#Shenandoah Blue Ridge Great Smokey Mountains

[johnnyslittleanimalblog]

Even Bears Have to Obey the Posted Speed Limit! (Blue Ridge Parkway) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While at a roadside pullout along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The setting is looking to the south with a black bear that was meandering down the road. I captured a few images as it moved back-and-forth from one side to the other. This one image I liked most out of the collection as it had the bear seemingly looking at the posted speed limit sign.

[thorsenmark]

Taking Stock of Beautiful Places Along the Blue Ridge Parkway by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While taking in views of Otter Creek at a roadside pullout along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is at the Lower Otter Creek Overlook and looking downstream and to the south. My thought on composing this image was to capture a look as the water flowed by while using the forest of trees and blue skies as a backdrop for this national park service site setting.

[katietrekks]

May 23, 2021

Humpback Mountain and Humpback Rocks via the AT Blue Ridge Parkway, George Washington National Forest, Virginia 6.46 miles 1,400 ft Elevation Gain

So for the next week and a half, I will be traveling down the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking some of the highlighted trails along it. For those who don't know, The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Scenic Roadway in the Appalachian Mountains that connects Shenandoah Nation Parks to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. My first hike of the trip was Humpback Mountain and Humpback Rocks. Awesome hike with some awesome views. I saw the biggest rattlesnake of my life during the hike which was a plus!

[marcellusbitsandpieces]

Bits and Pieces  -  CCC   2/21/21

There are few people alive today who can remember the trials and tribulations as well as the good that came from The Great Depression.

Mostly, we today are wasteful. Most of us have grown up in times of “throw-away and buy new.” I have friends who still tease me about clothes I own that are old enough to legally drink in any state of the union.

I grew up in a time when paper plates were reserved for picnics. Even at that, we usually used a picnic basket of plastic ware, brought it home, washed them, and restocked the picnic basket for the next time.

However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy using paper plates and saving doing dishes. No sir-eee!

What I have been thinking lately, though, is that we are living today in a time of grave need – similar to the time of great need of The Great Depression.

Which brings me to the impressive and long quoted words of President Franklin Roosevelt at his first inauguration: “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.”

Many are living in great fear today. Rather than cower in it, we need to face it. Do things about it.

FDR did many wonderful things to reduce the fear, re-establish the nation and bring relief to many – then as well as those we still enjoy today.

There were many new agencies created and new programs begun, but maybe none as long-lasting and beneficial as the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The CCC provided manual labor jobs in conservation and development of natural resources to unemployed young single men with 5/6 of the government income sent home to their families. It was discontinued when WWII broke out for the U.S. and the draft and new work was begun.

Over three million men in the 9-year span worked on over 800 parks across the United States. Many of you have likely enjoyed the beauty that these men created by preserving native lands and sparking pride in self and country.

One of my favorites is Everglades National Park. Do not begin to cross it from shore to shore without a full tank of gas. One of the best ways to see the area is in one of those wind mobiles.

This 1.5-million-acre park was infested with an invasive bollworm in the wild cotton. Black CCC men took on the herculean task of removing all the wild cotton from the entire grounds.

If you have visited the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, you know that you can never tire of the view. It is in constant change. Because of the diligent work of several groups of CCC men, today we can enjoy the stone wall along the South Rim, the Bright Angel Trail, camps at the bottom of the canyon, along the North Rim and at Desert View. These camps created the most difficult trail to construct in the entire canyon – The Colorado River Trail. If you ever want a magnificent memory – take a white-water rafting trip from Moab, Utah to Lake Powell – then go to the South Rim of The Canyon.

Michigan is fortunate to be the state with the most pine trees planted by the CCC – almost 485 million – of any state at that time. These trees were primarily planted in the Manistee National Forest, 75,000 acres. This reforestation effort along with removing forest fire debris and underbrush to prevent future fires, and with maintaining bridges, trails and roads in the National Forest have given Michiganders and all others who visit a beautiful experience. For administrative purposes, the Huron National Forest on the other side of the mitten was combined with Manistee in 1945.

Acadia National Park in Maine was the first National Park east of the Mississippi River. It was mostly still overgrown when the CCC arrived. Ocean Path and the Perpendicular Trial are still loved projects enjoyed there today. If you go during blueberry season, be sure to go blueberry picking. It is NOTHING like here in Michigan. When I went to see my new niece, Amber, (who will be 29 in April), Chris, Amber and I went picking.

