We all enjoyed a pleasant road trip. What's better than loading up a car and driving to a new place?There are a lot of places in North America that are best visited by car, and for those smaller drives, you don't have to spend a lot of PTO time enjoying the country's natural landscapes.
A scenic drive is a little different than hopping on the parkway for a full-blown road trip. We're talking about driving for the sake of driving, taking a day trip – a journey without a destination, but with beautiful views and new perspectives that give passengers the opportunity to meditate as their surroundings and the town slip away. As Alain de Botton said, "Travels are the midwives of the mind", and few pastimes offer such an opportunity as popular philosophers. In fact, the routes offer plenty of evacuation and scenic overlooks to think about any great American road trip and, uh, take a spin in the stunning views.
The fastest way between Vancouver and Seattle is the I-5. But like any direct route, fast-food highways can get monotonous. So take a few miles of detours along Chuckanut Drive and meander along the coast between Chuckanut Mountain and Puget Sound, past local-owned cafes, some parkable viewpoints and belvederees, and a bat c** es) the beginning of the trail (hikers: a wooded path winds down to the rocky home of flying creatures).
It's not fun to complete this curvy coastal 101 route in one day (it will take you hours), but the scenic drive can be done in smaller doses. From Garibaldi, it's a 90-minute drive from Portland, then head north to Astoria in the northwest corner of Oregon, passing artsy Cannon Beach and its iconic rock formations, wildlife hotspot Ecola State Park (also great for tide pools, hiking trails, and surfing), and another outdoor recreation spot, Neharam Bay State Park. Or turn south to visit Tillamook (home to the dairy of the same name) and head west along the scenic path from trees to the sea before heading south to the Triangle Scenic Loop. Finally, grab a beer on the beach at Pacific City Pelican Brewery.
Take a look at the ** at the top of this piece;It speaks for themselves. Hurricane Ridge is the most accessible of the nearly a million acres of wilderness in Olympic National Park, offering unforgettable views without too much technical driving (although it's usually closed in the winter).
You'll have to pay for this drive, but it's worth it. Yours 11$75 gets you a dozen miles of winding road along the rugged California waves, winding between Monterey cypress trees, near the equally beautiful towns of Carmel and Pebble Beach. The lone cypress is a popular attraction, but there are plenty of places to stop on the road, soak up the stunning views, or just drive super slowly. Further north of the coastline, in Pacific Grove, is another (free) scenic drive worth an hour or so.
There are 26 scenic and historic trails in Colorado, but Los Camino Antigos is one of the most memorable in the state. It winds its way through the St. Louis Valley, past the Great Dunes National Park and Preserve (where you can slide down the 750-foot-high sand dunes) and Fort Garland, a historic military outpost with an exhibit describing the role of African-American soldiers in the western expansion.
Other scenic road trip options west include the dream section of the famous Highway 1 on the Mendocino Coast in California and the Bear's Tooth Highway stretching from Montana to Wyoming.
It's another long paragraph, but pick one, and you can't go wrong – especially in the cooler months, when the autumn leaves are painted in shades of red, orange, and yellow. The route travels through the Green Mountains of Vermont to Mount White in New Hampshire, on both sides of the Connecticut River, passing through 53 communities and 10 waypoint centers. It is the only designated national highway in Vermont and is full of mountains and natural beauty.
About a 90-minute drive from Port Jervis and about a 90-minute drive from New York City, this scenic drive winds along the ridge along the Delaware River, and this scenic drive asks you to slow down and enjoy it – because of the view of the wooded cliffs tumbling into the river and the winding nature of Interstate 97 it follows. Continue all the way to Little Hancock, where you can hop off and kayak along a stretch of the river for a different view.
Rolling hills, pristine woodlands in the fall, quaint New England towns, colonial farms – this short ride has it all. Running from north to south through the northeastern part of the state, known as the Quiet Corner, this is a calm and peaceful driveway that is part of the Green Valley National Heritage Corridor in the undeveloped countryside of the last.
Other scenic lanes in the Northeast include the Cancamagos Highway in New Hampshire, the Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts, and the Park Loop in Maine.
Miles This stretch of U.S. Route 1 stretches south and west from Miami to the tip of the Florida Keys, and is a scenic highway that follows the route of the historic Florida and East Coast Railroad. In 1935, a hurricane destroyed the railroad tracks, but a few years later, the route was reopened as a highway and often suspended above an archipelago of about 1,600 islands, where visitors pass palm trees, beaches, coral reefs, and crocodile habitat.
A short drive from Austin, the 360 Loop gives you views of the Texas hilly countryside, views of the State Capitol and the University of Texas, and the ability to cross the Colorado River on the striking Pennebuck Bridge. Rush hour can be busy, so plan your drive outside of the usual commute hours. It also has a bike lane.
The Louisiana Trail Plan includes 19 scenic lanes that include all of the state's famous road signs: bays, live oaks, and many crocodiles. Still, the tour winds its way through the Kisatch National Forest, past the pines of the same name and the rocky terrain of mesas and hills, and there are plenty of opportunities for hiking (and Bayou Falls!) if you need to stretch your legs
Looking for a longer road trip in the south?Set navigation to the Texas Hills for 200 miles, or try the Civil Rights Trail in Alabama and Georgia.
Chicago's Lake Shore Drive is a must-visit for architecture lovers who love their architecture complementing parks and beaches. Follow the contours of Lake Michigan, a scenic drive that has been featured in several movies (Ferris Buller's Day off, The Blues Brothers), and it's best to head north. The Chicago Lakefront Trail is a mixed-use walking and biking trail if you want to see it all at a slower pace.
Another scenic route that is particularly beautiful in the fall, the Lake Superior Trail follows the southern shoreline of its eponymous lake through the Gailord Nelson Wilderness Area, admiring several sandy beaches and lovely port towns along the way. The National Lakeshore of the Apostles Islands is also here, a small archipelago with an inhabited island (Madeleine). Rent a boat or kayak and explore the sea caves, which turn into magical ice caves in the winter.
With many impressive sights, it is surrounded by unforgettable landscapes. But for a truly amazing driving experience, try the Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway, which winds through granite tunnels and braided bridges past Custer State Park (plan to drive during wildflower season and head to the visitor center for information on the best places to see them) and the Black Elk National Wilderness area) and then pass by the famous ** faces.