The Top-10 Summer Drives

Has anyone taken any of these drives?

1. VIRGINIA
My husband, Bronson, thinks I swear too much. That's why he presents me
with a shellacked-cedar cuss bank at Luray Caverns in Virginia's
Shenandoah Valley. We can't resist the vivid green billboards
announcing nature's hidden treasure at exit 264 off Interstate 81,
which cuts through the fertile region that historians call the
Breadbasket of the Confederacy.

2. Kansas
MILES: 100, DRIVING TIME: Half a day
A virgin patch of wildflower-dotted prairie survives in a part of
Kansas where rocky outcrops made plowing difficult. From I-70 in
Manhattan, in the northeastern part of the state, head south on 177. At
first, the road swerves around and over limestone bluffs, but when you
reach El Dorado and I-35, you'll be on the plains. Fans of wide-open
spaces shouldn't miss the more than 10,000 acres of undisturbed land at
the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (620/273-8494;
www.nps.gov/tapr), two miles north of Strong City.

3. Iowa
MILES: 120, DRIVING TIME: With twisting roads and lots of stops, give
it a day.
Rugged, hilly, and forested-that's why the northeastern edge of Iowa
is nicknamed Little Switzerland. Start in Dubuque, where the National
Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (800/226-3369;
www.mississippirivermuseum.com) has the world's largest steam towboat
as well as five huge tanks that offer close encounters with denizens of
the deep. Then head north, keeping the river on your right. Small roads
take you past locks and dams, ferry landings, backwoods communities,
and Pikes Peak State Park (563/873-2341; www.exploreiowaparks.com), at
500 feet one of the highest points along the entire Mississippi River.

4. Washington
MILES: 85, DRIVING TIME: One day
Island hopping makes this short trip deliciously slow. Take the ferry
(888/808-7977; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) from Edmonds, north of
Seattle, to Kingston; then follow 104 and U.S. 101 to Sequim, a
lavender-growing center that's the sunniest spot in western Washington.
Along the way, browse roadside farm stands for lavender products.
Continue to Port Angeles, then hop the ferry to English-accented
Victoria, British Columbia, for afternoon tea-or an overnight
stay-at the Fairmont Empress (866/540-4429; www.fairmont.com/empress;
tea from $18, doubles from $120).

5. Utah
MILES: 310, DRIVING TIME: Two days
Allow yourself plenty of time for this ramble amid the russet gorges
and spires of southern Utah. After leaving I-70 near Green River, drive
southwest on 24 through Capitol Reef National Park, then south on 12.
The road climbs 9,200 feet up Boulder Mountain en route to the
multicolored badlands of Bryce Canyon National Park (435/834-5322;
www.nps.gov/brca). Spend the night at rustic Bryce Canyon Lodge
(888/297-2757; www.brycecanyonlodge.com; doubles from $115), built in
the 1920's of sandstone and ponderosa pine. The next day, continue
south and west on U.S. 89 to 9, through Zion National Park, to I-15.

6. Mississippi
MILES: 210, DRIVING TIME: One day
It's less than 250 miles from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, via U.S.
61 and U.S. 49, but plan for plenty of stops to savor the down-home
cuisine of the Mississippi Delta. Unassuming eateries all along the
route serve up barbecue, catfish, and the classic Southern
meat-and-three supper; stop for lunch at the Blue & White Restaurant
(1355 Hwy. 61 N., Tunica; 662/363-1371; lunch buffet for two $13). Stay
at the sumptuous Alluvian Hotel (866/600-5201; www.thealluvian.com;
doubles from $175).

7. Florida
MILES: 200, DRIVING TIME: Two days
U.S. 98, from south of Tallahassee, west to Pensacola, is the last long
stretch of Florida coast where sea views are virtually uninterrupted by
high-rises. Loop onto 30A to explore the New Urbanist prototype town of
Seaside-an outdoor museum of great architecture and planning. Spend
the night at the WaterColor Inn (866/426-2656; www.watercolorinn.com;
doubles from $265) and finish the drive in the morning.

8. North Carolina
MILES: 110, DRIVING TIME: One day
Discover backwoods and sand hills on this trip through the North
Carolina heartland. Head south from Greensboro on U.S. 220 until you
reach the town of Ashgrove and scenic byway 705. It's 40 miles to
Seagrove, a historic pottery-making community; there are still 80
working potteries to shop in. From there, take tiny 705, then go on 24
east to Fayetteville, past dreamy-sounding towns like Whispering Pines
and Whynot.

9. Michigan
MILES: 125, DRIVING TIME: One day
The western shore of Michigan has lighthouses and old beach towns,
orchards and vineyards, dramatic bluffs with lake vistas. From
Ludington (the terminus of a ferry from Wisconsin), go north on U.S. 31
to Manistee, where a logging boom left an exuberant Victorian
architectural legacy. From there, follow 22 north along the shore. At
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (231/326-5134; www.nps.gov/slbe)
one of the sand hills rises 460 feet above the lake; few can resist
climbing the dunes for the views-and sliding down afterward.

10. New York
MILES: 45, DRIVING TIME: One day
Luminous vistas of New York's Hudson River inspired a 19th-century
school of painting and drew the era's gilderati to build palatial
estates. How long you spend on the 45-mile drive north from Beacon to
Hudson, via U.S. 9 and local 9G, depends on how many sites you tour.
Highlights include the 54-room Neoclassical Vanderbilt mansion, FDR's
Georgian-style Springwood, and painter Frederic Edwin Church's Persian
fantasy Olana. Treat yourself to lunch at American Bounty Restaurant in
Hyde Park (845/471-6608; www.ciachef.edu; lunch for two from $50).
Operated by the Culinary Institute of America, it specializes in local
ingredients.

Patrick
'93 Cobra

#4 except the last leg to Victoria. Very good, but there are better in
the NW. I like the costal route from WA down through OR and CA across
the Golden Gate Bridge, to Monterey region better. (this is the part
of the country where I live)

#7 went to HS in Ft Walton Beach which is between Pensacola and
Tallahassee. Personally, my favorite stretch of Florida for the drive,
and for the weather.

On 9 Aug 2005 19:57:50 -0700, wrote:

>Has anyone taken any of these drives?
>
>1. VIRGINIA
>My husband, Bronson, thinks I swear too much. That's why he presents me
>with a shellacked-cedar cuss bank at Luray Caverns in Virginia's
>Shenandoah Valley. We can't resist the vivid green billboards
>announcing nature's hidden treasure at exit 264 off Interstate 81,
>which cuts through the fertile region that historians call the
>Breadbasket of the Confederacy.
>
>2. Kansas
>MILES: 100, DRIVING TIME: Half a day
>A virgin patch of wildflower-dotted prairie survives in a part of
>Kansas where rocky outcrops made plowing difficult. From I-70 in
>Manhattan, in the northeastern part of the state, head south on 177. At
>first, the road swerves around and over limestone bluffs, but when you
>reach El Dorado and I-35, you'll be on the plains. Fans of wide-open
>spaces shouldn't miss the more than 10,000 acres of undisturbed land at
>the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (620/273-8494;
>www.nps.gov/tapr), two miles north of Strong City.
>
>3. Iowa
>MILES: 120, DRIVING TIME: With twisting roads and lots of stops, give
>it a day.
>Rugged, hilly, and forested-that's why the northeastern edge of Iowa
>is nicknamed Little Switzerland. Start in Dubuque, where the National
>Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (800/226-3369;
>www.mississippirivermuseum.com) has the world's largest steam towboat
>as well as five huge tanks that offer close encounters with denizens of
>the deep. Then head north, keeping the river on your right. Small roads
>take you past locks and dams, ferry landings, backwoods communities,
>and Pikes Peak State Park (563/873-2341; www.exploreiowaparks.com), at
>500 feet one of the highest points along the entire Mississippi River.
>
>4. Washington
>MILES: 85, DRIVING TIME: One day
>Island hopping makes this short trip deliciously slow. Take the ferry
>(888/808-7977; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) from Edmonds, north of
>Seattle, to Kingston; then follow 104 and U.S. 101 to Sequim, a
>lavender-growing center that's the sunniest spot in western Washington.
>Along the way, browse roadside farm stands for lavender products.
>Continue to Port Angeles, then hop the ferry to English-accented
>Victoria, British Columbia, for afternoon tea-or an overnight
>stay-at the Fairmont Empress (866/540-4429; www.fairmont.com/empress;
>tea from $18, doubles from $120).
>
>5. Utah
>MILES: 310, DRIVING TIME: Two days
>Allow yourself plenty of time for this ramble amid the russet gorges
>and spires of southern Utah. After leaving I-70 near Green River, drive
>southwest on 24 through Capitol Reef National Park, then south on 12.
>The road climbs 9,200 feet up Boulder Mountain en route to the
>multicolored badlands of Bryce Canyon National Park (435/834-5322;
>www.nps.gov/brca). Spend the night at rustic Bryce Canyon Lodge
>(888/297-2757; www.brycecanyonlodge.com; doubles from $115), built in
>the 1920's of sandstone and ponderosa pine. The next day, continue
>south and west on U.S. 89 to 9, through Zion National Park, to I-15.
>
>6. Mississippi
>MILES: 210, DRIVING TIME: One day
>It's less than 250 miles from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, via U.S.
>61 and U.S. 49, but plan for plenty of stops to savor the down-home
>cuisine of the Mississippi Delta. Unassuming eateries all along the
>route serve up barbecue, catfish, and the classic Southern
>meat-and-three supper; stop for lunch at the Blue & White Restaurant
>(1355 Hwy. 61 N., Tunica; 662/363-1371; lunch buffet for two $13). Stay
>at the sumptuous Alluvian Hotel (866/600-5201; www.thealluvian.com;
>doubles from $175).
>
>7. Florida
>MILES: 200, DRIVING TIME: Two days
>U.S. 98, from south of Tallahassee, west to Pensacola, is the last long
>stretch of Florida coast where sea views are virtually uninterrupted by
>high-rises. Loop onto 30A to explore the New Urbanist prototype town of
>Seaside-an outdoor museum of great architecture and planning. Spend
>the night at the WaterColor Inn (866/426-2656; www.watercolorinn.com;
>doubles from $265) and finish the drive in the morning.
>
>8. North Carolina
>MILES: 110, DRIVING TIME: One day
>Discover backwoods and sand hills on this trip through the North
>Carolina heartland. Head south from Greensboro on U.S. 220 until you
>reach the town of Ashgrove and scenic byway 705. It's 40 miles to
>Seagrove, a historic pottery-making community; there are still 80
>working potteries to shop in. From there, take tiny 705, then go on 24
>east to Fayetteville, past dreamy-sounding towns like Whispering Pines
>and Whynot.
>
>9. Michigan
>MILES: 125, DRIVING TIME: One day
>The western shore of Michigan has lighthouses and old beach towns,
>orchards and vineyards, dramatic bluffs with lake vistas. From
>Ludington (the terminus of a ferry from Wisconsin), go north on U.S. 31
>to Manistee, where a logging boom left an exuberant Victorian
>architectural legacy. From there, follow 22 north along the shore. At
>Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (231/326-5134; www.nps.gov/slbe)
>one of the sand hills rises 460 feet above the lake; few can resist
>climbing the dunes for the views-and sliding down afterward.
>
>10. New York
>MILES: 45, DRIVING TIME: One day
>Luminous vistas of New York's Hudson River inspired a 19th-century
>school of painting and drew the era's gilderati to build palatial
>estates. How long you spend on the 45-mile drive north from Beacon to
>Hudson, via U.S. 9 and local 9G, depends on how many sites you tour.
>Highlights include the 54-room Neoclassical Vanderbilt mansion, FDR's
>Georgian-style Springwood, and painter Frederic Edwin Church's Persian
>fantasy Olana. Treat yourself to lunch at American Bounty Restaurant in
>Hyde Park (845/471-6608; www.ciachef.edu; lunch for two from $50).
>Operated by the Culinary Institute of America, it specializes in local
>ingredients.
>
>Patrick
>'93 Cobra

