Reader's Digest Scenic Drives Archives - Page 4 of 9

Day 81 – Ocean Reef Outing

Day 81 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Miami Traffic

I’m curious to know the population of the Miami Metropolitan Area. I have never seen so much traffic. I feel like I can say I successfully drove in New York City while being in South Florida. The eighteen toll booths decreased to four lanes and later two. I would have happily participated in an alternating merge, but I quickly learned the word “merge” is not in the Hispanic dictionary. I wondered if the next part on VANilla I might have to replace would be a bumper or my steering wheel squeezed into pieces by my white knuckled grip.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 78 – Northeast Florida

Day 78 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Castillo San Marcos National Monument

We began our morning in St. Augustine, Florida. After my visit to the oldest house and school in Florida, I stopped by the Castillo San Marcos National Monument. This fort, built by the Spanish, was never defeated in war, but changed hands by treaty. The fort built of coquina walls, between 1672 and 1695, replaced wooden structures used to protect St. Augustine against the French in 1565. In 1702 and again in 1740, the fort successfully survived a siege by the British.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 77 – Georgia’s Colonial Coast Part 2

Day 77 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Marshes of Glynn Overlook

I thought it might be the afternoon before the dogs got a good, long walk, so we made a short stop at a roadside park called the Marshes of Glynn Overlook Park where where we stretched our legs as we took in the view of expansive salt marshes. Salt marshes surround the area, and we passed over several as we crossed the bridge to St. Simons Island, part of the Golden Isles.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 76 – Georgia’s Colonial Coast

Day 76 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

We got a very late start to the morning today. It was almost afternoon by the time I left my cousins as both the dogs had belly aches. It must have been the rawhides I gave them. Regardless, I had to do a little washing and drying before we left for Georgia’s colonial coast!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 75 – South Carolina Stay with Cousins

Day 75 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I got an early start to a day that included mostly travel and maintenance. I knew I wouldn’t make it all the way to Bluffton without having to get my oil changed within the 5,000 mile requirement to keep my warranty, so I planned a stop in Charleston. I found a state park on the way, so the dogs could have some play time as I presumed they’d be cooped up thereafter.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 73 – North Carolina’s Outer Banks

Day 73 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Today was full of travel. I left Walter’s house around 9am and drove over 360 miles to the Outer Banks. For most of the drive, the day was damp and misty. It was a good day to hang out in VANilla. Of course I needed gas and the dogs needed a break every once in a while, so we stopped twice before reaching our destination, and one stop was a pleasant surprise.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 72 – Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina Part 2)

Day 72 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Blue Ridge Parkway

I awoke to another HAZY morning. I was a bit disappointed as Reader’s Digest describes Linville Falls as one of the most popular stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and if travelers could pick one stop along the route, Linville Falls would be the most likely choice. I hoped low hanging fog in Asheville, and a clear day in the mountains.

Lucky for me, my hope turned out to be reality. The mountain tops, in crystal clear skies, towered above valleys blanketed in clouds. Looking out above the clouds gave me a feeling like I was in the Himalayas – obviously far from it – but the panorama looked magnificent. I stopped at countless overlooks to admire the views.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 71 – Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina)

Day 71 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

It was a cloudy morning at Walmart, yet not a bad view. I started my day early on the Southern part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The foggy, misty, and windy weather made my visit to the Parkway feel somewhat eerie. I was the only one around. No cars were on the road and none were at our first stop, Waterrock Knob.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 70 – North Carolina Countryside Part 2

Day 70 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

This morning I left Murphy and headed toward Franklin, an area known for its precious stones. I pulled off near a park area to review the map and to walk the dogs along an asphalt path by the river. Lucky for me a small cache was planted nearby, so I logged it and continued through the North Carolina countryside.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 69 – North Carolina Countryside

Day 69 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I started the morning with another home cooked meal…quiche, pound cake and berries! It’s getting harder to leave good company and houses, but my journey continues. Today, the dogs and I began a two day loop through the North Carolina countryside, beginning and ending near Asheville. Just outside of Asheville we stopped at a sports complex for a short walk with the dogs, as a long walk wasn’t in the itinerary until the afternoon. There was a cache nearby, but also people, so no luck for picking up a North Carolina cache yet.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!