 just to get in), and there are daily tours ($12) as well as frequent gardening and crafting classes.

Road Trip Starting Point:
Exploring Maui's Upcountry

I took a look at the tours but decided that it would be more fun to meander the purple-flowered hillside on my own, despite the rain clouds I saw rolling in from the mountains. Bees buzzed around the rows, and the air smelled like a spa, au natural; this relaxed me far more than any yoga class would. Before I left, I bought a lavender scone from the farm's gift shop to eat later.

Back in Makawao, Rene Wineland -- owner of the shop Aloha Cowboy -- had given me a quick synopsis of Maui's ranching history: In the 1830s, a few decades after cattle had been introduced to the island, Kamehameha III invited Spanish-Mexican vaqueros to capture and slaughter the beasts, which had been running free and causing problems. These vaqueros, along with the Hawaiians they brought into the business, became the paniolos, the Hawaiian cowboys.

At 20,000 acres, Ulupalakua Ranch remains one of the biggest of Maui's ranching tracts, where the Erdman family raises elk as well as cattle. You can sample both meats in burger form at the ranch's Grill (I saw a few people buying steaks to bring back to their condos). While both sounded great, I couldn't resist the opportunity to indulge in another Hawaiian staple, a BBQ kalua pig sandwich, and took it to the lawn's picnic tables. The pork tasted succulent, with a tangy sauce. Even the bun was grilled, a nice touch.

Right across the road from the grill sits Maui's Winery, located in a ranch guest house that was built for King Kalakaua, a frequent visitor back in the 1870s. Also known as Tedeschi Vineyards, the winery is the only commercial one on the island and has red, white and fruit varietals. I skipped the tour, opting for a free tasting of pineapple wine instead. Swirl, sip -- ugh, too sweet. I skipped buying a bottle.

Maui Upcountry Road Trip Stop Four: Hanging 10 with the Goats >>
<< Previous Stop: Malasadas in Makawao

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Malasadas in Makawao: Maui Upcountry Road Trip

Chris Gray Faust — 2013-05-15T12:08:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink, Road Trips

Leaving Lumeria, I pulled my rental car out onto Baldwin Avenue, the two-lane road that runs from Maui's beach-oriented North Shore to the more agricultural island interior. The journey passes sugar cane fields of waving grass, with sloping hillsides up to Haleakala on one side and sweeping vistas down to the Pacific on the other. My next stop: Makawao and the T. Komoda Store & Bakery, the Upcountry place to come for malasadas, a Portuguese dessert made of fried dough.

Once known for its paniolos (cowboys), Makawao has reinvented itself as an arts destination, with trendy boutiques, galleries and restaurants popping up in its renovated plantation-style buildings. Drawn by the colorful giclees of island life propped up near the door, I stopped at the Kirsten Bunney Gallery, one of several art galleries along Makawao's main street.

Road Trip Starting Point:
Exploring Maui's Upcountry

Inside, a golden retriever named Jazzy snoozed in the middle of the floor as I chatted with Kirsten's husband, Scott. He told that me that while Makawao might seem like an off-the-beaten-track location, the town is one of the few places on the island where artists can still make a living, as high rents have pushed locals out of Lahaina. The concentration of artists has its benefits, he said, as Makawao now has enough critical mass to sponsor a third Friday art walk celebration, as well as an organic farmers market on Wednesdays.

Such gentrification can rejuvenate a community. But I was more interested in a Makawao institution that's been around for nearly 100 years. The T. Komoda Store & Bakery looks nondescript on the outside, with a Coca-Cola sign that's ragged around the edges. Skip the crowded aisles as your eyes adjust to the dim light inside the grocery and go straight to the old-fashioned glass case that's filled with several dozen varieties of baked goods.

I had read good reviews of the doughnuts, stacked five to six deep on a wooden stick, as well as the signature cream puffs. You can only consume so many calories, however, and I had mine reserved for the malasadas. At Komoda, these sweet treats are tossed in sugar and filled with custard or fruit; top choices include guava and coconut, which win raves for their freshness. I chose the latter, enjoying the flavors as they melded with the cinnamon-sweet dough. Some cravings are worth the wait.

