I’M A 49ER FAN and don’t need a road trip planner to drive the 37 miles to Candlestick Park in San Francisco to watch my men in red & gold. I didn’t go to their Superbowl games either because I always held a huge party at home with TVs in every room (including the bathrooms). And when their 5-time winning streak ended & the 49ers slipped on their Astroturf, I turned to Fantasy Football. I did well, but not nearly as well as my nephew, who, after I threw down the gauntlet & bet him $10 that I’d place higher than him by season’s end, promptly picked up that gauntlet & slapped me silly with it because he went on to an end-zone win of the $20,000 grand prize, while I was left to console myself with winning a free entry into next year’s season, worth a whopping $30.

But now I’m thinking maybe it’s time to enter the next level of Football Fandom. I use my trusty road trip planner to plan my summer vacations, weekend getaways, anniversary trips, family gatherings, even my girlfriend getaways…why not a Football Road Trip?

AWAY GAMES: It would be a blast to go on a road trip to cheer my team on against one of their historical rivals. In my case, it would mean traveling to St. Louis, Missouri to battle the Rams, which would actually be a great road trip choice because I could stay with family there & could bunk with them. Plus, St. Louis is a great destination offering many things to do. So check your own team’s schedules; a football road trip may be the perfect excuse to visit a city you’ve always wanted to explore anyway. Here’s your chance to visit the homes of the Seattle Seahawks, or the Philadelphia Eagles.

YOUR FAVORITE TEAM IS IN ANOTHER STATE: I’m within one hour’s drive of my team’s home field but I have friends whose favorite teams are the Dallas Cowboys or the Green Bay Packers. It’s lonely to shout out your team’s name in a sea of opposite-minded fans. Or be the only Cheesehead in your section. So plan a road trip there and be surrounded by fans who will actually return a High-5 when your team scores.

SPECIAL FOOTBALL DESTINATIONS: Actually, now that I’m talking myself into an actual road trip, I shouldn’t restrict myself to just my team’s away games. I could use my road trip planner to plot out my route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton, Ohio. Or visit the home city of the ONLY OTHER two 5-Time Superbowl Champions, Dallas or Pittsburgh (sorry, couldn’t resist that little nod to the 49er Glory Days).

SPECIAL EVENT GAMES: Get your friends together and have a great time planning a road trip to one of the following events:* The Super Bowl XLIII will be in Tampa Bay, Florida on February 1, 2009* The 2009 Pro Bowl is in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 8, 2009

FOR THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL ENTHUSIASTS: Do your road trip planning around these events:* 2009 Rose Bowl is in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2009* 2009 Orange Bowl is at the Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida on January 1, 2009* 2009 Sugar Bowl is at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on January 2, 2009* 2009 Fiesta Bowl will be at the University of Phoenix Stadium (a $450 million state-of-the-art complex ) in Glendale, Arizona on January 5, 2009* 2009 BCS Championship Game will be held in Miami, Florida on January 8, 2009

All this talk of football road trips is revving me up! In fact, I’m making a commitment right here and now. If the 49ers make it back to the Superbowl again, wherever it is, I’ll use my road trip planner to get me there. Ready, set, hut, hut, hike!

If you have a road trip planned around the United Kingdom but don’t know what the very best routes to take are, then consider your call for help answered! We have put together a list of 5 great Road Trips around the UK that you should really think about taking. Check out our guide for more about the majestic scenery and attractions you will come across throughout your trip…

London to Brighton Road TripThis is a road trip whereby you can reach your destination in around a couple of hours, especially if you are coming from London’s centre. Brighton is due south from London, and around 90km from the city. To get there, the best route is to go south of the Thames and take the A23 South. You will be magically transformed from the busy city life to the freedom and peacefulness of the countryside as you hit the Weald Countryside of West Sussex, and then the South Downs.

After a while the A23 becomes the M23 and you will be travelling along the coast to Brighton, which received city status in 2000. Often called “London by the Sea”, Brighton has come a long way since it was notorious for the violent clashes between “Mods and Rockers” in the Sixties. It is now a place of trendy bars, cafes and restaurants, and a fashionable place to go shopping! The Lanes is a shopper’s haven. Brighton is a great destination to chill out in after a drive from London. The Royal Pavillion and Brighton Pier are two landmarks well worth checking out here!

