Travel

SET YOURSELF FREE: BEAUTIFUL ROAD TRIPS

So Flows The Desert Highway. Route 66, California by Bill Dickinson.

by Bill Dickinson. So Flows The Desert Highway. Route 66, California.

Time to set some wheels in motion and get yourself to a beautiful place. We’ve got 10 magnificent road trips to get you on your way. Check them out below.

1. ROUTE 66 -- ILLINOIS TO CALIFORNIA, USA

Route 66, known as the Mother Road, traverses between Illinois and California. This iconic route is immortalized in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, along with numerous films and TV shows. Route 66 is the place where over 50 famous rock and pop music singers, from Nat King Cole to Mick Jagger, get their kicks.

While much of the original road has been cannibalized by interstates, many places have preserved the original 2-lane road and its flanking beautiful scenery.

Make sure you stop in Pontiac, Illinois, to see the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum, and the Pontiac Oakland Auto Museum.

2. MILFORD ROAD -- NEW ZEALAND

Milford Road, in New Zealand, twists and turns along 144 miles through Fiordland National Park, amidst the Southern Alps. This gorgeous road offers spectacular mountainous views. Gaze at the perfect reflections of the Earl Mountains in the stunningly reflective Mirror Lakes.

Get fooled by the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain, an amazing optical illusion in which the approaching mountain appears to grow smaller. Drive through the ¼ mile long Homer Tunnel, drilled through solid granite until you reach Milford Sound, one of the filming locations for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

3. TROLLSTIGEN ROAD -- NORWAY

The Trollstigen Road in Norway, meaning “troll ladder,” is a narrow and steep winding road. The landscapes are gorgeous the whole way, but the best view of all is the Stigfossen waterfall at the top, which is 1,050 feet high and streams down over the mountains.

4. CHAPMAN’S PEAK -- SOUTH AFRICA

Chapman’s Peak Drive is a 5-mile long road along the southwestern tip of South Africa, with 180-degree views of craggy mountains and the sea. With 114 curves along the way, this will be a slow but beautiful journey. Overlooking Noordhoek and Hout Bay, see playful whales and dolphins frolicking below, and curious baboons observing you from above.

Known to locals as “Chappies,” this steep road is home to to bike races, the Cape Argus Cycle Tour and the Two Oceans marathon.

5. MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY -- COLORADO, USA

The Million Dollar Highway, a section of US Highway 550, snakes from Silverton to Ouray, both historic gold-mining towns in Colorado. It climbs more than two miles above sea level for a heady view.

This magnificent road is part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway, another beautiful road trip to consider.

Don’t feel like driving? You can get another amazing view from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which passes along the Animas River Gorge, far above rushing waters.

6. THE ATLANTIC ROAD -- NORWAY

The gorgeous Atlantic Road, which runs for 4 miles in Norway, crosses seven bridges, and provides breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, lush green mountains, and a dramatic rocky horizon.

Look out for seals and whales frolicking in the water. Take a rest on Elshusøya Island and ogle at the panorama.

7. BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY -- NORTH CAROLINA TO VIRGINIA, USA

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs from North Carolina to Virginia, and is packed with colorful natural beauty. The scenery from Shenandoah National park, all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will leave you breathless. For a historically-packed stop, spend some time in Charlottesville, home to Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, and the University of Virginia.

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs from North Carolina to Virginia and is known for its views of rugged mountains and the Appalachian Highlands.

8. GREAT OCEAN ROAD -- AUSTRALIA

Great Ocean Road is a 151 mile stretch along the Australian coast, with beautiful views of famous surf breaks, whale lookouts, stunning rainforests, misty waterfalls, and pristine national parks. Get off at the Great Ocean Walk to really take in the breathtaking landscape, and make sure to stop and see the famous limestone formations known as the Twelve Apostles.

9. NORTH YUNGAS ROAD -- BOLIVIA

The North Yungas Road in Bolivia connects the capital, La Paz, with the Yungas rainforest region. It’s famed as the world’s most dangerous road, due to its single lanes, tightly curved turns, and sudden drop-offs. Make sure to drive slowly and you’ll be thankful you came to see the beautiful deep greenery, which is sometimes obscured by thick fog, and sights like the San Pedro waterfall.

10. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY -- CALIFORNIA, USA

The Pacific Coast Highway runs from San Luis Obispo to Monterey, in California, highlighting the beautiful middle section of the state. Driving from south to north will show you the best views, from the seaside cliffs of Big Sur, to wine country in Paso Robles, to the artsy town of Carmel. Make sure to stop at Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

Read more about Freedom all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: by Bill Dickinson. So Flows The Desert Highway. Route 66, California.
Image: by Chuck Coker. Route 66. Yampai, Arizona, United States.
Image: by Florian Rohart. A long way to heaven. Milford Road, New Zealand.
Image: by Andreas Levers. Trollstigen. Trollstigen Road, Norway.
Image: Courtesy of Fiordland. Mirror Lakes. View from Milford Road, New Zealand.
Image: by Victor Bergmann. Chapman's Peak. Chapman’s Peak, South Africa.
Image: by Felix Lamouroux. Million Dollar Highway. The Million Dollar Highway, Colorado, USA.
Image: by Oscar Cuadrado Martinez. Puente. Atlantic Road, Norway.
Image: by Matthew Paulson. Lynn Cove Viaduct Glow. Lynn Cove Viaduct Glow, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina.
Image: by ccdoh1. Great Ocean Road. Hitchcock’s Great Ocean Road, Australia.
Image: by Matthew Straubmuller. The Bolivian Death Road. North Yungas Road, La Paz, Bolivia
Image: by Idjit. Going riding up Route 1/Pacific Coast Highway. Pacific Coast Highway, California, USA.
Image: by Giuseppe Milo. Bixby Bridge, Big Sur, California, United States.
Image: by Kathryn Harper. Historic columbia river highway, Shepherds Dell Falls, Oregon.
Image: by a(-_-)c. Lush. Milford Road, New Zealand.