Travel Journals

The Best Pit Stops on I-90 between Seattle and Montana

Published

22 hours ago

August 7, 2025

How long does it take to drive I-90 to Missoula? Depends on how much fun you want to have along the way.

The ideal freeway pit stop must contain multitudes. Not only must it be close to an off-ramp, but it should provide more entertainment than the interstate. It must be approachable and fit for a 15-minute visit, but also serve a dollop of local culture.

For the stretch of I-90 between Seattle and Missoula—some 475 miles of cruising—we looked for pull-offs worthy of a little extra time and gas. What we found was delicious and distracting.

South Fork’s patio: like someone’s backyard, but bigger.

Exit 32: South Fork North Bend

35 minutes | North Bend

Forget to eat before you got on the road? This family friendly hangout is known for its killer, croissant-like cinnamon rolls, and the space has easy access that doesn’t require braving downtown North Bend. There’s lots of outdoor space to get out last-minute wiggles (when it’s not raining), but wait times for food service can get lengthy on weekends.

You can make your own party at Dru Bru.

Exit 84: Dru Bru

1 hour 30 minutes | Cle Elum

Cle Elum Pizza Company

Though launched in Snoqualmie Pass, where there’s still a small tap room, the brewery opened a gigantic brewing and tasting facility in downtown Cle Elum in 2021. With a putt-putt golf course outside and a coloring wall inside, it’s popular with kids. The brick-oven pizzas served at next-door Cle Elum Pizza Company are thoughtfully designed, like the Mad Wonka pie that marries candied jalapenos with pineapple puree. Though many Dru Bru beers have German roots, there are still plenty of IPAs. This is Washington, after all.

Exit 106: The Early Bird

1 hour 45 minutes | Ellensburg

Anyone who makes it across the Cascades during this cafe’s open hours is making good time. Famous for breakfast but solid for lunch, the eatery makes big bowls of eggs and sausage topped with green pork chili, or eat-on-the-go options like breakfast burritos. It’s worth bypassing the fast food joints that line the freeway exit in favor of a trip into downtown Ellensburg; parking is rarely a problem, and the small businesses there appreciate the visit.

The Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park has the views.

Exit 136: Gingko Petrified Forest Interpretive Center

2 hours 10 minutes | Vantage

With long-running construction on the bridge over the Columbia River at Vantage adding to traffic, this tiny state park is a welcome respite. And bathroom. With overlooks with views of the Columbia River Gorge, displays explain how big geologic moves created the unique landscape. Examples of petrified wood are cool and all, but the nearby Ginkgo Gem Shop is a goofier stop thanks to its dinosaur statues.

In Moses Lake, calm yourself.

Exit 176: Japanese Peace Garden

2 hours 50 minutes | Moses Lake

The long stretches of freeway making you angry? Nothing calms the nerves like the serenity of Moses Lake’s free city park dotted with pagodas and a torii gate. Short walking paths are ideal for stretching legs, and there are picnic areas to enjoy the Eastern Washington sunshine. Nearby McCosh Park offers waterfront space on a finger of the town’s eponymous lake.

Exit 11: Atlas Mill Waterfront Park

4 hours 45 minutes | Coeur d’Alene, ID

Any dog that makes it all the way across Washington state deserves a park break. Just over the border into Idaho, this newly constructed stretch of riverfront is a killer cool-off for everyone, only minutes from the off-ramp. The dog park includes a long beach with space for canine swim time, plus a hose to rinse off the sand. Humans looking for a dip have their own shoreline and docks, and an ice cream truck sometimes sets up in the parking lot.

The old mission in Cataldo, Idaho, includes the state’s oldest building.

Exit 39: Old Mission State Park

5 hours 15 minutes | Cataldo, ID

The oldest building in Idaho is also one of the loveliest, making it a historic pull-off worth a few extra minutes. The displays don’t ignore the historical context of the property, built up when Catholic missionaries came to convert members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe in the nineteenth century.

