Without a doubt, renting an apartment or house provides a far richer experience than staying in a hotel. It allows you to develop a much better sense of the city, town, or hamlet you're visiting, immerses you into day-to-day matters -- where the best cafe creme and croissants can be found, which farmer has the freshest eggs for sale, when the laundromat is open, what cheap local bus will take you to the volcano -- because you don't have hotel staff to make these decisions for you. It encourages you to discover these things on your own, or, better yet, to talk to the neighboring locals to get their advice.

Sent by Thea Gray, in San Francisco, Calif | 3:10 PM ET | 06-21-2007

There's not much about Greensboro, NC that I can actually get excited about, having come from a much larger city, but there is a free attraction in this city that never fails to entertain me - Replacements, Ltd., is a company that specializes in replacing china, crystal and silver that hasn't been seen in years. Their showroom is filled with exquisite collectibles and fine items, they have a museum that features silver relics from a US Battleship, and they give tours of the warehouse - three football fields of china and crystal stacked over 30 feet high!! It's a collector's dream, and best of all - it's free to see!

Sent by BLR | 3:25 PM ET | 06-21-2007

I live in the town of Corvallis, Oregon, and I have a couple great places to see for visitors. The first is a small Italian deli in downtown Corvallis called Natalia and Cristoforo's - they've got great meats and cheeses, and the best sandwiches in town. And be sure to talk to Greg the owner (who's always there) - he's quite the personality. The second place would be in the neighboring town of Philomath - a great organic farm called Gathering Together - they have a wonderful restaurant, and seem to always be happy to talk about local food. Those are my suggestions.

Sent by Alicia Leytem | 3:25 PM ET | 06-21-2007

In addition to CouchSurfing.com, there are some other great sites with similar models. While living in Hungary I hosted travelers through my membership in GlobalFreeloaders.com and HospitalityClub.org.

I have yet to take advantage of another's hospitality, but I'm sure I will.

I think it's fantastic.

Sent by Charles | 3:27 PM ET | 06-21-2007

tell those guys to get a VW Westfalia camper van. Only way to see the world. I do it all the time and I'm 73 years old

Sent by Bev Beam | 3:27 PM ET | 06-21-2007

Three things you must eat when you visit Flint, MI: Drink a Vernors Ginger Ale, a Detriot based soda, eat Halo Burger, a Flint based restaurant chain, where you must have a QP combo with delicious onion rings and a Boston Cooler (ice cream and Vernors soda), and eat at Angelos Coney Island, where they make delicious coney island hot dogs using Koegels hots dogs, a Flint based hot dog company. Koegels are the only hot dogs I'll eat.
Anna from Flint, MI

Sent by Anna | 3:27 PM ET | 06-21-2007

Since you are in the mid- west currently, watch for the wheat harvest to start. I find it so intresting, farmers rushing to get the crop in, families eating supper at the edge of the field. You can almost feel the urgency as you drive past. Currently they are begining harvest in southern Kansas and will be moving north.You might also be able to find that nice farmer who will give you a ride in a combine!!!

Sent by Tina Boese | 3:28 PM ET | 06-21-2007

r Mt Rushmore and don't want to pay go get a 2 fer... just short of Mt Rushmore is an amazing road called 16-A...It is the most amazing stretch of road I have ever been on we are talking corckscrews, tunnels, sharp cut backs...wow. On the top of the mouintian you will find a park that has a great view of mt rushmore!!!!

Sent by Joel Davis | 3:29 PM ET | 06-21-2007

In Chicago you must go to Superdawg. Click here for picture
http://www.superdawg.com/
It is an old fashioned Drive in with carhops that come to the car with your food and clip the tray to your window.
The Giant Hot Dogs on the roof with the Light up Eyes are an icon in the city. THe Hot dogs are a propretry reciepe from Sainai Kosher, steamed to perfection and nestled in their box in the middle of the frys. with bright green pickle-lili, sunshine yellow mustard and a dill pickle spear!

Sent by Lynne Arons | 3:30 PM ET | 06-21-2007

The ultimate summer road trip? How about a PILS-grimage in Wisconsin? There's a roadtrip guide out this summer called the Wisconsin Beer Guide a Travel Companion with directions to all 72 of the breweries and brewpubs making their own beer, plus directions to fresh cheese curds and fish fries. Plus the book has passport pages to get the book signed at each place and get a little free beer along the way. A total Wisconsin experience!

Sent by Kevin Revolinski | 3:34 PM ET | 06-21-2007

Come to Oklahoma. The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge is Lawton's best kept secret. The Holy City, maintained by the Fish and Wildlife service is the largest and longest-running passion play in North America. Camping with bison is eight bucks, too!

Sent by Adrienne | 3:37 PM ET | 06-21-2007

Climbers are a penny pinching bunch along Rt. 60 in NM everyone makes an exception for the amazing pie at the Daily Pie Cafe in Pie Town New Mexico. Blink and you'll miss it but as soon as you do you'll be flipping a u turn to sample the local fare. The New Mexican Apple pie with pinon nuts and green chile is a unique experience not to be missed and other daily specials will leave you licking your fork and plate clean and then asking for more. Coupled with a strong cup of black coffee many a weary rock climber has been revitalized at the Daily Pie.

Sent by Dean Hoffman | 3:38 PM ET | 06-21-2007

While still afforded cool evenings during the summer, Richmond accommodates the cultural historian in all of us. Trendy eateries like Kuba Kuba, Mama Zu's and Millies Diner provide an intimate experience with the creative locals while attractions such as Agecroft Hall, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and St. Johns Church in Church Hill (where Patrick Henry said, "I know not what course others may take but as for me give me liberty or give me death") will reveal the true sense of Anglophilia that encompasses the Old Dominion. Cultural opportunities abound in Richmond. Stay at either the Jefferson or the Berkeley.

Sent by Katie Kelley | 4:01 PM ET | 06-21-2007

if you are ever near Minocqua wisconsin - a very popular midwestern tourist destination - you need to stop at the Big Bearskin Bar and Grill in Harshaw wi - Great food nice people and the best place to watch a sunset in the planet

Sent by Jim Dummer | 4:13 PM ET | 06-21-2007

My family, wife, three daughters, and I went to Europe a few weeks ago for two+ weeks traveling in an RV! We loved it, you can check out the blog at www.qctimes.com under La Dolce Vita.

Sent by David Rash | 5:18 PM ET | 06-21-2007

I have to put in a plug for small family owned motels. My husband, Kevin, my daughter, Sylvia (8)and I own a small motel in the town of Grants Pass, Oregon. The Motel Del Rogue sits right on the banks of the Rogue River. It was built in the 1930's as a motor court. Staying in a place like this provides the best of both worlds - it is not as intimate as Couch Surfing or as cold as a chain.
Our rooms have kitchen or kitchenettes and we have barbecues in the yard so that travelers can take advantage of the great local grower's markets and wineries. The rooms have everything that I want when I travel: organic fair trade coffee, cotton bedding, flower gardens, housewares, books and owners who live where they work because they love what they do!

Sent by Constance Palaia Marr | 7:06 PM ET | 06-21-2007

Listening today to "Talk of the Nation," I was astonished to hear the host giggle a bit when "intentional community" was mentioned, and to hear it likened to the communes of the '70's. I live in a cohousing community, and while we consider ourselves an intentional community, we are a far cry from a commune. While communes do fall under the heading "intentional community," so do cohousing communities and eco villages, many of which are now a wonderful alternative for seniors. Perhaps it's time to have a program on intentional communities talking about all the various kinds of communities that are springing up all over the country (and in other countries)!

Sent by Isabel Aaronson | 8:02 PM ET | 06-21-2007

I am from Knoxville, TN originally, and when I was 18 I drove across the country with my parents and younder sister in a Ford Escort Sport all the way to Bozeman, Montana to visit my brother. I was hooked.
I've now completed 9.5 cross-country road trips. 7 of these were month-long road trips, which I managed to do with only $500-600 by camping in National Forests, eating food from grocery stores, and trading travel-stories with fellow pub patrons in exchange for drinks ;)
My favorite place in the U.S. is probably the Badlands of South Dakota. There is a loop off I-90 so its convenient to get to and it's the most bizarre place I've ever seen. Many of these trips were structured around tour dates to see my favorite band, the String Cheese Incident, and in between I like to rock climb, mountaineer and bike. 8 of my trips were taken with 1 or 2 other people, but most recently I spent 3 weeks on my own which was an incredible experience in solitude.

Sent by Anthy (NOT Anthony, I promise) | 8:11 PM ET | 06-21-2007

If you are heading north of San Francisco, stop by Luther Burbank Home & Gardens in Santa Rosa. It a small but beautiful oasis in downtown Santa Rosa with unusual fruit, spectacular flowers, spineless cactus, etc honoring Luther Burbank the "wizard of horticulture". Burbank died in 1926 and is buried on the property in an unmarked grave. Take a guided tour or wander the gardens on your own. An entrance to the new greenbelt walk along the Santa Rosa creek. it's festooned with sculpture and murals. The creek has been planted with natives of which, I feel, Burbank would have approved.

Sent by Rebecca Baker | 12:05 AM ET | 06-22-2007

I live on the big island of Hawaii in Volcano. I know most people think that any activity in Hawaii would be amazing, but...Living at 4000ft elevation is much different. If you are ever visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, make sure to visit the Volcano farmers' market on Sunday morning. It's the community meeting place every week. The market is filled with wonderful locally grown food from purple carrots to passion fruit to noni juice. It also has the best coffee I've ever had. Make sure to visit early because the pastry lady is out of her best items by 7:30am!

Sent by Christina | 6:28 PM ET | 06-22-2007