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National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways
"This is the book for those who want...to take the slow route...get out of the car and walk around and look and talk to the people." —Times-Picayune
Expanded to include all U.S. designated America's Byways as well as other selected drives in all 50 states, this stunning new edition features unique driving tours through virtually every kind of landscape—spectacular coastlines, mountains, lakes, small towns, ranch and farmlands, islands, bays, and river valleys.
Some of the routes are famous, such as Virginia's Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, the Natchez Trace, and picturesque sections of the Great River Road. But there are lesser-known drives here too, including the ones along Maryland's serene Eastern Shore and Michigan's remote Whitefish Bay, through quiet Pennsylvania Dutch Country and Texas's undiscovered Davis Mountains. Some drives are jaw-droppingly magnificent, like Wyoming's Centennial Scenic Byway through the spectacular Teton Range; while others possess quiet beauty, such as the lush Flint Hills of Kansas. These diverse auto adventures range from the 4-mile Las Vegas Strip to the 8,000-mile Alaska Marine Highway, offering wonderful inspiration for day excursions, weekend getaways, and longer, leisurely family vacations.
Veteran National Geographic writers combine their regional knowledge and storytelling techniques, describing the scenery, history, and points of interest along each route. Readers will also find 375 glorious photographs and four-color maps for every drive, along with information on road conditions, driving times, site addresses, visiting hours, admission fees, and more. It adds up to a "must have" reference for every adventuresome motorist.
Expanded to include all U.S. designated America's Byways as well as other selected drives in all 50 states, this stunning new edition features unique driving tours through virtually every kind of landscape—spectacular coastlines, mountains, lakes, small towns, ranch and farmlands, islands, bays, and river valleys.
Some of the routes are famous, such as Virginia's Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, the Natchez Trace, and picturesque sections of the Great River Road. But there are lesser-known drives here too, including the ones along Maryland's serene Eastern Shore and Michigan's remote Whitefish Bay, through quiet Pennsylvania Dutch Country and Texas's undiscovered Davis Mountains. Some drives are jaw-droppingly magnificent, like Wyoming's Centennial Scenic Byway through the spectacular Teton Range; while others possess quiet beauty, such as the lush Flint Hills of Kansas. These diverse auto adventures range from the 4-mile Las Vegas Strip to the 8,000-mile Alaska Marine Highway, offering wonderful inspiration for day excursions, weekend getaways, and longer, leisurely family vacations.
Veteran National Geographic writers combine their regional knowledge and storytelling techniques, describing the scenery, history, and points of interest along each route. Readers will also find 375 glorious photographs and four-color maps for every drive, along with information on road conditions, driving times, site addresses, visiting hours, admission fees, and more. It adds up to a "must have" reference for every adventuresome motorist.
464 pages, Paperback
Published April 17, 2007
13 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
National Geographic Society
4,223 books1,118 followersThe National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 27, 2018
With pictures, maps, and visiting tips, this new edition is a road warriors must have!
Broken into ten regions, each section gives highlights of scenic drives throughout all fifty states. Each state is featured with a group of ideal drives, which includes a map showing the location and relative distance of the drive as well as one or two color photos that the traveler can expect to take in a certain times of the year. Each drive is also provided with some points of interest to stop along the way as well as a little history. Undoubtedly this doesn’t catch every scenic trip worth taking, but is sure to get even the amateur traveler started in the right direction.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was seeing how many of the drives I have already done. On the ones that I’ve completed, the pictures brought back memories of the drive and I might even add to the list of some of the points of interest. It also gives me a great guide for future places that I want to visit. We’ve always been an “out of the way” travel family preferring to take the less traveled path rather than get there as quick as possible, so this book was right up our alley. I recommend this to people who like to travel and get ideas about places that they would like to visit.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Broken into ten regions, each section gives highlights of scenic drives throughout all fifty states. Each state is featured with a group of ideal drives, which includes a map showing the location and relative distance of the drive as well as one or two color photos that the traveler can expect to take in a certain times of the year. Each drive is also provided with some points of interest to stop along the way as well as a little history. Undoubtedly this doesn’t catch every scenic trip worth taking, but is sure to get even the amateur traveler started in the right direction.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was seeing how many of the drives I have already done. On the ones that I’ve completed, the pictures brought back memories of the drive and I might even add to the list of some of the points of interest. It also gives me a great guide for future places that I want to visit. We’ve always been an “out of the way” travel family preferring to take the less traveled path rather than get there as quick as possible, so this book was right up our alley. I recommend this to people who like to travel and get ideas about places that they would like to visit.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
July 17, 2022
I’ve been cracking this baby open before any road trip for the last 5 years or so. Great recommendations and pretty clear directions.
