Latest news with #roadtrip
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
3 All-American Road Trips to Take This Summer — From Chasing the Stars to Living the Cowboycore Dream
Summer is road trip season in America! With endless possible routes — Do you do a multi-day cruise down Highway 1 or a cross-country haul on Route 66? — the options can be overwhelming and the planning complex. To take the guess work out of this classic vacation and put the fun back in, we've curated three inspiring itineraries to kick off your next adventure. Whether it's viewing bucket-list wonders, hitting the hottest concert tour of the season or indulging in a little summer movie nostalgia, there's something for every type of traveler across the country. Astrotourism is the biggest trend in travel right now, with folks trekking across the globe to catch the northern lights or see the Milky Way where the sky is darkest. It's even become a wellness trend with experts claiming "star bathing" (that's soaking in starlight in a natural setting) is good for your health. We're lucky to have a number of "dark sky" regions in the U.S. that are ideal for stargazing. including in Montana's Glacier National Park, where this road trip kicks off. Time your trip to attend one of two summer Star Parties at Logan Pass (July 25 and August 22), where visitors are joined by park rangers and astronomers to use high-powered telescopes to view the cosmos. There are also nightly astronomy programs offered throughout the park. Further south, the runs July 9-11 and gives visitors the chance to view celestial objects through a 32" telescope. The Montana Learning Center in Canyon Ferry Lake hosts special astronomer-led stargazing sessions one weekend a month for from June through September. This summer is also the time to catch the , which reaches its peak August 12-13. And later in the year, ongoing "solar maximum" conditions mean visitors have a good chance to catch the Northern Lights starting in October. When you need a break from looking up, why not search for some sparklers underfoot? Visitors can seek out precious stones at Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine in Philipsburg, Mont., where 180 million carats have been discovered in its 130 years of operation. Tourists purchase a bucket of "sapphire gravel" mined on site and pan for gems, then have their finds evaluated and even turned into a piece of jewelry. It's impossible to forego a visit to Yellowstone National Park when you're so close. While it's worth a dedicated trip of its own, the Artist's Point Trail is the perfect low-effort pit stop. It was recently named of the easiest hikes in America and offers spectacular views with minimal steps. Cross the border into Idaho for a different type of starry experience – the Hollywood variety. Jimmy Kimmel opened a hotel and restaurant in Swan Valley, where he famously welcomed a slew of A-listers including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Kristen Bell for dinner. Make a reservation and experience the elevated "fishing lodge fare" of celeb chefs Chris Bianco and Adam Perry Lang. Another star-favorite spot, Jackson Hole, Wyo., a little over an hour east, is the perfect starry end point to this journey and has all the creature comforts and then some after a long trek. Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour has helped inspire an obsession with all things Wild West this year — and her stop in Las Vegas (July 25 - 26) is the perfect excuse to strap on your spurs, or at least purchase a cowboy hat. (Sales are up 300% according to one study.) Even if you can't score a last-minute ticket, Sin City is sure to be filled with pop-ups, special events and beyhive buzz for the occasion. While in town, snag a reservation at steakhouse inside the new celeb-favorite Fontainebleau hotel (Tom Brady and Justin Timberlake are fans), for a cowboy-worthy cut of meat like the dry-aged bone-in ribeye from Pat LaFrieda. Leave the bright lights behind and head southwest from the Strip toward the ghost town of Goodspring, home of the Pioneer Saloon, one of the oldest such establishments in Nevada with a colorful history including a poker match that ended in a shootout. It's also been a frequent filming location and appears in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and fittingly, several episodes of Ghost Adventures. Get a real taste of life as a Cowboy for a Day just down the road at Sandy Valley Ranch, where visitors can take part in cattle handling training, trail rides, penning and sorting cattle and a cattle drive before ending the day with a campfire on the range. They also offer one-of-a-kind overnight accommodations including two covered wagons. The town of Oatman (pop. 130) just across the Arizona border is famous for its