You rake them off the ground cover plants. They are so tiny; they are difficult to see in the box. Even Amber struggled to see.

These are just a few of the beautifully tendered and saved National Parks from the CCC era. Some others are:

·         Death Valley National Park – (Laura Dunn and I got locked out of a running rental car in Death Valley. Ever pray for help in Death Valley? We also were about to break the window and pay damages – thank goodness for a utility truck out of nowhere.)

·         Florida Caverns State Park – it was mistakenly discovered near the end of the CCC projects and extraordinarily salvaged for future generations.

·         Devils Tower National Monument – On the NW corner of the Black Hills is the first national monument created by Teddy Roosevelt. The work done by the CCC make the area a visitor’s park with a museum, roads and trails.

·         Mount Hood National Forest – Mount Hood is a stratovolcano which means it is tall and conical shaped. Though dormant, the volcano peak separates the forest into two distinct ecosystems. On one side is a rainforest and on the other is a dry pine forest. The CCC constructed Timberline Lodge, a ski lodge that today stands as an historical landmark.

·         Shenandoah National Park, Virginia – built into the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail in the park. Some of the earliest works of the CCC happened here.

·         Blue Ridge Parkway – extends through North Carolina and Virginia. It is the longest continuous route in Appalachia. FDR saw it as the link between the Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smokey Mountains. The CCC is credited with kick-starting the project that took over 50 years to complete.

When we think of private businesses creating wonderment for the future, we often forget the hard work of citizens through agencies and projects of our government that have provided us with an unforgettable future that could have been lost – and restoring pride and honor to our people when they needed it most.

[juniperandmagpie]

Our National Parks Sites Bucket List by State

It goes without saying that we plan to eventually conquer all 59 US National Parks, but there are quite a few other sites run by the National Parks Services that we want to see in addition to the parks. Below is our bucket list of all the nationally designated areas we'd like to see in the US in alphabetical order. We hope this inspires you to go out and see some of these sites that are near you!

For more bucket list inspiration: Check out our list of America's best thru-hikes, our epic road trip plan to see all of the contingent US National Parks, and our "get started" map to see what wilderness areas are close to you!

Alabama

Little River Canyon National Preserve • Russell Cave National Monument

Alaska

Alagnak Wild River • Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve • Bering Land Bridge National Preserve • Cape Krusenstern National Monument • Denali National Park • Denali National Preserve • Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve • Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve • Katmai National Park and Preserve • Kenai Fjords National Park • Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park • Kobuk Valley National Park • Lake Clark National Park and Preserve • Noatak National Preserve • Sitka National Historical Park • Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve • Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

Arizona

Canyon De Chelly National Monument • Chiricahua National Monument • Glen Canyon National Recreation Area • Grand Canyon National Park • Montezuma Castle National Monument • Navajo National Monument • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument • Petrified Forest National Park • Saguaro National Park • Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument • Tonto National Monument • Tuzigoot National Monument • Walnut Canyon National Monument • Wupatki National Monument

Arkansas

Buffalo National River • Hot Springs National Park

California

Cabrillo National Monument • Castle Mountains National Monument • Channel Islands National Park • Death Valley National Park • Devils Postpile National Monument • Golden Gate National Recreational Area • Joshua Tree National Park • Kings Canyon National Park • Lassen Volcanic National Park • Lava Beds National Monument • Mojave National Preserve • Muir Woods National Monument • Pinnacles National Park • Point Reyes National Seashore • Redwood National Park • Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area • Sequoia National Park • Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area • Yosemite National Park

Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park • Colorado National Monument • Currecanti National Recreation Area • Dinosaur National Monument • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument • Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve • Hovenweep National Monument • Mesa Verde National Park • Rocky Mountain National Park • Yucca House National Monument

Florida

Big Cypress National Preserve • Biscayne National Park • Canaveral National Seashore • Dry Tortugas National Park • Everglades National Park • Gulf Islands National Seashore • Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Georgia

Appalachian National Scenic Trail • Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area • Cumberland Island National Seashore • Ocmulgee National Monument

Hawaii

Haleakala National Park • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park • Kalaupapa National Historical Park • Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park • Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park • Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site

