Beautiful America:

The words of the song "America" written by Kathryn Bates while standing atop Pikes Peak in Colorado describe beautifully the diversity of scenery across America. She wrote of broad skies, golden grain blowing in the wind, the majestic mountains, and the plains being abundant with harvest. What she saw hinted at the greatness of America. Here are 10 ways that America can be enjoyed by automobile.

1. Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway, located in Virginia's Shanendoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina is a beautiful, rural drive through 500,000 acres of wildlife filled land. It has earned the nickname "America's Favorite Drive." Parts of this road were built during the Depression to put some great Americans to work. Along this road are many places to rest, such as picnic areas, camping, and hiking.

2. California Highway 1.
Highway 1, more popularly known as the Pacific Coast Highway, runs from the city of Monterrey to San Francisco. Much of it runs along the cliffs overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. For relaxation, you can spend time on the beautiful sandy beaches along the coastline. You can also take a tour of the famous San Simeon mansion formerly owned by William Randolph Hearst of newspaper fame. If you continue North, it changes to Highway 101 and continues to the Canadian border along the rugged coasts of the states of Oregon and Washington.

3. Going to the Sun Highway.
Located in the Rocky Mountains of Northern Montana, it is some of the most beautiful scenery in the nation. As the 6,646 foot Logan Pass, it crosses the Continental Divide. From this road, you can see the high country lakes and tundra as well as the deep valleys and forests. There are many pullouts located along the road for viewing opportunities. The scenery is beautiful in all seasons, but due to Winter weather conditions in the high elevation, the road does close for the Winter.

4. Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Arizona.
From the mountains of Flagstaff, to the Red Rock cliffs of Sedona, the Oak Creek Canyon is a beautiful day drive or a placefor weekend exploration. Before making your way along the road, check out the overlook vistas that give you a breathtaking panorama of the entire area. It is a scenic drive, so it is very enjoyable by car, but many people do enjoy getting up close and personal with the beautiful red rocks by hiking and picnicking in the area.

5. Zion National Park, Utah.
Zion National Park is located in Southwestern Utah and is known for its pink and white sandstone canyon walls. The road has been paved with reddish asphalt and glows pink in the sun. It is a great day drive, but it is also enjoyable to get out and walk some of the trails and enjoy all the many facets of the park. There are many hiking trails, but the most well known is the Narrows trail which is not for the faint hearted. You wade through a narrow gorge in the river. There is also camping and picnicking available in the park. Because it is a National Park, there is a fee to enter.

6. US Highway 1.
Over 2,000 miles long, this scenic road runs along the entire coastline of the Eastern United States. It starts in Fort Kent, Maine, and ended in Miami, Florida until the amazing causeway was completed in 1938 to extend it to Key West, Florida. Along the way, you will see Manhattan Island, Washington D.C., Boston, and many other beautiful historic American cities. Many people now choose to bypass it because of the faster Interstate system, but it is definitely a road that you will not want to miss.

7. Lake Michigan
The Lake Michigan scenic drive takes you around this second largest of the Great Lakes. It takes you through large cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee as well as smaller towns such as St. Joseph Michigan and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Along the way you can see the Indiana Dunes National Seashore, the Traverse City Resort area, and beautiful Mackinac Island where you will have to leave your car behind. This route is beautiful in the Fall because of the lush Fall foliage along the lakeshore.

8. Yellowstone National Park.
It is mostly located in the state of Wyoming, but also does include small sections of the state of Idaho and Montana. This circle driving tour through the park takes you by so many of the park's beautiful natural wonders. You can bathe at the Mammoth Hot Springs, take pictures at Artist point by Yellowstone Falls, see beautiful Old Faithful geyser, or fish in Yellowstone Lake. If you plan on sport fishing, it is free due to it being a National Park. Some of the roads do close for the Winter because of the higher elevations. There is a National Park fee to enter the park.

9. Seward Highway, Alaska
This scenic highway tour is located in the Southern end of Alaska and starts in Anchorage and ends at the Kenai Fjords National Park. While driving this highway through America's Last Frontier, you travel through different landscapes that can only be found in Northern regions of the world. The wildlife along the way vary in types from the white Beluga Whales off the coastline to the mountain bound dall sheep or possiby even a dog sled team in the Winter months. You can also stop along the way and enjoy a ride on a mountain railroad or fish for salmon in the nearby Northern Pacific.

10. Hana Highway, Maui, Hawaii
This highway through the lush tropical Hawaiian island of Maui, passes by majestic waterfalls, beautiful sandy beaches, and narrow bridges. The entire drive takes about 3 and a half hours, so it can be driven in a day, but for a nice relaxing ride, it is suggested that you stay at the Hana hotel where you can enjoy the hospitality of the Aloha state. The drive ends at Haleakala National Park where you can picnic, take a walk to the Seven pools, or swim at Hamoa beach.