| Millions of Americans are planning summer | | | | level of "mountain majesty," then Colorado is the |
| vacations this year yet the economic situation has | | | | hands down king as it is home of 54 of the US's |
| led travelers to seek vacations that are exciting | | | | 88 peaks rising past this milestone. |
| but also easy on the wallet. One way to do this is | | | | In the non-winter months, you can travel the |
| to plan for a road trip vacation that weaves low | | | | mountain areas and take in the world class Rocky |
| cost yet high visually rewarding scenic drives into | | | | Mountain National Park, see the plummeting |
| an area with a good network of local attractions. | | | | topography of the Royal Gorge, become part of |
| By traveling to these scenery and attraction | | | | the club of hikers that have climbed famous Pikes |
| concentrated areas, you'll be cutting down on the | | | | Peak, try your hand (and oar) at whitewater |
| travel, lodging, & food costs by pegging your fun | | | | rafting, enjoy world class mountain biking, travel |
| & excitement meter in less overall travel days. | | | | through the mountains in a vintage steam driven |
| There are three US states that standout among | | | | locomotive, and the list goes on and on. In the |
| the crowd for their ability to offer travelers both | | | | winter months, of course you can enjoy arguably |
| beauty and amenities - Colorado, California, & | | | | the best downhill skiing slopes in the world, as well |
| Tennessee. | | | | as mountain country snowmobiling, cross country |
| It is no secret that California is viewed by many | | | | skiing, and even good old fashioned sledding... with |
| to be the ultimate vacation state as it combines | | | | the assistance of ski-lifts to get you to the top |
| an almost endless array of tourist attractions | | | | again. There is no shortage of possibilities in the |
| sprinkled throughout what is widely viewed as one | | | | "Centennial State", and if you are looking for a |
| of the most scenically endowed of all US States. | | | | state with a good mix of awe inspiring scenic |
| No matter what your age or your interests are, | | | | drive possibilities along with a robust selection of |
| there are attractions that will satisfy just about | | | | tourist attractions, Colorado should rank high on |
| everyone. Traditional amusement parks abound in | | | | your list of candidate states. |
| this state to include Disneyland, Sea World, and | | | | Lastly, the US state east of the Mississippi river |
| Lego Land as well as the Hollywood movie theme | | | | that has the most to offer travelers looking for |
| focused Universal Studios Theme Park. If roller | | | | both a smorgasbord of scenic miles as well as |
| coasters and large crowds are not on your wish | | | | large array of interesting attractions is Tennessee. |
| list, there are more eclectic attractions such as | | | | The dominant scenic feature of Tennessee is the |
| the William Hurst Castle, Alcatraz prison, and the | | | | majestic Appalachian mountain range that |
| Carmel Mission. | | | | characterizes the eastern portion of the state. |
| Adults will especially enjoy the wineries of Napa | | | | Within this area you can visit a gem of the US |
| Valley and Sonoma, the cosmopolitan Mecca of | | | | national park system - The Great Smoky |
| San Francisco, and the shops and restaurants in | | | | Mountains National Park. This premier US national |
| Monterey's Cannery Row. If natural beauty is high | | | | park encompasses over 500,000 acres of pristine |
| on your list, wonderful coastal scenery is available | | | | Appalachian mountain country and offers all the |
| all along California's Pacific Coast from the many | | | | amenities of a top shelf national park to include |
| free public beaches. For a unique coastal | | | | -camping, hiking, horseback riding, nature |
| experience, take a boat to Catalina Island just off | | | | workshops and a wonderful collection of roads |
| the coast of LA. Or if you want to sample the | | | | that snake through the mountain valleys as well |
| wide diversity of California's coastline, start in the | | | | as over the top of high rising fertile peaks. If you |
| south near San Diego or LA and travel north. | | | | desire more of the outdoors, in Tennessee you |
| You'll start out with Southern California's tame | | | | can also find robust white-water rafting areas, |
| sandy beaches and culminate in the dramatic | | | | ATV riding areas, and of course hunting and |
| rocky shorelines indicative of Northern California. | | | | fishing spots. |
| While traveling this coastline, you'll be traveling | | | | Aside from the rural mountain areas, the state |
| potentially the most famous scenic drive in the | | | | also is host to some cities that are favorites |
| world - Highway 1 Along the California coast. | | | | among many tourists. Nashville Tennessee is |
| When you are done with the ocean scenery tour, | | | | known as Music City and has a vast collection of |
| head inland and take in Redwood forests areas, | | | | museums and cultural centers as well as a healthy |
| or the alpine mountain scenery of Lake Tahoe, or | | | | nightlife scene. Near Knoxville Tennessee and |
| the famous collection of waterfalls at the | | | | conveniently positioned near the entrance to The |
| incredible Yosemite National Park. The list and | | | | Great Smokey Mountain National park is the |
| possibilities go on and on in The Golden State. | | | | tourist magnet Gatlinburg Tennessee. This town is |
| If you are looking for a vacation to provide you | | | | packed to the gills with things to do and see for |
| with some cherished mountain memories, | | | | the kids as well as adults. Attractions such as the |
| Colorado is an ideal choice. It is host to an | | | | 400 shop "Mountain Mall," live entertainment, and |
| expansive share of the US Rock Mountains; | | | | all the kids favorites such as miniature golf, |
| approximately half the state is comprised of | | | | go-cart tracks, arcades, bungee jumping, and |
| mountain country. And, it is blessed with a | | | | water parks. Additionally, it has a very robust |
| particularly inspiring tract of the Rocky Mountains | | | | network of lodging facilities that range from |
| as a large number of its peaks extend past the | | | | traditional large corporate hotels, smaller mom & |
| vaunted 14,000 ft altitude mark... "fourteeners," as | | | | pop motels, bed & breakfasts, & a host of |
| mountain climbers refer to them are an elite | | | | diverse artesian lodges modeled after ski chalets, |
| group of peaks found in only four US states - | | | | Indian teepees, and quaint log cabins. There is no |
| Alaska, California, Colorado and Washington. And, | | | | doubt about it, in the eastern half of the US, |
| if you use the number of "fourteeners" as an | | | | Tennessee, like its many mountain peaks, rises |
| objective way of measuring a mountain state's | | | | above the crowd in vacation and road trip options. |
