My most recent favorite stretch of road to drive is I-17 South, Flagstaff to Phoenix, AZ. Approximately 70 miles north of Phoenix, the North and South bound lanes split up going through a mountain pass. The Southbound lane hugs the mountain starting at 6000 ft, the S-curves are awesome and exhilarating, especially at night! Just take your foot off the pedal and coast at 80 - 90 mi/hr down the mountain side, WooHoo!
So hard to pick a favorite, but one of mine is US 285 through Park County, Colorado.
I really wish Route 66 were still around because pictures of it looked magical! Or maybe it's because I was born in a hospital right off of what was Route 66 back in the day. :laugh:
My mother likes driving in the Scottish Highlands. The Highlands are full of narrow, twisty roads with passing places and great views. You can see another car coming from miles away in some places. I don't drive myself.
In a car, Durango to Ouray, Hwy 550, Colorado. Nice hot springs in Ouray, awesome hotel in Durango
on a motorcycle, the roads outside of Thermopolis Wyoming, Hwy 789 and Buffalo Creek Road (world's largest hot springs in Thermopolis, check it out)
on a bicycle, King Ridge Road and Coleman Valley Road/Bohemian Highway in Sonoma Country
any and all of the above, 17 Mile Drive in Monterey California or Hwy 89 down the west side of Lake Tahoe.
Out of all the roads I have been on, I think my favorite has been that highway (don't remember the number) in northern Oregon along the river. Mountains on one side, river on the other, plenty of rain clouds, it was great. Wish that company would have hired me and I coulda been out there now.
I also liked the road going up to Lake Tahoe in northern Nevada. It was a bit scary the first time, but the second time when I knew all the turns it was fun. It was also cool to see the whole country side from thousands of feet up.
Now that I notice it, why is this thread under ARGHHH! ?
Highway 101 from Astoria to Brookings, in Oregon. It skirts along the Pacific ocean and some of the views are just breath-taking.
@Pinkfluff If you are taking along the Columbia River, that would be I-84.
Quote from: Pinkfluff on August 12, 2011, 11:36:18 PM
Now that I notice it, why is this thread under ARGHHH! ?
Good question, couldn't figure where else to put it! Then it dawned on me that "ARGHHH!" is about our frustrations, and when I'm frustrated and bewildered a good drive in the country would often take the steam out of my worries. Any suggestions to where I else this could've found a home? :laugh:
Quote from: tekla on August 12, 2011, 10:47:43 PM
In a car, Durango to Ouray, Hwy 550, Colorado. Nice hot springs in Ouray, awesome hotel in Durango
on a motorcycle, the roads outside of Thermopolis Wyoming, Hwy 789 and Buffalo Creek Road (world's largest hot springs in Thermopolis, check it out)
on a bicycle, King Ridge Road and Coleman Valley Road/Bohemian Highway in Sonoma Country
any and all of the above, 17 Mile Drive in Monterey California or Hwy 89 down the west side of Lake Tahoe.
Tekla took this question a step further to include Motorcycle and Bicycle, so since I said "drive" don't just think car!
On motorcycle for me it was the "Beach" at Daytona Beach, Fla, only 1 of 2 times I have ever taken my helmet off. THe wind and the surf, sun setting...
Quote from: SandraJane on August 13, 2011, 12:14:21 AM
Any suggestions to where I else this could've found a home?
One level up in general discussions.
Quote from: SandraJane on August 13, 2011, 12:14:21 AM
On motorcycle for me it was the "Beach" at Daytona Beach, Fla, only 1 of 2 times I have ever taken my helmet off. THe wind and the surf, sun setting...
I agree the beach is nice, but I believe that it is not a place for motorized vehicles, despite Volusia county's insistence on keeping it open to such. Every year children are killed on the beaches because driving is allowed there. I think there have been 2 or 3 so far this year. Besides that, wildlife lives there and I don't really think tourists or local residents like exhaust fumes and engine noise while trying to enjoy the beach. Not meaning to start an argument or anything, it is just an issue that has always bothered me as long as I've lived here.
Quote from: Irish Janet on August 12, 2011, 11:46:53 PM
Highway 101 from Astoria to Brookings, in Oregon. It skirts along the Pacific ocean and some of the views are just breath-taking.
@Pinkfluff If you are taking along the Columbia River, that would be I-84.
Yep that is the one.
Quote from: Pinkfluff on August 12, 2011, 11:36:18 PM
Now that I notice it, why is this thread under ARGHHH! ?
I didn't even notice that! :laugh: Just moved this to general discussions.