Spike
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior; Vintage 40
16" rims w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A gForce Radial
225/50ZR16 KDWS skins; surround sound audio-video.

"When the time comes to lay down my life for my country,
I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it."
-JFK Inaugural Address

I've done No 5 in Utah.
Of course I was in a truck and camper, towing a bunch of dirt bikes on a
trailer.
We found some dirt fire roads up on Boulder mountain that were heavenly.

The scenery through there cannot be exceeded.

Check out www.pashnit.com for a motorcyclists view of some great
California roads.
I have driven several of these roads in a Sunbeam Tiger and they are just as
much fun on 4 wheels as two.

Just one more week till I am on Hwy1 to Monterey for the Historic races.
YeeeeHaw!
Erich


> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Has anyone taken any of these drives?
>
> 1. VIRGINIA
> My husband, Bronson, thinks I swear too much. That's why he presents me
> with a shellacked-cedar cuss bank at Luray Caverns in Virginia's
> Shenandoah Valley. We can't resist the vivid green billboards
> announcing nature's hidden treasure at exit 264 off Interstate 81,
> which cuts through the fertile region that historians call the
> Breadbasket of the Confederacy.
>
> 2. Kansas
> MILES: 100, DRIVING TIME: Half a day
> A virgin patch of wildflower-dotted prairie survives in a part of
> Kansas where rocky outcrops made plowing difficult. From I-70 in
> Manhattan, in the northeastern part of the state, head south on 177. At
> first, the road swerves around and over limestone bluffs, but when you
> reach El Dorado and I-35, you'll be on the plains. Fans of wide-open
> spaces shouldn't miss the more than 10,000 acres of undisturbed land at
> the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (620/273-8494;
> www.nps.gov/tapr), two miles north of Strong City.
>
> 3. Iowa
> MILES: 120, DRIVING TIME: With twisting roads and lots of stops, give
> it a day.
> Rugged, hilly, and forested-that's why the northeastern edge of Iowa
> is nicknamed Little Switzerland. Start in Dubuque, where the National
> Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (800/226-3369;
> www.mississippirivermuseum.com) has the world's largest steam towboat
> as well as five huge tanks that offer close encounters with denizens of
> the deep. Then head north, keeping the river on your right. Small roads
> take you past locks and dams, ferry landings, backwoods communities,
> and Pikes Peak State Park (563/873-2341; www.exploreiowaparks.com), at
> 500 feet one of the highest points along the entire Mississippi River.
>
> 4. Washington
> MILES: 85, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Island hopping makes this short trip deliciously slow. Take the ferry
> (888/808-7977; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) from Edmonds, north of
> Seattle, to Kingston; then follow 104 and U.S. 101 to Sequim, a
> lavender-growing center that's the sunniest spot in western Washington.
> Along the way, browse roadside farm stands for lavender products.
> Continue to Port Angeles, then hop the ferry to English-accented
> Victoria, British Columbia, for afternoon tea-or an overnight
> stay-at the Fairmont Empress (866/540-4429; www.fairmont.com/empress;
> tea from $18, doubles from $120).
>
> 5. Utah
> MILES: 310, DRIVING TIME: Two days
> Allow yourself plenty of time for this ramble amid the russet gorges
> and spires of southern Utah. After leaving I-70 near Green River, drive
> southwest on 24 through Capitol Reef National Park, then south on 12.
> The road climbs 9,200 feet up Boulder Mountain en route to the
> multicolored badlands of Bryce Canyon National Park (435/834-5322;
> www.nps.gov/brca). Spend the night at rustic Bryce Canyon Lodge
> (888/297-2757; www.brycecanyonlodge.com; doubles from $115), built in
> the 1920's of sandstone and ponderosa pine. The next day, continue
> south and west on U.S. 89 to 9, through Zion National Park, to I-15.
>
> 6. Mississippi
> MILES: 210, DRIVING TIME: One day
> It's less than 250 miles from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, via U.S.
> 61 and U.S. 49, but plan for plenty of stops to savor the down-home
> cuisine of the Mississippi Delta. Unassuming eateries all along the
> route serve up barbecue, catfish, and the classic Southern
> meat-and-three supper; stop for lunch at the Blue & White Restaurant
> (1355 Hwy. 61 N., Tunica; 662/363-1371; lunch buffet for two $13). Stay
> at the sumptuous Alluvian Hotel (866/600-5201; www.thealluvian.com;
> doubles from $175).
>
> 7. Florida
> MILES: 200, DRIVING TIME: Two days
> U.S. 98, from south of Tallahassee, west to Pensacola, is the last long
> stretch of Florida coast where sea views are virtually uninterrupted by
> high-rises. Loop onto 30A to explore the New Urbanist prototype town of
> Seaside-an outdoor museum of great architecture and planning. Spend
> the night at the WaterColor Inn (866/426-2656; www.watercolorinn.com;
> doubles from $265) and finish the drive in the morning.
>
> 8. North Carolina
> MILES: 110, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Discover backwoods and sand hills on this trip through the North
> Carolina heartland. Head south from Greensboro on U.S. 220 until you
> reach the town of Ashgrove and scenic byway 705. It's 40 miles to
> Seagrove, a historic pottery-making community; there are still 80
> working potteries to shop in. From there, take tiny 705, then go on 24
> east to Fayetteville, past dreamy-sounding towns like Whispering Pines
> and Whynot.
>
> 9. Michigan
> MILES: 125, DRIVING TIME: One day
> The western shore of Michigan has lighthouses and old beach towns,
> orchards and vineyards, dramatic bluffs with lake vistas. From
> Ludington (the terminus of a ferry from Wisconsin), go north on U.S. 31
> to Manistee, where a logging boom left an exuberant Victorian
> architectural legacy. From there, follow 22 north along the shore. At
> Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (231/326-5134; www.nps.gov/slbe)
> one of the sand hills rises 460 feet above the lake; few can resist
> climbing the dunes for the views-and sliding down afterward.
>
> 10. New York
> MILES: 45, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Luminous vistas of New York's Hudson River inspired a 19th-century
> school of painting and drew the era's gilderati to build palatial
> estates. How long you spend on the 45-mile drive north from Beacon to
> Hudson, via U.S. 9 and local 9G, depends on how many sites you tour.
> Highlights include the 54-room Neoclassical Vanderbilt mansion, FDR's
> Georgian-style Springwood, and painter Frederic Edwin Church's Persian
> fantasy Olana. Treat yourself to lunch at American Bounty Restaurant in
> Hyde Park (845/471-6608; www.ciachef.edu; lunch for two from $50).
> Operated by the Culinary Institute of America, it specializes in local
> ingredients.
>
> Patrick
> '93 Cobra
>

