Welcome to Backroad Planet!
I'm Howard, a guy from Central Florida who believes taking scenic routes, scouting historical sites, and immersion in local flavor are the best ways to travel. Whether it be road trips across America, fly-drives to international destinations, or cruises on the mighty waters, I invite you to use Backroad Planet's destination stories, travel guides, and planning resources to design your own adventures. Please contact me if I can assist you in any way.
Catch you on the backroads . . . .
Recent Posts
The 9 Best Hiking Trails in U.S. National Parks
America's national parks contain some of the most extraordinary hiking terrain on earth. The nine trails collected here were selected for the quality of their scenery, the variety of experience they offer, and the sense of wonder they tend to produce in the people who...
8 Beloved American Parks That No Longer Exist
America has always had a complicated relationship with its parks. The country celebrates them, fights for them, and sometimes loses them to politics, economics, or simple neglect. The parks on this list were once real, alive, and full of families making memories that...
8 European Countries That Are Surprisingly Easy for Americans to Move To
Several European countries have spent the last few years building immigration pathways specifically designed to attract foreign residents. Visa programs that once seemed experimental now have years of application data behind them, and the requirements are far less...
9 Grand Canyon Mysteries That Have Been Solved
The Grand Canyon stretches 277 miles across northern Arizona, plunges over a mile deep, and exposes nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history in its layered walls. For most of human history, the basic story of this place was a complete mystery. How did it...
5 Luxury Wellness Retreats in the U.S. for Rest, Focus, and Mental Clarity
The way Americans spend vacation time has changed. The standard beach holiday or city break no longer delivers what a growing number of travelers are actually looking for. In 2026, purpose-driven wellness travel is the fastest-growing segment of tourism, driven by...
8 Breathtaking Train Journeys Across the U.S.
Long before the interstate highway or the budget airline, the train was how America told its own story. In 2026, riding the rails is less about getting somewhere and more about experiencing everything in between. From the Pacific coastline to the Rocky Mountains, from...
8 Must-Visit Lake Destinations in the U.S. for Summer Travelers
America's lakes tend to get overlooked when summer travel plans come together. Beaches pull the crowds, national parks fill up fast, and mountain towns book out months in advance. Lakes sit quietly in the background, offering something genuinely different: cooler air,...
9 Dog-Friendly National Parks Perfect for Hiking Adventures
Most dog owners have run into the same frustration at some point. You drive hours to a national park, pull into the trailhead parking lot, and find a sign saying pets are not allowed past that point. The situation has improved heading into 2026. Several parks have...
10 “Polite” Cruise Habits Crew Members Secretly Hate
Cruise vacations look effortless from the passenger side. Meals appear on schedule, cabins stay clean, and entertainment runs late into the night. Behind the scenes, crew members work long hours to keep every part of the ship moving smoothly. Some passenger habits...
9 European Cities Perfect for Your First Trip Abroad
Europe remains a practical starting point for international travel in 2026. Many cities are connected through fast rail networks and short-haul flights, which makes multi-city travel straightforward. Public transportation in major destinations is well developed, and...
8 U.S. Destinations That Feel Surprisingly European
Many towns across the United States carry strong European influence in their design, history, and local culture. Some reflect German alpine villages, others show Spanish colonial roots or coastal English charm. These destinations offer architectural detail, walkable...
9 Important Things to Know Before Visiting the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon remains one of the busiest national parks in the United States in 2026. Millions of visitors arrive every year to see the massive cliffs, layered rock formations, and sweeping desert views. The experience leaves a lasting impression on many travelers,...
design your own Road trip
The 9 Best Hiking Trails in U.S. National Parks
America's national parks contain some of the most extraordinary hiking terrain on earth. The nine trails collected here were selected for the quality of their scenery, the variety of experience they offer, and the sense of wonder they tend to produce in the people who...
9 Important Safety Tips Before Camping in Bear Country
Every year, thousands of campers head into North America's forests, mountains, and national parks without a real plan for sharing the terrain with bears. Most bear incidents are not the bear's fault. They happen because people were unprepared or simply unaware of how...
9 U.S. Bird-Watching Hotspots Nature Lovers Should Know About
America has no shortage of places to watch birds, but some locations stand in a class of their own. Certain spots draw birders back year after year because of what shows up, how reliably it shows up, and how accessible the experience is. From boreal bogs buried in...
8 Beloved American Parks That No Longer Exist
America has always had a complicated relationship with its parks. The country celebrates them, fights for them, and sometimes loses them to politics, economics, or simple neglect. The parks on this list were once real, alive, and full of families making memories that...
9 Things You Didn’t Know About Backrock City
Tucked between historic Route 66 and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Williams, Arizona, Bedrock City has been turning heads since 1972. For decades, road-trippers spotted its cartoonish buildings rising out of the desert and pulled over without a second thought....
8 European Countries That Are Surprisingly Easy for Americans to Move To
Several European countries have spent the last few years building immigration pathways specifically designed to attract foreign residents. Visa programs that once seemed experimental now have years of application data behind them, and the requirements are far less...
