Scenic Highways

[KT2000]

Firebird's photo thread got me thinking about scenic stretches of highway I've been on.

My top three:

1. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

For views like this...

http://www.livesouth.com/pics/20061116151208Chinco1_LR.jpg

One of my favorite overlooks on the road (near Great Smokey National Park)...

http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/1452/1245625835050105603S425x425Q85.jpg

2. US 40, Colorado

From Empire on I-70 through Arapaho National Forest and over Berthoud Pass. You can take this road up through Steamboat Springs and clear over to Utah by Dinosaur National Monument.

http://athomewinterpark.com/Berthoud%20Pass.jpg

Aerial view of part of highway:

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/06jul/images/shanks1.jpg

3. Hwy 71, Texas

From Austin to Brady, my favorite part of Texas.

http://away.com/gifs/states/tx/bluebonn.jpg

[slorch]

that ain't crap compared to the South Plains, where you can seee in every direction for 40 miles...:D

Actually, I like the springtime drive over to Brenham when the wildflowers explode in to brilliant patches of color across the countryside.

[Humblefied]

Highway 101 on the West Coast.

[SFARocketGrad]

Highway 101 on the West Coast.

That one is awesome... I drove here on it. Also now when I drive to get the wife from base its right on Highway 1 along the coast.

[svhorns]

rd. 163 from Austin to Blanco is beautiful if you like the Hill Country especially right now

[svhorns]

call me a homer but loop 360 towards Westlake is beautiful if the Hill Country and limestone is your thing... My bad about the picture being huge if you want me to resize it I will

http://static.flickr.com/55/128253336_ef64b4ab72_b.jpg

[Humblefied]

That one is awesome... I drove here on it. Also now when I drive to get the wife from base its right on Highway 1 along the coast.

thats a keeper too.

[DrEdward]

I have to go with KT on this one. The scenery in western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia is breathtaking. A drive among the oldest mountains on earth gives one a sense of history along with the beauty of the place. A nice leasurely drive down the Shenandoah after the season's first snowfall can be quite delightful as well. I would also recommend just wandering around New England and upstate New York in the fall. Catch a game at West Point for a winderful fall afternoon. Just be sure you get back in time for the next Friday night football game in Texas.

[svhorns]

I have been on this Bridge several of times and I think it's awesome... I love water...

Port of Miami Bridge
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/439305546_be3be39d67.jpg

[twcpfan1]

I-90 going east through Mercer Island from Seattle. You'll see a view of Mt Rainier over Lake Washington on your right. Beautiful.

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~thsiang/visit/0411mercer.jpg


http://www.thebentleys.com/rainier/above%20the%20clouds.jpg

[stevefoxsc]

i 10 going east into Louisiana is beautiful as far as i've seen driving wise the ocean while sunset is gorgeous.

[svhorns]

I-90 going east through Mercer Island from Seattle. You'll see a view of Mt Rainier over Lake Washington on your right. Beautiful.

now thats some pretty stuff right there.... look at all that water... no wonder it rains cats and dogs there

[twcpfan1]

now thats some pretty stuff right there.... look at all that water... no wonder it rains cats and dogs there

You got the best of both worlds there on fine days albeit I'm sure there's not enough of them. Must be nice to have a life where your biggest daily decision is whether to sail or ski that day.

[Redhoss]

When I lived in Austin, I used to make the trek home to W. Tx a lot on that road KT talked about through Brady. It's a pretty drive.

I'll also say that Hwy 1 on the W. Coast is a beauty.

[jtk1519]

Maybe my favorite drive in Texas is I-10 from San Antonio to Junction. The terrain is stunning and it's 80 mph most of the way.

Hwy 211 in Virginia that runs through Shenandoah National Park are stunning...

http://www.vabridalguide.com/skyline_drive_blue_ridge.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/powerof2/My%20Photo%20Gallery/Luray/Skyline%20Drive.jpg

I also love the Henry Hudson Parkway on the West side of Manhattan where it runs through Riverside and Fort Washington Parks...

http://www.fortwashingtonpark.com/images/fort_washington_park_gwb_4may02.jpg

[farmerfan]

You guys have already mentioned quite possibly my favorite in the blue ridge. Here is some from Interstate 24 just outside of Chattanooga, Tn. It's one of the most dangerous highways for truckers as it has some of the steepest grades. However it's beautiful starting about 15 miles outside of Chattanooga until it junctions with I-75 heading into Georgia.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u227/farmerfan/n23902901_32773672_7998.jpg

here is looking at I-24 from a rest stop in Chattanooga along the Tennessee River