Maui Upcountry Road Trip Stop Three: Lavender and Lunch near Kula >>
<< Previous Stop: Starting Healthy at Lumeria Sanctuary

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Starting Healthy at Lumeria Sanctuary: Maui Upcountry Road Trip

Chris Gray Faust — 2013-05-15T12:04:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink, Road Trips

I'm not what you'd call a yoga person. Contorting my body into odd poses, often at ungodly hours? So not my thing.

But I couldn't resist the allure of Lumeria, a luxury wellness retreat located in Upcountry, on the road between Paia and Makawao. Built in 1909 by a wealthy family, the 6-acre, 24-room historic property was transformed into an Asian-influenced sanctuary by designer Xorin Balbes in early 2012, with Balinese loungers and Buddha statues scattered around the lush grounds. (Since my visit, a saltwater pool and whirlpool have been added.)

Road Trip Starting Point:
Exploring Maui's Upcountry

The sound of roosters stirred me from my four-poster bed. Meant as an escape from the noise of daily life, the resort doesn't have TVs or other entertainment in the rooms (although you are welcome to borrow books from the New Age-heavy library). Leaving my room and padding my way through the open-air hallway, I saw some people out on the lawn performing sun salutations and peeked in on a few flexible souls getting into their downward dog. Relaxed from the lomi lomi massage I had on-site the day before and lulled by the property's spa-style wind chimes, I thought briefly about joining them. Nah. Breakfast was calling.

Lumeria's dining room is simple, with countryside chic touches. Pitchers of organic fruit juices and lemon mint water were available, along with fresh fruit, granola and yogurt (many guests come to Lumeria for the resort's specially designed juice cleanses). As I surveyed the choices, a fit couple in yoga gear entered, flushed from their morning session. Hailing from Phoenix, they had found Lumeria through a coupon travel site and planned their Hawaiian vacation to take advantage of the classes and healthy food.

Personally, I'm a little more indulgent, especially when it comes to Hawaiian food. So I ate lightly, saving room for the treats that I knew I'd find around the island later. There are many ways to find your bliss.

Maui Upcountry Road Trip Stop Two: Malasadas in Makawao >>
<< Road Trip: Exploring Maui's Upcountry

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Road Trip: Exploring Maui's Upcountry

Chris Gray Faust — 2013-05-15T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink, Road Trips

Most Maui visitors stick close to the coast, concentrating their vacations in the resort towns of Lahaina and Wailea, or driving the twisty road to Hana. What people don't realize is that the interior, known as Upcountry, offers a breezy tranquility, with locally owned boutiques and art galleries, restaurants and farms, yoga retreats and wellness studios. While Upcountry isn't completely undiscovered -- Oprah owns a large ranch there -- the smaller towns and rolling hills give a glimpse of the way that life on this mostly agricultural island used to be.

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

On this food-focused day trip, I made a circle through Upcountry, seeking out fresh produce and Hawaiian favorites, such as malasadas. The road trip took me from the North Shore beach town of Paia, home to Mama's Fish House, to Ulupalakua Ranch, which lies not far from the Haleakala National Park. Along the way, I met some native Hawaiians, as well as transplants, who revealed why Upcountry is such a draw for those who want to enjoy local flavors while escaping the congestion and high prices that dominate Maui's more typical tourist areas.

Maui Road Trip Stop One: Starting Healthy at Lumeria Sanctuary
Maui Road Trip Stop Two: Malasadas in Makawao
Maui Road Trip Stop Three: Lavender and Lunch near Kula
Maui Road Trip Stop Four: Hanging 10 with the Goats
Maui Road Trip Stop Five: Paia and dinner on the North Shore

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Vacation Bliss May Be Hiding in Your Forgotten Rewards Points

AOL Travel Staff — 2013-05-10T10:43:00+00:00

Filed under: Tips & Tricks, Budget

With summer vacation season approaching, the hunt for great travel deals has moved to the top of a lot of to-do lists. But as you're clicking around the Web for cheap flights and bargain hotel rooms, and crunching the numbers to see how much fling you can afford, don't forget to check for discounts that may be lying fallow behind the plastic in your wallet.

Forgotten rewards points and frequent flyer miles can make a summer trip possible when you thought you might be stuck at home.

