Top 3 Travel Destinations for Car Enthusiasts
For motor enthusiasts, a perfect vacation means a bunch of cars, nail-biting races, and rare exhibits. Rarely are these three found together, but no worries, there are a few destinations that pack-it-all. Following are the best destinations for car lovers.
Motor Valley Italy
What does a Ferrari and a Lamborghini, or a Maserati and a Pagani, have in common other than sheer awesomeness?
They all come from the Motor Valley of Italy. The region has been called the “birthplace of speed,” and rightly so. At the heart of the valley, Modena was home to some of the greatest names of the automotive industry, including Enzo Ferrari and Ferrucio Lamborghini.
The Valley has tonnes to offer to car aficionados, including museums, production line tours, and Formula One race tracks. The list of can-not-miss destinations begins with the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena. The museum showcases the evolution of the world’s most famous performance cars, the life and times of Enzo Ferrari, and the best models produced by Ferrari. You can opt for a driving simulation or indulge yourself in some Ferrari Merchandise. Or you could head for a tour of Ferrari’s production house in Maranello.
Next up is the Ferrucio Lamborghini Museum. Exhibits begin with an introduction to the legend Ferrucio Lamborghini himself and the early days of the raging bull. Galleries are dedicated to every renowned model produced by the company and the engines powering these beasts. Here too, you can opt for a factory tour of the Lamborghini production facility.
We have barely scratched the surface here — the valley packs in a lot more. You can watch nail-biting races at the Autodrome Enzo and Dino Ferrari and visit the Pagani manufacturing facility. For bike enthusiasts, Ducati and Yamaha Museums are the top picks.
Southern Germany
Germany is where it all started. The skill and craft of Germans with cars go without saying. Naturally, the country is one of the top picks for motorists all over the world. Germany is home to the romanced AutoBahn with no speed limits and the most revered motor shows across the globe. You will be stumbling upon spots for car buffs throughout the country, but southern Germany takes the crown here.
We begin with Stuttgart, the place where Carl Benz built the first Car in the eighteen-eighties. The Mercedes Benz Museum houses Karl’s car, popular models from the Benz lineup, and the company’s concepts. The Porsche Museum, also in Stuttgart, should be the next stop. Not only can you see the landmark achievements of Porsche, or Rent a Porsche for a drive. You can also go for a factory tour for the 911/728 from the museum.
To the South-East of Stuttgart is the iconic BMW Welt and BMW Museum. The buildings in the BMW complex(factory, museum, and headquarter) are pretty striking, each representing a part of BMW. The Headquarters, for example, resemble the four cylinders from the BMW Cars. You can book rides around the breathtaking countryside of south Germany or enjoy simulations. You can find almost everything BMW-ish you can imagine in the museum.
The rest of the south features the Maybach Museum, Auto and Technik Museum, and the museum mobile at Ingolstadt.
Detroit
Enough of Europe, the next stop for motorists should be the home of the big three-Ford, Chrysler and GM. Home to the legendary Henry Ford, it is not surprising that the city shows up on the bucket lists of motorists worldwide.
A good starting point is the Henry Ford Complex. The complex has the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, and the Ford Rouge Factory. For true motorists, the factory tour and the museum are a must-go. The Rogue Factory has been manufacturing the iconic F series since the late forties. Here, one comes face to face with the history, the present, and the future of the F series. The Museum of Innovation lists exhibits from the turning points of American history. The Rosa Parks Bus, Thomas Edison’s Phonograph, Wilbur and Orville Wright’s Shop, and much more. The Museum, simply put, is the most inspiring exhibit ever.
The second attraction of the motor city is the Automotive Hall of Fame. It pays tribute to the industry’s greats, without whom cars would not have been what they are today. The third stop in Detroit is an Insta savvy photo stop. Along Interstate 94 in Allen Park sits the Giant Uniroyal Tyre. It reaches a high of 80 feet and is the largest ever tire scale model in the world.
Whatever might be your flavor of rides, you are sure to have the time of your life in the above-listed locations.