I do a lot of long-distance driving. A year ago, I drove from Maine to SF in 2 1/2 days so I could make it to a job interview. (No, no drugs were involved; I just have a way of focusing and keeping myself awake when I'm driving.) I can't say 80 is my favorite highway, but seeing the country, from coast to coast, go by in one smooth motion was breath-takingling beautiful.
Of the major highways in the US, I think the western half of 10 is my favorite. 5 is a good one too. If you could take out the stretch that goes through the Central Valley, it would be just about perfect.
As for state highways and local roads, there are just too many for me to comment on, and I don't do a lot of local driving these days anyway.
Thank You Zoe! Its easier to see now.
SandraJane
PCH from South San Francisco to Malibu but especially between Carmel and San Luis Obispo.
Route 424 in Delaware, backroads to get to Rehoboth Beach/Ocean City, Md.
PCH from Laguna Beach to Dana Point.
Duluth to Thunder Bay is pretty cool too.
Quote from: Zoë Natasha on August 12, 2011, 06:43:50 PM
So hard to pick a favorite, but one of mine is US 285 through Park County, Colorado.
I really wish Route 66 were still around because pictures of it looked magical! Or maybe it's because I was born in a hospital right off of what was Route 66 back in the day. :laugh:
That stretch of roadway is where I go to the cabin to get away from the noise of the Front Range. It is pretty in fall on Kenosha pass with the aspens turning starting around mid-September. You'll see antelope on the range in the South Park. A lot of flowers in the high meadows off of the side roads this year. EDIT: There is the Coney Island hotdog stand In Bailey, that was one of the icon diners of the past. It is shaped like a large hotdog in a bun topped with relish. They serve hamburgers, hotdogs, brats, kielbasa, and various types of sausages (deer, buffalo, etc.) as they become available. Chips, fries, shakes, soda with that? The third location that structure was at. This was the diner I mentioned in another thread that was closed when the owner got in a Donnybrook with the county Sheriff. It reopened in mid-June. New owner? I went there once since, the food is still good, but I saw the young help, but not the original owners though.
Joelene
Quote from: Joelene9 on August 13, 2011, 01:46:55 AM
That stretch of roadway is where I go to the cabin to get away from the noise of the Front Range. It is pretty in fall on Kenosha pass with the aspens turning starting around mid-September. You'll see antelope on the range in the South Park. A lot of flowers in the high meadows off of the side roads this year.
Joelene
That really is a beautiful area! My mom knows someone with a cabin in Como and goes there quite often. :) We just did that drive about a month ago, but I've never been there in September! Will have to give it a try this year on your recommendation.
This will be newie :laugh:
The Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Warrnambool in Southern Victoria Australia. About 200kms of stunning ocean views, historic ship wreck sites, outstanding geological features etc. Very nice trip
Cindy
Quote from: MeghanAndrews on August 13, 2011, 01:08:45 AM
PCH from South San Francisco to Malibu but especially between Carmel and San Luis Obispo.
My favorite too :)
Quote from: Zoë Natasha on August 13, 2011, 01:58:25 AM
That really is a beautiful area! My mom knows someone with a cabin in Como and goes there quite often. :) We just did that drive about a month ago, but I've never been there in September! Will have to give it a try this year on your recommendation.
I was at an astronomical event campout a few years ago over the Fourth of July weekend on a ridge overlooking South Park. They had a fireworks display in Como. It was neat looking down at the fireworks and seeing the red and white beads of light on US 285 as the cars left.
Joelene
Quote from: MeghanAndrews on August 13, 2011, 01:08:45 AM
PCH from South San Francisco to Malibu but especially between Carmel and San Luis Obispo.
Route 424 in Delaware, backroads to get to Rehoboth Beach/Ocean City, Md.
PCH from Laguna Beach to Dana Point.
PCH! Regret that I didn't drive it enough when I lived out there...PCH and Traffic Circle in Long Beach, going southbound down the hill at night, ohoh!
Backroads, forgotten trails of America.
Usually, ones I haven't traveled before.
Yea to that
Cindy
Quote from: LordKAT on August 13, 2011, 04:23:05 AM
Usually, ones I haven't traveled before.
That figures! :laugh:
I have found a better one than the Great Ocean Road, which has been stuffed up for the first bit by ridiculous speed limits. I have ridden and driven on a large fraction of the roads in SE Australia, and this is the best I have ever ridden. I put it in the same class as the roads in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands.
It is the Channel Highway in Tasmania. I rode it last Sunday, and it was almost literally orgasmic. South out of Hobart on the Southern Outlet or Sandy Bay Rd, then onto the Channel Hwy at Kingston. The road follows the coast for 70 km to Cygnet with tight and sweeping bends, and fantastic views all the way. The road surface is generally good and there doesn't seem to be a lot of traffic. If you get stuck behind a campervan there are lots of places to pull over and enjoy the views while the road clears a bit.