--View the full story on DailyFinance.

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American Airlines Invites Social Media's High Flyers Into Its Elite Lounge

AOL Travel Staff — 2013-05-09T17:35:00+00:00

Filed under: Air Travel

Airline lounges have long been the exclusive province of the high rollers willing to spend hundreds of dollars for the privilege of waiting for their flights in comfort. But they'll soon be joined by another kind of elite traveler: The person who's really popular on the Internet.

On Tuesday, American Airlines launched a new promotion that grants access to its Admirals Club - which has free WiFi and complimentary booze and snacks - to travelers who wield the most influence on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. To do so, it will team up with Klout, a service that measures just how big a player you are in the online world.

-- View the full story on DailyFinance.

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Top Spas for a Mom-Worthy Recharge

AOL Travel Staff — 2013-05-09T07:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Family, Spa & Wellness

Looking for something to do this Mother's Day? Take charge of your weekend to recharge by sinking into one of these sumptuous spa retreats.

Miraval, Arizona

Miraval, Arizona
Horses. Hammams. Happy hour. A seal of approval from Oprah Winfrey herself. If that meets your requirements for a relaxing long weekend, then Miraval is a must. The 400-acre luxury spa, a smattering of casitas in the sun-baked desert hills just outside of Tucson, offers an ideal, yin-yang balance of exercise and ease, of challenges and comfort. There are enough fitness activities to satisfy the most rabid gym rat, enough spa treatments to bliss out the super-stressed, and enough tequila, chips and guac at the nightly cocktail bar to go ahead and indulge, after all. Don't miss the outdoor Miraval relaxation massage, which combines the dry air of the Sonoran desert and the deep moisture of Clarins aromatherapy oils for reduced stress and improved circulation. The iced-cucumber water at the pool is pretty divine, too.

Read the rest of Top Spas For A Mom-Worthy Recharge on AOL's MapQuest Discover.

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15 Reasons the Best Place in America to Start a Road Trip is Louisville, Kentucky

Zach Everson — 2013-05-07T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Louisville, Kentucky? Road trip hub of America? Yes. The city's location and attractions make it America's premier launching pad for a road trip. Here are 15 reasons why:

1) Louisville is within 500 miles of 50 percent of the U.S. population.

2) It's within a day's drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population. So you should have no problem finding friends or family to crash with on a road trip out of Louisville. (Best not to tell them though if you plot an entire vacation around couch crashing so you can blow the savings on Kentucky booze.)

3) Still not convinced about its strategic location? UPS delivers 16.3 million packages and documents a day. Its main U.S. air hub is in Louisville. So there's a good chance the Apple toys you've ordered online have visited.

4) Sure, they'd be long hauls, but Austin, Boston, Denver and Miami are each within a day's ride.

5) Closer afield, you could leave Louisville after breakfast and be in Asheville, Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis or Pittsburgh for lunch (you know, in case you can't put French fries in your own sandwich and needed Primanti Bros. to do it for you).

6) Kentucky is wedged between the state most like the other 49, Illinois, and the state least like the rest, West Virginia. So it's easy to map out a road trip as normal or as wild and wonderful as you want.

7) Lonely Planet ranked Louisville the "top U.S. travel destination for 2013." Lonely Planet won the 2012 Travelers' Choice Award for favorite travel guide from TripAdvisor. And TripAdvisor itself was Travel + Leisure's 12th best travel website of 2011. So Louisville's distinction is kind of a big deal. (Full disclosure: Louisville's honor was announced before a Kentucky man bought Lonely Planet.)

8) Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice awards ranked Louisville's 21c Museum Hotel among the top 10 hotels in the world in 2009 through 2011. And while a night in the hotel isn't free, a visit to its museum -- North America's first one dedicated to 21st century art -- is. Its exhibits change, but right now they feature a topless woman in a football helmet and a deer dressed up in a leather gimp mask. So check your expectations of Louisville at the door along with your umbrella.

9) The cheeseburger, the quintessential road-trip meal, was invented in Louisville. But the city's culinary scene has evolved considerably since 1934. Last year Zagat's called it one of "8 Awesome Foodie Getaways Around the World." And, that article didn't even touch on Louisville being KFC's hometown.

