Below, view a video of a racer going full-bore on the dirt road to the top of Pikes Peak, a mountain near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Except for when it is closed by snow or tha annual race, anyone can drive the dirt road to the top.

And what a road it is! It’s mostly curves, all uphill, no guard rails, and lots of clinging to cliffsides. High speeds are allowed only on race days, so you need to control your speed and be safe. A police officer will give you a safety talk before you start the severe climb, and another officer will stop you part way down to check if your brakes are too hot on the way down. If they’re hot, he or she will force you to park until they cool down. It’s steep!

Ponce Inlet Lighhouse offers stupendous views, and the attached museum is worth a visit, and the grounds offer examples of local fauna.

Daytona was the site of many early motorsport records when its long stretch of tide-smoothed beach sand hosted land speed runs. Today, the city charges a couple of bucks, but anyone can drive their car on the famous beach. No speed runs for you these days, though — on summer days, the sand is covered with thousands of people and a very low speed limit is strictly enforced.

When you’re in town, be sure to drive to the southern tip of Daytona’s beach and tour the Ponce Inlet lighthouse. The long spiral stair inside the historic lightrhouse leads to an astounding 360-degree view of the ocean, the town, and the Florida peninsula.

Northerners will be fascinated by the gigantic cockroaches that are common on nighttime sidewalks. Be sure to check out the various tourist attractions along the strip, such as minigolf and alligator petting joints. But the most interesting strip attractions to me are the surf shops. There’s nothing else like the earthy atmosphere of a typical Florida surf shop! The odors of surfboard wax, coconut suntan oil, ocean water salt and tropical heat mix into a smorgasbord for the nose. Looking at a selection of surfboards, especially in an oceanfront surf shop, always triggers fine memories of sliding down a nice curl off New Smyrna.

Anyway, Daytona and Daytona Beach are interesting places to visit. Don’t forget to try some local cuisine, such as roasted alligator or grilled shark. One of my favorite places is Crabby Joe’s, which is on a wharf over the Atlantic. Buy a piece of sharktooth jewelry from an itinerant vendor on the wharf. Visit a couple of surf shops. Check out the boardwalk attractions. Walk the beach during the day, and late at night under the stars.

Take a tourist bus tour. Or hop on local mass transit and watch the scenery pass by. Take a bus or train. In Chicago, you can take the El (the elevated train), an open-top tourist bus tour, or a boat tour along the Chicago River, or a boat tour along the Lake Michigan shorelilne.

Climb a tall building and look down at the panorama. Stroll through a pedestrian underpass and be amazed when you emerge to a wholly different view of the city.

I’ve found walking to be the one certain way to find new things in any city, especially one that you’re already familiar with. Leave your normal routine, if only for a few minutes, and take a different sidewalk. Explore new territory. Travel, even if it is only in your own backyard.

I lived in Winnemucca, Nevada for three years quite some time ago. I just stumbled across this video that brought back memories of the driving conditions out there. Lots of dirt, lots of sagebrush, lots of sunshine, no traffic.

I usually get strange looks when I suggest that a ragtop Jeep is the perfect vehicle for a long road trip. But think about it. Take down the soft top and you get awesome 360 degree views of the scenery. It’s up a bit higher than a sedan, so you can see well in traffic. Leave off the doors, and it’s easy to get in and out at those frequent stops for sightseeing. Rough roads are no problem because Jeeps have nice high ground clearance, not to mention four wheel drive for when the scenery is really off the beaten path.

Sure, a CJ or TJ rides a bit rough compared to a luxury car. But my old CJ5 didn’t ride much rougher than my latest subcompact. Large diameter tires help smooth out small bumps.

And, yeah, there’s the wind noise, which can be deafening. So slow down and enjoy the sunshine.

We’re just getting our act together, so please give us a few days.

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