On 9 Aug 2005 19:57:50 -0700, wrote:

>Has anyone taken any of these drives?

>10. New York
>MILES: 45, DRIVING TIME: One day
>Luminous vistas of New York's Hudson River inspired a 19th-century
>school of painting and drew the era's gilderati to build palatial
>estates. How long you spend on the 45-mile drive north from Beacon to
>Hudson, via U.S. 9 and local 9G, depends on how many sites you tour.
>Highlights include the 54-room Neoclassical Vanderbilt mansion, FDR's
>Georgian-style Springwood, and painter Frederic Edwin Church's Persian
>fantasy Olana. Treat yourself to lunch at American Bounty Restaurant in
>Hyde Park (845/471-6608; www.ciachef.edu; lunch for two from $50).
>Operated by the Culinary Institute of America, it specializes in local
>ingredients.
>
>Patrick
>'93 Cobra


My neck of the woods. I even do some service work at the Culinary.
Just across the river is West Point which is full of beautiful twisty
turny roads that run up and down the Hudson River as well as other
attractions.

...Ron
--
68' Camaro RS
88' Firebird Formula
00' Mustang GT Vert

wrote:
> Has anyone taken any of these drives?
>
> 1. VIRGINIA
> My husband, Bronson, thinks I swear too much. That's why he presents me
> with a shellacked-cedar cuss bank at Luray Caverns in Virginia's
> Shenandoah Valley. We can't resist the vivid green billboards
> announcing nature's hidden treasure at exit 264 off Interstate 81,
> which cuts through the fertile region that historians call the
> Breadbasket of the Confederacy.

I have done this one quite a few times. In fact, two weeks ago I took
my niece and nephew to Luray Caverns. The best time to drive the Blue
Ridge Parkway, IMO, is in the fall when the leaves are turning. The air
is also a bit clearer that time of the year.

Around 8/9/2005 7:57 PM, wrote:

> Has anyone taken any of these drives?

<snip>

> 4. Washington
> MILES: 85, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Island hopping makes this short trip deliciously slow. Take the ferry
> (888/808-7977; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) from Edmonds, north of
> Seattle, to Kingston; then follow 104 and U.S. 101 to Sequim, a
> lavender-growing center that's the sunniest spot in western Washington.
> Along the way, browse roadside farm stands for lavender products.
> Continue to Port Angeles, then hop the ferry to English-accented
> Victoria, British Columbia, for afternoon tea-or an overnight
> stay-at the Fairmont Empress (866/540-4429; www.fairmont.com/empress;
> tea from $18, doubles from $120).

I've done #4 before. Usually I only go as far as Hansville (outside of
Kingston) where my great uncle lives, but I've done the whole trip to
Victoria via the Port Angeles Blackball ferry twice, courtesy of
high-school marching band trips. Honestly, any destination on the
peninsula makes for a great drive. I'm especially fond of WA-3 just
after sunrise.


--
/ Garth - '83 GL V6stang Hatch <Former MW #7> \
| My V6stang: http://www.v6stang.com/v6stang |
| RAMFM Merchandise: http://www.cafeshops.com/ramfm |
\ Mail for secure reply information /

Same for Maine.. drive along the coast, and then follow the river
north past all the rich peoples summer homes, when the leaves have
turned.

On Wed, 10 Aug 2005 21:51:52 -0400, "Michael Johnson, PE"
> wrote:

wrote:
>> Has anyone taken any of these drives?
>>
>> 1. VIRGINIA
>> My husband, Bronson, thinks I swear too much. That's why he presents me
>> with a shellacked-cedar cuss bank at Luray Caverns in Virginia's
>> Shenandoah Valley. We can't resist the vivid green billboards
>> announcing nature's hidden treasure at exit 264 off Interstate 81,
>> which cuts through the fertile region that historians call the
>> Breadbasket of the Confederacy.
>
>I have done this one quite a few times. In fact, two weeks ago I took
>my niece and nephew to Luray Caverns. The best time to drive the Blue
>Ridge Parkway, IMO, is in the fall when the leaves are turning. The air
>is also a bit clearer that time of the year.

Spike
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior; Vintage 40
16" rims w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A gForce Radial
225/50ZR16 KDWS skins; surround sound audio-video.

"When the time comes to lay down my life for my country,
I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it."
-JFK Inaugural Address

All replys missed the most efficient "scenery gathering drive": One minute
on any road, in any direction, in Western Kansas. It can be replicated while
sleeping for miles and miles and miles of other scenic areas of Western
Kansas, without paying high prices or gas. Been there-done that.
Try it!!
Brian in Seattle
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Has anyone taken any of these drives?
>
> 1. VIRGINIA
> My husband, Bronson, thinks I swear too much. That's why he presents me
> with a shellacked-cedar cuss bank at Luray Caverns in Virginia's
> Shenandoah Valley. We can't resist the vivid green billboards
> announcing nature's hidden treasure at exit 264 off Interstate 81,
> which cuts through the fertile region that historians call the
> Breadbasket of the Confederacy.
>
> 2. Kansas
> MILES: 100, DRIVING TIME: Half a day
> A virgin patch of wildflower-dotted prairie survives in a part of
> Kansas where rocky outcrops made plowing difficult. From I-70 in
> Manhattan, in the northeastern part of the state, head south on 177. At
> first, the road swerves around and over limestone bluffs, but when you
> reach El Dorado and I-35, you'll be on the plains. Fans of wide-open
> spaces shouldn't miss the more than 10,000 acres of undisturbed land at
> the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (620/273-8494;
> www.nps.gov/tapr), two miles north of Strong City.
>
> 3. Iowa
> MILES: 120, DRIVING TIME: With twisting roads and lots of stops, give
> it a day.
> Rugged, hilly, and forested-that's why the northeastern edge of Iowa
> is nicknamed Little Switzerland. Start in Dubuque, where the National
> Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (800/226-3369;
> www.mississippirivermuseum.com) has the world's largest steam towboat
> as well as five huge tanks that offer close encounters with denizens of
> the deep. Then head north, keeping the river on your right. Small roads
> take you past locks and dams, ferry landings, backwoods communities,
> and Pikes Peak State Park (563/873-2341; www.exploreiowaparks.com), at
> 500 feet one of the highest points along the entire Mississippi River.
>
> 4. Washington
> MILES: 85, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Island hopping makes this short trip deliciously slow. Take the ferry
> (888/808-7977; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) from Edmonds, north of
> Seattle, to Kingston; then follow 104 and U.S. 101 to Sequim, a
> lavender-growing center that's the sunniest spot in western Washington.
> Along the way, browse roadside farm stands for lavender products.
> Continue to Port Angeles, then hop the ferry to English-accented
> Victoria, British Columbia, for afternoon tea-or an overnight
> stay-at the Fairmont Empress (866/540-4429; www.fairmont.com/empress;
> tea from $18, doubles from $120).
>
> 5. Utah
> MILES: 310, DRIVING TIME: Two days
> Allow yourself plenty of time for this ramble amid the russet gorges
> and spires of southern Utah. After leaving I-70 near Green River, drive
> southwest on 24 through Capitol Reef National Park, then south on 12.
> The road climbs 9,200 feet up Boulder Mountain en route to the
> multicolored badlands of Bryce Canyon National Park (435/834-5322;
> www.nps.gov/brca). Spend the night at rustic Bryce Canyon Lodge
> (888/297-2757; www.brycecanyonlodge.com; doubles from $115), built in
> the 1920's of sandstone and ponderosa pine. The next day, continue
> south and west on U.S. 89 to 9, through Zion National Park, to I-15.
>
> 6. Mississippi
> MILES: 210, DRIVING TIME: One day
> It's less than 250 miles from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, via U.S.
> 61 and U.S. 49, but plan for plenty of stops to savor the down-home
> cuisine of the Mississippi Delta. Unassuming eateries all along the
> route serve up barbecue, catfish, and the classic Southern
> meat-and-three supper; stop for lunch at the Blue & White Restaurant
> (1355 Hwy. 61 N., Tunica; 662/363-1371; lunch buffet for two $13). Stay
> at the sumptuous Alluvian Hotel (866/600-5201; www.thealluvian.com;
> doubles from $175).
>
> 7. Florida
> MILES: 200, DRIVING TIME: Two days
> U.S. 98, from south of Tallahassee, west to Pensacola, is the last long
> stretch of Florida coast where sea views are virtually uninterrupted by
> high-rises. Loop onto 30A to explore the New Urbanist prototype town of
> Seaside-an outdoor museum of great architecture and planning. Spend
> the night at the WaterColor Inn (866/426-2656; www.watercolorinn.com;
> doubles from $265) and finish the drive in the morning.
>
> 8. North Carolina
> MILES: 110, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Discover backwoods and sand hills on this trip through the North
> Carolina heartland. Head south from Greensboro on U.S. 220 until you
> reach the town of Ashgrove and scenic byway 705. It's 40 miles to
> Seagrove, a historic pottery-making community; there are still 80
> working potteries to shop in. From there, take tiny 705, then go on 24
> east to Fayetteville, past dreamy-sounding towns like Whispering Pines
> and Whynot.
>
> 9. Michigan
> MILES: 125, DRIVING TIME: One day
> The western shore of Michigan has lighthouses and old beach towns,
> orchards and vineyards, dramatic bluffs with lake vistas. From
> Ludington (the terminus of a ferry from Wisconsin), go north on U.S. 31
> to Manistee, where a logging boom left an exuberant Victorian
> architectural legacy. From there, follow 22 north along the shore. At
> Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (231/326-5134; www.nps.gov/slbe)
> one of the sand hills rises 460 feet above the lake; few can resist
> climbing the dunes for the views-and sliding down afterward.
>
> 10. New York
> MILES: 45, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Luminous vistas of New York's Hudson River inspired a 19th-century
> school of painting and drew the era's gilderati to build palatial
> estates. How long you spend on the 45-mile drive north from Beacon to
> Hudson, via U.S. 9 and local 9G, depends on how many sites you tour.
> Highlights include the 54-room Neoclassical Vanderbilt mansion, FDR's
> Georgian-style Springwood, and painter Frederic Edwin Church's Persian
> fantasy Olana. Treat yourself to lunch at American Bounty Restaurant in
> Hyde Park (845/471-6608; www.ciachef.edu; lunch for two from $50).
> Operated by the Culinary Institute of America, it specializes in local
> ingredients.
>
> Patrick
> '93 Cobra
>

