|  | | | Hear that? It’s the road calling you. The urge to hit the road and take off for places unknown can be a strong one. There’s a sense of freedom and adventure that can only be found in the miles of highway that stretch out before you, waiting to be discovered, all you have to do is pick a road and go. Where to start is a tough choice, but here are a few of America’s best for you to consider.
New England
If you're in the mood for some local color, just about any New England road is the one to be on in the fall, or any time for that matter.
The roads between Burlington, Vermont, and Stockbridge, Massachusetts – roughly 250 miles – are smattered with quaint, picture-book villages and meticulously restored historic inns and restaurants. Along the way, you'll discover Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest – so bring your mountain bikes and prepare to take in some scenery.
If you're looking for more than just scenery, and have some time on your hands, don't miss the 37-building Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont – home to 80,000 objects of Americana. You can also stop by the homes of author Edith Wharton in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd, in Manchester, Vermont. The restored Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is also a worthwhile stop.
The Old South
At roughly 620 miles in length, the Natchez Trace runs between Nashville, Tennessee, and Natchez, Mississippi, and can be as dull as it is spectacularly beautiful. But wander off the beaten path just a little, and you'll experience the Old South in all its glory.
Aside from the birthplaces of both Elvis and Oprah, you'll discover the remnants of a trail used by Andrew Jackson. You'll also find history at every turn – Antebellum homes, Confederate cemeteries and memorials, Indian mounds and the Vicksburg Battlefield.
You'll find plenty of cozy places to sleep in the neighboring towns, as well as some of the best food you've ever tasted. If you've never had a hushpuppy before, you're in for a treat!
California Cool
About two hours east of San Diego, you’ll find Anza-Borrego Desert State Park – the largest and least talked about desert in the lower 48 states. Head east on HWY 78 and you’ll cross the Coast Range, traveling through the San Pasqual Valley and Cleveland National Forest, landing in the historic mining town of Julian – a charming town that deserves at least a half-day of your attention.
Beyond Julian, the town of Borrego Springs marks the entrance to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which boasts 600,000 acres and mountains higher than 6,000 feet. The park is one of America’s foremost fossil and bone yards, and home to an extensive fossil library.
While just about any time of year is great for driving in Southern California, the ideal time to make the trek to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is in the spring – when the temperatures hover comfortably in the 70s and 80s, and the desert, with all it’s wildflowers, blazes with color.
Texas Hill Country
Deep in the heart of Texas, you’ll find the Texas Hill Country. At its colorful best during bluebonnet season, but fantastic any time of year, this is a land that begs to be driven. Take the Mission Trail, HWY 35 or HWY 290 and you’ll understand why the car was invented.
While the drive alone is worth the trip, the area also happens to be home to a number of historic stops, including The Alamo in San Antonio, the Admiral Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, and the birth- and burial-place of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
And if you find yourself driving in the blazing Texas heat, the Hill Country is the place to be. Make time to stop in the beautiful and watery town of New Braunfels. Here you’ll find the Schlitterbahn Water Park, as well as the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers – and, quite possibly, the best white-water tubing in the country.
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