Check out these 3 road-tripping ideas for inspiration on exploring the world behind the wheel!

Pacific Coast Highway, California

Road tripping is a quintessential part of America’s fabric…with visions of convertibles, roadside diners, and expanses of open road and open sky coming to mind. Of all the great road trips the U.S. has to offer, it’s hard to top the Pacific Coast Highway.

Covering most of the California coastline, this drive offers beautifully rugged coastline with bluffs overlooking the Pacific, sunsoaked beaches around every corner, and the glittering ocean always within sight. Plus, there’s unending restaurants, shops, and unique beachside towns to explore along the way.

Starting out in San Francisco, head down the coast toward Big Sur. You’ll find plenty of vista points for photo ops on the hour-drive between Carmel-by-the- Sea and Big Sur—and be sure not to pass the vista point just before Bixby Bridge for a truly stunning view.

Farther down the coast, stop in San Simeon for a fascinating guided tour of Hearst Castle, the once home of newspaper titan William Randolph Hearst. Designed and built by Hearst himself, this mansion overlooking the sea includes 165 rooms, two Greek and Roman inspired pools, and more than 100 acres of perfectlykept gardens and terraces.

Another fun stop as you continue your drive is the town of Solvang, settled in the early 1900s by Danish pioneers. Wander through the town and enjoy the Danish architecture, Hans Christian Andersen and Little Mermaid statues, and visit the many bakeries, restaurants, and shops that offer a taste of Denmark in California.

Another couple of hours will get you to Santa Monica, where you’ll be ready to checkin to the Hotel Shangri-La. Hotel Shangri-La boasts a prime location in the city, directly across from the beach and within walking distance of the famous Santa Monica pier.

From the architecture to the room décor, the hotel’s inspiration comes from the grandeur of luxury ocean liners from the 1930s. With elegantly striped chaise lounges, deluxe cabanas, and tiered teakwood decks, even the hotel’s outdoor heated pool evokes the feel of the historic Queen Mary’s pool deck.

A stay at Hotel Shangri-La will be a welcome retreat as you conclude your road trip by exploring sunny Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles area.

Austria

While touring a whole country by car may sound daunting, Austria’s picturesque landscape—filled with the old world architecture of medieval castles and abbeys, quaint farmhouses among rolling fields, and the jagged, majestic Alps—perfectly lends itself to being toured at leisure along rambling roads.

A road trip through Austria will most likely begin in Vienna, where you can get a taste for the city by visiting a few historic sites such as St. Stephan’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, and Schönbrunn Palace - summer residence of the Hapsburg imperial family.

From Vienna, you’ll travel west by car toward Salzburg. Take Route 3, called the Austrian Romantic Road, as it leads you through Austria’s most beautiful landscapes and photo worthy villages. Follow Route 3 as it shadows the Danube River through the Danube Valley and on toward the breathtaking Salzkammergut lake district.

Once in Salzburg, plan to spend a few days here to take in all the sites, including the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of the largest existing 11th century castles in Europe, and Mozart’s birthplace at Number 9 on Getreidegass. A visit to Salzburg must also include a meal at the St. Peter Stiftskeller, considered the oldest restaurant in all of Central Europe with the first historical reference to the restaurant impressively dating back to the year 803.

After leaving Salzburg, head south and soak in the rugged beauty of the Alps, zigzagging past snow-covered peaks along the high-altitude Grossglockner Road, and stopping for a glass of Riesling at one of the many rustic taverns in Lower Austria.

You’ll end your tour by driving to the city of Graz and checking into the Hotel Wiesler—the perfect base to explore the city and surrounding countryside. Hosting guests since 1909, the 101- room Wiesler blends the history of their past with a fresh, modern Art Nouveau style.

The hotel’s trendy Speisesaal restaurant is no ordinary hotel restaurant. The popular eatery treats both hotel guests and locals to an eclectic international menu in an upscale shabbychic setting and is a highlight of a stay at the Weisler.

The Weisler sits in the Old Town of this red-roof filled city, along the Mur River and next to the Kunsthaus Graz contemporary art museum, a city landmark. The hotel also offers upclose views of Schlossberg, translated in English as “Castle Hill.” Perched atop the tree-covered hill of Schlossberg, sits the remains of a 16th century fortress, including a clock and bell tower. Today Schlossberg is a public park, offering sweeping views of the city.

Atlas Mountains, Morocco

A trip to the exotic, spice-laden country of Morocco offers travelers an experience like none other. Often seen as a gateway between East and West, Morocco blurs the lines between Africa, Arabia, and Europe in its culture, food and history. You’ll experience this mix as you explore the labyrinth-like medinas (ancient walled cities) of Fes, Tangier, Marrakesh, and Rabat, soaking in the sights and sounds at the ancient mosques, crowded marketplaces, and lively outdoor cafes.

About halfway down Morocco’s coast sits Casablanca—Morocco’s largest city and home of the impressive, modern Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque outside Mecca.

While in Casablanca, book the five-star Kenzi Tower Hotel for your stay. This 237- room hotel is situated in the heart of the city and combines a contemporary aesthetic feel with a touch of traditional Moroccan style while offering guests comfortable and luxurious surroundings.

The Kenzi Tower Hotel houses two restaurants, including Insense, a terrace restaurant serving modern international cuisine, and Sens, located on the 27th floor, which offers fresh Mediterranean cuisine. On the 28th floor you’ll find the Sky 28 lounge, which specializes in cocktails and tapas and offers guests live music. Both Sens and Sky 28 give visitors beautiful, sweeping views of the city, Hassan II Mosque, and the Atlantic. The panoramic views are without a doubt a highlight of a stay at the Kenzi Tower Hotel.

While Morocco’s cities offer plenty of excitement, the country’s landscape is as diverse as its cultural influences, ranging from the golden sands and blue lagoons along the Mediterranean Sea to the magnificently vast Sahara Desert to snow-dusted peaks in the Atlas mountain range…and this is where the road tripping comes in! Exploring the High Atlas Mountains by car has been called one of the most thrilling drives in the world.

Hiring a driver for this road trip is a great way to go, so you can sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery as an experienced local navigates the many twists and turns of the mountain roads. Head southeast from Marrakesh, and check out Oukaïmeden, the continent’s highest ski resort, hike Jebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa at 13,671 feet, and drive past the many remote villages of the hospitable Berber people.