The great American road trip is back. It’s returning with some 21st century style. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is open, and so is the southern half of Yellowstone. Slowly but surely, places around are opening up and we’re emerging from our homes and ready to hit the road. You might still be wary of hopping on a plane or staying in a big city. We get that. That’s why the first step in our Great American Getaway is all about getting away from it all.
RVs
The mere mention of the term RV might conjure up images of Cousin Eddie emptying the septic tank in “Christmas Vacation,” but the RVs of today are well-furnished, clean and equipped with all the technology you need to make for a smooth family road trip. There’s a range of luxury RVs that accommodate varying budgets. Partners of ours such as Abercrombie & Kent and American Excursionist offer RV packages that fit your style. There are options for self-drive or with a driver, and you can spend every night on the RV and or retire to a nice lodge for the night while the driver takes care of the vehicle.
It’s easy to practice social distancing in an RV while carving out some quality family or couple time away from home. You don’t have to worry about constant unpacking and repacking, and you can be close to the outdoors action without having to worry about the lack of nearby accommodations. Of course, you can’t just park anywhere you want for the night. That’s where a well-crafted itinerary planned out with your travel advisor comes in.
Sensing “a nostalgic craving for the American road trip,” as U.S. operations manager Kirk Reynolds put it, A&K has developed local and regional itineraries of six to eight nights highlighting national parks, the Rockies and Texas to name a few. Excursionist also offers national parks itineraries in the West and from the Berkshires to Acadia. You can even get your kicks on Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, or in Canada when the time comes.
Villas, Cabins & Condos
No matter what part of the country you live in, our partners offer freestanding structures for those not quite sure about jumping back into a high-rise hotel just yet. There are many options that are part of a resort and come with all the attendant amenities, such as Stone Water Cove on Table Rock Lake in the Ozarks, any number of places in Napa Valley or the Ocean House in Rhode Island.
For those who want even more space, Villas of Distinction is expanding its domestic collection to add more private homes in Colorado and Utah, Southern California (Palm Springs, La Jolla and L.A.). From Montana to Miami — and Singer Island and Orlando —they are adding or expanding their inventory. Hilton Head bookings are available immediately, and they’re also looking to add places in destinations such as Nashville, Charleston, Savannah and Martha’s Vineyard. Each home or condo comes with an updated guideline for cleanliness that owners must follow in addition to Villas of Distinctions already rigorous vetting process. They are also looking into modifying cancellation policies in the event of a COVID-19 resurgence.
Glamping
Nothing says back to nature like sleeping under the stars. Pitching a tent in the backyard and dragging out a couple of sleeping bags probably doesn’t cut it anymore after weeks stuck at home. With glamping, you can sleep in a cozy bed with a fire going in a semi-permanent tent complete with private bathroom and shower. Instead of your back porch, you have the glory of a national park or another part of the great outdoors to explore with companies such as Excursionist and Under Canvas. There’s a kitchen serving up gourmet fare and S’more making around the campfire at night.
You can take private guided excursions during the day, including some awe-inspiring experiences such as lunch on the rim of the Grand Canyon after a morning of hiking, or riding a zipline through the canopy of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Whichever option you choose, let’s rediscover America this summer.