Travel

Drives of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Road Trips

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Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic’s legendary travel writers, Drives of a Lifetime spans the globe to reveal the best celebrated and lesser-known road trips on the planet. Inside this fully updated and revised edition–featuring more than 20 new drives–you’ll find routes through spectacular landscapes, ideas for quick getaways, leisurely journeys of discovery, and revelations of secret worlds beyond Google Maps. Some are legendary long-distance odysseys; others are easy day trips close to home, taking you down charming local byways. All will inspire you to pack up the car and hit the road. The possibilities are endless: Take Colorado’s San Juan Skyway for a 10,000-foot climb over towering mountain passes. Or travel the ancient Silk Road on an expedition across Central Asia and through time. Or why not drive the perimeter of Puerto Rico, a tropical paradise with many beaches along the way? Whatever your taste and budget, you’ll find plenty of routes tailored to your interests. Alongside detailed descriptions, full-color maps guide the way and planning tips help you make the most of your journey; top 10 lists offer quick, easy side trip ideas. Beautiful, informative, and inspiring, this luxurious volume is a lifelong resource that readers will treasure.

From the Publisher

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One of the most memorable drives in North America, the Cabot Trail loops around the northern tip of Nova Scotia, offering sightings of whales offshore, moos inland, and bald eagles overhead, all set against a backdrop of mountains and rugged coast.

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The Amalfi Coast

With numerous switchbacks and plunging drops to the sea, the drive along the Amalfi coast is as hair- raising as it is stunning, with sublime views of towns and villages perched on top of rugged mountains, and tiny inlets and harbors where fishing boats bob at anchor.

Arches and Canyon

Southern Utah’s canyons, chasms, arches, and spires, finely crafted over millions of years, are among the most dramatic landscapes in the U.S. This route travels through geological wonderlands, passing prehistoric and Native American sites.

Vermont 100

Vermont 100 divides the state of Vermont in two, north to south, paralleling the rugged Green Mountains as it passes through beautiful, peaceful scenery and classic New England villages, with spectacular mountain views all the way.

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DRIVING BIG SUR

An abundance of state parks, rugged coastlines lined with sandy beaches, majestic redwood forests, soaring waterfalls, and wildlife such as sea otters, grey foxes, and peregrine falcons await you on this drive through the sparsely populated Big Sur region of central California.

HIGHLIGHTS

Monterey Bay Aquarium is well worth the pricey entrance fee—it houses a diverse range of marine life, including sea otters, sharks, penguins, numerous fish species, jellyfish, turtles, and octopuses.

Keep an eye out for wild sea otters feeding in kelp forests just offshore— they are protected along this stretch of coast. A good place to see them is at Soberanes Point near Garrapata State Park

Hearst Castle in San Simeon is a 165-room mansion mixing classical and Mediterranean styles. Perched on a 127-acre (51 ha) estate in the Santa Lucia Range, it has striking views of Big Sur and the Pacific.

FACTS and TIPS

From: Monterey, California

To: Morro Bay, California

Road: Calif. 1

Distance: 123 miles (198 km)

Driving Time: 3 hours

When to go: Year-round

Planning: Check in advance for bad weather, as heavy rain may make the narrow road dangerous.

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