May 23, 2009
The National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways is another reference I use often to help plan my motorcycle tours and family vacations. It includes over 200 scenic tours, and draws from NG staffers’ experiences with federal and state highways and parkways, NPS sites, National Historic Trails, and other sources. Tours in the following regions are included:
New England: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Middle Atlantic: New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Southeast: North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Great Lakes: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Central Plains: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa.
South Central: Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Southwest: Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Rocky Mountains: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
Northwest: Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.
Far West: Nevada, California, and Hawaii.
Each scenic tour description includes detailed directions, maps, illustrative photos, and descriptions of sites to see along the way. I love to tour by motorcycle, and take at least one long trip every year. Our family vacations are also typically driving vacations, the better to see this amazing country of ours. This book is a wonderful way to plan trips such as these.
New England: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Middle Atlantic: New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Southeast: North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Great Lakes: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Central Plains: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa.
South Central: Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Southwest: Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Rocky Mountains: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
Northwest: Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.
Far West: Nevada, California, and Hawaii.
Each scenic tour description includes detailed directions, maps, illustrative photos, and descriptions of sites to see along the way. I love to tour by motorcycle, and take at least one long trip every year. Our family vacations are also typically driving vacations, the better to see this amazing country of ours. This book is a wonderful way to plan trips such as these.
July 19, 2012
There is about nothing more I like in this world than taking a road trip, especially an aimless one that gets me off the chain-store-cluttered interstates and onto the backroads where there's still some remnants of the old American culture and some amazing natural beauty. I picked this up on a whim after taking just such a trip through the Creole Nature Trail in southern Louisiana, and the best thing I can say about it is it got me wanting to get back on the road right away. There's nothing especially compelling about the writing, but he has a sense of fun and adventure, and there's just enough detail that you know what to expect but not so much that you don't want to bother. I'm eager to get started on some of these jaunts!
July 1, 2013
Very interesting!
Lots of maps and information about things to see and do while on the various scenic highways, and probably the best piece of info. that I have ever seen, "Adm. fee" for when there is an admission fee and not the actual cost of admission, which would date this book almost as soon as it was published. Users can find additional info. by calling a place or checking out their website.
Also, LOTS of colorful photos.
Lots of maps and information about things to see and do while on the various scenic highways, and probably the best piece of info. that I have ever seen, "Adm. fee" for when there is an admission fee and not the actual cost of admission, which would date this book almost as soon as it was published. Users can find additional info. by calling a place or checking out their website.
Also, LOTS of colorful photos.
November 9, 2008
It was an pretty good source for some of the more scenic drives in the United States. It was a good reference and allowed me to create a list of 10 places I would love to drive through with my camera.
January 5, 2014
300 might be too many, but there are plenty of options and you can put together a nice cross-country trip from these selections. each mini-chapter includes number of miles, how long it takes, and a good amount of info about stops along the way. a small, lightweight guide to bring with.
January 7, 2016
Not a good read, but a good book. Excellent travel planner/companion that will get used lots. Don't plan on reading through the book and expect to determine your next trip, but it definitely highlights which routes to take.
October 26, 2007
Not many routes, but well-documented. Worth a look if you like back-roading.
October 9, 2009
Going with us on our vacation! Should help us find some great scenic drives along the way.
Currently reading
April 8, 2012a book I'll probably never mark as "read" unless I finish all of them during my lifetime!
April 13, 2013
If you seek out natural beauty and adventure... this book is for you!
It doesn't cover all the great scenic drives, but far more than I have time to see.
It doesn't cover all the great scenic drives, but far more than I have time to see.
August 1, 2013
Mycket info men få bilder och lite snålt format.
May 14, 2015
Helpful and informative with a nice layout. Greatly influenced my road trip plans and will be used for future trips.
April 23, 2018
A great book for any road-tripper
June 26, 2018
Used this to plan several trips. Basically it's great escapism on a cold, snowy day. Good for day dreaming about summer and warm traveling weather.
March 10, 2019
I mean, I didn't get a ton from it personally, but got one thing from it, and it may be useful to revisit at some point.
Read
August 15, 2021Well laid out but would need to take on your road trip as too detailed to be interesting until you're there.
January 1, 2022
Easy to read, and offers unique landmarks that are worth the detour. The focus on parks, historic spots, and geography will keep it current for years to come.
May 22, 2023
Lots of good info.
May 11, 2024
2nd & 3rd Edition
July 19, 2008
Our travel bible and wish list. Very dog eared.
March 20, 2013
Has a few routes I want to take on our honeymoon road trip around Lake SUperior.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews