Enjoy historic small towns, unusual salt marshes, 1732 Court House, breathtaking river views, Great Blue Herons, and Snowy Egrets.

Driving route mapThe Delaware River is an important shipping waterway, but there is a lesser-known aspect to it, as it meanders through historic small towns,  quaint, and salt marshes on the northern end of the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) Peninsula.   Founded by the Dutch in 1651, the 45-mile, 1-1/2 hour drive begins at historic New Castle.  Built in 1732, the Old Court House on Delaware Street,  ranks as one of the oldest public buildings in the United States.

Ten miles west on Route 9, a high bridge spans the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, linking Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River and offering a Read more . . .

See some interesting murals, gladiolus, the mighty Mississippi, and Blues Corner.

Driving route mapMost agree the Ozark area is a great area to drive in Arkansas, but sometimes taking a new direction will find you even better driving. This direction is fun and interesting. Murals are major attractions at each end of this drive in Helena (Cherry Street) and Paragould (Court and Emerson Streets. They become bookends for a drive through nature and history.

Starting in Paragould near the northeast corner of Arkansas, take U.S. 412 west for  10 miles to Rte. 141 south. Pass by  Lake Read more . . .

Visit Hot Springs National Park, President Bill Clinton’s childhood home, crystal mines, and mountain towns in scenic forests.

Driving route mapRoute 7, from Hot Springs to Harrison, is a 160-mile stretch above wooded hills and through mountain towns. The daylong journey begins in Hot Springs, where President Bill Clinton grew up. Before leaving Hot Springs, drop by the visitors center for Hot Springs National Park. Take Fountain Street to Hot Springs Mountain Drive, which leads to Hot Springs Mountain Tower, where you can take in a picturesque overlook of the city and its surroundings. Read more . . .

Contemplate a restored battleship, artifacts from 1700’s France, horticulture, and take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”

MapStart at U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Memorial Park on Battleship Parkway to explore the great ship’s engine room, decks, wardroom, and galley. From there, head southwest on I-10 to Rte. 63 south to Fort Gaines and Dauphin Island. Then turn around and retrace the route past the Alabama, detour 5 miles north to Blakely Park, carry on I-10 to U.S. 98 south to Rte. 59 south, then east on Rte. 182 to Gulf State Park for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico and west on I-80 to Fort Morgan.

The U.S.S. Alabama is magnificent, even if you have seen a battleship before, because it is restored better than most. There are many arrays of flora and fauna in the surrounding marshes. Read more . . .

See eight covered and natural bridges, “Dismalite” glow worms, great scenery, and even the work of a Benedictine monk.

Gadsden, AL route mapThis  route showcases 6 of Alabama’s 10 covered bridges and both of its natural bridges. That is only one view of this scenic, 140-mile drive across the state. Beginning in Gadsden, 63 miles northeast of Birmingham on I-59, travel west over the striking Lookout Mountain Parkway on U.S. 278 to Rte. 75 south. After locating the first two bridges near Oneonta, travel eight miles west on U.S. 231 to Cleveland and continue north on U.S. 231 back to U.S. 278, through Cullman and the William Bankhead National Forest to Hamilton. Finally, head north on U.S. 43 to Russelville. Read more . . .