Once I got to Cygnet I turned around and 3 km out of town turned left towards Nicholls Rivulet and Oyster Cove. The road through the hills is just as brilliant, with lush rainforest and fern gullies. You end up on the road south out of Hobart, about 30 km south of where you started.
If I had had time I would have just done it all again.
Karen.
I'd have to say my favorite road would be PCH(Pacific Coast Highway), a section of California Route 1 that passes the mountains in the socal area. I love the ocean, and I love the mountains, so I get a glorious view on all sides, for miles and miles. The only bad part is the traffic during peak hours.
Been on a lot of roads in my time. Highway 45 in Colorado comes to mind.
Quote from: gennee on August 23, 2011, 08:34:35 AM
Been on a lot of roads in my time. Highway 45 in Colorado comes to mind.
No highway 45, but do you mean US 40 through Berthod and Rabbitears passes!
Joelene
Rt 100 in Vermont, kancamagus hgwy in New Hampshire. Both during the fall.
HWY 101 in Western Washington from Anacortes (West of Seattle) to Neah Bay and down the coast. PCH in SoCal was also pretty cool last August in a new Mustang convertible.
I like my roads to be steep, winding, whith buttery smooth surfaces and completely free of motorised vehicles
I spent 2000 to 2004 traveling the USA in a minnie winnie RV and traveled every back road and went to every state except hiawia and alaska. I went to northern maines most northern tip to key west to vancover BC to san diego and all in between and well the places i loved the most had the poorest people in appalachia In eastern kentucky. I had come across the lonesome pine trail into SE Ky and followed so many hollars into valleys and into NE Tenn. Back in the 60's and early 70's i hitched hiked around the USA and saw 42 states in 8 months time, before they had interstates and that was fun. It took forever to get anywhere and people were so kind back then. I would stay in peoples homes which were listed as salvation army shelters for travelers. Oh i wish we never created interstates. Oh well so is life. Oh i always detoured big cities unless i had to go thru them. Gas was only a 1.00 a gallon then too. sheesh how things have changed ..
UPDATE:
NOTE: I WAS DOING TRANS SAFE HOUSING BACK THEN = 2000 TO 2003 AND HAD TO TRAVEL TO PICK UP MANY OF THEM AND DELIVER THEM TO THE SAFE HOUSING PLACES
I like driving through tree tunnels - it's like being stroked by the trees...
Quote from: Epi on September 01, 2011, 02:44:48 AM
Love this drive
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1214.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc497%2FEpifone%2Fth_2011-08-31_18-50-54_904.jpg&hash=4d210095d3e5e10582eec1b08650e9f762abba33) (http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc497/Epifone/?action=view¤t=2011-08-31_18-50-54_904.mp4)
Where is "this drive"?
Quote from: Padma on September 01, 2011, 02:55:43 AM
I like driving through tree tunnels - it's like being stroked by the trees...
You should get to the Valley of the Giants in West Australia. Tree heaven
Cindy
You'd love the Natchez Trace Parkway then.
Quote from: Cindy James on September 01, 2011, 02:57:54 AM
You should get to the Valley of the Giants in West Australia. Tree heaven
Nearly made it there when I went to Perth, ended up near Dwellingup instead, which was okay - but was also up near Dorrigo, some fine trees there. Very few things make me happier than being in a forest (though I'd rather be walking than driving) :).
Well the Redwood forests of Northern California a so soft, so deep and so quite, the Quaking Aspen forests of Colorado are way trippy (the leaves are green on one side, silver on the other and in a breeze it just shimmers), and the White Birch Forests of N. Minnesota are very pretty too.
And the Blue Ridge Parkway...anywhere...Quaking Aspen...2 sided leaves...I want to see now!
Natchez Trace...and East Texas-The Big Thicket...solid Pine!
Quote from: Logan Bann on September 01, 2011, 01:50:58 PM
I like Iowa. The endless cornfields, whether flat or in them rolling hills.
I also like the backwoods of Appalachia, M2. One time I was working in southern WV and a local took us up the holla in his pickup, all the way up the mountain and back. Little dirt road carved out of the trees with raspberries everywhere and deer, black bears, the road so rough we drove across four creeks each way. It was amazing. Now I'm afraid I won't be able to go back there because of being out trans now, I love it but it isn't always the safest place.
