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description= These 16 U.S. road trips across the American South highlight the region’s best scenery, history, music, food, beaches, beaches, and small-town charm. Plus bonus road trips in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico;
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for, and, the, in, history, south, fall, route, views, america, carolina, of, virginia, bonus, trip, best, road, trips, alabama, barrier, islands, bird, sanctuaries, arkansas, an, underrated, foliage, ozarks, delaware, coastal, wetlands, horseshoe, crabs, historic, hamlets, florida, reefs, mangroves, marine, wilderness, georgia, falcons, waterfalls, gators, kentucky, black, new, heritage, trail, louisiana, boudin, crawl, acadiana, maryland, blue, crab, bay, towns, that, shaped, mississippi, blues, pilgrimage, north, creative, districts, civil, rights, oklahoma, cattle, drives, frontier, lore, marshlands, gullah, quiet, beaches, tennessee, tracing, roots, american, music, texas, tree, houses, tubing, breakfast, tacos, ridge, top, color, west, exploring, newest, national, park, washington, scenery, on, two, wheels, puerto, rico, culturally, immersive, tour, taino,
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gulf coast beaches and nearly 70 miles of bay beaches from daphne the scenic byway heads south until it hits its barrier island dauphin island and then follows the coast west the route then turns north and eventually finishes in mobile county at a small community called grand bay this road trip is a fine way to explore alabama s beaches but take time to see the beauty in its sand dunes and marshlands too the state has more than 12 000 acres of protected lands where travelers can enjoy bird watching and hiking the dauphin island audubon sanctuary bon secour national wildlife refuge and gulf state park to name a few chloe arrojado related this southern state is the most underrated beach destination in the u s arkansas for an underrated fall foliage route in the ozarks start harrison end harrison distance 60 miles fall foliage in the ozarks heats up relatively late weeks later than the smokies or new england but the show of flashing gold and copper hits right when you need it central to the ozarks appeal is that the area doesn t garner the same fanfare as more famous destinations for autumn colors the 60 mile jasper disaster loop through the buffalo national river region with a staggering 316 curves delivers some of the region s most memorable scenery especially when late season color paints the forest russet and yellow and elk bugles ring out across valleys starting in harrison follow scenic highway 7 south toward the appealing mountain town of jasper on the way grab burgers and old school crinkle cut fries for lunch at local institution daisy queen open since 1969 detour a few minutes south to the arkansas grand canyon the deepest in the ozarks at more than 1 400 feet and enjoy a slice of famous company s comin pie at nearby cliff house inn which has three pet friendly cabins back in jasper take highway 74 through ponca and compton past elk herds peekaboo river views and dozens of waterfalls and bluff top overlooks close to ponca highlights include balanced rock falls and spectacular whitaker point also called hawksbill crag one of the signature overlooks in the natural state the 2 7 mile out and back hike is even better in early november when fiery color blankets the landscape if you re keen on roughing it steel creek campground offers river access and frequent elk sightings highway 43 takes you back toward harrison passing through boxley valley where elk often graze in open fields especially at dawn and dusk taryn shorr mckee delaware for coastal wetlands horseshoe crabs and historic hamlets for canada geese bombay hook national wildlife refuge is a migration stop photo by bo shen shutterstock start new castle end milton distance 157 miles fun loving seashore towns such as rehoboth beach and dewey beach get all the attention come summertime but farther up the coast delaware s bayshore offers a quieter take on coastal life the delaware bayshore byway a national scenic byway kicks off in the colonial town of new castle founded by dutch settlers in the 1650s then meanders south through tidal marshes and quiet dunes corn and grain farms and historic villages long tied to fishing and oyster harvesting the first state might not be synonymous with wildlife watching but this stretch is especially lovely for communing with the mid atlantic region s unsung nature pickering beach for instance is an official sanctuary for the state marine animal the horseshoe crab which gathers by the millions in may and june to spawn along the route the bombay hook and prime hook national wildlife refuges provide vital stopover habitat for migratory species such as snow geese black necked stilts and pintail ducks in winter you might even spot nesting bald eagles make a weekend of it by venturing a few miles off route to stay at dover s state street inn set in a tudor revival home built around 1911 or finish the drive in a day and toast a trip well done at dogfish inn a converted motel in lewes owned by the brewery dogfish head nicholas derenzo florida for reefs mangroves and marine wilderness flamingos are among the many bird species to see in everglades national park boca chita lighthouse is in biscayne national park