The San Diego Auto Museum is interesting, but not overwhelming

I just got home from a little field trip to sunny San Diego. And although there are all kinds of beaches and attractions that would appeal to normal people, I went ahead and spent my leisure time checking out a few car-related destinations.

One of them was the San Diego Auto Museum. Located in an area with several other museums in Balboa Park, the San Diego Auto Museum is a combination of spectacular and not-so-spectacular.

Lots of nice rigs at the Mid-America RV Show in Bartle Hall

In the relentless pursuit to cover all things vehicular, we made a stop at the 2012 Mid-America RV Show in Kansas City’s Bartle Hall. And although there was not even one ’69 Camaro in the place, it was still interesting to see all the latest in luxury-level camping.

As someone who never really was all that interested in this stuff, I was surprised at how nice some of these modern motor homes and trailers were. Many of them were clearly nicer than my house (although storing a model car collection may be a challenge), and they had the price tags to match.

The San Diego Auto Collection features beautiful cars for a beautiful city

As a lifelong Midwesterner, I really am awe-struck when I visit cities like San Diego. It really is beautiful there, with the vastness of the ocean to the west, and the rugged mountain ranges to the east. Things like palm trees and lemon trees are fascinating to me. Even the stucco and terra-cotta architecture stands as a reminder that you ain’t in Kansas anymore.

But then, you look out of the airplane window at all the congestion. From one end to the other, there are houses and buildings crammed in so tight that if they were any closer they’d be on top of each other. The traffic’ll suck the life out of ya’. And if my little Kansas City-area house was worth what it would be in San Diego, I could live in a mansion on Ward Parkway. There’s definitely a price to pay to be surrounded by all that beauty.

Alternative fuel vehicles are nothing new. Check out the 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car

These days, there’s a lot of talk about alternative fuel vehicles. From hydrogen to electric, from flex fuel to bio-fuel, automakers are always in pursuit of the next big revolution.

This phenomenon isn’t new, however. Since the beginning of the automobile, engineers have tinkered with different types of propulsion. Production and concept cars have run on everything from alcohol to nuclear. And 50-years ago, Chrysler’s answer was the Turbine Car.

Life in the fast lane - A look inside Fast Lane Classic Cars in St. Charles

If you are watching the Barrett-Jackson auction coverage from Scottsdale on the SPEED channel this week, you may notice a few commercials for Fast Lane Classic Cars in St. Charles, Mo. And seeing as they’re right down the road apiece from Kansas City, now seems like a good time to find out what that place is all about.

Fast Lane is a pretty big place, with two indoor showrooms, an outdoor used car lot, and a comprehensive gift shop. There’s a large variety to cars to look at, but the majority of them are your mainstream Mustang, Corvette, ’57 Chevy fare. That’s for good reason, because this is a dealership, and there will always be customers for the classics.

Shiny bikes and acres of leather at the 2012 Wide Open Bike and Car Show

Warning … several animals were skinned in the making of this story.

In spite of the unusually nice winter weather, we haven’t had a car show in the Kansas City area for quite some time. So when the Wide Open Magazine Bike and Car Show turns up on the calendar each January, people are typically ready to go see a room full of shiny objects.

This year, the show moved from its traditional location at the Kansas City Market Center to the Overland Park International Trade Center. And from the looks of things, the spectator turnout was quite a bit greater.

Planes, trains, boats, and automobiles. The St. Louis Transportation Museum is rich with fascinating history

Here's a switch. I recently attended a place with a cool car museum, and yet, even I will admit, the best displays at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation weren't necessarily the cars.  As a car-nut, it pains me to say this, but the vintage train collection is one of the most impressive things you'll ever see.  Still, no matter whether your interests include planes, trains, boats, or automobiles, there was something for everyone in this comprehensive gathering of transportation history.

The 2012 North American International Auto Show draws attention from all over the world. Photos and coverage from the NAIAS floor in Detroit

When you think about all the old cars that we normally look at here, do you ever wonder if today's cars will be looked upon in the same way in 40, 50, 60 years? What are tomorrow's classics? What will people be driving to the local car cruises?

One of the biggest new car shows in the world is held every January in Detroit, Mich., where the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) previews the newest and hottest offerings from most of the major auto makers. The actual show doesn't even open until next weekend, but I was there this week for the exclusive media preview days, and I brought back pictures and news straight from Detroit's huge COBO Hall.