Author Archives: Joe and Sarah Gill

Driving all the way across this mountain road was one of the most beautiful drives either of us has ever done. About every third turn in the road, one of us would sigh, “How beautiful!” We realized that we did not have enough words to describe the splendor of this scenery!

National forests take up 193 million acres of the United States and Canada has set aside 75,014,027 acres just for national parks. We have been on a lot of country roads and this is one of the most picturesque drives ever!

We do wonder about the average traveler to our state and national parks and forests. Most people we are meeting this summer are retired or empty nesters like us. Where are the young families camping? Do all people with young kids only travel to Disney World and Disneyland? With the average campsite costing less than ten dollars, it seems like an affordable way to get out of the city for a few nights!

Official scenic byways were first created “as a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States.” A 1995 U.S. Department of Transportation interim policy “sets forth the procedures for the designation by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation of certain roads as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads based on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities.”

If there are 150 such designated byways in 46 states, why are we often the only vehicle on these lonely roads in the summer of 2014?

GEOQUIZ: Name the flower in this photo:

Mystery flower?