Sometimes it’s not just the nature but also the human-made sights that make the trip.
Those road trips and more around the U.S., ahead.
Hana Highway, Maui
The T-shirts all say: “I survived theroad to Hana.”
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It could easily be called the greatest road for architecture-spotting on earth.
17-Mile Drive, California
The so-called 17-Mile Drive loops around California’s stunning Monterey Peninsula.
On the docks at Islamorada, travelers can hand-feed bait fish to tarpon more than six feet long.
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Bluebonnet Trail, Texas
Bluebonnets are spiky blue wildflowers found in the U.S. Southwest.
They’re especially abundant in Texas (where they’re the official state flower) from March to May.
Stop by to admire the native flower, then embark on an eastward journey via U.S. Route 290.
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North Shore Drive, Minnesota
Minnesota’s Lake Superior shoreline is a thing of glacial beauty.
Trail Ridge Road, Colorado
Welcome to the highest continuously paved road in the U.S. One highlight is the half-mile hike to Sabbaday Falls, a three-tiered waterfall easily accessed from the road.
The 50-mile stretch takes about two hours to drive.
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The 400-or-so miles of beaches off Highway 101 provide road trippers with perfectly preserved and unobstructed natural vistas.
At low tide, the pools on Olympic beaches are rife with starfish, sand dollars, and crabs.
The whole loop takes about six hours without stops.
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Further along, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline pops in and out of view.
Silverado Trail, California
Here’s a road trip where the food rivals the scenery.
And for foodies, the three-Michelin starFrench Laundryrestaurant in Yountville is a highlight.
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An oceanside cavern dubbed Thunder Hole explodes with a plume of foamy surf as waves beat the shore.
Stop to admire them on foot with a walk at Carvers Gap, just across the North Carolina border.
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