The most epic American road trip

Rounding out the most epic American road trip is a visit to Grand Canyon National Park, the most popular spot that showed up in our Holiday Inn contest submissions. Drive between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View for some amazing scenic overlooks. The National Park Service takes exceptional pride in this park and does an amazing job at keeping it well-maintained and clean. A few insanely cool hikes are the hike down South Kaibab Trail toward Phantom Ranch, the North Rim hike to the river, and the South Rim Trail, which provides unbelievably beautiful sunsets.

From Vegas, drive to Monument Valley. This is home to what’s arguably the most iconic landscape of the American West.If you go to The View Hotel and pay $10 per person, you can get some insane pictures of the valley from the Visitor Center balcony. This is absolutely an essential stop on any great American road trip.

Arches National Park is one of the most jaw-dropping geological wonderlands in America, so it's no wonder that it was the second-most popular place users added to their trips in our contest. Plan to spend a day exploring the many arched rock formations. A few highlights are Balanced Rock and Tunnel Arch. If you take Exit 204 towards Cisco, it will take more time to get to the park but the drive way more scenic. The park can get pretty busy during the day, but it empties out just before sunset, when you can get some amazing photos.

From Arches, hit up Rocky Mountain National Park. With more than 300 miles of hiking trails, epic fields of wildflowers, alpine lakes, and wildlife around every corner, this is one of America's most beautiful woodlands. The Trail Ridge Road is a must-drive! It takes you to an impressive elevation of more than 11,0000 feet. Another great trip is the hike along Estes Cone Trail. The view from the top is absolutely breathtaking. It's a pretty lengthy hike at four to five hours, but it's definitely worth it.

Then it's on to Tucumcari, New Mexico! After all that national park adventuring, it's time to chill out in an authentic Route 66 town, just off of I-40. There are tons of great diners to eat at here, and loads of retro motels, such as the Blue Swallow and Motel Safari. And make sure to grab a bite at Del's: You'll recognize it 'cause it's got a massive cow on top of its sign. Take some time to walk around and snap loads of pictures of the vintage Route 66-era neon signs.

From New Mexico, hop the border into Texas and drive down o the Alamo. Every year, more than 2.5 million people visit this important piece of history. Back in 1836, a band of Texans held out for an impressive 13 days inside the Mission against the centralist army of General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Even though the Alamo ultimately fell to Santa Anna's forces, those brave men who defended the Mission have gone down in history as American heroes and defenders of liberty. The Alamo is located directly in the middle of San Antonio, right next to the Riverwalk (which is a bustling riverfront neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and cafés).

After San Antonio, head to the French Quarter in New Orleans, for a taste of some insane Louisiana nightlife. Here you can drink on the streets thanks to New Orleans's open container law. Be prepared if you visit during football season: The crowds can get pretty crazy after a Saints game. Bourbon Street is one of the wildest streets in America (in a good way), and the French Quarter itself is full of gorgeous architecture that will make you feel like you're walking back in time through an eighteenth century French tropical colony.

As if New Orleans nightlife weren't enough, your next stop is Miami's South Beach. Developed back in the 1910s, South Beach became a boomtown, attracting loads of tourists to its beaches and Art Deco hotels, nightclubs, and restaurants. South Beach is perfect for people-watching and for immersing yourself in gorgeous retro architecture. The food on Ocean Drive is alright, but overpriced for tourists. Get off the strip to find some real gems, such as the iconic Cuban restaurant Versailles.

Then drive up the coast and head toward Savannah, Georgia. Settled in 1733, Savannah boasts one of the country's largest historic districts. The riverside hamlet was spared by General Sherman's troops when the mayor of the city allowed Sherman's men to have the run of the city in exchange for leaving it intact (Sherman had a habit of torching every town he went through during the Civil War). Because of the mayor's bargain, Savannah has retained her antebellum charm. When you visit, absolutely go to Forsyth Park, an incredibly lush public park that you could easily spend the entire afternoon in. Savannah also has some great ghost tours, including one that's also a ghost tour/pub crawl.

Hop back on the highway, and head north to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although this park is beautiful to visit all year-round, the fall is a particularly amazing time to soak in the scenery. When you visit, plan to spend time exploring the abandoned resort town of Elkmont in the park. Also, Cades Cove is a perfect spot for a picnic and for viewing the park's wildlife. And don't leave before you have a chance to walk up Clingmans Dome. At an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet it provides breathtaking panoramic views of the park. It's free to visit, and is the most visited national park in all of America.

You can't take the most epic American road trip without visiting our nation's capital. Washington D.C. is home to incredible historical architecture and some truly mind-blowing museums, most of which are free! If you only have a day, hit up the National Mall, but be prepared for a long walk, and don't forget your sunscreen and some water. Here, you can enjoy a picnic surrounded by Washington's most iconic memorials, or visit a museum or two right off of the Mall. Also, between the Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History, there's a pretty great fountain where you can cool off. The best time of year to visit is either fall or spring: You'll still find crowds, but the changing colors of the foliage in fall is a can't-miss, as is cherry blossom season in spring.

Get back on the highway, and drive north towards New York City, where you can grab a boat to Ellis Island and experience the journey so many immigrants have made over the years. If you only have time to do one thing in NYC, do yourself a favor and visit the Statue of Liberty. Plan to spend time wandering around the museum and enjoying the views of the harbor and Manhattan. Of course, if you have time to do more than just one thing in NYC, the city is renowned for its delicious restaurants. Go to Chinatown for dim sum or Little Italy for pasta, and save room for some Chocolate by The Bald Man.

Next up is Boston. Again, there are just way too many awesome places to visit in this city, but if you have to go to one, Fenway Park is one of the city's most popular attractions. It's the oldest Major League Baseball stadium, having opened in 1912, and it's a hallmark of Boston. You can grab some beer on Yawkey Way, or sit up on the Green Monster... and don't forget your baseball glove to catch a ball! Even though the beer vendors close up shop during the seventh inning, "Who's on First" on Yawkey Way will continue to serve into extra innings. A couple other notable Boston attractions are Faneuil Hall, where you can eat everything from clam chowder to North End pizza, Chinese food, BBQ, and loads of desserts. Also, the Freedom Trail is a walkable tour of Boston's history. Oh, and the aquarium is one of the best in the world. If you have kids, also hit up the Science Museum. There's just so much fun to be had in Beantown!

Another can't-miss spot is upstate New York's Niagara Falls. The falls can be very misty in the morning, but that's when you can avoid the crowds. If you have the chance, take a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat, which takes you right up to the falls. If you need a place to spend the night, the Red Coach Inn is a lovely historic hotel with an excellent onsite restaurant. Also, head over to the Canadian side of the falls... there are more food options there. But, don't forget your passport!