free-roaming burros — the descendants of the donkeys that once aided miners during the area's gold rush (and yes, there are more of them than people). Today they keep busy wandering alongside the town's wooden sidewalks and nudging visitors for snacks. Visitors can also catch a staged Old West shootout by the Ghost Rider Gunfighters in this kitschy destination and get a taste of Route 66 history. It runs right through the middle of town! As you head east toward the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell, there are plenty of roadside stops. One, the time warp town of Seligman, is said to have inspired Radiator Springs, the fictional setting of Cars. Another, Kanab, is known as 'Little Hollywood' for the many Westerns filmed there, including The Lone Ranger and Pony Express. Under Canvas is the perfect place to check-in for the night and still feel surrounded by nature. They offer glamping accommodations — think a private, raised platform tent with a wood stove, but a short hike to shared showers — located near a number of national parks. Under Canvas Grand Canyon is well situated near the Mather Point and Grandview Point lookouts, while Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase is a great launch spot for those looking to take a pontoon boat tour through the breathtaking slot canyons. Jaws celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, and in Edgartown, Mass., aka the real-life Amity Island, a taste for the classic film comes with the territory. Located on Martha's Vineyard, an island off Cape Cod that can be accessed by car ferry, the town looks much the same as it did on screen. Film fanatics can take a Jaws-themed walking tour — self-guided or hop-on-hop-off — and can even catch a ride on the infamous Chappy Ferry that appears in one of the most iconic scenes in Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic. Martha's Vineyard is also famous for its beaches, quaint cedar-shingled cottages and famous frequent visitors, including the Obama family, Spike Lee and David Letterman. Back across the Vineyard Sound on Cape Cod, the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth is a delightfully kitschy stop. It's home to real pirate treasure recovered from an 18th-century shipwreck, the Whydah Gally, discovered off the Cape in 1984. A less authentic site outside also delights visitors: You can't leave without snapping a photo with the bearded pirate captain seated on the bench. For a taste of a classic New England's delicacy, head further out onto the peninsula to Ocean Edge Resort for an oyster bed tour. Guests can wade out into the water on a guided excursion of a working farm. Then head back to dry land for a shucking demo and tasting. A one of a kind experience awaits at the very last outpost on Cape Cod, Provincetown, where visitors can visit the Race Point Lighthouse, then spend the night in the quaint Keeper's House next door, where the stewards who maintained the rotating beacon until it was automated in 1972, resided. Overnight guests can even watch the sun set from the top of the lighthouse surrounded by the peaceful Cape National Seashore. Read the original article on People
CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
Upgrade Your Summer Van Life With My Top Security Recommendations
While van life and van vacations are wonderfully freeing, they also come with a side risk of van theft -- the last thing you want to interrupt your journey. So if you're getting ready for a van adventure, you need a little protection. That's why I've rounded up the best standalone, on-the-road security devices that you can use to keep both your expensive stuff and your van safe, from sports equipment to your work laptop. None of this security tech requires pricey OEM installations and most don't even need a Wi-Fi hotspot. Just remember to keep your doors locked. 1. Grab a cellular security camera Today's security cams, like the Blind brand, are small, smart and more affordable than ever. Chris Monroe/CNET You wonder, "What's the point of a van security cam if I'm nowhere near the van and don't even know when someone's breaking in?" But today's security cameras are all-in-one sensor devices that can do more than you might think. First, they can detect motion and recognize humans (while ignoring pets you may have with you), then send alerts to your phone so you can immediately hop onto a live view and see what's going on. Second, they have two-way audio, lights and sirens that you can activate to scare burglars away. The speakers let you shout out that you're running back, that you called the cops, that this is a surprise sting operation or whatever else comes to mind. Third, many of these cameras are wireless with batteries that can easily last for months, so you can charge them