Exit 33: St. Regis Travel Center

6 hours 20 minutes | St. Regis, MT

The billboards hawking huckleberry milkshakes start before I-90 even crosses into Montana. With few exits and a lot of beautiful scenery, the drive down toward Missoula builds anticipation for the travel center in small St. Regis. While the gift shop is big (need any merchandise with a bear on it?) and the trout aquarium is mostly depressing (it’s small), the shakes deliver. Sweet, creamy, and bright purple, they deserve to go right back into the air conditioned car for the final stretch into Missoula.

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Travel Journals

What We're Wearing: Men's Road Trip – valetmag.com

Published

4 hours ago

August 8, 2025

Valet.

What We’re Wearing: Men’s Road Trip valetmag.com

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Travel Journals

Stunning 191-mile UK road trip filled with seaside towns and golden beaches

Published

9 hours ago

August 8, 2025

James Grant

Complete with winding coastal roads, vast sandy beaches, quaint fishing villages and captivating castle ruins, this incredible route shows off the very best of Britain’s natural beauty

With reports revealing 71 per cent of Gen Z plan to visit viral travel hotspots, a travel expert has opened up about their favourite UK road trips(Image: Tony Atkin/Geograph)

A captivating coastal road trip tracing the north coast of Cornwall and Devon has been named among the UK’s most sensational driving routes by a travel expert.

Insights manager at Away Resorts, Dan Doherty, crowned the the Atlantic Highway as the fourth-most scenic summer drive the UK has to offer. With reports revealing that 71 per cent of Gen Z plan to visit viral travel hotspots, Dan has compiled a list of five unforgettable drives.

For anyone yearning to explore the UK’s coastline this summer, the Atlantic Highway promises an unforgettable adventure. The 191-mile stretch, officially known as the A39, stands out for its intoxicating blend of sea views, charming coastal towns and rolling Cornish countryside. It comes after beachgoers are left stunned after rare sea creature spotted off British coast.

The Atlantic Highway passes through the charming fishing village of Port Isaac(Image: Western Morning News)

Dan said: “Running along the north coast of Cornwall and into Devon, the Atlantic Highway, A39, offers a blend of sea views, historic towns, and rolling countryside. Stretching from Barnstaple to Newquay, this scenic route passes dramatic cliffs, golden beaches, and surf towns like Bude and Padstow.

“The road offers glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean at various points, especially between Tintagel and Port Isaac, both steeped in legend and local charm. It’s an ideal drive for summer months, with plenty of stop-offs for icecreams and coastal walks.”

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Traveling along the A39, drivers journey through a tapestry of breathtaking landscapes and quaint seaside villages, each offering its own unique allure. The route sweeps past pretty fishing villages like Boscastle and the vibrant culinary hotspot of Padstow, famous for its charming harbour and spectacular seafood.

Each of these coastal gems is perfect for leisurely strolls, sampling local treats and soaking in the captivating views. The final destination, Newquay, is the surf capital of Cornwall, boasting vast golden beaches that make it a favourite for families and thrill-seekers alike.

The Atlantic Highway passes close by the ruins of Tintagel Castle — the perfect place for a pit stop(Image: Getty Images)

Travel expert Dan’s top five most scenic UK drives are as follows:

North Coast 500, Scotland
Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
The Lake District’s Kirkstone Pass, Cumbria
Atlantic Highway, Cornwall and Devon
Snake Pass, Peak District

Dan added: “With the rise of staycations and a growing appetite for more flexible, weather-proof travel options, road trips provide the perfect way to explore at your own pace. Whether you have a day or a week to spare, scenic road trips are the perfect way to explore the UK’s natural beauty.

“From spontaneous detours to peaceful viewpoints, travelling by car lets you enjoy the journey without the stress of crowds or fixed schedules. These routes offer the freedom to roam with the comfort of staying close to home, making them ideal for a relaxed and memorable summer escape.”

So whether you yearn to explore ancient castles, fancy fish and chips in picturesque harbours, or simply wish to savour the sparkle of sunlight on the waves while you cruise the coastline, the Atlantic Highway delivers a sensational summer road trip showing off the timeless beauty of Britain’s shores.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk for a chance to be featured.