10) Bars in Kentucky's most populated city stay open until 4 a.m. Afraid a late Saturday night will keep you out of church Sunday morning? Synergize at the Holy Grale -- a Unitarian Church converted to a beer-only bar that's been written up in publications like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Food & Wine.

11) It's home to the reigning NCAA basketball and Sugar Bowl champion Louisville Cardinals. It's where the baseball bats are made (tour the factory and see for yourself). And there's that little two-minute pony race on the first Saturday of May, which attracts all types, ranging from the Queen of England to O.J. Simpson (pre-incarceration).

12) Rick Pitino is the only coach in NCAA basketball history to win championships with two teams (the University of Kentucky in 1996 and the University of Louisville this year). And only in Louisville can you eat in a restaurant where he's admitted in court to having sex on the floor with a woman not his wife while his assistant lay face down on the floor to give them some privacy.

13) Its most famous son doubles as the world's most famous athlete: Muhammad Ali. Downtown's Muhammad Ali Center celebrates his life and legacy, both in and out of the ring.

Need more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

14) Pages could be spent detailing how eclectic the city's Highlands neighborhood is. But just know it's responsible for both Hunter S. Thompson and Mitch McConnell.

15) That Pappy Van Winkle you're having a hard time finding at home? In Louisville, there's so much of that top-tier bourbon, horses get bathed in it. Well, maybe not, But you'll have an easier time finding it there.

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Everydayer: Get Racey At Churchill Downs

MapQuest Discover — 2013-05-04T06:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Arts & Culture, Weekend Getaways

Home to the most exciting two minutes in sports (aka the Kentucky Derby), experience a day at Churchill Downs and its high stakes horse races during the spring and fall meets (late April through July 1, and late October through Thanksgiving weekend).

Read this thorough(bred) guide to a day at Churchill Downs on AOL's MapQuest Discover.

You may also like: Louisville Road Trip: Driving the American Horse Trail.

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Meander Through NULU—Louisville's East Market District

MapQuest Discover — 2013-05-03T10:13:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink, Weekend Getaways

Find out why folks are flocking to New Louisville (NULU). The historic area has had a recent resurgence of restaurants, galleries and shops, with enough food and fun to fill an afternoon -- or two.

Morning
Every breakfast spot serves a sammy, but never has one been so well executed as the bacon and egg sandwich at Toast. In case you're not an early riser, they serve breakfast all day.

Design junkies can get their fix with the home décor stores flanking East Market Street. Scout sells a stylish mix of personal and home accessories, from sofas to statement jewelry. Find Louisville lore like vintage Derby posters and an eclectic selection of furniture from Relleck. Working women will love the laptop bags by journalist-turned-designer Emily Gimmel from Graceship (sold at Work the Metal, the super cool store right below her studio).

Read the rest of Meander Through NULU-Louisville's East Market District on AOL's Mapquest Discover.

You may also like: Louisville Road Trip: Driving the American Horse Trail

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American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Four: Assateague Island

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T18:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Leave Middleburg and head east on I-270, to the Washington, D.C. beltway, where drivers go round and round like ponies on a carousel, often at the same slow speed. Continue east to Annapolis, cross the Chesapeake Bay and then it's straight south on US-50 through the quaint towns of Easton and Cambridge. Head east, bisecting the coastal plain of the Delmarva Peninsula where the flat landscape is pocked with poultry farms. Chicken poop is not a pleasant odor, but by the time you reach Assateague, you'll smell nothing but sea breeze.

Road Trip Starting Point:
Driving the American Horse Trail

Located on Maryland and Virginia's Eastern Shore, Assateague Island is renowned for two herds of wild horses, one herd in each state (a fence separates them; they do not intuitively recognize state boundaries). The horses, of course, aren't really wild; they are feral. As the National Park Service's Assateague website explains, "they are descendants of domestic animals that have reverted to a wild state." Wild sounds more romantic than feral though, which evokes images of a nasty cat tormenting you as you take out the garbage. Truly wild horses have not roamed the Americas for thousands of years, so herds that have been feral for a few centuries are as close as you're going to be able to get on a road trip.

