Perhaps lesser known than its Outer Banks cousins to the northeast, camping at Carolina Beach State Park, North Carolina, is a welcome end to the summer. Nearby Kure Beach is virtually empty, the crowds have dissipated, the no-see-ums are gone, and the Atlantic coastal waters are still bathtub warm.

What does a 39-day American road trip of 7,600 miles look like? The call to go to Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota and everywhere in between was too loud to be denied. I wrote recently about the "how" of the trip, so now I'd like to include you in on the details of Part I - North Carolina to Kansas - where we camped, places we stopped, and things we saw. Hope you enjoy the ride and let it inspire you to make your own road trip adventure!

With access to Lake Tillery and situated in the midst of the ancient Uwharrie Mountain Range, Morrow Mountain State Park, with over 4700 acres in western North Carolina, makes a perfect destination for camping, hiking, and paddling.

One of the most visited state parks in South Carolina, the semi-tropical Hunting Island State Park offers a relaxing camping experience with white sandy beaches, spectacular marsh views, and a historic lighthouse. If that's not enough, only a short 17-mile drive from Hunting Island State Park, you can explore the charming southern city of Beaufort and the variety of nearby attractions.

A one-day urban adventure to one of America's most popular cities, Boston! The Boston Minuteman Campground is just 30 miles away and serves as a great jumping off point for a budget escape to the city and Boston's Freedom Trail.

When you think of great places in Florida, we'd encourage you to throw camping into the mix at Anastasia State Park. Proximity to St. Augustine's waterfront, history, and charm might be the first draw, but it’s not the only attraction that makes this Northeast Florida destination a keeper.

Located in scenic Western North Carolina, Standing Indian Campground is a premier camping and hiking destination that includes access to the renowned Appalachian Trail and great location for chasing waterfalls.

As you approach Fort Clinch State Park, Florida, put aside the tense memories of traffic lights, strip malls, and fast food joints that lead up to the park gates, and start to relax as you travel down the three winding miles under a majestic canopy of live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Not camping at Fort Clinch State Park? A six-dollar entry fee buys you a fantastic day of coastal swimming, birding, hiking, fishing, off-road biking, shark tooth hunting, and shelling.

Nestled in the crook of the far western reach of North Carolina, we stopped at Deep Creek Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a convenient one-night camping and hiking stopover on the way to Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia. Even though we only stayed a day, believe us when we say that you could easily make Deep Creek your basecamp and cook up a complete Smoky Mountain holiday without ever having to go any further.

As soon as you make the entrance to the Gulf Islands National Seashore Fort Pickens Campground, it is easy to imagine what it must have looked like to the Spanish explorer Tristan de Luna in 1559. Bordered on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and to the north by Pensacola Bay, the gentle Gulf waters still caress the sugar white beaches and wind swept dunes. Only sand scrub oaks and sea grass protect this little quarter mile wide barrier island - just as they did 450 years ago.

Nestled at the confluence of the Pamlico River and its namesake tributary, the fourteen campsites at Goose Creek State Park, North Carolina, are spread out under a 90-foot canopy of longleaf and loblolly pines. Boasting five riverfront properties and nine generous and secluded inner sites, you'd be hard pressed to find another frontcountry camp that comes this close to a backcountry experience.

Looking for the best camping on tropical Sanibel Island, Florida, to escape your winter blues? The only game in town is the Periwinkle Park & Campground. A city within a city, Periwinkle Park & Campground is loaded with Florida charm and 50's kitsch. Think Main Street, USA meets Disney.

Rifle through your pockets or bedside change jar, and you'll likely find Maine's commemorative 2003 quarter which features the idyllic Midcoast Maine Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. Better yet, load out the crew and head for the Sherwood Forest Campsite and Cabins which serves as an ideal jumping off point for all of the Pemaquid area attractions.

Just a few miles off I-95 and well within about an hour drive of about 2 million people lies an art treasure for the senses - the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina.

Nestled at the base of Mount Mitchell and close to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, Black Mountain Campground in Pisgah National Forest serves as a great camping base to explore the area with plenty of on-site adventures.

If your travels have taken you through the "Old North State," you've likely driven by, through, or around a tobacco farm. The Tobacco Farm Life Museum pays tribute to this golden leaf crop that was largely responsible for rebuilding North Carolina after the Civil War. Tobacco continues to be the state's largest cash crop with almost 153,000 acres devoted to farming it.

History, architecture, art, and a heaping dose of Southern charm make a day in Savannah an urban adventure everyone in your party will love. Time your day well and you can be on the riverfront in time for a second (or third) cup of coffee, then work up an appetite exploring this very walkable and affordable city.

If you are looking for something a little different to do on your next spring break, beat the summer heat, humidity, and bugs, and take a fabulous camping tour along the South Carolina and Georgia coast.

There are multiple parts to the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. The two major locations are Chickamauga Battlefield in Georgia and Lookout Mountain Battlefield in Tennessee. Each played an important role in the history of the Civil War.

A whirlwind of 15 stops in America's 14th state that will give you a taste of the unique culture, rich history, and natural beauty of the grand state of Vermont. Prepare yourself to be captivated by this incredibly diverse state with 15 best places to visit and to wish you could call the Green Mountain State home.