Norfolk Coast Road TripIf you want peace and quiet – then a road trip around the Norfolk coast is exactly what the doctor ordered! To get there from Norwich, take the A47 to Kings Lynn. The drive from Kings Lynn to Cromer along the A149 is quite magnificent, and is famous for the nature reserves of Cley and Titchwell. If you have time, why not take the B1355 inland to the cornfield turned into a maze at Compton Hall!

The rural and rugged beauty of the Norfolk Coast cannot be underestimated. Many of the beaches along the coast are empty hideouts where solitude is the order of the day. What could be better than to stop off an empty beach with miles of sand, salt marshes, and forests.

If you are planning on staying around, the North coast is an area perfect for activities such as rambling and cycling. Or if you are driving in the area, make sure you check out the stunning villages composed of flint-built cottages, craft shops and galleries, and country pubs.

The Cotswolds Road Trip The Cotswolds is renowned for its majestic scenery, and is one of the most visited regions in the UK. It is famous for its village buildings made from limestone and adorned with ivy! Located in primarily rural setting, you will be astounded by the scenery including the Cotswold Hills, and charming towns such as Gloucester, Cirencester, Tewkesbury and the racing mecca of Cheltenham.

If you are travelling from east or west, get onto the M4 to the number 17 junction. After this, you will take the A429 to the north and make your way towards Cirencester. Why not drop off here and have a look around the pretty town and be charmed by its rural air. After here, take the A417 east and make your way to Fairford. From here, veer left to the Southrop, and make your way through the charming locations of Hatherop and Coln Saint Aldwyn. You never know, you might see some celebrities whizzing along the road in their sports cars, as actress Liz Hurley and model Kate Moss own properties in this region!

After reaching Barnsley, you get onto the A429 and head north to Bourton. After here, take a right to Westcote, which is the home of Oscar winner Kate Winslet.

The road from Westcote takes you to Stow on the Wold and keep on the A429 to Moreton in Marsh. It’s rumoured that this route has been in existence since the time of the Roman occupation of Britain. This road will bring you right back to the M40 thus completing your tour of the Cotswolds!

Yorkshire Moors Road Trip If you are looking for a bit of escapism, why not consider a Yorkshire Road Trip? Probably the best place to start off at is Leeds, which is now a great city for shopping and nightlife! From Leeds take the A64 road to York and then Malton. Get onto the A169 and make your way to Pickering. From Pickering you are on the route to the renowned Yorkshire Moors. If you take the A169 heading north, you will come across some really inspiring scenery. Some call it bleak, others call it majestic! From the Moors you will make your way to Whitby where you can sample some delightful freshly catched fish!

From here, take the A171 west, and pass through the charming villages of Stonegate, Castleton and Hutton le Hole and then onto Kirkbymoorside. You could stop off in places like Helmsley or Thirk or indeed any of the delightful villages in Yorkshire – some of them are exactly like Emmerdale are!

Scottish Highlands Road Trip A round trip of the Scottish Highlands area is around 400 miles and can be spread over 4-5 days, but its well worth it for its rugged scenery and the beauty of the countryside! If you are starting in Edinburgh, you will take the Forth Bridge Crossing, and take the M90 to Perth. From Perth take the A9 route and take a trip to the Blair Athol Whiskey Distillery which is to the south of Pitlochry, where you could spend the night, and the following day take the A9 through the Grampian Mountains to Inverness. Wonderful views await you here.

On the third day you could take the A96 to Elgin, and you can take a trip to the Glenfiddich Distillery at Dufftown. And if you sample some of the local produce, make sure to stay overnight here! The fourth day of your trek across the beautiful Scottish Highlands will take you on the B9009 to Glenlivet and its distillery, and then the A939, A93 and B974 to Fettercairn. Then you will take the A90 home.

A road trip through the Scottish Highlands is an unforgettable experience – you will explore the scenic beauty of moutain ranges, wonderful lochs and exciting wildlife. If you are coming from Glasgow you could also take the A82 and then the A83 to Inverary.

