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Scenic Byways - travel destinations in Canada and United States

Stephanie Fekety

Take the road less traveled.

New Brunswick Adventure in the Wake of Natural Wonder!

Welcome to New Brunswick, Canada, where you can experience one of the marine wonders of the world. This is New Brunswick, Canada's Bay of Fundy-WOW! In New Brunswick, when they say welcome, you'll say, "WOW!" Witness the highest tides in the world in their Bay of Fundy! Walk on the ocean floor among towering flowerpot rock formations at the famous Hopewell Rocks. Just six hours later you can kayak in the very same spot--where all that remain of the rocks are tiny islands! Discover this amazing phenomenon at the Interpretive Centre that fully explains the world-renowned wonder of the Fundy ecosystem!

The Bay of Fundy is also home to spectacular marine wonder! Take a whale watching tour and see more kinds of whales more often than anywhere else--playful humpbacks, giant finbacks, and maybe even the rare right whale! Watch hundreds of thousands of shorebirds reel off sable stretches. And from porpoises to plovers, seals to sea urchins, you'll see how the Bay of Fundy welcomes them all!

Hike, bike, or drive the amazing Fundy Trail, and learn the secrets of Fundy's tidal ecosystem at Fundy National Park. Explore the sea caverns of St. Martins. View some of the oldest visible rocks on earth in Saint John, the Fundy City. And feel the thrill of the Reversing Falls rapids, where the Fundy tides meet the mighty St. John River! Plus, you can explore their great outdoors with natural sites, national and provincial parks, and amazing trails. New Brunswick has incredible Bay of Fundy day adventures, multi-day adventures, and Learning Quest adventures ready for you!

Fundy Has the Best in Modern Amenities!

Fresh seafood dining, a vibrant nightlife, and spectacular shopping make Fundy a true New Brunswick adventure. From four-star hotels to cozy B&Bs, seaside resorts and country inns, they've got first-rate accommodations. Plus, did you know your dollar goes a lot further in New Brunswick? Two American dollars can equal as much as three Canadian dollars! You'll find it all in New Brunswick, Canada's Bay of Fundy--WOW!

Visit the New Brunswick website at www.tourismnewbrunswick.com, or call 1-800-561-0123 for more information on how you can get started on your New Brunswick adventure.

New York Make a Great Vacation Out of Getting There

New York is one of the most popular vacation destinations for visitor from across the country.

NEW YORK IS TEEMING WITH SCENIC BYWAYS, FROM a 150-mile journey along the Hudson River Valley, to a leisurely 340-mile journey through the wineries and waterfalls of the Finger Lake region. You can truly make a vacation out of a single road trip.

The tour of the Hudson River Valley combines the natural beauty of the region with the homes of great Americans. Exit the Thruway (I-87) at Tarrytown. Follow Route 9 north, visiting historic Philipsburg Manor, to Peekskill and Route 6, which takes you along cliffs high above the Hudson River. Cross the Bear Mountain Bridge to Bear Mountain State Park, where you can hike, swim, or enjoy a picnic lunch. Then take Route 9W north to Route 218, which brings you into the village of Highland Falls. Don't miss a tour of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Return to Route 9W north to Route 218, the Storm King Highway, for a winding drive leading to Storm King Art Center. Rejoin Route 9W through Newburgh, where General George Washington's Headquarters are located, and past several wineries, where you can stop for a tour and a tasting of some of the region's best wines.

Continue north to the Mid-Hudson Bridge (Route 44/55). Crossing the river again, head north on Route 9 to the Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Sites and on to the Village of Rhinebeck. Travel north on Route 9G, and visit Montgomery Place and Olana State Historic Site.

Next turn east into the Taconics, taking Route 23B to Route 23. Take Route 22 south to Millerton. Follow Route 199 through winemaking country to Route 82 to Route 44 to the scenic Taconic Parkway, which leads to the Saw Mill River Parkway and, finally, back to Tarrytown and the Thruway (I-87).

The tour of the Finger Lakes region begins in Elmira, home of the Mark Twain Study and Exhibit; Woodlawn Cemetery, where Mark Twain is buried; and the National Soaring Museum, an impressive exhibition of sail planes and historic gliders.