with outlets or power packs like you charge your phone and never have to worry about the camera dying. And our Tapo and Eufy examples above don't require subscriptions, either. If you have a mobile cellular router device, you can link a Wi-Fi camera to it, but we prefer 4G LTE cameras that directly connect to nearby cell towers so you don't have to worry about Wi-Fi going down. Many include SIM cards to make setup easier too. And if you're worried about mounting, you can try 3M adhesive tape instead of screws on the base or find a cozy shelf to securely tape it down to. We like the shelf option because it's less susceptible to vibrations on the road. 2. Find an affordable vibration/glass break sensor Glass break and vibration sensors come either with or without hubs, depending on what you prefer. You don't need a whole security system to get a viable glass break sensor in your van, bus or other travel vehicle. Today's sensors are mobile and can identify the sharp sounds and vibrations of breaking glass as opposed to normal van noises. Since breaking windows is the No. 1 way thieves speedily rob travel vans, this can be an important line of defense. Like wireless cams, they're typically rechargeable and easy to place without needing to drill any holes. The best kinds give you app alerts if they detect broken glass and can sound an alarm as well. If you don't want to manage any additional plugins, there are simple stick-on glass break sensors that even work with Alexa or Google Assistant, typically under $40. If you don't mind adding a small hub, then a device such as Aqara's vibration sensor works very well and you can add more compatible devices later on if you want. But you might want to disable these sensors when you hit the road for a day of driving. 3. Add a small smart safe Lockly's smart features run on four AA batteries. CNET/Tyler Lacoma Create a safe place to keep your valuables, the things you really, really need to protect if someone's ransacking your van or steals it entirely. That can include emergency cash, passports, important medications, an extra burner phone, jewelry or really shiny rocks you found. If you want to spend a bit more on this vital addition, we recommend something like the Lockly smart safe, which is small enough to fit under a seat but offers excellent durability, fingerprint unlocking and even some fire protection. Otherwise, you can find other options in our guide to the best smart safes. Look into bolting them down to a nonessential part of your vehicle floor so if thieves find it, they can't just take it with them. 4. Include a GPS tracker Pick a van GPS tracker that's designed for vehicles and lasts for a long time. LandSeaAir/Amazon A reliable GPS tracker is one of the must-have devices for your van escapades, so you still know exactly where it is if it's stolen, towed or otherwise lost. There's nothing wrong with something small like an AirTag, but those rely a lot on nearby iPhones to triangulate positions and aren't the best option when you're on the road in a van. It's better to pay a little bit more and find a tracker made specifically for your situation. Our favorite picks include vehicle GPS trackers from dependable brands like Cube ($100), LandSeaAir ($125) and Spot ($150). They're durable, weather resistant, easy to pack and have batteries that can last for six months to a year or more. You get real-time alerts to your phone if your van leaves a set location, a history of locations, emergency call options and other valuable features for comprehensive protection. Just keep in mind some come with subscriptions you may have to budget for. 5. Add a fingerprint cable lock A cable lock is an excellent deterrent for thieves trying to steal pricey sports equipment. Dhiedas You can wrap cable locks like these around any available handle or opening in your van so you can attach larger, personal valuables that you really don't want stolen -- things like bikes, snowboards, scooters and surfboards. A fingerprint version is especially easy to unlock with a touch or with your Apple Watch. Most thieves trying to break into vans are looking for easy opportunities and once they see something is locked down with a cable, they'll move on. Plus, you can easily find them for under $50. Your van life, protected As a final note, always pay attention to where you park your van for an extended period of time. Work to follow local rules and avoid places where it's easy for people to run and smash a window without being seen. We've also collected tips on where to never put your security cams, the best cheap security systems and how to spot hidden cams at Airbnbs if you decide to rent.
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Tim Dowling: how can my wife live without her glasses – and even her phone?