Idaho

City of Rocks National Reserve • Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve • Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument • Nez Perce National Historical Park

Indiana

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Kansas

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Kentucky

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park • Mammoth Cave National Park

Maine

Acadia National Park

Maryland

Assateague Island National Seashore • Catoctin Mountain Park • Piscataway Park • Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Massachusetts

Cape Cod National Seashore

Michigan

Isle Royale National Park • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Minnesota

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area • Pipestone National Monument • Voyageurs National Park

Montana

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area • Glacier National Park

Nebraska

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument • Missouri National Recreational River • Niobrara National Scenic River • Scotts Bluff National Monument

Nevada

Great Basin National Park • Lake Mead National Recreation Area • Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

New Mexico

Aztec Ruins National Monument • Bandelier National Monument • Capulin Volcano National Monument • Carlsbad Caverns National Park • Chaco Culture National Historical Park • El Malpais National Monument • El Morro National Monument • Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument • Petroglyph National Monument • Valles Caldera National Preserve • White Sands National Monument

North Carolina

Blue Ridge Parkway • Cape Hatteras National Seashore • Cape Lookout National Seashore

North Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Oregon

Crater Lake National Park • John Day Fossil Beds National Monument • Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve

Pennsylvania

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area • Middle Delaware National Scenic River • Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

South Carolina

Congaree National Park

South Dakota

Badlands National Park • Jewel Cave National Monument • Mount Rushmore National Memorial • Wind Cave National Park

Tennessee

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area • Great Smokey Mountains National Park • Obed Wild and Scenic River

Texas

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument • Amistad National Recreation Area • Big Bend National Park • Big Thicket National Preserve • Guadalupe Mountains National Park • Lake Meredith National Recreation Area • Padre Island National Seashore • Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River

Utah

Arches National Park • Bryce Canyon National Park • Canyonlands National Park • Capitol Reef National Park • Cedar Breaks National Monument • Natural Bridges National Monument • Rainbow Bridge National Monument • Timpanogos Cave National Monument • Zion National Park

Virginia

Shenandoah National Park

Washington

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area • Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area • Mount Rainier National Park • North Cascades National Park • Olympic National Park • Ross Lake National Recreation Area

Wisconsin

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore • Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway

Wyoming

Devils Tower National Monument • Fossil Butte National Monument • Grand Teton National Park • John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway • Yellowstone National Park

American Samoa

National Park of American Samoa

Puerto Rico

San Juan National Historic Site

Virgin Islands

Buck Island Reef National Monument • Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument • Virgin Islands National Park

See a site you think we missed? We'd love to hear about your favorite nationally designated areas!

[reise8]

Wandern auf dem Blue Ridge Parkway

  Der längste lineare Wanderweg der Vereinigten Staaten Der Blue Ridge Parkway, der längste lineare Wanderweg der Vereinigten Staaten, ist seit fast 70 Jahren das beliebteste Reiseziel im Osten des Landes. Er beginnt im Shenandoah-Nationalpark in Virginia und schlängelt sich über 460 Meilen nach Süden bis nach North Carolina, bis er im Great Smokey Mountains-Nationalpark, der an das…

[ecgraphics-blog]

Nature's Calling! See some of America's most beautiful scenery at Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, all in one spectacular trip! You are in the driver's seat as you wind through the stunning landscapes of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Whether you want to spend the whole trip hiking and biking, shopping, or investigating each area's entertainment, this trip will get you there – by the scenic route! WHAT'S INCLUDED * Roundtrip economy class airfare into Washington, D.C. (IAD) and out of Knoxville (TYS) * Automatic rental car for the duration of your trip * Pick up IAD and drop off TYS * 2 nights in Shenandoah National Park at the Skyland Resort, or similar * 2 nights in Asheville at the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, or similar * 3 nights in Gatlinburg at the Edgewater Hotel & Conference Center, or similar * Detailed day-by-day itinerary with trip highlights, hotel information, local guides, maps and daily driving instructions UNIQUE EXPLORATIONS * Drive the spectacular Skyline Drive, which runs the entire length of Shenandoah National Park.
 * Cycle the Blue Ridge in charming Asheville. 
 * Explore a moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg.  * Visit Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains.  * Fill your lungs with the special feel of Smokey Mountain air.  PACKAGE OVERVIEW Explore the best of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Beautiful mountains, stunning views, and charming stops are waiting for you on this 7-night road trip through some of America's most prized national parks.  Whether you're driving along the breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking the Appalachian Trail, or staring up at the starry night sky, you'll know that this trip is exactly what you needed to disconnect from your everyday routine and reconnect with the world around you.  Detailed Itinerary Available Please note that some package inclusions may be restricted or unavailable at time of travel. We will substitute them with similar options of equivalent value, as available. $1,312 PER PERSON 7 NIGHTS (at Worldwide) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVlIJAqL-3d/?utm_medium=tumblr

