Featured Places and Activities
Unlocking Solvang: The 6 Best Sights in Solvang, California’s Little Denmark
Trade the crowded buses and rigid schedules for buttery pastries, hidden histories, and the freedom to explore the Danish Capital of America at your own pace
The Insider’s Guide: 6 Standout Places to Eat and Drink in Scottsdale
To help you fuel your self-guided adventures, we have curated a local’s list of the six best places to eat and drink in Scottsdale. These aren’t the obvious, flashy spots you’ll find on every mass-market brochure. These are the award-winning, chef-driven, uniquely local establishments that define Scottsdale’s true culinary identity.
Uncovering St. Augustine: 6 Must-See Historic Attractions
As the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement within the borders of the continental United States, every cobblestone, coquina wall, and ocean breeze in St. Augustine feels heavy with centuries of history.
USS Midway: The Secrets of San Diego’s Floating City & The Embarcadero
The Embarcadero is a place where historic tall ships rub shoulders with modern yachts, and where military history is woven into the very fabric of the city
Escape the Theme Parks: A First-Timer’s Guide to the Real Tampa
Often overshadowed by the neon lights of Miami or the sprawling theme parks of Orlando, Tampa has quietly cultivated a deeply rich culture, a phenomenal food scene, and a history that is entirely its own.
Ditch the Crowd: 6 Top Attractions in Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona, is practically built for the independent traveler. From its rugged mountain preserves to its sophisticated arts districts, this city rewards those who wander at their own pace.
Chasing Flavor Beyond the Beach: The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Miami
Miami is a sprawling, beautiful patchwork of distinct neighborhoods, each holding its own culinary secrets. From the deep, rich aromas floating through Little Havana to the quiet, leafy enclaves of Little River, the real culinary magic happens when you take the wheel yourself.
Eat Like a Local Near the USS Midway: A Foodie's Guide to the San Diego Embarcadero
The Embarcadero is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking areas in Southern California. But with great views come great crowds—and an abundance of overpriced, underwhelming tourist traps.
How to Hike to the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles: The Complete 2026 Guide
Every year, thousands of travelers head into the Santa Monica Mountains with visions of that perfect Instagram shot. But the Hollywood Sign sits behind a high-tech fence on the steep slopes of Mount Lee, guarded by cameras, motion sensors, and the LAPD
How to Walk NYC Like You Live Here: Central Park and The High Line
The best way to see New York is at your own pace, with the right information in your ear and the freedom to pull over whenever a hidden garden or a local bagel shop catches your eye.
Taste the History: The Best Places to Eat in Tampa, Florida
Tampa isn't just a city of theme parks and sparkling bays. It’s a culinary mosaic stitched together by Cuban immigrants, Sicilian heritage, and a new wave of experimental chefs.
Beyond the Neon: A First-Timer’s Guide to the Real Miami
Drives & Detours has compiled the essential local knowledge you need to navigate Miami at your own pace, skip the overpriced tourist traps, and uncover the vibrant, beating heart of South Florida.
The Local’s Guide to Scottsdale: How to Navigate Old Town Like You Own the Place
Scottsdale is a sophisticated desert metropolis with a thriving culinary and arts scene that somehow still feels like a small town if you know exactly which corners to turn.
NYC Dining Beyond the Tourist Traps: 5 Essential Tables to Book Right Now
These five establishments represent the current vanguard of New York City's food and beverage scene. They are highly acclaimed, fiercely independent, and distinctly reflective of the diverse neighborhoods they call home.
Uncovering the Rich History of Ybor City: A Journey Through Tampa’s Cigar Capital
For travelers who prefer to peel back the layers of a destination without being herded onto a crowded tour bus, Ybor City is a dream. You can walk these brick-lined streets on your own schedule, pausing whenever a historic marker, a wild rooster, or a perfectly pressed Cuban sandwich catches your eye.
Newport Cliff Walk: How to Promenade Like a Vanderbilt
The crown jewel of Newport is the Cliff Walk. It is a three-and-a-half-mile stretch of rugged coastline that serves as the literal backyard to some of the most ostentatious displays of American wealth ever constructed.
The Soul of the 305: A Guide to the Top Sights and Attractions in Miami
We believe the best way to travel is at your own pace, without having to chase a tour guide’s umbrella or listen to a rehearsed script through a megaphone. We’ve rounded up our top sights and attractions in Miami
How to Spend a Half-Day in Ybor City (Without a Tour Guide)
Discover the perfect flexible three-to-four-hour itinerary for Ybor City in Tampa. Enjoy coffee, history, and a self-guided audio tour at your own pace
Newport’s Best-Kept Culinary Secrets: Where to Eat After the Cliff Walk
At Drives & Detours, we believe the best travel experiences happen at your own pace. If you’ve spent the morning on our Newport Cliff Walk Tour, you’ve earned a meal that matches the quality of the views
The New York City Bucket List: How to Master the Big Apple’s Most Iconic Sights
At Drives & Detours, we believe the best way to see New York is to step into its rhythm, not just watch it from a bus window. Here is the definitive guide to the 6 most iconic sights in New York City, and how to conquer them like a local