8 Ways to Protect Yourself From Shark Attacks While Swimming in The Ocean
Sharks have patrolled the world's oceans for roughly 450 million years, sitting at the top of the marine food chain long before humans ever waded into saltwater. Understanding what sharks actually are, rather than fearing a distorted version of them, is the foundation...
9 Grand Canyon Mysteries That Have Been Solved
The Grand Canyon stretches 277 miles across northern Arizona, plunges over a mile deep, and exposes nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history in its layered walls. For most of human history, the basic story of this place was a complete mystery. How did it...
5 Luxury Wellness Retreats in the U.S. for Rest, Focus, and Mental Clarity
The way Americans spend vacation time has changed. The standard beach holiday or city break no longer delivers what a growing number of travelers are actually looking for. In 2026, purpose-driven wellness travel is the fastest-growing segment of tourism, driven by...
9 Things Cruise Experts and Infectious Disease Doctors Say You Should Do to Stay Safe While Traveling
With over 40 million people expected to set sail in 2026, the cruise industry is running at historic capacity. Ships are larger, more crowded, and calling on more exotic ports than ever before. That combination creates health and safety considerations that too many...
9 Reasons to Take a Disney Cruise to Alaska at Least Once
Alaska is one of the most spectacular destinations on the planet. Pair it with a Disney ship, and you have a travel experience that holds up for families, couples, and solo travelers alike. In 2026, Disney Cruise Line runs its Alaska itineraries out of Seattle from...
8 Breathtaking Train Journeys Across the U.S.
Long before the interstate highway or the budget airline, the train was how America told its own story. In 2026, riding the rails is less about getting somewhere and more about experiencing everything in between. From the Pacific coastline to the Rocky Mountains, from...
OCEAN & RIVER CRUISES
The surprising reasons river cruises are becoming more popular than ocean cruises
River cruises have quietly become one of the fastest-growing travel trends among American vacationers. Many travelers are now choosing smaller river ships over massive ocean liners because of the slower pace and more personal experience. Unlike traditional cruises,...
What surprises first-time travelers about Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises were not something that immediately came to mind for many travelers. They are often associated with older guests, quiet itineraries, and structured sightseeing. That perception changed after a personal family trip along the Danube River, following...
4 New Viking Mississippi River Cruise Routes Announced
Four Viking Mississippi River cruise itineraries are scheduled to bring guests to America’s Heartland beginning in 2022, aboard the purpose-built Viking Mississippi.
Viking Christmas River Cruises: A Rhine Getaway Travelogue
Viking’s Christmas river cruises offer the best of Europe’s medieval castles, cathedrals, and storybook towns, with festive Christmas markets in every port.
Portugal in Panorama: An Annotated Photo Gallery
Portugal in Panorama: An Annotated Photo Gallery is a captioned collection of 22 locations captured with the Apple iPhone camera.
Backroad Planet on “This Week in Travel” Podcast #196
Howard Blount from Backroad Planet joins JohnnyJet and four more travel professionals on “This Week in Travel” podcast #196 with Chris Christensen.
24 Viking River Cruise Insider Tips
24 Exclusive Viking River Cruise insider tips tailored for first-time cruisers to help make your European journey the cruise of a lifetime!
European Panoramas: An Annotated Photo Gallery
An annotated photographic collection of European locations captured with the Apple iPhone panorama feature.
Top 11 Viking River Cruise Ship Amenities
Viking river cruise amenities are designed to pamper passengers with the ultimate in creature comforts. Here are Backroad Planet’s Top 11 amenities!
ROAD TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES
The 9 Best Hiking Trails in U.S. National Parks
America's national parks contain some of the most extraordinary hiking terrain on earth. The nine trails collected here were selected for the quality of their scenery, the variety of experience they offer, and the sense of wonder they tend to produce in the people who...
9 Important Safety Tips Before Camping in Bear Country
Every year, thousands of campers head into North America's forests, mountains, and national parks without a real plan for sharing the terrain with bears. Most bear incidents are not the bear's fault. They happen because people were unprepared or simply unaware of how...
9 U.S. Bird-Watching Hotspots Nature Lovers Should Know About
America has no shortage of places to watch birds, but some locations stand in a class of their own. Certain spots draw birders back year after year because of what shows up, how reliably it shows up, and how accessible the experience is. From boreal bogs buried in...
8 Beloved American Parks That No Longer Exist
America has always had a complicated relationship with its parks. The country celebrates them, fights for them, and sometimes loses them to politics, economics, or simple neglect. The parks on this list were once real, alive, and full of families making memories that...
9 Things You Didn’t Know About Backrock City
Tucked between historic Route 66 and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Williams, Arizona, Bedrock City has been turning heads since 1972. For decades, road-trippers spotted its cartoonish buildings rising out of the desert and pulled over without a second thought....
8 European Countries That Are Surprisingly Easy for Americans to Move To
Several European countries have spent the last few years building immigration pathways specifically designed to attract foreign residents. Visa programs that once seemed experimental now have years of application data behind them, and the requirements are far less...
