I was working in SW Virginia some years ago, and drove to and from Michigan several times. This was also when the first map / routing software came out. I let the program pick the 'shortest' route and hit the road (without double checking the route on a real map ).
Fortunately, I was driving our '89 Gran Prix SE - alone (the wife would have totally killed the fun).
If you're ever passing through West Virginia and planning to use I-64, east of Charleston - try US-60. If you try to push it, this will be one of the most punishing roads you'll ever drive. The switchbacks and elevation changes are endless and brutal. If heading east, you can catch route 311 down to the Blue Ridge Parkway for some more civilized driving enjoyment
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...sunlight on chrome, the blur of the landscape, every nerve aware...
PCH Santa Barbara to Montery Peninsula. This will probably be our first Solstice road trip!
Locally in Arizona, Highway 89A from Wickenburg to Flagstaff, going through Prescott, Jerome and Sedona. About 150 miles of twisty scenic mountain passes from endless desert vistas to Sedona red rocks to tall cool Ponderosa Pine forests. Lots of hairpins!
In PHX area the Bartlett Dam Raod from Carefree to Bartlett Lake has the most spectacular desert scenery in the world along with twisty mountainous roads.
Picture Rocks Road, Gates Pass, Kenny --> nothing but mountain views, Saguaro Cactus, and lots of curves with steep elevation changes.
Catalina Highway up Mt Lemmon.
Of course I'm doing this in a coope, but still excellent roads. Just watch for the tourist with there RVs stoping in the middel of the road to take pictures in the winter time.
I like highway 1 on both coasts. Highway 1 from Los Angeles to Monterey and then from Montego Bay to Eureka is incredible. Winding roads, ocean views, forests all come together for a drive that is unparalleled.
On the east coast, you have to try Highway 1 from Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine. Eating lobster rolls for lunch and 2lbs lobsters for dinner. Fall is the best when the leaves are just turning. Again great winding road, ocean views, quaint homes and outstanding vistas.
If you have never driven these I would highly recommend them.
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#82 of 1K, Envious/AC/Power/Convenience/Premium/ABS/LSD - delivered 9/8/2005 Map Me
There are so many roads in the West to choose from that it is hard to pick one. Highway 1 up the coast has been mentioned already. A couple of years ago on a vacation trip to Angel's Camp, I jumped off the freeway at Fresno and went to Coarse Gold on Highway 41 where I caught Highway 49 from the beginning and drove it to Angel's Camp. From Angel's Camp we explored all sorts of back roads to various gold rush towns in the Sierra foothills. Another year we went to Lake Tahoe up 395 through Bishop. Just before 395 was going to enter Nevada, we turned off onto Highway 89 over Monitor Pass and down into Lake Tahoe. A couple of short drives that are neat is the Ortega Highway from San Juan Capistrano over the coast hills to Lake Elsinor here in So. Cal. A little bit North of the Los Angeles area you can get off Highway 99 near Bakersfield and take Highway 178 to Lake Isabella through the Kern Canyon. I remember a rock sticking out of the cliff in the Kern Canyon and it was painted dayglo orange. I wondered why until I realised that it was situated where an rv cutting too tight in the corner would catch that rock. I think the rock stuck out right to the edge of the road. You wind up a narrow canyon with a road and the river next to it and two shear cliffs going straight up on either side! Another fun road we took a few months ago with the f-body club I belong to, we met in Banning, Ca for breakfast on the edge of the dessert just North of Palm Springs. We left Banning going West on Highway 243. The highway literally climbs up what seems to be a shear cliff in a series of switch backs then dropped down into Idyllwild where we caught Highway 74 South past Hemet lake to the junction with Highway 371 down to Interstate 15. Then North to Lake Elsinor where we took the Ortega Highway(another part of 74) West to San Juan Capistrano. I guess I'd better stop now, I've gone on long enough.
I am surprised none of the KY folks have chimed in on this one, so I will take the opportunity..... Basically any road around my area which has 4 numbers is gonna be a good one! At the end of my driveway is "Persimmon Knob Rd" which is a beautiful little twisty road which run along the knob's ridgeline and you can cut off onto numerous side roads which are completely covered by trees... many of which are red-buds. There is about a 2 week period in the spring that is THE BEST. The red buds are out in full glory, the other trees are budding green and the white dog woods further in the woods are visible. You will see horses enjoying the warmth of the sun. Paradise in my own backyard. For more major roads, US 68 cuts diagonally across KY and it very nice. It offers a mix of straight aways with little law enforcement to let her rip as well as twisties up and down the KY river. http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ad...=l&trf=0&mag=5
Don't know if this link will come through or not. Great area. Send me a PM if you're ever in the area.
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DEEP GXP! :^) w/ red stitched Ebony Leather/Chrome Wheels. (as of 5/10/07) Sol owner since 12/23/95.
Lovin' the twisties in the heart of the Bluegrass!
The Park Loop Road in Acadia N.P. in Maine mostly runs along the rocky seacoast and the road up to the top of Cadillac Mtn. has enough twisties to satisfy almost anyone plus the view of Bah Habah (Bar Harbor to most of us) from the peak is really great. The only problem is traffic, particularly in mid-summer.
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Mysterious/Ebony - Prem., Power & Conv. Pkgs. No XM Radio or Smoker's Pkg. Ordered 04/19/05. On the road 12/17/05. Mods to date: Removed nameplates and GM chiclets. Complete repaint job including both front & rear grilles (both now gloss black). Goodyear 18" F1 AllWeathers on 18x8 black OZ Ultraleggeras, black "Street Edition" headlamp bezels, black mesh covers on fog & backup lights, die cut vinyl blackouts on all red Pontiac arrowheads. This baby is BLACK! PA license plate: BSIC BLK.
Great Drives--Share places to take a cruise in your Solstice
I'm going to take mine to Deal's Gap in Tennessee/North Carolina. It is on US 129 in the Smokey Mountains, and has 318 turns in 11 miles. The turns are slightly banked and the pavement is glass smooth on the Tennessee side. It is a popular destination for motorcyclists who call it "The Dragon". What a place it would be to take a Solstice. My brother took his Z4 there and had a blast. (He ran off the road and damaged a wheel and some of the lower body molding, too!)
Also, for you Hoosiers, State Road 45 between Bloomington and Beanblossom has some great corners as well. I used to enjoy taking my Firebird for spins on this road while I was in college. Can't wait to get the Solstice down there!
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# 8920
Took Delivery 2/3/06
Silver/Ebony int.
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