Scenic Summer Drives
Scenic Summer Drives
In compiling our list of this summer’s scenic drives, we consulted Kathy Kupper at the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., plus park rangers Kari Cobb at Yosemite National Park and Debbie Hannevig at Rainier National Park. We also included drives well-known for their views, including Mt. Rainier’s hearty Route 706, and Florida’s island byway down to Key West.
Acadia Byway
Maine
Distance: 40 miles in Acadia National Park
Points of Note: Visit Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. You’ll see rocky shores, smooth lakes and forested hills. Sailing is also a popular diversion in the area
Great Rivers Scenic Route
Illinois
Distance: 57 miles through the Midwest
Points of Note: This is America’s heartland. You’ll pass small towns, farmland, fruit orchards and forests. You’ll also see where the Missouri, Mississippi and Illinois rivers meet. Pere Marquette State Park has a 1930s-era lodge with dining room. Hiking trails abound.
Route 706, Washington
Washington
Distance: 93 miles from Seattle (allow 2.5 hours)
Points of Note: The road winds through Mount Rainier National Park and allows multiple views of the 14,411-foot peak. The Nisqually Entrance is located on the west side, closest to I-5. The first stop is Longmire, which has a settler and Native American museum. Other good stops along the way include mineral hot springs, the 168-foot Narada Falls, the Paradise Inn and camping areas. Call ahead to ask about road closures.
Skyline Drive
Virginia
Distance: 105 miles through the Blue Ridge Mountains
Points of Note: The drive starts in Shenandoah National Park and passes 70 scenic outlooks, hiking trails, and forested valleys. It should take about three hours to complete.
Overseas Highway
Florida
Distance: 127 miles from Key Largo to Key West.
Points of Note: The highway is accessible from the mainland and goes through island communities including Islamorado, Big Pine Key, and Cudjoe Key. Several long sections open up to wide ocean on either side of the road.
-
Top 10 Travel Destinations of 2010 [/caption] Every year the travel book supergiant Lonely Planet releases its list of the coming year’s top travel locations, from... -
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship - Facts [/caption] The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single elimination tournament held each spring in the United States,... -
Queen's Guard - London, England [/caption] The changing of the Queen's Life Guard on Horse Guards Parade The Queen's Life Guard leave Hyde Park Barracks... -
Interesting Facts: Volume 1 [/caption] WORLD FACTS Who Made The Marree Man? facts 60 km out of the town of Marree in South Australia,... -
Daylight saving time [/caption] Daylight saving time (DST; also summer time in British English—see Terminology) is the practice of advancing clocks so that...
-
Marin County Hike of the Open Space Preserve at Santa Margarita Summary: This is a quarter mile flat loop hike that takes you along a tiny island dotted with oak trees.... -
Del Valle Regional Park Del Valle Regional Park is Located in: Livermore, CA Phone: 1-888-EBParks Park Hours: 6am to 9pm Parking Fee: $6 per... -
US National Parks I found this video last night about the US National Parks. There are some wonderful images here. Each park that... -
Jenks Lake, Redlands, CA Jenks Lake is located near: Redlands, CA Phone: 909-794-1123 Is boating allowed? Yes, but only to non-motorized craft. You can... - Bargain hunting miles and points with credit cards (This is a guest post from Mr Credit Card of Ask Mr. Credit Card. If you like his style, you...
