From the majestic California coast to the history-lined thoroughfares of New England, the United States is teeming with picturesque drives, some more breathtaking than others. Take the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, which meanders past limestone caves, clear mountain springs, and Appalachian magnificence, providing varying panoramic views depending on the season.
It is not always simply the natural geometry dash beauty that makes a journey worthwhile. As you ride down Chicago's Lake Shore Drive, the vista to the west includes classic American architecture such as the Willis Tower, also known as the Sears Tower, which was formerly the highest skyscraper in the world. On U.S. 1 from Key Largo to Key West, tourists cross coral reefs on the Seven-Mile Bridge to reach marinas where they may hand-feed tarpon and sip margaritas at beach bars blasting Jimmy Buffet tunes.
The T-shirts all said, "I survived the road to Hana." It may take more than two and a half hours to traverse the 52 miles from Kahului to Hana, as you snake past sheer sea cliffs adorned with blossoming mango trees, pausing to purchase banana bread from roadside vendors and taking in the Jurassic scenery at every turn. In Hana, a small hamlet on eastern Maui, a cinder cone protects a red-sand beach where nudists and endangered monk seals bask in the sun. The Pools of Oheo, a softly flowing, seven-tiered gulch in Haleakala National Park, are a must-see only 30 minutes beyond the end of the Road to Hana.
The almost 469-mile stretch of blacktop that winds through the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah national parks was designed for visitors looking for Appalachian views. It's a scenic journey for all seasons, with undulating slopes of color in the fall, a plethora of forest canopy in the summer, and ski resorts in winter. Visitors may pan for emeralds, amethyst, rubies, topaz, and gold in the mineral-rich Appalachian Mountain mines. The parkway is a nature lover's heaven, with hundreds of bird species and more tree varieties than the whole continent of Europe.