But we're not in Kansas anymore.... Don't you remember clicking the
heels? How is Toto by the way.... : )

You reminded me of a drive through North Dakota, going west to a place
called Cavalier. There were the lights of town. And we drove and we
drove and we drove and they didn't seem to get any closer. Then we
come to a 90 degree left turn and suddenly find ourselves in the
middle of town, wondering if there was another intersection somewhere.

There are some fantastic drives up in your neck of the woods; Mt
Ranier, Olympic Park, etc. Which I hope to be cruising in the not to
distant future.

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 21:21:53 -0700, "Brian from Home"
> wrote:

>All replys missed the most efficient "scenery gathering drive": One minute
>on any road, in any direction, in Western Kansas. It can be replicated while
>sleeping for miles and miles and miles of other scenic areas of Western
>Kansas, without paying high prices or gas. Been there-done that.
>Try it!!
>Brian in Seattle
> wrote in message
roups.com...
>> Has anyone taken any of these drives?
>>
>> 1. VIRGINIA
>> My husband, Bronson, thinks I swear too much. That's why he presents me
>> with a shellacked-cedar cuss bank at Luray Caverns in Virginia's
>> Shenandoah Valley. We can't resist the vivid green billboards
>> announcing nature's hidden treasure at exit 264 off Interstate 81,
>> which cuts through the fertile region that historians call the
>> Breadbasket of the Confederacy.
>>
>> 2. Kansas
>> MILES: 100, DRIVING TIME: Half a day
>> A virgin patch of wildflower-dotted prairie survives in a part of
>> Kansas where rocky outcrops made plowing difficult. From I-70 in
>> Manhattan, in the northeastern part of the state, head south on 177. At
>> first, the road swerves around and over limestone bluffs, but when you
>> reach El Dorado and I-35, you'll be on the plains. Fans of wide-open
>> spaces shouldn't miss the more than 10,000 acres of undisturbed land at
>> the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (620/273-8494;
>> www.nps.gov/tapr), two miles north of Strong City.
>>
>> 3. Iowa
>> MILES: 120, DRIVING TIME: With twisting roads and lots of stops, give
>> it a day.
>> Rugged, hilly, and forested-that's why the northeastern edge of Iowa
>> is nicknamed Little Switzerland. Start in Dubuque, where the National
>> Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (800/226-3369;
>> www.mississippirivermuseum.com) has the world's largest steam towboat
>> as well as five huge tanks that offer close encounters with denizens of
>> the deep. Then head north, keeping the river on your right. Small roads
>> take you past locks and dams, ferry landings, backwoods communities,
>> and Pikes Peak State Park (563/873-2341; www.exploreiowaparks.com), at
>> 500 feet one of the highest points along the entire Mississippi River.
>>
>> 4. Washington
>> MILES: 85, DRIVING TIME: One day
>> Island hopping makes this short trip deliciously slow. Take the ferry
>> (888/808-7977; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) from Edmonds, north of
>> Seattle, to Kingston; then follow 104 and U.S. 101 to Sequim, a
>> lavender-growing center that's the sunniest spot in western Washington.
>> Along the way, browse roadside farm stands for lavender products.
>> Continue to Port Angeles, then hop the ferry to English-accented
>> Victoria, British Columbia, for afternoon tea-or an overnight
>> stay-at the Fairmont Empress (866/540-4429; www.fairmont.com/empress;
>> tea from $18, doubles from $120).
>>
>> 5. Utah
>> MILES: 310, DRIVING TIME: Two days
>> Allow yourself plenty of time for this ramble amid the russet gorges
>> and spires of southern Utah. After leaving I-70 near Green River, drive
>> southwest on 24 through Capitol Reef National Park, then south on 12.
>> The road climbs 9,200 feet up Boulder Mountain en route to the
>> multicolored badlands of Bryce Canyon National Park (435/834-5322;
>> www.nps.gov/brca). Spend the night at rustic Bryce Canyon Lodge
>> (888/297-2757; www.brycecanyonlodge.com; doubles from $115), built in
>> the 1920's of sandstone and ponderosa pine. The next day, continue
>> south and west on U.S. 89 to 9, through Zion National Park, to I-15.
>>
>> 6. Mississippi
>> MILES: 210, DRIVING TIME: One day
>> It's less than 250 miles from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, via U.S.
>> 61 and U.S. 49, but plan for plenty of stops to savor the down-home
>> cuisine of the Mississippi Delta. Unassuming eateries all along the
>> route serve up barbecue, catfish, and the classic Southern
>> meat-and-three supper; stop for lunch at the Blue & White Restaurant
>> (1355 Hwy. 61 N., Tunica; 662/363-1371; lunch buffet for two $13). Stay