Camping is permitted only on the Maryland side of Assateague. Both the National Park Service and Maryland Department of Natural Resources maintain campsites. Demand can be heavy though, so make reservations in advance.

DON'T MISS
The two herds are subdivided into bands of two to 12 horses, with each band occupying a home range. Your ability to view the horses really depends on them. Sometimes, you may have to drive around the island. Other times, they may approach your tent, trying to snap into your uneaten Slim Jims. The National Park Service recommends staying at least a bus length away though, even if the horses are the ones seemingly initiating contact.

EAT AND DRINK HERE
Food-wise, you'll mostly be making use of a cooler beside the campfire. But you'll want to make use of the campground's showers to clean up and visit the Assateague Crab House, located just outside of the campgrounds, at least once. Of course, by the time you're done inhaling all of the batter, butter and tartar sauce there, you might feel the need to shower again on your return.

ROAD TRIP TIP
While you shouldn't pet or feed the horses, you can buy one as a souvenir from your horse-themed road trip. On the last Thursday in July, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which owns the Virginia herd, hosts a pony auction to help it manage the herd's size. You're on own though for a tip on how to get your new pony back home. And, no, these formerly feral horses aren't eligible for Derby.

Previous Stop: Northern Virginia
Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Three: Northern Virginia

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T18:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Before Kentucky's Bluegrass region became America's horse headquarters, that distinction belonged to Virginia. What happened? Those early Virginians moved west. Equine activities remain entrenched in the Old Dominion, but evolved differently, with most popular races being steeplechases.

Road Trip Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

Heading east on I-64, you'll take in West Virginia's abundant wild and wonderful foliage on highway that's curvier than your typical stretch of interstate. Once into Virginia, you'll be immersed in the Appalachian Mountain range, cutting across the Alleghenies and then heading north on I-77, up a gauntlet with George Washington National Forest on your left and Shenandoah National Park on the right. Both areas make fine places to hike, bird watch and, yes, go horseback riding.

The National Steeplechase Association sanctions both spring (March through June) and fall (September through November) races in Virginia. Most notable are the Virginia Gold Cup Races, held the first Saturday in May (yes the same day as Derby), and the International Gold Cup Races, on the third Saturday of October. Both are contested at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia, 46 miles west of Washington, D.C.

DON'T MISS
Lower-profile races, like the Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point offer a more laid-back experience. Reserve a picnic parking space (info for doing so is on its website) and set up your own tailgate spread: they range from ladies in Lilly Pulitzer and men in seersucker nibbling on prosciutto around a giant M ice sculpture to a couple of folks sitting in folding chairs in the back of their pickup, passing a bag of Utz potato chips back and forth. So regardless of whether you're a member of the landed gentry or an itinerant backpacker, don't worry about feeling out of place.

EAT AND DRINK HERE
If you decide on food more substantial than a bag 'o chips, visit The Market Salamander in Middleburg. Its "gourmet food to-go" includes prepared tailgates and picnics packages-splurge on the Point to Point Basket ($25 a person) and take in some local flavor via the jumbo lump crab cakes. Its owners (including CEO Sheila Johnson, Black Entertainment Television co-founder and -- full disclosure -- Strategic Advisor for Multicultural and African-American Initiatives at AOL Huffington Post Media Group) are opening the Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg this August. The resort's equestrian center will offer horseback riding lessons; courses in dressage, cross country, polo, jumping, and carriage driving; and a mock fox hunt.

ROAD TRIP TIP
Not every steeplechase offers pari-mutuel wagering, like at a thoroughbred race. Look around though and you'll likely find someone willing to take your bet. Hint: It might be worth talking to the guy with a chalkboard in the back of his truck.

American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Four: Assateague Island
Previous Stop: Northern Virginia

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Two: Lexington, Kentucky

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T18:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

East of Louisville, through fenced-off rolling green fields where horses with a higher net worth that yours graze, lies Kentucky's Bluegrass region and Lexington, the "Horse Capital of the World." Like your lunchtime smoothie, the soil in that area has high mineral and protein content, which means that horses grazing there grow stronger. That's the claim anyway. That rationale "was tacked on after the fact," John Jeremiah Sullivan wrote in Blood Horses: Notes of a Sportswriter's Son, "as a boast or perhaps as an explanation for what had come to seem a part of nature, its contingent historical causes forgotten." For travelers though, the cause is less important than the result-and that's an area flush with equine-related sites.