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Silver-haired travelers blaze trails with epic trips – Travel

Published

13 hours ago

August 7, 2025

毕楠

A couple about to set off on a road trip in their SUV in Jinhu county, Huai”an, Jiangsu province, as part of a self-drive event featuring more than 100 vehicles. Organizers announced self-driving routes, recommended sites and convenient driver-friendly infrastructure at the activity. [Photo provided to China Daily]

It’s lunchtime. Liu Zhen and her travel buddies pull over at a highway rest stop in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Using an induction cooker powered by a new energy vehicle, they heat up a pot and cook a simple yet nutritious meal — rice mixed with vegetables and salted meat — to ease the exhaustion from the long journey.

For this group of six, mostly in their 60s, this is just another day of their adventurous road trip across western China. A month ago, the three couples set off from their hometown in Southwest China’s Chongqing in three SUVs. Since then, they have driven over 7,000 kilometers to Xinjiang, passing through the provinces of Sichuan and Gansu.

“The most stunning scenery is always the kind you encounter unexpectedly,” Liu says. “The highlight of this trip for me is when we catch sight of some beautiful landscapes from the car window. We stop, hop out, and enjoy the view.”

Among all the scenic spots they encountered, one in particular left the deepest impression on Liu — the sight of horses galloping through a river in a wetland park in Zhaosu county, part of northern Xinjiang’s Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture.

“It was breathtaking, and we took lots of great photos,” Liu says. One of her greatest pleasures on the trip has been sharing those photos online.

Their entire journey revolves around their vehicles, which are equipped with portable water boilers. They refill at highway rest stops and prepare meals on the induction stove using ingredients bought along the way. When night falls, they transform their SUVs into cozy bedrooms by folding down the back seats and laying out a soft mattress.

“This way of traveling may be a bit tough, but it is economical and offers much flexibility and freedom. You travel as long as you want,” Liu says.

She adds that Xinjiang’s well-developed highway network and driver-friendly infrastructure have made the trip much easier. “The roads are wide and smooth and easy to navigate, and self-driving camps are easy to find. Plus, the well-equipped rest stops enable us to refresh and recharge,” she adds.

Silver-haired travelers are becoming a growing force in China’s tourism industry. According to data from the China National Committee on Aging, seniors now make up over 20 percent of the country’s total tourist population.

Many retirees are embracing self-driving tours as a rising trend. According to zuzuche.com, a Guangzhou-based self-driving tour platform, during this year’s five-day May Day holiday, the number of outbound self-driving tourists aged 60 and above increased by 6.5 percent year-on-year. The number of senior tourists choosing domestic road trips grew by 27 percent.

Liu and her companions are all members of a self-driving club in Chongqing, which organizes group trips. Among the over 400 club members, most are seniors.

For Liu’s friend Tu Jianping, road trips are nothing new. Over the years, her SUV has taken her to explore the plateaus of western Sichuan and traverse the border regions of Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province. Next year, she and her husband plan to tackle the high altitudes of Xizang autonomous region.

“The children have to go to school. The young people have to work. For us retirees, we have savings and plenty of time on our hands; and this is our time to enjoy life,” she says.

By the end of 2024, China’s population aged 60 and above exceeded 310 million. As living standards and health improve, the country’s growing elderly population is driving a booming consumer market.

According to a plan on special initiatives to increase consumption, released earlier this year, China will develop industries such as antiaging and senior tourism to unleash the potential of the silver-haired consumer market.

Tu also keeps a habit of documenting her daily travel experiences and sharing them on WeChat Moments.

In one post, she describes driving along a section of National Highway 216, which runs through extreme terrain, including deserts and high plateaus: “Outside the car window, visibility is extremely low. The swirling sands seem alive, at times gathering into towering dunes, at others dissolving into a haze of dust and fog. My heart is clenched tight, my palms grow damp.

“The road ahead is but a slender thread, leading us into a 600-km stretch where the altitude soars beyond 5,000 meters. Our drivers’ eyes gleam with the thrill of adventure, but my heart remains as restless as the howling wind outside.”

For Tu, writing down her daily reflections isn’t just about sharing with family and friends — it’s a gift to her future self.

“I want to preserve these memories in words,” she says. “So that when I’m too old to move, I can still travel through them, reliving every moment as I read.”

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