Its winter time, and almost New Years, so often I just reflect, opened up Google Maps of the US andโฆโฆโฆ.
Name 1-10 spots that you had only run across (discovered) in your travels, spots you had not really heard about that you would recommend to a friend.
These can be just a Great Drive or a Location that you would recommend if a good friend were going to be in the area. Trying to ID spots that are not on the regular Radar โ These, I hope are your own little treasures, which you would make every effort to visit if in the area, and would encourage a friend to see/drive. Not a National Park but a private, memorable, spot that you would share.
Mine, in no particular order;
Trout Lake, Colorado
If you are on Rt 145 in Colorado going to or from Telluride, be sure to take a little time to drive around the Lake and dream about spending some time here. Beautiful and serine โฆโฆ might just be a little Cold and Isolated in the Winter, but is just so inviting in the Summer or Fall.
Wind River Canyon, Wyoming
Wind River Canyon has been in my head from the first time I drove it in 1971, when taking my wife on her first cross county trip, we drove it after looping into Yellowstone, as I would play back the drive I always felt like the River was flowing up hill, this allusion is partially from the fact that it flows north and the road is losing elevation as it heads south. Beautiful drive, great CG on the south end and memorable in the Fall.
The drive on Rt 39 from Ogden, Utah to Snowbasin Ski resort.
While working we would do Christmas with the kids in Salt Lake City (Fly in Fly out โ for 10 years mid 80โs to mid 90โs) This was annual drive to Snowbasin before it was discovered, for the SLC Winter Olympics. The drive up the canyon and by the reservoir was always just Beautiful in the Winter.
Alpine Lake , West Virginia
Alpine Lake is just one of those hidden spots that because of the water and all the activities was always just inviting, year round โ Deep Creek Lake is just down the road and is the more popular Maryland resort.
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Lake Toxaway, - because of the wildness and the proximity to GSMNP is just a hidden Gem โ although I think Atlanta and the South like to call it their own, with almost endless trails and countless waterfalls it is always a great area to spend time.
Boulder, Colorado to Nederland on Route 119
The drive from Boulder to Nederland is just FUN! Add in Boulder Creek and you will enjoy โ car or bike. Added bonus is it is connected to Peak to Peak Highway.
Rt 6 Golden, Colorado to Idaho Springs
Because we spend so much time in Colorado I am able to get my quick Rockies fix by making this drive โ you are SURROUNDED by the Rockies, and it just says welcome home. (add to that that it avoids the heavy I-70 traffic just hard to not love)
Marble, CO
Stopped here just by chance and got to do the Marble โ Marble festival โ 4x4 roads and so much Character.
Drive Rt 24 Minturn to Leadville
Do this often as Leadville and Red Cliff are two of our favorite towns โ never taken a drive that I did not enjoy what we were seeing.
Rt 36 through Kansas
Just gets you back to what it used to be โ small towns โ not much traffic โ just enjoyable. (does not hurt that the Granddaughters live in Colorado).
As usual I have gotten carried away โ hereโs hoping you all get a chance to take time and visit a few of these locations.
Letโs see if you can add to these.
Happy New Year,
Name 1-10 spots that you had only run across (discovered) in your travels, spots you had not really heard about that you would recommend to a friend.
These can be just a Great Drive or a Location that you would recommend if a good friend were going to be in the area. Trying to ID spots that are not on the regular Radar โ These, I hope are your own little treasures, which you would make every effort to visit if in the area, and would encourage a friend to see/drive. Not a National Park but a private, memorable, spot that you would share.
Mine, in no particular order;
Trout Lake, Colorado
If you are on Rt 145 in Colorado going to or from Telluride, be sure to take a little time to drive around the Lake and dream about spending some time here. Beautiful and serine โฆโฆ might just be a little Cold and Isolated in the Winter, but is just so inviting in the Summer or Fall.
Wind River Canyon, Wyoming
Wind River Canyon has been in my head from the first time I drove it in 1971, when taking my wife on her first cross county trip, we drove it after looping into Yellowstone, as I would play back the drive I always felt like the River was flowing up hill, this allusion is partially from the fact that it flows north and the road is losing elevation as it heads south. Beautiful drive, great CG on the south end and memorable in the Fall.
The drive on Rt 39 from Ogden, Utah to Snowbasin Ski resort.
While working we would do Christmas with the kids in Salt Lake City (Fly in Fly out โ for 10 years mid 80โs to mid 90โs) This was annual drive to Snowbasin before it was discovered, for the SLC Winter Olympics. The drive up the canyon and by the reservoir was always just Beautiful in the Winter.
Alpine Lake , West Virginia
Alpine Lake is just one of those hidden spots that because of the water and all the activities was always just inviting, year round โ Deep Creek Lake is just down the road and is the more popular Maryland resort.
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Lake Toxaway, - because of the wildness and the proximity to GSMNP is just a hidden Gem โ although I think Atlanta and the South like to call it their own, with almost endless trails and countless waterfalls it is always a great area to spend time.
Boulder, Colorado to Nederland on Route 119
The drive from Boulder to Nederland is just FUN! Add in Boulder Creek and you will enjoy โ car or bike. Added bonus is it is connected to Peak to Peak Highway.
Rt 6 Golden, Colorado to Idaho Springs
Because we spend so much time in Colorado I am able to get my quick Rockies fix by making this drive โ you are SURROUNDED by the Rockies, and it just says welcome home. (add to that that it avoids the heavy I-70 traffic just hard to not love)
Marble, CO
Stopped here just by chance and got to do the Marble โ Marble festival โ 4x4 roads and so much Character.
Drive Rt 24 Minturn to Leadville
Do this often as Leadville and Red Cliff are two of our favorite towns โ never taken a drive that I did not enjoy what we were seeing.
Rt 36 through Kansas
Just gets you back to what it used to be โ small towns โ not much traffic โ just enjoyable. (does not hurt that the Granddaughters live in Colorado).
As usual I have gotten carried away โ hereโs hoping you all get a chance to take time and visit a few of these locations.
Letโs see if you can add to these.
Happy New Year,
Veebyes wrote:
Well now Busskipper, I have done 4 of your 10. 3 of the Colorado routes & 36 across Kansas multiple times. 36 is a great highway as is 50 to the south. Clear Creek Canyon out of Golden, can't count the number of times up that one. Up Boulder canyon, think Mork & Mindy in the Jeep.
Doug,
I would have thought you might have been on a couple of the others also, I think I've been on some of yours - We generally get to Capt. Buddies once a year with friends. Referencing your picture in Tilghman's looking out the window at the water and boats.
I'm sure you have a couple others you might share that are off the beaten path.
So much to see and do,
korbe wrote:
Share my favorite camp spots so others can enjoy them too? Okay, Let me think.......Nope, can't think of any right off the top of my head.
Like Yogi said "nobody goes there anymore it's too crowded!"
