America's Top-10 Road Trips

Adding some to the bucket list. If you're traveling south on that Big Sur trip, however, I pity the passenger(s). I much prefer 101 down and 1 up from San Simeon. Then I can hug the mountainside, yet still enjoy the breathtaking view.

Highway 9 through the San Lorenzo Valley on up to Skyline Drive (Hwy 35) to San Francisco is spectacular!!!

Zoot,
Yes it is spectacular. So is Wine Country - Napa-Sonoma. Those Calistoga mud baths are a trip. Wilkerson or Wilkinson/whatever.

-T

If you're going to San Francisco...

A spectacular ride through the Madrone oaks and redwoods on Skyline Drive

Thanks Zoot. Those are neat.

-T

Actually there was quite a long thread about road trips here but I guess it has been scrubbed. I've been on seven of the ten.....Can't believe it. Actually went into the sun in Montana on AMTRAK and under the Million dollar Mile highway in Colorado instead of on it...Because the tracks traverse the floor of that canyon.

Going South in Big Sur, we chickened out, turned around and drove back to Carmel. Scared the daylights out of us. Others have said they call it Highway Once. I now know why. I don't know if it was the height or the power...or both.

My Dad played golf at Pebble Beach and tells this story about being caught in a dense fog on the 17 mile drive and I've been afraid of the California coast ever since,

I'd have to add the Oregon Coast to the list....possibly surpassing the Georgia marshes and Golden Isles which are best explored off the main road.

Nothing surpasses the drive down from Silverton CO to Durango.

Peachy

quote:

Going South in Big Sur, we chickened out, turned around and drove back to Carmel. Scared the daylights out of us. Others have said they call it Highway Once. I now know why. I don't know if it was the height or the power...or both.

You should try Hwy 1 from Mendocino to Jenner if you think the Big Sur hwy. is hairy. On second thought, maybe YOU shouldn't.

quote:

Originally posted by Zoot House:

quote:

Going South in Big Sur, we chickened out, turned around and drove back to Carmel. Scared the daylights out of us. Others have said they call it Highway Once. I now know why. I don't know if it was the height or the power...or both.

You should try Hwy 1 from Mendocino to Jenner if you think the Big Sur hwy. is hairy. On second thought, maybe YOU shouldn't.

We drove the Oregon and CA Coasts to just below Mendocino and picked up 128 I think because we wanted to check out some of the wine country. (Or maybe we were just afraid? ) From Petaluma we drove back over to Pt. Reyes my most favorite place on the coast of California.....Thus far.

Peachy

PS: Go to Boise, Idaho. Take 21 out of Boise to Idaho City then Stanley perched on the edge of the Salmon river framed by the Sawtooths. Even more picturesque than the Tetons. This is a well-kept secret so don't tell anyone. Shhhh. Linger there a few days. Raft the Salmon but for God's sake not in June. Too fast. Take 75 out of Stanley back down through Ketchum and Sun Valley. Watch out for elk. Be sure and use a 4-wheel drive or get yourself a horse.

Unforgettable.

Yeah, I've been up there. Magnificent!

A few years back, I took my wife to Yosemite for her first time. Dropping into the valley I saw her jaw drop upon seeing Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome for the first time. It's right up there among the world's most stunning vistas.

Most visitors to the Sierra miss the real secret, though, and that is the eastern slope. I drove the Mrs. onto June Lake Loop and told her to feast her eyes on the vista around the next corner. June Mountain and a full-blown waterfall at mid mountain lay before us in all their spendor! The wife says, "It looks like Switzerland!"

Further on down the road is Mammoth Mountain and the Minarets. Truly stunning! One of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen is the full moon directly above Mt. Whitney and Lone Pine Peak at the Whitney Portal. I've never felt such a pull to John Muir and Ansel Adams and all that they held with such magnificence.

http://stormbruiser.com/chase/..._1770_Mt_Whitney.jpg

I drove Highway One Moday and Tuesday abd the ever changing weather patterns made it a little bit of a challenge.(Fog, low clouds, sun, wind) I am going be ther this weekend.

Hi,
There was a previous thread on road trips some time ago. Want to again recomment a drive Zion National Park in Utah, especially at twilight. The panorama with its striking colors is quite beautiful.