>> at the sumptuous Alluvian Hotel (866/600-5201; www.thealluvian.com;
>> doubles from $175).
>>
>> 7. Florida
>> MILES: 200, DRIVING TIME: Two days
>> U.S. 98, from south of Tallahassee, west to Pensacola, is the last long
>> stretch of Florida coast where sea views are virtually uninterrupted by
>> high-rises. Loop onto 30A to explore the New Urbanist prototype town of
>> Seaside-an outdoor museum of great architecture and planning. Spend
>> the night at the WaterColor Inn (866/426-2656; www.watercolorinn.com;
>> doubles from $265) and finish the drive in the morning.
>>
>> 8. North Carolina
>> MILES: 110, DRIVING TIME: One day
>> Discover backwoods and sand hills on this trip through the North
>> Carolina heartland. Head south from Greensboro on U.S. 220 until you
>> reach the town of Ashgrove and scenic byway 705. It's 40 miles to
>> Seagrove, a historic pottery-making community; there are still 80
>> working potteries to shop in. From there, take tiny 705, then go on 24
>> east to Fayetteville, past dreamy-sounding towns like Whispering Pines
>> and Whynot.
>>
>> 9. Michigan
>> MILES: 125, DRIVING TIME: One day
>> The western shore of Michigan has lighthouses and old beach towns,
>> orchards and vineyards, dramatic bluffs with lake vistas. From
>> Ludington (the terminus of a ferry from Wisconsin), go north on U.S. 31
>> to Manistee, where a logging boom left an exuberant Victorian
>> architectural legacy. From there, follow 22 north along the shore. At
>> Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (231/326-5134; www.nps.gov/slbe)
>> one of the sand hills rises 460 feet above the lake; few can resist
>> climbing the dunes for the views-and sliding down afterward.
>>
>> 10. New York
>> MILES: 45, DRIVING TIME: One day
>> Luminous vistas of New York's Hudson River inspired a 19th-century
>> school of painting and drew the era's gilderati to build palatial
>> estates. How long you spend on the 45-mile drive north from Beacon to
>> Hudson, via U.S. 9 and local 9G, depends on how many sites you tour.
>> Highlights include the 54-room Neoclassical Vanderbilt mansion, FDR's
>> Georgian-style Springwood, and painter Frederic Edwin Church's Persian
>> fantasy Olana. Treat yourself to lunch at American Bounty Restaurant in
>> Hyde Park (845/471-6608; www.ciachef.edu; lunch for two from $50).
>> Operated by the Culinary Institute of America, it specializes in local
>> ingredients.
>>
>> Patrick
>> '93 Cobra
>>
>

Spike
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior; Vintage 40
16" rims w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A gForce Radial
225/50ZR16 KDWS skins; surround sound audio-video.

Gad shat fools these morons be....

wrote:
> Has anyone taken any of these drives?
>
> 1. VIRGINIA
> My husband, Bronson, thinks I swear too much. That's why he presents me
> with a shellacked-cedar cuss bank at Luray Caverns in Virginia's
> Shenandoah Valley. We can't resist the vivid green billboards
> announcing nature's hidden treasure at exit 264 off Interstate 81,
> which cuts through the fertile region that historians call the
> Breadbasket of the Confederacy.

I've driven from both Fredericksburg and Stafford to Washington DC
several times. No big thing.

Actually someone I know working for a certain government agency in that
area has family in Shenandoah. It sounds like a great place.

>
> 2. Kansas
> MILES: 100, DRIVING TIME: Half a day
> A virgin patch of wildflower-dotted prairie survives in a part of
> Kansas where rocky outcrops made plowing difficult. From I-70 in
> Manhattan, in the northeastern part of the state, head south on 177. At
> first, the road swerves around and over limestone bluffs, but when you
> reach El Dorado and I-35, you'll be on the plains. Fans of wide-open
> spaces shouldn't miss the more than 10,000 acres of undisturbed land at
> the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (620/273-8494;
> www.nps.gov/tapr), two miles north of Strong City.

Hmmm, someone else I know refers to Kansas as "The Land of Dirt."

>
> 3. Iowa
> MILES: 120, DRIVING TIME: With twisting roads and lots of stops, give
> it a day.
> Rugged, hilly, and forested-that's why the northeastern edge of Iowa
> is nicknamed Little Switzerland. Start in Dubuque, where the National
> Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (800/226-3369;
> www.mississippirivermuseum.com) has the world's largest steam towboat
> as well as five huge tanks that offer close encounters with denizens of
> the deep. Then head north, keeping the river on your right. Small roads
> take you past locks and dams, ferry landings, backwoods communities,
> and Pikes Peak State Park (563/873-2341; www.exploreiowaparks.com), at
> 500 feet one of the highest points along the entire Mississippi River.