photo by ian kennedy shutterstock l photo by natali quijano unsplash r start everglades national park end dry tortugas national park distance 150 miles drive across florida s southern tip for some of the most memorable marine ecosystems and underrated national parks in the nation the everglades are the starting point for this road trip introducing travelers to the river of grass marjory stoneman douglas fought to conserve her book the everglades river of grass was published in 1947 the same year the everglades became a national park from the ernest f coe visitor center it s about a 20 mile drive east to get to homestead bayfront where travelers can take a boat out to biscayne national park the park is 95 percent water and its few strips of land are only accessible by boat so the most convenient option is to explore on a guided tour after coming back to the mainland hop on florida s highway 1 for another 135 miles braking for the occasional seafood dish of course before ending at key west the car stops here because dry tortugas national park is 70 miles west and can only be reached via boat or plane spend the day in a national park that s 99 percent water and explore the 30 species of coral in its reefs then hop on that 1 percent of land to explore the historical fort jefferson key west is a practical base for those taking a day trip to dry tortugas the 100 room ocean key resort spa offers sunset views caribbean cuisine and a calendar full of live music and other nightly events chloe arrojado related which florida national park fits you better everglades versus biscayne sponsored by the arizona office of tourism get your kicks on route 66 travel back through time on route 66 a quintessential part of american history and culture that s turning 100 this year no matter which direction you re headed there are plenty of picture worthy stops from the rainbow rock shop in holbrook to the retro vibe in williams let s go georgia for falcons waterfalls and gators start tallulah falls end okefenokee swamp distance 540 miles georgia s biodiversity ranked sixth among u s states is a wild mix of pine savannas appalachian peaks and shadowy black water wetlands the state is home to more than 4 400 species of plants and animals on a weeklong drive you can travel from misty mountain gorges where peregrine falcons patrol to moss draped coastal swamps teeming with pitcher plants and alligators along the way dip into some of georgia s 60 state parks and many national park service sites including monuments historic sites recreation areas and heritage areas start in the blue ridge with a hike along some of the 20 miles of trails that quilt tallulah gorge state park five waterfalls tumble down the nearly 1 000 foot canyon all but one are visible from rim trail overlooks keep an eye out for falcons nesting along the cliffs an hour west on u s 76 brings you to amicalola falls state park featuring the tallest cascading waterfall in the southeast an 8 5 mile approach trail to the appalachian trail and the hike inn the state s only backcountry lodge from here u s 19 winds south through mountain foothills to atlanta the city s dynamic food scene merits an overnight stay book a room at forth to be within walking distance of the restaurants and bars of old fourth ward inman park and midtown continue southwest on u s 280 for a day of hiking in providence canyon state park georgia s little grand canyon where massive gullies plunge up to 150 feet and you can spot wildflowers and amphibians in the canyon s microhabitats finally travel south on u s 441 to end your trip at okefenokee swamp national wildlife refuge north america s largest black water swamp paddle beneath cypress boughs and old oaks strung with spanish moss on a four hour guided kayak tour spotting great blue herons and perhaps some of the swamp s estimated 15 000 alligators in this ancient otherworldly wilderness lucy kehoe kentucky for black history and a new heritage trail start hardin end lexington distance 260 miles kentucky may be best known for bourbon and racehorses but last year the state launched a new african american heritage trail spanning 50 historically and culturally significant sites for an outdoors focused road trip in spring and fall build your itinerary around three of them start at the 300 acre kenlake state resort park in western kentucky originally established in 1951 as historic cherokee state park this park was the first black only state park in the southern usa in 2009 it was added to the national register of historic places stroll the lakeshore trails visit the resort lodge and take in a sunset over kentucky lake the next morning drive 150 miles to central kentucky toward perryville battlefield state historic site while the landmark preserves one of kentucky s most significant civil war battlefields it also tells the lesser known story of sleettown a thriving african american community that existed here from 1865 into the early 20th century with homes and businesses sleettown is regarded as an example of postwar community life where despite segregation era kentucky black and white residents worked and socialized together spend an afternoon walking the interpretive trails and touring the battlefield museum thirty five miles away on u s 68 is lexington once called the athens of the west for its cultural and intellectual life on the early american frontier step back in time at the waveland state