Top Ten (10) Scenic Drives in the U.S

Well, I wanted to write an article on the benefits of eating a certain kind of yogurt with bifidus regularus and promises regularity for our weary, constipated nation. However, after I did a search on it I discovered that subject has already been written about. Bummer. My chances at stardom have been shot down again. BUT....I looked up bifidus regularis and discover (just as I suspected) it is a made up name, sort of trademarked by the Dannon company in order to make their yogurt sound healthier than other yogurts. Urbandictionary.com has a rather forthright way of saying it. I don't wish to repeat their words.

So, instead of writing an article on that exhaustively studied subject, I decided to try and take a crack at writing about what I feel are the top ten scenic drives in the U.S. I haven't been to many places east of the Mississippi. Most of my travelling has been done on my side of the river. I'm also tremendously lucky that I happen to live in a state known for it's beautiful and scenic roads. Now I hope you understand that I can only write about places where I've been. So, with that in mind, these are my picks for roads that take my breath away and are stunning.

It's hard to say what the number one route would be. I like too many to place any drive at number one. However, if I had to pick one, it would be the "Going to the Sun Highway" in Glacier National Park. It takes your breath away, literally. Some of the points in the road are scary enough to be classified a theme park ride. When you stop at an "artists point" or a "scenic view" and look down to the valley below. Oooh---makes me hop back in the car and pray the brakes hold.

I also love the drive from Red Lodge, Montana up and over the Beartooth Mountains to "The Top of the World." The Beartooth Mountains are very rugged. They are the "purple mountains" in the song "America the Beautiful." Whenever I see them I start humming the song. In the middle of July there can be areas where valleys are hidden from the sun and the snow is still there. One hot, hot summer day we took a trip over that road and had a snowball fight at the top. That.......was cool!

Another drive I have taken is from Glendive, Montana to San Francisco, California. We got to Laramie, Wyoming the first night, spent the night there. The next morning we got on the Interstate and drove through Idaho, Utah, Nevada then spent the second night in Truckee, California. Now, this route isn't necessarily scenic in some people's minds. However, because I live in badlands country I was intrigued by the endless salt flats. Also, there are some unique artistic pieces that have been created to break up the monotony of looking at completely flat countryside. We drove along the lower half of the Great Salt Lake. I was mesmerized by how big it is. Any other time I have only seen the lake from an airplane window.

When we lived in Wyoming we were able to go to Yellowstone Park and have fun there for the day and return home that night to sleep in our own beds. The way the roads loop through Yellowstone make for some very unique sights. We have been stopped in traffic due to bison herds hogging the road and have seen dorky tourists think they can pet the moose, elk, bison or even bears. Hello! this is not a zoo and the animals are not tame!

If you're going to be in Yellowstone, you may as well take the road from Yellowstone to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The mountains around Jackson are called the Tetons. When we have gone there we usually stay in a cute little touristy town called Teton Village. It resembles a little Swiss or Germanic town and is very cute. There is a gondola ride up the mountain. It isn't very far from Jackson. Living is expensive there, so be forewarned.

Probably one of my favorite roads to drive is highway 1 in Northern California. Whenever we have driven it we fall in love with California all over again. If I could afford to live there and could deal with the traffic, I would live in Half Moon Bay during the really cold Montana winters. I suppose I could just stay in the little town and then I wouldn't have to think about all the traffic and the weird interstate system in California. One of the things I like about driving in Montana is the lack of traffic. Put the car on cruise in Glendive and keep it on until you decide to stop and take a break.

If you are going to be in South Dakota country----the road around the Rapid City area is another pretty one. You will have to be careful, especially in August. The motorcycle rally in Sturgis brings lots and lots of biker type people. Don't let the black leather and bandannas fool or scare you. They may look tough, but their hearts are all marshmallow-y. Most of these bikers are professional types in the real world. You know, doctors, lawyers, ceo's or cfo's. This is the one time of the year they get to play a different part and just hang or chill with others who love riding motorcycles. I include myself among these people, although we sold our Harley a few years ago. Be sure to check out Mount Rushmore, it really is an amazing piece of sculpture!

Not too far from Rapid City is Devil's Tower in Wyoming. The drive from South Dakota to Wyoming is not far nor does it take as long as you think it would. This piece of sculpture is not man made, it just looks like it is. If you saw the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" you have seen what Devil's Tower looks like, although there isn't an alien landing field behind it. There is a bit of a hike to the tower, but once you're standing at the base and looking up.....wow!

I know there have to be others I'm missing, however, there are tons of places I haven't been. I have never been to Hawaii nor Alaska. I like the drive from Cody, Wyoming thru Greybull, Shell, over the Big Horn mountains to Sheridan Wyoming. The really pretty time is in early Spring when the grasses are green on the mountains and there is red shale like rock that contrasts with it. In the area of Shell, there is a ranch called the Kedesh Ranch the contrast of green and red in that area is stunning.

Another nice roadway is Highway 2 in the northern part of Montana. I also like the highway that goes from Glendive to Lewistown to Great Falls. Also, from Great Falls to Helena and how about the road through the Wind River Canyon in Wyoming or how about.....?????