Hey Brother Hillbilly, Sister Hillbilly sez it ain't because of that...its them sumbit*#in Coal Companies, strip mining and destroying West "by God" Virginia! That place you went to was probably destroyed, so don't worry 'bout being Trans! You think you be safer on the streets of D.C. or Baltimore? Up some Holler in WV? Used to be the other way around :laugh:
There are parts of West Virginia that have that Deliverance "if you hear banjo music paddle faster' feel about them.
Quote from: Joelene9 on August 23, 2011, 09:38:39 AM
US 40 through Berthod and Rabbitears passes!
Joelene
On my Harley, a couple of times. You really get an understanding of what Awesome really is.
Quote from: tekla on September 01, 2011, 05:33:30 PM
There are parts of West Virginia that have that Deliverance "if you hear banjo music paddle faster' feel about them.
California too...Humbolt County, and the place where the Bohemian Club has its retreats (that's spooky)...
While the retreats at the Grove might be spooky, the location is not, it's in the middle of one of the most liberal places on earth, right down the road from a huge gay resort area.
Quote from: tekla on September 01, 2011, 09:45:24 PM
While the retreats at the Grove might be spooky, the location is not, it's in the middle of one of the most liberal places on earth, right down the road from a huge gay resort area.
Yeah, and a Druid Cemetery. :laugh:
Even the people who live here call it 'west Sonoma County' like it's even freakier then the rest of us. Heck there is an old cemetery down the street from me, it's popular with joggers.
Although I live in Ontario Canada I love riding my bike in the U.S. especially through the Adirondack's in NewYork State. My favourite route is down through Lake Placid to Lake George then north along the causeways through Lake Champlain. The rush of riding fast through the "floor board scraping" winding mountain roads is hard to beat. Beautiful country and great roads.
If you love awesome bike roads, the area we were talking about above, around Bohemian Grove and West Sonoma are awesome. Levi Leipheimer trains out there, as does the team that just won the Tour de France. They might be from Australia, but they train here. Places like Coleman Valley Road, Bohemian Highway, Willow Creek Road, Old Cazadaro Road - all awesome bike routes. World class.
Quote from: tekla on September 01, 2011, 11:53:46 PM
If you love awesome bike roads, the area we were talking about above, around Bohemian Grove and West Sonoma are awesome. Levi Leipheimer trains out there, as does the team that just won the Tour de France. They might be from Australia, but they train here. Places like Coleman Valley Road, Bohemian Highway, Willow Creek Road, Old Cazadaro Road - all awesome bike routes. World class.
Just checked them out and wow it's gorgeous there.
Yeah, it's fast becoming a bike mecca. And then there are the roads like Eastside and Westside which tragically run past all sorts of world class wineries, which might not be awesome for training, but it makes for a good time on a fun ride.
Quote from: tekla on September 02, 2011, 12:15:37 AM
Yeah, it's fast becoming a bike mecca. And then there are the roads like Eastside and Westside which tragically run past all sorts of world class wineries, which might not be awesome for training, but it makes for a good time on a fun ride.
Ya wine has a tendency to straighten out the curves - not good :)
Hey there Tekla... The highway between Durango and Ouray is on my list... I love the drive, and the hot springs in Ouray (there are also some awesome ones just out of Durango). The million dollar highway is amazing for sure, always hiking those mountains by the way. Actually any drive between Rico and Lake City from Durango to Ouray is great!
I am definitely a southwest girl so any drive there is great; I have a lot of roads in my mind but I don't really want to give away my area...
A great, though often treacherous drive, is between Manali, Himachal Pradesh and Leh, Kashmir in India... One of the most beautiful drives in the world by far I have experience, yet one of the closest to making you feel like you are goin' to die.
Also drive up the Eastern face of the Sierras in between Johannesburg and Bridgeport, AMAZING fyi!
I'm about to make the trip of a lifetime in 6-8 weeks and I hope to make some posts about the drives and trip here. I am flying from Houston to Johannasburg then catching a plane to Pemba, Mozambique. After doing some business in Pemba, I will travel through (or over) Tanzania to spend some time in Uganda then over to Kenya.
I'm excited but also a bit nervous since I have never traveled to Africa and I am going to have to get used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road..... :laugh:
Quote from: Logan Bann on September 01, 2011, 01:50:58 PM
I like Iowa. The endless cornfields, whether flat or in them rolling hills.
I also like the backwoods of Appalachia, M2. One time I was working in southern WV and a local took us up the holla in his pickup, all the way up the mountain and back. Little dirt road carved out of the trees with raspberries everywhere and deer, black bears, the road so rough we drove across four creeks each way. It was amazing. Now I'm afraid I won't be able to go back there because of being out trans now, I love it but it isn't always the safest place.
Those backwood boys will love you even more now ;D
Yeah, the springs are nice, as is the hiking.