historic site a greek revival mansion built in 1848 that tells dual narratives the bryan family who owned the estate and the enslaved individuals whose labor sustained it tours of the mansion and slave quarters are available and 13 acres of gardens and walking trails provide ample opportunity for reflection katherine lagrave louisiana for a boudin crawl in acadiana sausage is the star at billy s boudin cracklins photo by danf0505 shutterstock l courtesy of billy s boudin cracklins r start breaux bridge end vinton distance 104 miles while new orleans often dominates conversations about louisiana s food culture the pelican state s culinary heartbeat is just as strong in acadiana the southwestern region known as cajun country one of the most flavorful ways to experience it is along the cajun boudin trail a collection of specialty markets butcher shops and yes gas stations tracing the i 10 corridor from breaux bridge toward the texas line the route celebrates boudin the region s emblematic sausage of rice pork onions green pepper liver and cajun seasoning that has fueled many a road trip through the deep south the breaux bridge to vinton stretch offers a particularly satisfying cross section stop at poche s restaurant market for crawfish boudin made with cooked crawfish tails and rice and boudin balls formed from the sausage mixture breaded and deep fried in scott be prepared to wait in line for perfectly seasoned links from billy s boudin cracklins or try their crowd favorite boudin roll ups essentially a boudin stuffed egg roll lake charles has one of the largest clusters of boudin purveyors in the state but the smoked jalapeno boudin at the market basket grocery store is award winning finally at insane sausages in vinton smoked pork enchilada boudin reflects the town s proximity to the texas border and its strong mexican culinary influence plan to graze rather than rush the real joy of this trail lies in the counter convos with the family run shop owners who ve been perfecting their craft for decades shayla martin related 4 days in new orleans zip lines over alligators raised mausoleums and cajun sausage croissants maryland for blue crab bay views and towns that shaped america drum point lighthouse is part of the calvert marine museum photo by melissamn shutterstock start st mary s end smith island distance 230 miles maryland is defined by the chesapeake bay the country s largest estuary and a cultural and maritime hub for centuries for this bay centric drive start in st mary s county about two hours outside washington d c known as the birthplace of maryland the area has historic st mary s city a living history museum that illuminates life in the colony s first capital which held that status until 1694 continue north along the water stopping at calvert cliffs state park to explore its fossil rich shoreline once a warm sea during the miocene epoch you can hunt for ancient shark teeth and whale bones with local outfitters like chesapeake heritage and paleontology tours or see specimens on display at the calvert marine museum in annapolis the current state capital book a room at one of the historic inns of annapolis each housed in an early 18th century home then dine at preserve or sailor oyster bar cross the chesapeake bay bridge to maryland s scenic eastern shore passing through kent narrows and its density of dockside seafood spots harris crab house is a favorite st michaels makes an excellent base for exploring talbot county s inlets and harbor towns stay at the stately inn at perry cabin or the newer wildset housing the celebrated restaurant ruse visit the chesapeake bay maritime museum and lyon rum distillery along the main drag then venture to nearby port towns such as oxford cambridge and easton driving south into dorchester county you ll connect with the harriet tubman byway which links sites including the harriet tubman underground railroad state park and visitor center and the setting of the abolitionist s childhood home before returning home park your car in crisfield and board the passenger ferry to smith island maryland s only remaining inhabited island accessible solely by water here you ll find cozy vacation rentals and b bs plus opportunities for birding boating and sampling the iconic smith island cake the state s official dessert after your ferry back continue south via the chesapeake bay bridge tunnel into virginia or loop back toward baltimore or d c hannah walhout mississippi for a blues pilgrimage actor morgan freeman owns ground zero blues club in clarksdale in leland a painted wall in honors mississippi bluesmen photo by jacque manaugh shutterstock l photo by pierre jean durieu shutterstock r start tunica end vicksburg distance 180 miles memphis may be a major blues hub but true aficionados know that you have to make a pilgrimage to the genre s birthplace in the mississippi delta highway 61 weaves through the flat fertile fields and historic farming communities that birthed legends like muddy waters and b b king and that has earned the delta the nickname the most southern place on earth get your bearings at the gateway to the blues museum housed inside the town of tunica s 1890s train depot near the boyhood home of robert johnson and then continue along to clarksdale where he reportedly sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads while the exact location has a...
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