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!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSrDD3tcibU

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.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEK6GrzfXRA

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.