Road trips provide the ideal way to witness breathtaking natural sights – from stunning waterfalls and bubbling geysers, vast lava fields and glacial lakes, and endless winding roads – making these scenic drives car enthusiasts’ ultimate dreams come true.
Scenic road trips offer the ideal setting for both family vacations and romantic escapes alike. Here are our recommended routes this summer!
1. The Star-Spangled Banner Byway
Experience epic battles and the birth of America’s national anthem on this dramatic and rewarding history tour! Stop at national historic sites such as Harpers Ferry and Chesapeake & Delaware Canal as well as museums that commemorate this region’s role in American history, visit charming historic towns like Frederick with preserved architecture and boutique shops, or discover cultural landmarks like Sotterley Plantation with its 1703 mansion and Colonial Revival gardens or Calvert Cliffs State Park with over 600 species of fossils!
This path traces the events of the War of 1812 in Maryland and Virginia, including those leading up to Francis Scott Key writing the Star-Spangled Banner. Take your family RV on this tour as well as visiting historic landmarks such as Fort McHenry with its flag tower where he found inspiration to write the national anthem after watching Baltimore bombarded during the Battle of Baltimore.
As well as historic sites and Civil War relics, this area boasts plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities. Take a scenic drive along the gorgeous Catoctin Mountain Range or discover trails and beaches on its eastern shore. Or perhaps try your hand at geocaching – using GPS technology to search out hidden treasures!
These themed routes take you off of highways for a more relaxing and enriching travel experience, and their close proximity to Washington, DC allows you to easily add sightseeing tours into your road trip itinerary. From Western Maryland mountains to Eastern Shore beaches adorned with white sand beaches – these scenic byways make the journey worthwhile!
2. The Seven Lakes Drive
Seven Lakes Drive is an absolute must-see in an area filled with scenic natural beauty, making it a must-visit attraction for nature enthusiasts. Winding its way through Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain State Park, Seven Lakes Drive provides spectacular views and access to some of the area’s most gorgeous lakes.
Within an hour of New York, this route offers an ideal opportunity for outdoor exploration on any getaway trip. Boasting various trails and adventure opportunities, there’s bound to be something that suits your personal style; just remember to bring essential items like water, snacks, and gear – as well as taking into account Leave No Trace principles while traversing these trails!
Starting at Orange Turnpike (NY 17) in Sloatsburg, this scenic road winds its way for 18 miles along a northeast-southwest alignment through Harriman and Bear Mountain state parks, passing seven lakes such as Queensboro Lake in Highlands, Silver Mine Lake in Woodbury and Lake Tiorati in Tuxedo.
Each lake offers its own distinct charm and beauty. Although many trails surrounding each lake feature waterfront hikes, you can also spend some time immersed in nature by strolling through forests around them.
For something with more adventure, visit San Martin de los Andes for some exciting alpine adventures. Skiing, fly-fishing, kayaking, rafting, summiting a volcano and mountain biking are among your options here; be sure to check the weather conditions beforehand though as this region can see both snowfall in winter months and high rainfall during summer.
3. The Atlantic Road
The Atlantic Road runs along Norway’s rugged coast and sometimes dances along its edge. Voted construction of the century in 2005, its unique driving experience provides drivers with an unforgettable coastal landscape where nature’s forces merge with engineering to form one unforgettable drive.
At first glance, this journey might seem daunting; however, those willing to make the trek will be rewarded with stunning landscapes like dramatic fjords, cascading waterfalls, towering snowcapped mountains and green valleys that will leave an indelible mark on your memory.
This route features several iconic landmarks, such as the Storseisundet Bridge – when seen from certain angles it appears to drop straight into the ocean! Other bridges arc over islands and reefs in Hustadvika Bay for an unforgettable visual experience.
As well as stunning landscapes, the Atlantic Road boasts charming villages and towns which provide an authentic taste of Norwegian culture. Fishing cottages to cafes abound along this path – be sure to bring along your camera so that you can capture some of its unforgettable scenes!
Take your time and visit all the major sights along the route before enjoying its serene stretches in between. No matter if it is summer or winter, this exciting road trip should not be missed!
4. The Edward Hopper Road
Edward Hopper was one of America’s most revered painters. His paintings drew from some of its most picturesque and authentic settings across America to capture a feeling of solitude and realism that epitomizes American life – whether its rugged coastlines or rural highways; Edward Hopper’s landscapes offer an emotional journey into its heart.
Though Hopper is best-known for his cityscapes, his tranquil countryside paintings also hold psychological power. According to Ulf Kuster of Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland, Hopper’s works evoke feelings of loneliness with each lonely farmhouse or deserted town square representing American life in transition.
Hopper’s painting The House by a Road, created in 1940, showcases his minimalist approach to American architecture and landscape. It depicts a two-story home near a peaceful road; with its symmetrical facade and double-hung sash windows adding domesticity.
Hopper met his future wife Jo during his stay in Gloucester in 1923 and spent much of the summer exploring its backstreets. While exploring these spaces he produced watercolors inspired by Gloucester’s historic buildings and strong sunlight effects in its surrounding countryside. These early works prefigured his later oils and etchings in terms of simple shapes with hard edges, luminosity, and luminescence.
Hopper’s exhibition features sixty-five paintings and works on paper, some never before displayed, that span his artistic development as well as early commercial work from hotel trade magazines that demonstrate his continuing fascination with hospitality settings.
5. The Hudson River Valley
The Hudson River Valley inspired an art movement in the early 19th century and continues to inspire today. This captivating expanse of natural and historic beauty serves as a catalyst for creativity; featuring scenic parks, historic sites, gardens, museums that showcase all that this region has contributed artistically and culturally over its long history.
The picturesque towns in and around New York City provide the ideal getaway from its busy urban environment. Be it by train or car, the delights of this region will indulge all five senses.
Take a spin along Route 9D from Beacon to Poughkeepsie and pass through charming villages like Pawling and Millerton on your journey from Beacon to Poughkeepsie. Make sure to stop at Hudson Highland State Park, offering several easy to moderately challenging hikes with stunning views of Manhattan as you pass. In Bear Mountain State Park there’s the Perkins Memorial Tower offering 360 degree panoramic vistas stretching all the way into NYC – this route also takes in Hudson Highland State Park with stunning hikes for all levels.
A visit to the Hudson Valley would not be complete without visiting its impressive hilltop estates, such as Lyndhurst Mansion and Olana State Historical Site or Kykuit – meaning “view” in Dutch – owned by the Rockefeller family. For something completely different check out Mohonk Mountain House with its picturesque glacial lake and scenic trails that wind through woods that feature over 100 sculptures by artists like Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson and Roy Lichtenstein – making travel easy! Car rentals can be easily found both at airports as well as downtown Manhattan locations for easy travel throughout this beautiful region!
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