Road Trip Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

Lane's End, Three Chimneys and WinStar Farm are home to horse racing's recently retired superstars-like 2010 horse of the year Zenyatta, Derby winner Big Brown and the only two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, respectively. But tours are limited (these horses have work to do in the breeding shed), so check their websites for times. Impersonate a prospective buyer or breeder though (a la Count Homer Simpson at the Bentley dealership), and you'll find more relaxed visiting hours.

While Churchill Downs is the country's most celebrated racetrack, Lexington's Keeneland, might be its best. A shrine to the sport, with a backdrop of a barn resting on lush green pastures, Sullivan described it as "an oasis from the businesslike atmosphere and general skeeviness that still cling to many American tracks." While its annual meets are in April and October (neither of which overlap with Churchill's races), its auctions are a spectator sport onto themselves. Pro tip: Sit on your hands lest you commit yourself to buying a $16 million unraced horse.

Thoroughbred racing, of course, is just one aspect of equine sports. The Kentucky Horse Park, in the northern part of Lexington, is home to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event annually in late April, which includes cross-country, dressage and jumping. The rest of the year, a ticket to the park includes admission to the International Museum of the Horse, the American Saddlebred Museum, a horse-drawn tour and equine presentations. For $25, visitors can saddle up for a guided 35-minute trail ride that's suitable for maiden riders.

DON'T MISS
The hour-long walking tours are more frequent-daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Old Friends, a retirement home for "thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end." There you'll meet and learn about its 137 residents, who've won every major race save Derby, earning more than $90 million in the process (how's your career going?). Like many human retirees, these horses have plenty of time to be social.

EAT AND DRINK HERE
This area isn't just horse country though, it's bourbon country too. If you're looking for a distillery with a horse connection (or just want to sip good bourbon), visit Woodford Reserve. It's the official bourbon of Derby, it sponsors the race that immediately precedes Derby (the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic-a major race in its own right and televised nationally on NBC) and the distillery itself used to be a home for (largely unsuccessful) racehorses. April through October, soak up some of that bourbon you sampled with a picnic on the porch overlooking the distillery and Glenn's Creek. Wallace Station's sandwiches also are popular with the horse-and-bourbon traveling set. Guy Fieri declared its The Big Brown (Griddled on the bun, with ham, bacon, tomato and white Cheddar Mornay) one of his top 5 burgers. And while Fieri's tastes are sometimes called into question, this burger's popularity shows that he might be correct.

ROAD TRIP TIP
If Keeneland isn't hosting races or auctions, you can always bet on a race at a different track via its drive-thru wagering window. But, as the signs throughout the track say, "When it's no longer a game, there is help!"

American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Three: Northern Virginia
Previous Stop: Louisville, Kentucky

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop One: Louisville, Kentucky

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Louisville is home to the world's premier horse race, the Kentucky Derby (its just "Derby" to locals). The 160,000 people -- two-thirds of Louisville's everyday population -- that head to Churchill Downs includes all types. For $40 travelers can party with the infield hordes, where you'll likely see more mud wrestling than horses races. At the other extreme, for you-know-how-much-it-costs-if-you-can-afford-it, you can be one of 320 people enjoying the rarefied air of the 6th floor invite-only The Mansion (also dubbed Billionaire's Row), which overlooks the finish line and debuts this year.

Road Trip Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

But even if you're not road tripping to Kentucky's largest city the first Saturday of May -- and with some hotels and restaurants jacking up their prices that weekend (for example, the Econo Lodge Downtown's best rate for Derby: $499 a night), you might not want to be -- the thoroughbred-racing scene here still demands a visit. Churchill Downs is hosting three meets in 2013: April 27-June 30, Sept. 6-29 and Oct. 27-Nov. 30. While not quite as grandiose as Derby, night racing (Downs after Dark), a go-to spot for locals, provides a chic racing experience.

Churchill and other racetracks are surprisingly kid-friendly too. Hang out by the paddock and watch the ponies walk around and get saddled up. Then head to the track to watch them warm up, parade to the post and race. Stand by the winner's circle and you'll see them get washed down after the race while the winner poses for a picture. Head back to the paddock, and a few minutes later a new batch of horses will be out.