My supervisor is from here. Where she left and came to...

>
> 4. Washington
> MILES: 85, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Island hopping makes this short trip deliciously slow. Take the ferry
> (888/808-7977; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) from Edmonds, north of
> Seattle, to Kingston; then follow 104 and U.S. 101 to Sequim, a
> lavender-growing center that's the sunniest spot in western Washington.
> Along the way, browse roadside farm stands for lavender products.
> Continue to Port Angeles, then hop the ferry to English-accented
> Victoria, British Columbia, for afternoon tea-or an overnight
> stay-at the Fairmont Empress (866/540-4429; www.fairmont.com/empress;
> tea from $18, doubles from $120).

Hey lookee here, I live in this area. There's a place out near Sequim
(the e is silent - more think Squim) called the Olympic Game Farm. You
can drive around and throw old bread at the "wild" animals roaming
around. Be careful, some of them will stick their head in your car's
window if you aren't feeding them fast enough.

Victoria is great, I know a B&B that I highly recommend if anyone is
considering it. Another option is to take the ferry from Mukilteo to
Clinton, then drive around Whidbey Island to Deception Pass. You can
stop at the old military fort where scenes from An Officer 7 a Gentleman
were filmed. Come back across the Deception Pass Bridge, then rejoin
I-5 southbound towards Seattle.

There are a lot of things to do in an area that is a couple of hours
from Canada, Portland, the Pacific Ocean, and the Cascade (and Olympic)
Mountains. Sometimes when it doesn't rain you can even catch a drag race.

>
> 5. Utah
> MILES: 310, DRIVING TIME: Two days
> Allow yourself plenty of time for this ramble amid the russet gorges
> and spires of southern Utah. After leaving I-70 near Green River, drive
> southwest on 24 through Capitol Reef National Park, then south on 12.
> The road climbs 9,200 feet up Boulder Mountain en route to the
> multicolored badlands of Bryce Canyon National Park (435/834-5322;
> www.nps.gov/brca). Spend the night at rustic Bryce Canyon Lodge
> (888/297-2757; www.brycecanyonlodge.com; doubles from $115), built in
> the 1920's of sandstone and ponderosa pine. The next day, continue
> south and west on U.S. 89 to 9, through Zion National Park, to I-15.

Another person I know claimed that you have to go across the border to
get porn... I'm sure there's other interesting things of note here.

>
> 6. Mississippi
> MILES: 210, DRIVING TIME: One day
> It's less than 250 miles from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, via U.S.
> 61 and U.S. 49, but plan for plenty of stops to savor the down-home
> cuisine of the Mississippi Delta. Unassuming eateries all along the
> route serve up barbecue, catfish, and the classic Southern
> meat-and-three supper; stop for lunch at the Blue & White Restaurant
> (1355 Hwy. 61 N., Tunica; 662/363-1371; lunch buffet for two $13). Stay
> at the sumptuous Alluvian Hotel (866/600-5201; www.thealluvian.com;
> doubles from $175).

Me likes spicy southern food!

>
> 7. Florida
> MILES: 200, DRIVING TIME: Two days
> U.S. 98, from south of Tallahassee, west to Pensacola, is the last long
> stretch of Florida coast where sea views are virtually uninterrupted by
> high-rises. Loop onto 30A to explore the New Urbanist prototype town of
> Seaside-an outdoor museum of great architecture and planning. Spend
> the night at the WaterColor Inn (866/426-2656; www.watercolorinn.com;
> doubles from $265) and finish the drive in the morning.

I recommend skipping hurricane season, eh Patrick!?

Steve
72 Skylark Custom455

>
> 8. North Carolina
> MILES: 110, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Discover backwoods and sand hills on this trip through the North
> Carolina heartland. Head south from Greensboro on U.S. 220 until you
> reach the town of Ashgrove and scenic byway 705. It's 40 miles to
> Seagrove, a historic pottery-making community; there are still 80
> working potteries to shop in. From there, take tiny 705, then go on 24
> east to Fayetteville, past dreamy-sounding towns like Whispering Pines
> and Whynot.
>
> 9. Michigan
> MILES: 125, DRIVING TIME: One day
> The western shore of Michigan has lighthouses and old beach towns,
> orchards and vineyards, dramatic bluffs with lake vistas. From
> Ludington (the terminus of a ferry from Wisconsin), go north on U.S. 31
> to Manistee, where a logging boom left an exuberant Victorian
> architectural legacy. From there, follow 22 north along the shore. At
> Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (231/326-5134; www.nps.gov/slbe)
> one of the sand hills rises 460 feet above the lake; few can resist
> climbing the dunes for the views-and sliding down afterward.
>
> 10. New York
> MILES: 45, DRIVING TIME: One day
> Luminous vistas of New York's Hudson River inspired a 19th-century
> school of painting and drew the era's gilderati to build palatial
> estates. How long you spend on the 45-mile drive north from Beacon to
> Hudson, via U.S. 9 and local 9G, depends on how many sites you tour.
> Highlights include the 54-room Neoclassical Vanderbilt mansion, FDR's
> Georgian-style Springwood, and painter Frederic Edwin Church's Persian
> fantasy Olana. Treat yourself to lunch at American Bounty Restaurant in
> Hyde Park (845/471-6608; www.ciachef.edu; lunch for two from $50).
> Operated by the Culinary Institute of America, it specializes in local
> ingredients.
>
> Patrick
> '93 Cobra
>