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When considering the size of Alaska, a road trip planner will invariably ask if Alaska can truly be explored in one road trip. Alaska offers vast mountains, colossal blue-white glaciers and an abundance of wildlife with activities unique to the state; this combination earns an Alaskan Road Trip top honors in travelers’ memory books.

For most road trip planners, their itinerary will start with flight plans. Most people flying in will land in Anchorage. At this point, they’ll either rent a car and stay in hotels along the way (reserved in advance of course!) or they’ll rent an RV to explore Alaska at their own pace (with their itinerary allowing impromptu exploration options).

After exploring Anchorage’s offerings, many place the city of Tok as a destination in their road trip planner because it helps create a good triangle for your road trip. Tok is known as the “Sled Dog Capital of Alaska”. Plan on 5 ½ hours driving time from Anchorage but I know you’ll stop – even spend a day or two – around the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Get ready for the largest and most magnificent of the National Parks of Alaska, with 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the United States. This mountain region contains numerous glaciers, lakes and mountain streams and is home to a rich variety of wild life. It is superb country for climbers, walkers and water sports enthusiasts.

Fairbanks would be the third point of your trip triangle to add to your road trip planner (Anchorage to Tok to Fairbanks). Some travelers start their Alaskan Road Trip by flying in to Fairbanks, so for them, their trip triangle would be Fairbanks, Anchorage, Tok. Fairbanks is second biggest city of Alaska and has the all the amenities of an urban community. The Gold Rush Street at Pioneer Park was a replica but a real operating gold mine exists in this proud city. Visit the Museum of the North, take a river trip for half-day cruise through the Chena and Tanana Rivers. In the summer, the Riverboat Discovery Tour runs twice a day. Trip reservations are a must so make the necessary arrangements ahead of time.

Leaving Fairbanks, include the impressive Denali National Park in your road trip planner before hitting Anchorage. Denali contains Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America and is definitely worthy of some heavy-duty exploration.

A four- to six-hour drive down south from Denali National Park, passing through Talkeetna, you’ll reach the town of Wasilla. Have your camera at the ready because moose or bear sightings along the way are often part of the journey. For canoeing experience, go to the Nancy Lake Recreation Area. There are plenty of cabins to rent for overnight stays. Further south, visit the Big Lake for swimming, camping, jet-ski and fishing. Proceed to Mat-Su Valley and drop by Iditarod Trail Headquarters on Knik Road. Learn some history at Knik Museum and the Sled Dog Musher’s Hall of Fame.

Another town to add to your road trip planner is Palmer, only 15 minutes away from Wasilla. There is a great RV campground here as well as some cool farms like the Musk Ox Farm. Best time to be here is in late August when the Alaska State Fair is celebrated.

Leave another day in your road trip planner to explore more of Anchorage. It has plenty of hiking opportunities, cultural events and art exhibits. The Flattop Mountain and Chugach State Park are the city’s pride together with Alaska Zoo and Potter Marsh, a bird and wildlife sanctuary.

If you have more time, add another leg of your road trip by driving along the Seward Highway, designated as the All-American Road, and enjoy the scenic view. Picnic opportunities are everywhere, and the picture perfect backdrop is hard to resist. Fishing, camping and canoeing activities in the Kenai/Soldotna area are nice options too.

I’ve shared one road trip example, but customize yours to reflect your own Dream Alaskan Trip. Below are some tips to help you get the most out of your trip.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO…?* See the Northern Lights; plan on coming either late fall and early spring.* Enjoy the Midnight Sun; put June 21st in the middle of your road trip planning.* Go whale watching; head to Alaska anytime from mid-May through mid-September.* View the most wildlife; summer-time will get you sightings of moose, bear, mountain sheep, caribou, coyote, wolves, sheep, beaver, otter, mink, or hare. In addition, birdwatchers can photo-capture eagles, hawks, jays, owls, spruce hens, grouse, and ptarmigan and migratory waterfowl coming north to nest each summer.

Make this the year you go wild with your road trip planning and head North to Alaska for a trip of a lifetime.