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u227/farmerfan/n23902901_32773679_3359.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u227/farmerfan/n23902901_32773671_7555.jpg

[farmerfan]

One more from I-24. This one is from southeastroads.com

http://www.southeastroads.com/tennessee001/i-024_wb_exit_180a_01.jpg

[Redhoss]

You guys have already mentioned quite possibly my favorite in the blue ridge. Here is some from Interstate 24 just outside of Chattanooga, Tn. It's one of the most dangerous highways for truckers as it has some of the steepest grades. However it's beautiful starting about 15 miles outside of Chattanooga until it junctions with I-75 heading into Georgia.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u227/farmerfan/n23902901_32773672_7998.jpg

here is looking at I-24 from a rest stop in Chattanooga along the Tennessee River

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u227/farmerfan/n23902901_32773679_3359.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u227/farmerfan/n23902901_32773671_7555.jpg

Farmer, I've been to Chattanooga and all throughout the SE. There is some beautiful country.

[J-Rock Mom]

The Million Dollar Highway between Durango, Silverton, and Ouray, CO. The most beautiful place I have been to in years.

http://www.ouraylovers.com/red-mountain-pass4.jpg

[Bobcat81]

Lord have mercy! I'd be hugging the wall on a road like that!! :eek: Pretty though

[J-Rock Mom]

Lord have mercy! I'd be hugging the wall on a road like that!! :eek: Pretty though

That is an old picture they now have gaurd rails.

[CyFallsMom]

I loved driving through the dessert on the way to Calif. - not so scenic as far as the dirt and sand but the mountains were gorgeous and I was listening to Lonesome Dove on tape and stopped at Tombstone to get the full "effect". Route 24a on Long Island is a nice, curvy drive and it passes through the Gold Coast and all the mansions that entails (think Great Gatsby). But my favorite has been Route 1 from L.A. to San Francisco - many movies have been made on that road but it can tire you out after a while with all the cliff hanging curves...beautiful drive though.

[SV61]

Highway 1, from Santa Barbara to San Fran is pretty daddy. 101 picks up north of SF, right where it left off, in Sausilito I believe it is.

Texas Highway 170 from Lajitas to Study Butte is also a good one. While in the area, check out Highway 118 from Fort Davis to Valentine. Awesome.

The Solar Observatory Road, from Cloudcroft (NM) to Sunspot is cool.

Willow City Loop, outside of Fredricksburg (TX)

Three sisters (Highways 335, 336, 337) in the Camp Wood, Leakey, and Vanderpool area. You will think that you left Texas.

Can't tell I like to ride Motorcycles, huh?

Tail of the dragon, in Tennesee. Highway 129, not for the faint of heart, BUT for the avid Motorcyclist. Claimed 318 turns in 11 miles!!

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps_dragon_road.html

For Skylines, it is hard to beat the 101 or 280/80, heading into San Fran, or the 5 heading into Seattle. Of course, when it comes to skylines, you can't leave out Gotham, err, New York. I think it is best viewed from the air, however.

Rural Ireland (County Donegal among others) is also very interesting, different. Very Hilly, with lots of green, but not a lot of trees. Nary a snake either!

[Redhoss]

Lord have mercy! I'd be hugging the wall on a road like that!! :eek: Pretty though

Bobcat, when I was a kid, we traveled down to Presidio and around the Ft. Davis Mountains near Marfa. There was a similar type road there and every time we drove that road, we would encounter law enforcement and ambulances, because someone went over the side. It always gave me goosebumps. :puke

[SV61]

Bobcat, when I was a kid, we traveled down to Presidio and around the Ft. Davis Mountains near Marfa. There was a similar type road there and every time we drove that road, we would encounter law enforcement and ambulances, because someone went over the side. It always gave me goosebumps. :puke

I believe that would be on my list above, Redhoss. Highway 170 from Lajitas has lots of that going on. Also, Highway 118 from Fort Davis to Valentine as well can be harrowing!

With that in mind, anyone ever traversed the road to Ski Apache, near Ruidosa, New Mexico. The pucker factor can be pretty high on that one as well!

[Redhoss]

I couldn't remember the name of the highway but yes it has to be SV. A very harrowing ride. :puke