Last summer was all about the 'staycation'. This year, ditch the kiddie pool for the open road. Sure, the classic road trip usually includes a bunch of 20- somethings on a Kerouacian romp- But, hey, why wait until then for your kids to know the grandeur and diversity of this great nation? National Geographic's 10 Best of Everything: Families will take you far beyond Route 66.
1. Covered Bridges, Vermont
See five covered bridges on one drive through Vermont's Bennington County: Silk Bridge, Paper Mill, Village Bridge, Henry Bridge, and West Arlington Brigde. Autumn is the best time to go, but it's also lovely in late spring.
2. Lighthouse Tour, Maine
There are 65 lighthouses still standing in Maine. Today, about ten light stations include museums; others are bird sanctuaries, wildlife refuges, or a nature preserve; and a few house research facilities. Drive from Frazer Point Picnic Area and Winter Harbor light to Prospect harbor and Prospect Harbor Light, Maine, in one day.
3. Skyline Drive, Virginia
The 105-mile parkway along the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains starts in Fort Royal, Virginia, and winds above the Shenandoah River valley, where early American Indians lived and where Daniel Boone and settlers passed through on their way to the western frontier. The mountains here are smooth and low, and famed for the blue mist created by foliage.
4. A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, Florida
Allow two hours to drive this byway, which lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway on a narrow barrier island. Along with breathtaking views, you'll see the Gulf Coast, flora and fauna, resorts, and art deco architecture.
5. Michigan's Peninsulas
See the iconic dunes, shoreline, waterfalls, pines, and famed cherry orchards. The road stretches from Sleeping Bear Dunes to Petoskey to St.Ignace to Sault Ste.Marie to Munsing.
6. San Juan Skyway, Colorado
Travel the "road to the sky," which offers views of the towering 14,000-foot San Juan Mountains to rolling hillsides speckled with ancient Pueblo Indian ruins. It's a 236-mile route from Durango to Ouray, through Telluride and Mancos, back to Durango.
7. Albuquerque to Taos, New Mexico
Explore the Southwest through its fabled history and figures. Drive the Turquoise Trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe to Taos, then back to Albuquerque to discover the culture of the Pueblo Indians, Georgia O'Keeffe, mountains, canyons, cliffs, cliff paintings, ghost towns, and artist colonies.
8. Goint-to-the-Sun Road, Montana
Lake McDonald is Glacier National Park's largest lake, at ten miles long. Driving along the McDonald Valley provides a history of the glaciers that carved the U-shaped valley. Families can park at the visitor's center at Logan Pass, the top of the Continental Divide. The road leads to the Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, at 9,642 the highest in this area of the park.
9. Pacific Coastal Highways, California
Take in the West Coast in its entierety or in manageable short jaunts.The first section begins in Portland, passing the Willamette River, early pioneer settlements, stunning waterfalls, rugged coastline, weird monoliths, and towering redwoods. The second section from San Francisco to L.A. features the Golden Gate, Big Sur, wine country, Hearst Castle, Spanish missions, Hollywood, mountains, beaches, surfing and harbors.
10. Chain of Craters, Hawaii
Chain of Craters Road, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is a 20-mile journey that showcases a natural landscape shaped by volcanoes. Whether driving or hiking, visitors can see craters, lava flows, tropical rain forests, mountains, and coastal areas.
Amy, Florida: "Out for a drive I always say that my car has better upholstery than most of the furniture in my house. No wonder we all love leisurely sightseeing drives, with time to talk, look out the window, maybe stop for ice cream..."
Reprinted with permission of the National Geographic Society from the book
The 10 Best of Everything: Families by Susan Magsamen. Copyright ©2009 National Geographic Society.
Photo: Bernie McCann
Related Links: The 10 Best Carousels in the U.S., The 10 Best Children's Museums in the U.S., The 10 Best Living History Sites