DON'T MISS
Even when the ponies aren't running, Churchill Downs is home to the Kentucky Derby Museum, which is open year round. Its permanent exhibits includes Riders Up where visitors can "mount a simulated horse and try to maintain the jockey's stance for two minutes-the time it takes to run 1.25 mile track on Derby day." For the winner anyway.

EAT AND DRINK HERE
Located across the street from Churchill Downs's backside, the horse racing atmosphere at Wagner's Pharmacy is no simulation: jockey silks and horse liniment for sale at the register, walls covered with racing photos and a steady stream of stable hands at its lunch counter give it an authentic vibe without a whiff of manure. To get a true taste of the South, try the pimento cheese sandwich.

For a more upscale, but still horse-related, meal, visit Jack Fry's, a clubby steakhouse in Louisville's Highlands district. Fry used to run a bookmaking operation out of the back. These days, it's better known for its steaks, shrimp and grits, and Manhattans.

SLEEP HERE
And while no area barns advertise accommodations for humans, Bashford Manor Inn used to be a thoroughbred racing and breeding farm. It produced Lookout, winner of the 1893 Derby, as you no doubt recall. Now it's a bed and breakfast.

ROAD TRIP TIP
For betting, while it's more fun to pick your own horses, winning money can be a lot of fun too. The track announcers, Daily Racing Form or tip sheets (like the easy-to-read ones of syndicated handicapper Ellis Starr's) can provide insight on what horses might win, and how to bet them to best make a profit. Keep in mind though, just as most horses leave the track as losers, so to do gamblers.

American Horse Trail Road Trip, Stop Two: Lexington, Kentucky
Starting Point: Driving the American Horse Trail

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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Road Trip: Driving the American Horse Trail

Zach Everson — 2013-05-02T17:59:00+00:00

Filed under: Family, Arts & Culture, Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Louisville is the ideal starting gate for a horse-themed road trip east, in part retracing the path America's iconic horse racing and breeding industry took as it largely migrated from Virginia to Kentucky. Begin under the twin spires of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, where the winner of the world's most prestigious horse race (held this Saturday) will earn his or her owners $1.24 million.

A short drive to the Bluegrass region takes you to the highly regimented Lexington-area breeding sheds. After a stop in Virginia to see steeplechases or maybe take an equestrian lesson, you'll end up on Assateague Island on Maryland and Virginia's Eastern Shore. There wild, er, feral horses frolic on the seashore and set their own agenda-which sometimes includes raiding travelers' campsites.

Giddy-up and happy tails.

Stop One: Louisville, Kentucky
Stop Two: Lexington, Kentucky
Stop Three: Northern Virginia
Stop Four: Assateague Island

Looking for more road trip ideas? Visit our Great American Road Trips home page.

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Great American Road Trips

AOL Travel Staff — 2013-05-01T17:14:00+00:00

Filed under: Weekend Getaways, Road Trips

Planning a road trip? Of course you are. It's almost summer, and few American pastimes -- baseball, eating hot dogs, heckling baseball umpires between bites of your hot dog -- are as enticing as piling in a car with family or friends and heading toward the beach. Or heading for that national park you've always meant to visit. Or just pointing your car toward the horizon and seeing where the bends in the road take you.

Road trips appeal to us because they have a timelessness and tradition that tap into the rugged American spirit. But they're also appealing because they allow us to travel close to the ground and see take the pulse of the country's landscape and people.

Follow along as we highlight road trips that offer travelers a taste of both of these worlds. We'll start off in Louisville, and we'll venture across the country, from Virginia to Nebraska to Hawaii and beyond.

But rest assured, we'll leave room for another beloved part of any great American road trip: surprises. Our spring and summer road trip coverage starts here:

15 Reasons the Best Place in America to Start a Road Trip is Louisville, Kentucky
Driving the American Horse Trail
Exploring Maui's Upcountry

Also, be sure to check out some great road trip stories from our archive.

Road Trip: Florida Spring Break 2013
5 Things I Learned Road Tripping through Florida on Spring Break
Road Trip Gear: Seven Must-Have Essentials

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