[vainsylm]

Survoler les Smokey Mountains

Voyager en avion est une excellente expertise. Et au cas où vous ne l'auriez jamais fait dans un hachoir, je vous suggère d'essayer quand vous en êtes capable. Je viens d'expérimenter le voyage en hélicoptère au-dessus de la Light Blue Ridge Parkway, un parc national pour votre voiture et un parcours de moteur pittoresque, augmentant 469 miles (755 km) principalement dans toute la partie Glowing blue Ridge de la montagne des Appalaches depuis les portions occidentales traditionnelles de la Virginie et n . C., États-Unis. Il relie Shenandoah Countrywide Park (nord-est) au parc national de Great Smoky Mountain (sud-ouest) et passe par George Washington et Jefferson (Virginie) et Pisgah et Nantahala (N. C.) À travers les boisés nationaux. La promenade, reconnue en 1936, comprend une section globale de 149 m². kilomètres (386 km2) et il est appliqué par le You.S. Services des parcs nationaux (NPS). Le siège social est situé à Asheville, en Caroline du Nord, près de la partie sud du terminus de la promenade. La conception a été lente à cv après la guerre jusqu'au milieu des années 1950, lorsque, inclus dans l'objectif 66 (un système NPS complet pour améliorer ses qualités à l'échelle du système), presque tous les autres secteurs sur la route ont été effectivement réalisés au cours de la prochaine décennie . Au cours de cette période, un certain nombre de caractéristiques ont également été ajoutées, notamment des centres d'accueil des visiteurs, des services de restauration et d'hébergement et des terrains de camping. L'un des derniers et nombreux liens arrière exigeants de la promenade en cours de développement était vraiment un tronçon autour de Grandfather Hill en Caroline du Nord, qui a été construit en 1979-1982. Un segment de la plate-forme là-bas (le viaduc de Linn Cove) a été élevé et créé sur des piles, en utilisant une technique en porte-à-faux mentionnée précédemment pour mettre en place des poutres de soutien préfabriquées et des sections de plate-forme qui, par conséquent, ont réduit les dommages causés au fragile écosystème de la région. La promenade complètement aménagée a été consacrée techniquement le 11 septembre 1987, précisément 52 ans après le début des travaux. Le terminus nord de la promenade se trouve dans le centre-nord-ouest de la Virginie, juste à l'est de Waynesboro, où il jouxte l'extrémité sud de Skyline Drive (la route qui traverse la zone de loisirs Shenandoah Countrywide Recreation). Il se déplace généralement vers le sud-ouest sur environ 220 kilomètres (355 km) en passant par la Virginie, se déplaçant près de Lexington et de Roanoke, avant d'entrer en Caroline du Nord à l'ouest-nord-ouest d'Install Airy. L'autoroute persiste vers le sud-ouest vers l'est de Boone, longeant le bord est d'Asheville et, à environ 35 kilomètres (55 km) après Asheville, fait un virage tranchant comme un rasoir pour le nord-ouest. Le chemin se transforme ensuite vers l'ouest après avoir pénétré dans la réserve indienne Cherokee, qu'il traverse bien avant de se terminer sur la zone d'entrée sud du parc national des Great Smoky Mountains. Le voyage en hélicoptère sur la promenade était extraordinaire. J'encourage fortement quiconque à faire ce genre de voyage si vous le pouvez. Pour en savoir plus, je vous recommande la lecture du site sur ce de vol en hélicoptère qui est très bien élaboré sur ce sujet.