It is early in the morning, and my wife and I are setting off on a long car journey. My wife is driving; I am looking at my phone. It is my plan to look at my phone for at least the first hour, even though it is unlikely my wife will allow this. 'Bit hazy,' she says. 'Hmm,' I say, looking at my phone. 'But I think it might burn off later,' she says. 'What?' I say, forcing my eyes up to the horizon. 'Never mind,' my wife says, turning on the radio. I return to my phone. 'Sorry, will you clean these please?' my wife says, handing me her glasses. 'What?' I say. Instead of answering, she drops her glasses into my lap. Reluctantly I put down my phone, pull out the hem of my shirt, and fog the lenses with my breath. 'By the way, I don't approve of this,' I say, overtaken by irritation. 'Of what?' she says. 'I mean, first, I can't believe how filthy these glasses are,' I say. 'I know,' she says. 'That's why I asked you to …' 'And second,' I say. 'I can't believe you didn't notice until we'd done eight miles on the motorway.' 'I just realised the haze I was seeing was on my glasses,' she says. 'That's the best I can do,' I say, handing her glasses back. 'Much better, thank you,' she says. 'It's not safe,' I say. After a few minutes spent looking at my phone, my irritation subsides. I remind myself that my wife doesn't need her glasses the way I need my glasses: she will sometimes lose them for an entire weekend without suffering any particular inconvenience. I couldn't take off my glasses while driving without quickly crashing into a bridge support. Something I've seen on my phone catches my attention. 'Interesting,' I say. 'Guess how many …' 'No,' my wife says. 'Wait, just guess how many countries have a …' 'You didn't want to chat,' she says. 'Don't try to start a conversation now, using facts you found on your phone.' 'Fine,' I say. I take off my glasses to clean them, and the world ahead becomes a blur. Two days later, it is time to set off for home, but my wife can't find her phone. 'I swear I just had it,' she says, coming back from the car. 'Will you ring it?' 'Straight to voicemail,' I say, holding my own phone to my ear. 'Why is it doing that?' she says. 'It's fully charged.' 'Probably because there's no signal wherever you left it,' I say. In practical terms, this means outside, and it's raining outside. We try to approach the problem logically. My wife's laptop indicates the last picture she took on her phone was of a nearby pond, only 35 minutes previously. 'And then what?' I say. 'Did you fling it into the pond?' 'I went across that meadow, through the gate, and then to the car,' she says. 'But I really don't think I would have left my phone outside.' 'I once found your phone in the crook of the tree,' I say. 'That was different,' she says. 'I was listening to the Archers omnibus while I was weeding.' My wife returns to the pond, while I walk the meadow twice over, getting soaked. I am longing, for reasons both admirable and shameful, to be the person who finds the phone. But I don't see how anyone could find anything in this expanse of long grass. As I approach the car, the rain turning heavy, I see my wife coming. When she sees me she holds her phone above her head. 'Where was it?' I say. 'It was lying on a stone wall, getting rained on,' she says. 'I think I was taking a picture, and then my shoe was untied, and then … never mind.' 'Let's go,' I say. As we drive the sky begins to clear toward the east. The recent rain and the warm weather have caused the hedgerows to explode with growth. 'I'm glad we found it,' my wife says. 'It felt very uncomfortable not having my phone.' I do not say what I am thinking, which is: people who are truly uncomfortable without their phones don't leave them on stone walls in the rain. I need to be an exemplar of patience, if only because I so often try the patience of others. As we approach an intersection made blind by fresh greenery, my wife hands me her glasses. 'Will you clean these?' she says. 'Of course,' I say.