Travel northeast on Route 13 to Ithaca, the city of waterfalls: dozens are within the city limits and hundreds more are within several miles. Stop and hike at hidden areas, such as Buttermilk Falls. While in Ithaca, don't miss Cornell University.

FOLLOW ROUTE 89 NORTH ALONG THE SHORE OF Cayuga Lake and drive to Taughannock Falls State Park, where the state's highest waterfall drops 215 feet into a rock amphitheater. The Cayuga Wine Trail (for more information call 1-800-732-1848) with eight wineries is located along Route 89.

Travel northwest to Geneva. Take Route 14 south along the shore of Seneca Lake--one of the 11 Finger Lakes, known for their deep clear waters. Travel to Dresden and follow Route 54 west to Penn Yan. You are still in wine country, so travel south on Route 54A along the shore of Keuka Lake to Hammondsport. Here are the excellent Glenn H. Curtiss Museum and numerous wineries. Next, drive to Bath on Route 54. Take Route 17 southeast to Corning, where you can explore 3,500 years of glassmaking at the Corning Glass Center.

From Corning, take Route 414 and visit Watkins Glen State Park, with its hiking paths and natural pools formed by the age-old waterfalls tumbling into stone basins. Take Route 14 south to the town of Montour Falls, where you can see Chequaqua Falls and visit Havana Glen Park, with a short scenic walk to Eagle Cliff Falls. Continuing south on Route 414 will take you back to Elmira.

For more information on these travel ideas or the other fabulous cities and great outdoors sites, call 1-800-CALL-NYS, or visit www.iloveny.com.

Wyoming Like No Place on Earth

As YOU CAN IMAGINE, WYOMING HAS SOME OF the most beautiful and uncrowded scenic byways in the country. Because the state is so large, there is no better way to explore Wyoming's natural wonders than its Scenic Byways. Wyoming's Scenic Byways and Backways Program allows visitors to discover the amazing array of wildlife and scenery in this outstanding state.

These designated travel routes reflect the pride of the Wyoming people who live in the communities and work the ranches along these routes, and are committed to the preservation, protection, and enhancement of these special places. When traveling these roadways, take in the sense of adventure and freedom that first attracted people to this great state and discover why they fully deserve to be recognized with Byway and Backway status.

Three scenic byways cross the Big Horn Mountains in north-central Wyoming, the Cloud Peak Skyway (US 16), the Big Horn Scenic Byway (US 14), and the Medicine Wheel Passage (US 14A). All will get you safely to the other side of the mountains in about the same time.

Big Horn Scenic Byway connects Sheridan and surrounding communities with Greybull, Wyoming and includes 45 miles of scenic mountain driving. Look out over spectacular valley views from one of several roadside turnouts--on a clear day, you can see forever. Interesting stops include Shell Falls, Burgess Junction Visitor Center and Sand Turn.

The Cloud Peak Skyway traverses the southern Big Horn Mountains and offers breathtaking vistas of distant snowcapped peaks along its 45-mile length. This route connects the towns of Buffalo and Tensleep, Wyoming. Highlights include Hospital Hill, Powder Pass, Meadow Lark Lake and Tensleep Canyon.

The Medicine Wheel Passage rises sharply from the Big Horn Basin near Lovell, Wyoming and winds 25 miles through steep canyon terrain and high alpine meadows to Burgess Junction. This route provides primary access to the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark. This byway is open only from May to November, and its 10 percent grades may not be the best choice for those pulling trailers or driving a RV.

OF COURSE ALL OF THESE ROADS AND MORE lead you on an adventure through the real Wyoming. To learn more about Wyoming's scenic highways and byways, go to the Wyoming web site at www.wyomingtourism.org. A new Wyoming Scenic Byways brochure will be available in Spring 2001. To order one, call 1-800-225-5996.

West Virginia Wild and Wonderful

THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA HAS FOUR NATIONAL scenic byways designated by the FHWA national Scenic Byway Program. These are the Highland Scenic Highway, the Midland Trail, the Coal Heritage Trail, and the Washington Heritage Trail. All preserve the rich culture, heritage and beauty of the state.