[marshallrealestatesolutions]

Ten scenic drives sure to leave you breathless

With more than 100 scenic byways throughout America, there is plenty to see and do on the road no matter the time of year. So, as the seasons roll by, jump in the car and take in fall's vibrant leaves, winter's snowy wonderland, spring's wildflowers and summer's long hours of light. White Mountains Trail Scenic Byway (N.H.) The 100-mile White Mountains Trail will take you through some of the most beautiful parts of New Hampshire. It passes through the famous White Mountains and goes past Mount Washington, which is stunning in both the fall and spring for scenic drives or hiking. Moose are plentiful in the White Mountains, so whether you're on four wheels, two wheels, or two feet, keep a watchful eye. Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway (Va., N.C., Tenn.) Skyline Drive, which starts in the Shenandoah National Park, winds 105 miles through the western mountains of Virginia and links up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Away.com, a travel inspiration site, says to check out the wildflowers, ferns and mountain laurel in bloom in the late spring. The 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway then link Virginia to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Smokey Mountains in southern Tennessee. Since the elevation ranges from 650 to 6,000 feet, there is a wide range of time to see fall color. State Route A1A (Fla.) The historic Florida A1A byway runs almost the length of the eastern coast of Florida from Amelia Island at the Georgia state line to Key West. Along this route you'll pass through seemingly endless beachfront towns, including St. Augustine, which is the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the United States, Cocoa Beach, which was the site of NASA shuttle launches, and Miami's famous South Beach. Natchez Trace Parkway (Tenn., Ala., Miss.) The Natchez Trace Parkway was long ago created by Native Americans and was later used as a link between the Mississippi Territory and what is now Nashville. With a little more than 440 miles to explore, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails to be found. Camping is a budget-friendly option for a multiday trip, too. Talimena Scenic Drive (Ark., Okla.) The 54-mile Talimena Scenic Drive takes you through Arkansas and Oklahoma. You'll drive along some of the highest ridges between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains in the Winding Stair and Rich mountains. This area experiences four distinct seasons and can be a great spot to see wildlife such as black bears. Sky Island Scenic Byway (Ariz.) Just 27 miles long, the Sky Island Scenic Byway is literally a climb from desert to forest. Take a photo of a cactus at the beginning of your drive, and then, 9,000 feet up, take a photo of yourself in the forest. This route is one of the only paved roads to the top of Mt. Lemmon. Enjoy this area for hiking, backpacking and even skiing. Top of the Rockies (Colo.) Feel like you're on top of the world as you drive the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway. At 10,424 feet, the Tennessee Pass is breathtaking. Plenty of wildlife can be seen along this 75-mile stretch before you wind up in the old mining town of Leadville, which is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. Beartooth Scenic Byway (Mont., Wyo.) Providing a path to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Beartooth Scenic Byway in Montana and Wyoming reaches some of the highest heights in the northern Rockies. In fewer than 54 miles you'll see snowcapped peaks, lakes and even glaciers. Plan ahead; this road is only open weather permitting, so check with the DOT before heading out on your trip. Seward Highway (Alaska) This 125-mile highway links the Alaskan cities of Seward and Anchorage. Starting at the Gulf of Alaska and winding through scenic areas like Chugach National Forest, this road trip is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This highway gives visitors a way to see both the water and interior of southern Alaska. Highway 101/California State Route 1 (Calif., Ore., Wash.) Both Highway 101 and California State Route 1 run north-south along the California, Oregon and Washington coastline. These routes are also known as the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, Pacific Highway and the Oregon Coast Highway. Start in southern California, and when Hwy 101 branches off inland, take SR 1 along the magnificent California coastline. Plenty of views of both the coast and forests, like Redwood National Forest, will be captured.

[soldbysue]