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Say Goodbye to Awful Cell Signal With These 10 Simple Fixes
Summer road trips are all about open roads, good company, and spontaneous detours. That is, until your phone loses service and the whole plan comes to a screeching halt. Whether it's your GPS freezing mid-route, your music app buffering endlessly, or being unable to call for roadside help, poor cell reception can turn a carefree adventure into a frustrating mess. These dead zones tend to show up in the worst spots: backroads, mountain passes, or just that one stretch of highway where nothing seems to work. Fortunately, you don't need a new phone or a major tech upgrade to fix spotty service. There are several simple tricks you can try to get better signal on the go. From changing your network settings to repositioning your phone in the car for better line-of-sight, these small adjustments can make a noticeable difference. Whether you're driving across state lines or just heading out for the weekend, these tips can help you stay connected and keep your trip running smoothly. Whether you're doing some routine phone maintenance or you're stuck in an emergency, there are multiple ways to improve your reception on an iPhone or Android phone, no matter what type of phone plan you're on. It might even come down to something as simple as toggling Airplane mode. To go from dropped calls to full bars, here's what you need to know. For more on iPhone and iOS, check out everything Apple announced at WWDC 2025. Find Free Wi-Fi Near You to Stay Connected Find Free Wi-Fi Near You to Stay Connected Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 8:02 Loaded : 2.46% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 8:02 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Find Free Wi-Fi Near You to Stay Connected Note: Although software across different iPhone models is relatively the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android phones may have different software versions, so certain settings and where they are located might differ depending on device. For more, check out how you can use Google Maps when you're offline and how you can maybe fix your internet when it's down. To improve your cellphone service, try these steps first The settings on your phone can help you get better cell service, but there are other tricks for improving your reception without even touching your phone's software. Move yourself so that there are no obstructions between your phone and any cell towers outside . That might involve stepping away from metal objects or concrete walls, which both kill reception. Instead, get to a window or go outside if possible. . That might involve stepping away from metal objects or concrete walls, which both kill reception. Instead, get to a window or go outside if possible. Remove your phone case . It doesn't hurt to remove whatever case you have on your phone, especially if it's thick, so that the phone's antenna isn't blocked by anything and can get a better signal. . It doesn't hurt to remove whatever case you have on your phone, especially if it's thick, so that the phone's antenna isn't blocked by anything and can get a better signal. Make sure your phone is charged. Searching for and connecting to a stronger signal drains power, so if your phone battery is already low on charge, you may have a difficult time getting good service. Some phone cases cause more signal disruption than others. David Carnoy/CNET Always start by turning Airplane mode on and off Turning your phone's connection off and then back on is the quickest and easiest way to try and fix your signal woes. If you're moving around from one location to another, toggling Airplane mode restarts the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular network modems, which forces them to find the best signal in the area. Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen -- to access the Quick Settings panel -- and then tap the Airplane mode icon. Wait for your phone to completely disconnect from its Wi-Fi and cellular connections. It doesn't happen instantly, so give it a good 15 seconds before you tap on the Airplane mode icon again. iPhone: On the iPhone, you can access Airplane mode from the Control Center, but that varies depending on which iPhone model you have. On the iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to access the Control Center. On older iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Airplane mode icon, which will turn orange when it's enabled. Again, wait up to 15 seconds before turning it off. Left: Airplane mode on your iPhone. Right: Airplane mode on an Android. Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET If Airplane mode doesn't work, restart your phone Our phones are miniature computers, and just like computers, sometimes you can fix issues like network connection by simply restarting them. Android: Hold down the power button, or the power button and the volume down key (depending on your Android phone), until the on-screen menu shows up, and then tap Restart. If your phone doesn't offer a restart option, you can simply tap Power Off to shut down your device, and then boot it back up with the power button. iPhone: On the iPhone X and older models, hold down the sleep/wake button and either one of the volume buttons and then swipe right on the power slider to turn off the device. Wait until it fully turns off, then press down on the sleep/wake button to turn it back on. Alternatively, you can do a force reset on your iPhone: Press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button and then press and hold the side button. Keep holding it in, after your phone's screen goes black and until you see the Apple logo appear again. If your iPhone has a home button, hold down the sleep/wake button until the power slider is displayed and then drag the slider to the right. