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Why So Many Americans Are Choosing Smaller International Cities Over Famous Capitals

Why So Many Americans Are Choosing Smaller International Cities Over Famous Capitals

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

For years, many Americans built overseas trips around famous capitals like Paris, London, and Rome. Those cities still draw visitors, yet crowded streets, timed entry systems, and high hotel rates have changed expectations. Travelers now judge the whole week, from the...
7 Cruise Ships Retired Early And The Stories Behind Them

7 Cruise Ships Retired Early And The Stories Behind Them

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

Cruise ships are built for decades of service, and many run 30 to 40 years with repeated refits. Lifecycle plans assume steady cash flow and periodic upgrades to meet new safety and emissions rules. Yet a few were retired much earlier when demand collapsed, and...
8 U.S. Airports With the Longest Walks From Security to Gate

8 U.S. Airports With the Longest Walks From Security to Gate

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

At some U.S. hubs, the toughest part of a trip starts after TSA. Central checkpoints feed into long corridors, and gate areas may sit far beyond trains, tunnels, or connector bridges. One recent benchmark ranked large airports by the average walk time from security to...
How National Park Alternatives Are Becoming the New Bucket List

How National Park Alternatives Are Becoming the New Bucket List

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

National parks are still iconic, but the new brag-worthy trip is often the place next door. Crowds, timed-entry windows, and packed trailheads push travelers to look for the same wow-factor with less friction. Social feeds now reward originality as much as iconic...
What Happens to a Vacation Town When Locals Can No Longer Afford to Live There

What Happens to a Vacation Town When Locals Can No Longer Afford to Live There

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

Vacation towns run on a simple promise: visitors get a break, and locals keep the place running year-round. When housing costs jump faster than wages, that balance snaps, and the town’s “off season” starts to feel like a staffing and services season. What follows is...
The Rise of Sleep Focused Vacations and What It Says About Modern Travel

The Rise of Sleep Focused Vacations and What It Says About Modern Travel

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

Sleep-focused vacations, often called sleep tourism or a “sleepcation”, flip the travel script: the priority is a better night’s rest. Instead of stacking activities, travelers choose quieter stays and schedules built for recovery. Hotels are leaning in with blackout...
Why Travel Insurance Is No Longer Optional for Many Americans

Why Travel Insurance Is No Longer Optional for Many Americans

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

Travel insurance used to feel like an optional add-on, especially for short trips. But for many Americans, the financial risk of traveling has grown as plans get more complex and disruptions more common. Medical care away from home, missed connections, and last-minute...
9 U.S. Destinations Where Parking Has Become a Travel Headache

9 U.S. Destinations Where Parking Has Become a Travel Headache

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

Parking has become a bigger part of trip planning than many travelers expect, especially where curb space is shrinking and demand is rising. Construction, delivery zones, and event surges can turn a quick stop into loops and pricey garages. That doesn’t mean you...
7 Historic U.S. Hotels That Survived Disaster and Reopened

7 Historic U.S. Hotels That Survived Disaster and Reopened

by Elias Siegelman | Feb 27, 2026

Historic hotels don’t just sell nostalgia; they’re often built to outlast the worst day a city can have. Across the U.S., landmark properties have been hit by fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and surprise emergencies that forced evacuations and closures. What makes...
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Howard Driving

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.

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Howard

Howard Blount Backroad Planet

Howard is an avid roadtripper, cruiser, and rail-rider. He tends to overplan, always cramming too many activities and destinations in a single itinerary. On Backroad Planet, well, he pretty much does it all . . . .

Axle

Axle dachshund in car

Axle is Howard’s occasional road trip buddy. He loves to hop in the car and travel anywhere. Long trips and short trips are both great, as long as he doesn’t get left at home!

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