Ten scenic drives sure to leave you breathless

With more than 100 scenic byways throughout America, there is plenty to see and do on the road no matter the time of year. So, as the seasons roll by, jump in the car and take in fall's vibrant leaves, winter's snowy wonderland, spring's wildflowers and summer's long hours of light. White Mountains Trail Scenic Byway (N.H.) The 100-mile White Mountains Trail will take you through some of the most beautiful parts of New Hampshire. It passes through the famous White Mountains and goes past Mount Washington, which is stunning in both the fall and spring for scenic drives or hiking. Moose are plentiful in the White Mountains, so whether you're on four wheels, two wheels, or two feet, keep a watchful eye. Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway (Va., N.C., Tenn.) Skyline Drive, which starts in the Shenandoah National Park, winds 105 miles through the western mountains of Virginia and links up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Away.com, a travel inspiration site, says to check out the wildflowers, ferns and mountain laurel in bloom in the late spring. The 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway then link Virginia to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Smokey Mountains in southern Tennessee. Since the elevation ranges from 650 to 6,000 feet, there is a wide range of time to see fall color. State Route A1A (Fla.) The historic Florida A1A byway runs almost the length of the eastern coast of Florida from Amelia Island at the Georgia state line to Key West. Along this route you'll pass through seemingly endless beachfront towns, including St. Augustine, which is the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the United States, Cocoa Beach, which was the site of NASA shuttle launches, and Miami's famous South Beach. Natchez Trace Parkway (Tenn., Ala., Miss.) The Natchez Trace Parkway was long ago created by Native Americans and was later used as a link between the Mississippi Territory and what is now Nashville. With a little more than 440 miles to explore, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails to be found. Camping is a budget-friendly option for a multiday trip, too. Talimena Scenic Drive (Ark., Okla.) The 54-mile Talimena Scenic Drive takes you through Arkansas and Oklahoma. You'll drive along some of the highest ridges between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains in the Winding Stair and Rich mountains. This area experiences four distinct seasons and can be a great spot to see wildlife such as black bears. Sky Island Scenic Byway (Ariz.) Just 27 miles long, the Sky Island Scenic Byway is literally a climb from desert to forest. Take a photo of a cactus at the beginning of your drive, and then, 9,000 feet up, take a photo of yourself in the forest. This route is one of the only paved roads to the top of Mt. Lemmon. Enjoy this area for hiking, backpacking and even skiing. Top of the Rockies (Colo.) Feel like you're on top of the world as you drive the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway. At 10,424 feet, the Tennessee Pass is breathtaking. Plenty of wildlife can be seen along this 75-mile stretch before you wind up in the old mining town of Leadville, which is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. Beartooth Scenic Byway (Mont., Wyo.) Providing a path to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Beartooth Scenic Byway in Montana and Wyoming reaches some of the highest heights in the northern Rockies. In fewer than 54 miles you'll see snowcapped peaks, lakes and even glaciers. Plan ahead; this road is only open weather permitting, so check with the DOT before heading out on your trip. Seward Highway (Alaska) This 125-mile highway links the Alaskan cities of Seward and Anchorage. Starting at the Gulf of Alaska and winding through scenic areas like Chugach National Forest, this road trip is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This highway gives visitors a way to see both the water and interior of southern Alaska. Highway 101/California State Route 1 (Calif., Ore., Wash.) Both Highway 101 and California State Route 1 run north-south along the California, Oregon and Washington coastline. These routes are also known as the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, Pacific Highway and the Oregon Coast Highway. Start in southern California, and when Hwy 101 branches off inland, take SR 1 along the magnificent California coastline. Plenty of views of both the coast and forests, like Redwood National Forest, will be captured.

[tracydiamondrealtor]

