Held every October, the Million Dollar Challenge is a fundraising bike ride for challenged athletes in which participants cycle down the California coast from San Francisco to San Diego. The reverse route, however, can be …

Is there a more fitting origin for a cross-American journey than the birthplace of explorer Meriwether Lewis and former home of Thomas Jefferson? Nestled amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville, Virginia, soon became only a …

This story is dedicated to the memory of K.P. Ward, who died unexpectedly and tragically on December 22, 2010. Finally, here it is: the start of my summer vacation of 1987, and I just finished …

"Just fly," my friends told me. "Or rent a car. The bus will take forever." The Balkan bus system is a confounding web of coaches and stations. Unlike in the U.S., there’s no equivalent to …

Fill up the car with gas and travel up the coast through Big Sur on Highway 1 to Carmel, one of the most scenic drives in the country. Starting at San Simeon, site of the …

After visiting family, my daughter and I decided to take the Old Highway 1 that runs along the coast from the Bay Area south to L.A. It takes you along the edges of cliffs, twisting …

The whole crazy experience began one summer day in 2003 when my wife and I were returning to San Diego from Vancouver, British Columbia. We had driven all the way to Vancouver from San Diego, …

Driving through the heart of the Central Valley from Sacramento to Bakersfield, one will notice an abundance of flat, green farmland. After all, the area has a reputation for being one of the world’s most …

There is Romeoville, Joliet, Elwood and thousands of other colorful towns. Flavorful, small- town- priced mom- and- pop grills and greasy spoons like the Blueberry Hill and the Bagdad Cafes. Places to rest that have …

A summer morning drive on Highway 395 offers a breathtaking view of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The endless array of mountains, trees, lakes and geological wonders on the way to Lake Tahoe is …

Route 79 through Temecula There is a better, faster, and prettier way to get to the desert, if you don't mind a few gut-wrenching turns, steep downgrades, and the occasional Sunday driver on a two-lane …