TravelChannel .com Names Top 10 TRAVEL'S BEST: ROAD TRIPS FOR 2015

Who’s ready for a road trip!?

In a press release:

TRAVELCHANNEL.COM NAMES THE TOP 10

TRAVEL’S BEST: ROAD TRIPS FOR 2015

Travel Channel Host Anthony Melchiorri Captures the Essence of Route 66 on a

Hotel Fixing Road Trip to Kick Off the Season Six Premiere Tonight

CHEVY CHASE, MD (September 1, 2015) – Grab your keys – TravelChannel.com has named the “Travel’s Best: Road Trips” for 2015 with 10 memorable, scenic drives that will take you across land and sea. Go as far north as Whistler, British Columbia, or as far south as the Alabama coast. Plus, hotel expert and Travel Channel host Anthony Melchiorri showcases his road trip down the legendary Route 66 in tonight’s Season Six premiere of “Hotel Impossible,” capturing the heart of this amazing throughway. He helps three struggling hotels along this iconic route in Arizona, and visits some of the quirky attractions that make Route 66 the Main Street of America.

TravelChannel.com editors enlisted a panel of experts to help determine the 10 best road trips for 2015, including: Michelle Bucher (writer, RoadTripBlogger.com), Shannon Entin (writer and founder, 100 Routes Across America), James Fisher (founder and CEO, RoadTrippers.com), Mark Sedenquist (founder, publisher and managing editor, RoadTrip America) and Mike Shubic (award-winning travel journalist, MikesRoadTrip.com).

2015 “Travel’s Best: Road Trips” (in alphabetical order):

17-Mile Drive – California

The 17-Mile Drive through the Monterey Peninsula rivals the Pacific Coast Highway in quintessential California fame and beauty. For a $10 toll, this loop hugs the coastline, running alongside Pebble Beach Golf Links, past the Lone Cypress and through the Del Monte Forest. Make stops at the Fanshell Overlook to watch the harbor seals and at Spanish Bay to camp in the same spot where Don Gaspar de Portola landed in 1769.

Beartooth Highway – Montana and Wyoming

The Beartooth All-American Road, also known as the Beartooth Highway, runs from Red Lodge, Mont., into the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. It is the highest-elevation highway in the Northern Rockies and one of the most rugged areas in the lower 48 states with 20 peaks surpassing 12,000 feet in elevation. Surrounded by the Custer, Gallatin and Shoshone National Forests; the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness; legendary switchbacks; and a rugged landscape and alpine tundra; this three-hour road trip drives through over one million acres of undeveloped land.

Olympic Peninsula – Washington

Thanks to a robust ferry system that connects the islands of Washington State, you can begin your road trip around the Olympic Peninsula in downtown Seattle with a ferry ride that will take you across the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. Drive the full loop of more than 300 miles and you’re guaranteed to see picturesque shorelines, waterfalls, pristine lakes, mountain views and even a rain forest. Drive to the top of Hurricane Ridge for views of Vancouver Island and the Strait of Juan de Fuca or go as far as the most northwestern point in the contiguous United States – Cape Flattery.

Page-Lake Powell – Arizona and Utah

Located four hours north of Phoenix, on the central border of Arizona and Utah, is one of the most stunning recreational areas in the country, Page-Lake Powell. It’s extremely scenic, with tall canyons, red rock formations and sand dunes, and an unparalleled place for activities including houseboating, waterskiing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping and more.

Extraterrestrial Highway – Nevada

That might not be a cloud you’re seeing along State Highway 375, also known as Extraterrestrial Highway, where more UFO sightings are reported than anywhere else in America. Located two hours north of Las Vegas, near Area 51, this road trip is full of out-of-this-world attractions and alien-themed shops. Bring along alien masks, tinfoil and toy alien guns to use while posing for pictures in front of the highway sign. Look closely at the picture and you might just spot a flying saucer hovering overhead.

Great River Road – Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota

The Great River Road spans 10 states, following the course of the Mississippi River. The recommended road trip begins in picturesque Dubuque, Iowa, home of the shortest, steepest railway in the world and an aquarium that showcases the fish of the Mississippi. Nearby, run the bases at the Field of Dreams baseball diamond or cross into Wisconsin to visit the Dickeyville Grotto, an eccentric shop made of seashells and costume jewelry. Drive north to Prairie du Chien, Wisc., a river town with a colorful past, or visit villages such as Harpers Ferry and Lansing, Iowa. If you’re feeling thirsty, you can check out the world’s largest six-pack of beer in La Crosse, Wisc. Then, make your way to Minnesota to see bald eagles in the wild at National Eagle Center in Wabasha and finish your trip with a pint of legendary Peanut Butter Porter at Dangerous Man Brewing Co. in Minneapolis.

Gulf Coast – Alabama

A road trip along the Gulf of Mexico will have you salivating the moment you put your car key into the ignition. You’ll want to spend most of your time on Alabama’s coast, where sugary white-sand beaches and Caribbean-like waters complement the real treasure – the food. In Orange Beach, Ala., Brick & Spoon offers a build-your-own bloody mary menu; Fisher’s Dockside serves up Murder Point Oysters, exclusive to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico; and Ginny Lane’s blackened shrimp and grits – served with sweet, crisp, fried green tomatoes and a remoulade – will keep you dreaming about it long after you put your car in park.

Heritage Highway 89 – Utah

Heritage Highway 89 links several distinct areas of scenic beauty with Western history. In Little Denmark, glass and woodworking studios reflect the early settlement of Mormon pioneers from Scandinavia. In Sevier Valley, you can visit the Butch Cassidy Museum in Richfield and Cassidy’s childhood home in Circleville; take a dip in the Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe; and shop for antiques in Sevier. Head farther south and you’ll see the red rock rims of the Colorado Plateau begin to rise. End your trip in the colorful town of Kanab, or Zion or Bryce Canyon National Parks.

Sea to Sky Highway – British Columbia, Canada

The Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler, British Columbia, is a beautiful drive along the North Shore Mountains, offering picturesque views of the many small islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is also a gateway to several stunning hikes in the Garibaldi Provincial Park region. Stop in the town of Squamish for a ride in the Sea to Sky Gondola to the top of the iconic Stawamus Chief, known worldwide for its rock climbing, hiking trails and magnificent vistas of the valley below.

Skyline Drive – Virginia

Skyline Drive, the road through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, has the views to live up to its name. Take some time to get out of the car, stretch your legs and hike for the real reward. Stop at a camp store – if only to observe the Appalachian Trail hikers gathered to rest, refuel and socialize. Strike up a conversation, and you’ll hear true tales of stamina and fortitude that will leave you with a burning desire to do something epic in your lifetime.

For more details on the “Travel’s Best: Road Trips” of 2015, go to:

http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/travels-best/articles/travels-best-road-trips-2015