Ten scenic drives sure to leave you breathless

With more than 100 scenic byways throughout America, there is plenty to see and do on the road no matter the time of year. So, as the seasons roll by, jump in the car and take in fall's vibrant leaves, winter's snowy wonderland, spring's wildflowers and summer's long hours of light. White Mountains Trail Scenic Byway (N.H.) The 100-mile White Mountains Trail will take you through some of the most beautiful parts of New Hampshire. It passes through the famous White Mountains and goes past Mount Washington, which is stunning in both the fall and spring for scenic drives or hiking. Moose are plentiful in the White Mountains, so whether you're on four wheels, two wheels, or two feet, keep a watchful eye. Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway (Va., N.C., Tenn.) Skyline Drive, which starts in the Shenandoah National Park, winds 105 miles through the western mountains of Virginia and links up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Away.com, a travel inspiration site, says to check out the wildflowers, ferns and mountain laurel in bloom in the late spring. The 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway then link Virginia to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Smokey Mountains in southern Tennessee. Since the elevation ranges from 650 to 6,000 feet, there is a wide range of time to see fall color. State Route A1A (Fla.) The historic Florida A1A byway runs almost the length of the eastern coast of Florida from Amelia Island at the Georgia state line to Key West. Along this route you'll pass through seemingly endless beachfront towns, including St. Augustine, which is the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the United States, Cocoa Beach, which was the site of NASA shuttle launches, and Miami's famous South Beach. Natchez Trace Parkway (Tenn., Ala., Miss.) The Natchez Trace Parkway was long ago created by Native Americans and was later used as a link between the Mississippi Territory and what is now Nashville. With a little more than 440 miles to explore, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails to be found. Camping is a budget-friendly option for a multiday trip, too. Talimena Scenic Drive (Ark., Okla.) The 54-mile Talimena Scenic Drive takes you through Arkansas and Oklahoma. You'll drive along some of the highest ridges between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains in the Winding Stair and Rich mountains. This area experiences four distinct seasons and can be a great spot to see wildlife such as black bears. Sky Island Scenic Byway (Ariz.) Just 27 miles long, the Sky Island Scenic Byway is literally a climb from desert to forest. Take a photo of a cactus at the beginning of your drive, and then, 9,000 feet up, take a photo of yourself in the forest. This route is one of the only paved roads to the top of Mt. Lemmon. Enjoy this area for hiking, backpacking and even skiing. Top of the Rockies (Colo.) Feel like you're on top of the world as you drive the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway. At 10,424 feet, the Tennessee Pass is breathtaking. Plenty of wildlife can be seen along this 75-mile stretch before you wind up in the old mining town of Leadville, which is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. Beartooth Scenic Byway (Mont., Wyo.) Providing a path to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Beartooth Scenic Byway in Montana and Wyoming reaches some of the highest heights in the northern Rockies. In fewer than 54 miles you'll see snowcapped peaks, lakes and even glaciers. Plan ahead; this road is only open weather permitting, so check with the DOT before heading out on your trip. Seward Highway (Alaska) This 125-mile highway links the Alaskan cities of Seward and Anchorage. Starting at the Gulf of Alaska and winding through scenic areas like Chugach National Forest, this road trip is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This highway gives visitors a way to see both the water and interior of southern Alaska. Highway 101/California State Route 1 (Calif., Ore., Wash.) Both Highway 101 and California State Route 1 run north-south along the California, Oregon and Washington coastline. These routes are also known as the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, Pacific Highway and the Oregon Coast Highway. Start in southern California, and when Hwy 101 branches off inland, take SR 1 along the magnificent California coastline. Plenty of views of both the coast and forests, like Redwood National Forest, will be captured.

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My Refuge Amongst the Forest Along the Blue Ridge Parkway by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the southeast while taking in views through a forested landscape. This is at a roadside pullout along the Blue Ridge Parkway at the PunchBowl Mountain Overlook.

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There, in a meadow, by the river’s side (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: There, in a meadow, by the river’s side The caption used is from a poem by Edmund Spenser, Prothalamion While at a roadside pullout and parking area along the Newfound Gap Road (US Hwy 441) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This view is looking upstream and to the north-northeast at the Oconaluftee River flowing by with rapids present amongst the large rocks and boulders. In composing this image, I just let the focus be with the river as a leading line into the image and framing the setting with the forest of trees on both sides.

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My Refuge Amongst the Forest in Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While at a roadside pullout and parking area along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The setting is looking to the northwest to a nearby forest of tall trees that lined the road. Given the height of the trees and the close proximity, I knew I wouldn't be able to capture the entire height of the trees from base to crown. I chose to therefore focus on a little above the base and capture a view looking slightly upward with the trees rising high above. The skies were overcast, so the negative space there really wasn't much of an impact to include in the image. I focused on the trees and metering properly to bring out more of the colors present.

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Even Bears Have to Obey the Posted Speed Limit! (Blue Ridge Parkway) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While at a roadside pullout along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The setting is looking to the south with a black bear that was meandering down the road. I captured a few images as it moved back-and-forth from one side to the other. This one image I liked most out of the collection as it had the bear seemingly looking at the posted speed limit sign.

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Big Rock Falls While Hiking in Shenandoah National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While hiking the Mill Prong Horse Trail to the Rapidan Camp in Shenandoah National Park. This location is depicted on Google Maps as Big Rock Falls. The view is looking to the west, centering the waterfall in the image. I felt this composition would allow for me to use the clear waters as a foreground interest with a backdrop with the forest of trees. I chose to work with Aurora HDR Pro to better bring that complete color setting in the image. I later exported a TIFF image to DxO PhotoLab 7 where I did some final adjustments with contrast, saturation and brightness for the final image.