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo. Left: Restarting an Android phone. Right: Powering off an iPhone. Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET Older phone? Take your SIM card out Another troubleshooting step that might help is to remove your SIM card, if your phone has one, and then place it back in with the phone turned on. If the SIM card is dirty, clean it. If it has any physical defects, you may need to replace it. You'll need a SIM card tool -- usually included in your phone's box -- or an unfolded paper clip or sewing needle to get the SIM tray out of your phone. All phones: Remove the SIM card, check to see if it's damaged and positioned in the SIM tray correctly, then put it back in your phone. eSIM: For phones with an eSIM -- that is, an embedded electronic SIM in your phone -- there's nothing for you to remove. The best you can do is restart your phone. Removing and putting your SIM card back into your phone takes just a couple of seconds. Jason Cipriani/CNET Check your carrier settings (and update your software) Mobile carriers frequently send out carrier settings updates to help improve connectivity for calls, data and messages on their network. Although this feature is available on all iPhone models, it's not universal on Android, so you might not find carrier settings if you don't have a supported phone. iPhone: Carrier updates should just appear, and you can update from the pop-up message that appears. To force your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update, go to Settings > General > About on your phone. If an update is available, you'll be prompted to install it. Android: As mentioned before, not all Android phones have carrier settings, so you'll have to open the Settings app and type in "carrier settings" to find any possible updates. On supported Pixels, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear next to your carrier name and then tap Carrier settings versions. Left: iOS carrier settings. Right: Android carrier settings. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET Reset your phone's network settings Sometimes all you need is a clean slate to fix an annoying connectivity issue. Refreshing your phone's network settings is one way to do that. But be forewarned, resetting your network settings will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections and custom APN settings for those on carriers that require additional setup. Android: In the Settings app, search for "reset" or more specifically "reset network settings" and tap on the setting. On the Pixel, the setting is called Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. After you reset your network settings, remember to reconnect your phone to your home and work Wi-Fi networks. iPhone: Go to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network settings. The next page will warn you that resetting your network settings will reset your settings for Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. Tap Reset Network Settings and your phone will restart. Resetting network settings should be one of the last troubleshooting steps you try. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET Contact your phone carrier Sometimes unexpected signal issues can be traced back to problems with your wireless carrier. A cell tower could be down, or the tower's fiber optic cable could have been cut, causing an outage. For consistent problems connecting to or staying connected to a cellular or data network, it's possible your carrier's coverage doesn't extend well into your neighborhood. Other times, a newfound signal issue can be due to a defect with your phone or a SIM card that's gone bad. Contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting after you've tried these fixes is the next best step to resolving your spotty signal. Sometimes contacting your carrier is the only way to get signal issues resolved. Angela Lang/CNET If all else fails, try a signal booster to improve cell reception If after going through all of our troubleshooting steps, including talking to your carrier to go over your options, you're still struggling to keep a good signal -- try a booster. A signal booster receives the same cellular signal your carrier uses, then amplifies it just enough to provide coverage in a room or your entire house. The big downside here is the cost. Wilson has three different boosters designed for home use, ranging in price from $349 for single room coverage to $999 to cover your entire home. To be clear, we haven't specifically tested these models. Wilson offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty should you have any trouble with its products.