The Highland Scenic Highway, a beautiful path through the Monongahela National Forest, takes visitors past mountainous terrain covered by hardwood forests. This scenic byway extends 43 miles from Richwood to US Route 219, seven miles north of Marlinton. The highway follows State Route 39/55 for 21 miles from Richwood to the Cranberry Mountain Visitor Center.

The Coal Heritage Trail winds through mountains and valleys, taking visitors through four of West Virginia's southern counties. As you travel along this byway, you can't help but notice West Virginia's industrial heritage. This area of Appalachia was America's most productive energy-producing region, and its abundant coal fields affected its physical, economic, and social climate.

The Midland Trail follows the same path that Native Americans and pioneers used to head west. The Midland Trail thus takes you on a timeline through colonial America, the Civil War, immigration, African-American history, and the industrial revolution. Before interstates, the Midland Trail was the main route through the West Virginia mountains.

The Washington Heritage Trail loops through three counties of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, crossing mountains, farmland, and historic towns. The Eastern Panhandle is significant to historians because George Washington and his family vacationed and built homes in this area. In fact, seven Washington family homes or estates can be seen from the trail.

For more information on West Virginia and its scenic byways, call 1-800-CALL-WVA, or visit the state's website at www.state.wv.us/tourism.

Scenic Short Cuts Some beautiful touring routes by land by sea.

Pennsylvania Route 6

Route 6 is a true scenic byway. With over 400 miles of ground to cover, you'll have time to stop at all of the special places that make this byway such a gem. Pull over at a country store to buy authentic Pennsylvania crafts take in that wonderful Pennsylvania fare at one of the many restaurants on the side of the road, and stop to photograph a scenic view within the Allegheny National Forest. By the end of your trip, you'll have added some wonderful additions to your "best of" lists--diners, bed and breakfasts, Victorian villages, and festivals from border to border.

But there are many more attractions to lure you to this scenic byway. In Warren County you'll drive by parts of the Allegheny National Forest. If you want to stretch your legs, there are 11 campgrounds and 600 miles of trails for hiking. And Crawford County includes the Commonwealth's largest natural lake, and one of the Nature Conservancy's "last great places in the U.S."

For a free Pennsylvania visitors guide--including a detailed road map and calendar of upcoming events call 1-814-435-7706, or visit the state's website at www.paroute6.com.

American Cruise Lines

If you'd rather cruise through America's inland passages than ride along her scenic byways, take a cruise through New England's enchanting towns aboard the AMERICAN EAGLE on American Cruise Lines. The seven-night New England Islands Cruise takes you back to the maritime history of the world. Throughout the cruise, historians and naturalists will intrigue you with tales as you visit whaling museums and historic homes.

Other New England trips include cruises through Maine's coast and harbors, the Hudson River Cruise, and an East Coast inland passage cruise. You will cruise along rivers, bays, estuaries, and canals--waterways once traveled by Native Americans, explorers, and pirates.

For reservations call 1-800-814-6880 or visit the state's website at www.americancruiselines.com.

Swift Instruments

No matter if you're driving along the scenic byways or sailing through New England ports of call, you'll need to bring a good pair of binoculars with you, and Swift Instruments has been a leader in the optics field since 1926. In fact, for anyone who enjoys bird-watching, from the casual backyard birder to the professional ornithologist, Swift Instruments has been a leader in designing and manufacturing innovative bird watching optics for the past 40 years.

This year Swift is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The company has just introduced a new model, the 820 Swift Audubon, which is specifically designed for birders. Also available are compact binoculars for backpacking, hiking, biking, and mountain climbing, and waterproof binoculars for boaters.

Swift products are sold and serviced at finer optics, sporting, photo, and specialty stores throughout the world. For more information on Swift Instruments, call 1-617-436-2960, or visit www.swift-optics.com.

To find out more about America's scenic byways, go to National Scenic Byways Online at www.byways.org.

This special editorial/advertising supplement was created by the NATURAL HISTORY Special Sections Department and did not involve the magazine's editorial staff. WRITER Stephanie Fekety DESIGN Mindy Phelps Stanton

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