8 Ways to Protect Yourself From Shark Attacks While Swimming in The Ocean
Sharks have patrolled the world's oceans for roughly 450 million years, sitting at the top of the marine food chain long before humans ever waded into saltwater. Understanding what sharks actually are, rather than fearing a distorted version of them, is the foundation...
9 Grand Canyon Mysteries That Have Been Solved
The Grand Canyon stretches 277 miles across northern Arizona, plunges over a mile deep, and exposes nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history in its layered walls. For most of human history, the basic story of this place was a complete mystery. How did it...
5 Luxury Wellness Retreats in the U.S. for Rest, Focus, and Mental Clarity
The way Americans spend vacation time has changed. The standard beach holiday or city break no longer delivers what a growing number of travelers are actually looking for. In 2026, purpose-driven wellness travel is the fastest-growing segment of tourism, driven by...
9 Things Cruise Experts and Infectious Disease Doctors Say You Should Do to Stay Safe While Traveling
With over 40 million people expected to set sail in 2026, the cruise industry is running at historic capacity. Ships are larger, more crowded, and calling on more exotic ports than ever before. That combination creates health and safety considerations that too many...
9 Reasons to Take a Disney Cruise to Alaska at Least Once
Alaska is one of the most spectacular destinations on the planet. Pair it with a Disney ship, and you have a travel experience that holds up for families, couples, and solo travelers alike. In 2026, Disney Cruise Line runs its Alaska itineraries out of Seattle from...
8 Breathtaking Train Journeys Across the U.S.
Long before the interstate highway or the budget airline, the train was how America told its own story. In 2026, riding the rails is less about getting somewhere and more about experiencing everything in between. From the Pacific coastline to the Rocky Mountains, from...
AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES
The 9 Best Hiking Trails in U.S. National Parks
America's national parks contain some of the most extraordinary hiking terrain on earth. The nine trails collected here were selected for the quality of their scenery, the variety of experience they offer, and the sense of wonder they tend to produce in the people who...
9 Important Safety Tips Before Camping in Bear Country
Every year, thousands of campers head into North America's forests, mountains, and national parks without a real plan for sharing the terrain with bears. Most bear incidents are not the bear's fault. They happen because people were unprepared or simply unaware of how...
9 U.S. Bird-Watching Hotspots Nature Lovers Should Know About
America has no shortage of places to watch birds, but some locations stand in a class of their own. Certain spots draw birders back year after year because of what shows up, how reliably it shows up, and how accessible the experience is. From boreal bogs buried in...
8 Beloved American Parks That No Longer Exist
America has always had a complicated relationship with its parks. The country celebrates them, fights for them, and sometimes loses them to politics, economics, or simple neglect. The parks on this list were once real, alive, and full of families making memories that...
9 Things You Didn’t Know About Backrock City
Tucked between historic Route 66 and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Williams, Arizona, Bedrock City has been turning heads since 1972. For decades, road-trippers spotted its cartoonish buildings rising out of the desert and pulled over without a second thought....
8 European Countries That Are Surprisingly Easy for Americans to Move To
Several European countries have spent the last few years building immigration pathways specifically designed to attract foreign residents. Visa programs that once seemed experimental now have years of application data behind them, and the requirements are far less...
8 Ways to Protect Yourself From Shark Attacks While Swimming in The Ocean
Sharks have patrolled the world's oceans for roughly 450 million years, sitting at the top of the marine food chain long before humans ever waded into saltwater. Understanding what sharks actually are, rather than fearing a distorted version of them, is the foundation...
9 Grand Canyon Mysteries That Have Been Solved
The Grand Canyon stretches 277 miles across northern Arizona, plunges over a mile deep, and exposes nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history in its layered walls. For most of human history, the basic story of this place was a complete mystery. How did it...
5 Luxury Wellness Retreats in the U.S. for Rest, Focus, and Mental Clarity
The way Americans spend vacation time has changed. The standard beach holiday or city break no longer delivers what a growing number of travelers are actually looking for. In 2026, purpose-driven wellness travel is the fastest-growing segment of tourism, driven by...
9 Things Cruise Experts and Infectious Disease Doctors Say You Should Do to Stay Safe While Traveling
With over 40 million people expected to set sail in 2026, the cruise industry is running at historic capacity. Ships are larger, more crowded, and calling on more exotic ports than ever before. That combination creates health and safety considerations that too many...
9 Reasons to Take a Disney Cruise to Alaska at Least Once
Alaska is one of the most spectacular destinations on the planet. Pair it with a Disney ship, and you have a travel experience that holds up for families, couples, and solo travelers alike. In 2026, Disney Cruise Line runs its Alaska itineraries out of Seattle from...
8 Breathtaking Train Journeys Across the U.S.
Long before the interstate highway or the budget airline, the train was how America told its own story. In 2026, riding the rails is less about getting somewhere and more about experiencing everything in between. From the Pacific coastline to the Rocky Mountains, from...
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