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
AI Has Made My Trip Planning Much Easier. Here's What to Know If You're Headed on a Fourth of July Road Trip
If you're planning to travel on the Fourth of July long weekend, you're not alone. If you're anything like me, you really like road trips but don't like planning ahead. However, it's definitely a good idea to think ahead about your route so you can avoid the worst of the traffic and figure out what you can see along the way. Every road trip I've spontaneously taken has spiraled into anxiety because of the minute detail of planning. My brain immediately jumps to all of the bad things that could happen while on the trip, so why not plan for the road trip ahead of time? A friend sent me a list of different artificial intelligence tools they used to make trip planning easier. This list included Curiosio, an AI trip planning tool that provides a map, budget and calculated trip length for you within seconds. My ears perked up imagining its potential output speed. For your road trip planning, you can also read more on the latest gas pricing here. Watch this: I Used Google's Gemini Gem to Plan My Trip 05:19 How does Curiosio use AI? My nonnegotiables for an AI trip planner list include a bright and accessible interface, little to no fees and inspiration for my upcoming trip. Curiosio delivered. The tool was created by Vas Mylko and Roman Bilusiak to support solo, budget-conscious and multi-stop travelers seeking personalized road trip experiences that feature cost breakdowns and flexible itineraries. The free, AI-powered platform offers features like route optimization, detailed itineraries with maps, cost and time breakdowns and detailed guides to destinations. Between its Geek, Travel and Beta modes, Curiosio compiles quite a few tools to help navigate and embellish your getaway, regardless of what kind of adventure you're going on. What I particularly enjoyed about Curiosio was the focus on road trips instead of trying to be an all-in-one travel planner. I also enjoyed its country-specific branding includes a hot air balloon adorned with each nation's flag, and its typeface that is reminiscent of an Indiana Jones PC game. With many sleek, yet sterile, tech brands on the market, I thought this gave the website a sweet touch. How I use Curiosio for planning a road trip Curiosio / Screenshot by CNET Let's first break down the three modes within Curiosio: Travel, Geek and Beta. Travel Mode is for travelers or busybodies who want a simplified, real-time guide. Needless to say, I fall into this category. Here, you can follow your itinerary with directions and context-aware tips. This is perfect if you want hands-off-the-wheel support. There's also Geek Mode, for the detail-driven, perfectionist folks who want control over every detail of their trip. Direct that friend or partner over to this mode so they can put all that energy in Curiosio, and not on you. Here you can customize routing, add filters and use logic to the best of your planning ability. And Beta Mode is for the innovative, experimental type who not only thrives off novelty, but loves diving into a new thing before anyone else. Here you can get access to AI enhancements (and bugs) but also try out new features. At the time of writing, Curiosio was developing its membership to focus on the travel experience. This is how to use Curiosio's travel tool: Head to the website and enter your country. Once selected, navigate to the top and select Travel to enter your starting point and desired destination(s) for your road trip. Specify dates, duration and your budget preferences. Let the AI do its thing and create a personalized road trip plan. Curiosio promises that this will not take longer than 100 seconds. For reference, my plans were generated in about 35 seconds. Review the suggested routes. My output generated four itineraries, ranging in budget and trip length. You can toggle to see the full itinerary breakdown, including a day-by-day itinerary, hotels and budget allocation. Modify by adding or removing the destination to start over, or adjust the travel dates or budget to better fit your needs. Once you're satisfied, finalize your itinerary. This is where you can export the plan to your preferred format or integrate with other mapping tools. Head to the upper right corner of your trip itinerary and select Google Maps from the dropdown menu, or copy the link over to your preferred GPS system. Then use Google Maps or your GPS system to monitor real-time traffic, plus check out any interesting spots between your starting point and your trip's destination. (Though an integrated traffic monitoring system would be a beneficial addition to Curiosio.) Who should use Curiosio? A trip Curiosio planned for me to Jackson Hole. Curiosio / Screenshot by CNET Curiosio is a simple yet ideal tool for independent travelers who crave flexibility, customization and a touch of adventure -- especially those planning multistop road trips. I see it as a great fit for digital nomads, couples, small groups or anyone taking a chaotic road trip with family who wants a streamlined way to create detailed itineraries without relying on prepackaged tours. If you're someone who enjoys the planning process but wants help optimizing routes while also discovering hidden gems, Curiosio can be a time-saving, dopamine-boosting tool. It's also particularly useful for travelers who are budget-conscious but still want well-rounded travel experiences with context tailored to the places they're going. I found the tool easy to navigate, and it definitely helped me save time. Now, Curiosio might not be the best choice for travelers seeking all-inclusive vacations, group tours or very spontaneous getaways. If you prefer to book flights and resorts, or if your travel is centered around staying in one city the entire time, the platform's road trip-focused approach may feel unnecessary and somewhat rudimentary. It's safe to say that if you're seeking an easy, functional and road trip-focused AI tool to support and speed up your planning process, Curiosio is a simple yet functional option. Planning in seconds is an ideal compromise. Now, if only it could pack for me, too.
