The USA can boast about having some of the best landscape in the world making it an attractive place to visit but getting to see its diversity and admire the beauty means having to travel a fair way. This is why driving holidays are extremely attractive for sightseers and thrill seekers alike wishing to experience something other than a beach holiday. If you are planning to visit the USA and embark on one unforgettable road trip of a life time you will want to read about some of the best driving routes there are available. Of course you can’t easily take your car with you on holiday, but there are many rental companies that provide car hire USA so there is no excuse not to take one of the following road trips.
Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia to North Carolina
Driving amongst any mountain range on the planet commonly dons spectacular views, but almost none can compare to the 470 miles which make up this unreal route which begins at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The beautiful Appalachian countryside is at your total mercy as you head into the mountains discovering it at your own pace. Along the way you will find numerous hotels and motels to break your journey up as you make your way along the twists and turns of the mountain roads, keeping an eye out for vistas and viewpoints of the serenely beautiful golds, greens and reds of the surrounding forests. Notable points to watch out for include Blowing Rock – a cliff edge where strong winds occur, blowing objects over the edge as well as the stalactites and stalagmites of Linville Caverns. Also watch out of the Virginia Museum of Transportation before taking time out to stop at the awesome Looking Glass Falls – one of the most spectacular waterfalls in North America, before the journey culminates amidst the natural beauty of the Great Smoky National Park in North Carolina.
The Rocky Mountains
Driving amongst the Rocky Mountains presents an endless amount of opportunities. Many begin in the thriving city of Denver before setting out into the great outdoors to get amongst the famous yore of cowboys and ranches, perhaps even venturing out to one of the many world-class ski resorts dotted all around the mountains. Once you have seen Denver, negotiate Rocky Mountain National Park and curtail your journey once you hit Wyoming in the north. The National Park boasts some truly magnificent scenery and is also in possession of an abundance of wildlife including moose, pronghorn and elk. Camping and hiking are two popular activities to be enjoyed whilst in the park. For many however, the main draw about going on a road trip in Colorado is to simply drive out from the city into the limitless wilderness with no designated route in mind – the ultimate way to enjoy a road trip.
Driving ‘The Loop’ around the Great Lakes in Michigan
The incredible shoreline views yielded on this route are simply untouchable. The now defunct iron and copper industry of Michigan has left behind scenes of deserted old-style mining towns, adding an endearing and hauntingly traditional aspect to this route as you negotiate the open wilderness, hugging the shorelines of Lake Michigan to the south and Lake Superior to the north. The way you go is up to you, given the fact that the route circles the lakes, however there are notable stopping points you should consider along the way. Fayette Historic Townsite is one such place. The folklore of the empty mining settlements is exuded most in this preserved ‘ghost town’ where you will find a museum with several artefacts and machines that have been carefully restored to give you an idea of the booming industry that once thrived here. This can also be said of Copper Harbour where you will find the Delaware Copper Mine, which sits close to the Seney National Wildlife Park, where you will witness bald eagles and even black bears in their natural environment.
The Pacific Coast Highway
Comprising the US1 and US101, the Pacific Coast Highway beginning in California and then on to Oregon ranks as one of the most popular road trips on the planet, let alone America. The cities you visit and the scenery involved will provide sensory overload as you begin this epic trail amongst the glitz of Los Angeles before heading through California taking in the world famous beaches of La Jolia, Santa Monica, Venice, Santa Barbara, Malibu and more as the road leads you through the immense cliff drops of the Big Sur region and then onto San Francisco. From San Fran, you cross into California’s sweeping wine growing region and dense redwood forests before crossing into wondrous Oregon, where the coast yields pretty seaside towns, small villages and then the Cascade Mountains as you near the Washington state border.
Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica, California
Is there a more famous road trip to take in the world? Of course not! Although the name Route 66 doesn’t actually exist anymore on road maps (it is now made up of a number of different freeways and interstates) it still exists in terms of folklore and is still regarded as the ultimate road trip. Pick up a map from the National Historical Route 66 Federation which will pinpoint all the ‘must-do’ stopping points along the way as well as restaurants and hotels and prepare yourself for the trip of a lifetime as the 2400 mile route takes you through the states of Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and on to California. The excitement, thrills, diverse terrain, sights and adventure are completely limitless!
Hotels near Blue Ridge Parkway
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Very insightful post. I am going to link to it in my new blog.
It was about time that I finally read something worthwile. Keep up the good work!
Outstanding entry. I appreciate you posting that. I ask you accept my for my less good English Skills, I am from Germany and it is sort of new to me.