US Route 6 is the longest contiguous transcontinental route in the USA. Running from Provincetown, MA to Bishop, CA (and before 1964 to Long Beach, CA), Route 6 goes through 14 states. This is your guide along all of its original 3,652 miles. From Revolutionary War sites to pioneer settlements and western mining towns, Route 6 offers an in-depth lesson in US History, charms of yesteryear and comforts of modern times.
Many small towns in America seem to have that one place where everyone shows up in the morning for coffee, conversation and a perfect, signature baked item. On my road trip across America, I asked locals in every town to point me to that special bakery. Here are five of the best on US Route 6:
1. PB Boulangerie Bistro, South Wellfleet, MA; A 22 mile bike ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail deserves a reward, and there's no better treat than an authentic, flakey croissant or French pastry. This newcomer has become an instant hit on "The Cape."
PB Boulangerie
S. Wellfleet, MA
2. Buckie's Underground Bakery, Dennis, MA; Grab a signature “Nutmeg Muffin;" dipped in
butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar, it will undermine your diet for
sure. No wonder the place is packed every morning.
"Nutmeg Muffin" at Buckie's Underground Bakery
Dennis, MA
3. Danish Maid Bakery, Grinnell, IA; Do what the locals do and buy a “Coney” –
a whipped-cream filled éclair glazed with icing; The Des Moines Register
named eating a Coney from Danish Maid “one of the 100 things you must do before
you die."
Coney @ Danish Maid Bakery
Grinnell, IA
4. Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Café, McCook, NE; www.bieroccafe.com; You can't leave town without trying a Bieroc - a
hot calzone-like meat and cabbage pocket - or anything else that comes out of the oven in this 50 plus year old Nebraska institution.
Sehnert's Bakery and Bieroc Cafe
McCook, NE
5. Erick Schat’s Bakery, Bishop, CA,
www.erickschatsbakery.com“Home of the Original Sheepherder Bread" since 1938, Schat's is an "artisanal" bakery in the foothills of the Eastern Sierras.
Thanks to the techies who developed "Google Alerts" - I can keep up to date with my favorite US Route 6/ US Highway 6/ Grand Army of the Republic Highway/ Roosevelt Highway; all the names that US Route 6 goes by from Massachusetts to California.
Of late, there have been several fatalities on the road - a few pedestrians and some car accidents - most likely due to early darkness on a busy highway.
On Route 6/202 Approaching Bear Mountain Bridge Photo from Journal News
Yesterday, however, an accident on one of my very favorite stretches of US Route 6 - the few miles out of Peekskill, NY where it pairs with Rt. 202 as it follows the wide Hudson River on curves and switchbacks through bluffs before winding down to the scenic Bear Mountain Bridge - closed the road down in both directions for a few hours. Click on here for the newspaper and video. A gravel truck just missed negotiating one of those turns and fell over, spewing crushed rock all over the road. Fortunately, the driver was OK and no other vehicles were involved.
Having done that drive many times, I'm surprised that this kind of thing doesn't happen more often. It is a breathtaking section of Route 6, but can be dangerous with lots of truck traffic. I'm including the video I took of that section of the drive below. It begins in Newtown, CT and ends just over the Bear Mountain Bridge....
These days, jaded travelers might drive past a certain type of lodging - low slung, modest, parking space at the front door - believing that it's probably a no-tell-motel sleazy pay-by-the-hour type establishment. But long ago, these roadside motels were downright luxurious compared to the tents that road trippers would set up in ubiquitous Travel Camps.
In its heyday, you couldn't drive far on the 3,652 miles of US Route 6 without seeing one or a cluster of these motels, usually owned by a husband and wife who would do everything from make the coffee to clean the rooms. Now, though, many of these motels have fallen into disrepair, were abandoned or have deteriorated into these pay-by-the-hour love motels. You can see the sad ruins as you drive across the country.
But some of these Mom and Pop motels have not only hung on, they have thrived. Owned by couples who offer an inexpensive and clean option, the following motels go the "extra mile" with great service, perfect location, friendliness and amenities you'd find in higher end hotels at twice the price.
1. Sandusky, OH. If you want a CHEAP place to stay within a few miles of
Cedar Point, book a room starting at $30 at the Maples Motel, 4409 Cleveland Rd. (Route 6), Sandusky, OH (1/4 mile
from east entrance of Cedar Point), 419-626-1575. Brick and not much to look
at, this 24-unit motel is clean and cool and gets plenty of kudos and press for
its affordability. With pool, air conditioning, cable TV, and a stones throw
from one of the largest amusement parks in the US, the MaplesMotel is,
according to a recent Lake Erie Living article, “ a sliver of Americana capped
with an orange and blue neon sign.”
The Maples Motel
Sandusky, OH
2. Glenwood Springs, CO; For budget-conscious
travelers, the best bang for the buck here is The Red Mountain Inn, 51637 U.S. Highway 6, Glenwood Springs, CO, 800-748-2565, www.redmountaininn.com, $66-$120 - a
charming courtyard motel of a former era with clean, comfy, cute rooms and the
friendliest owners around. Cottages cluster around a central driveway, creating
an intimate atmosphere and low rates include free wi-fi, heated pool, hot tub,
guest laundry, and a continental breakfast. All less than 2 miles from
downtown.
Red Mountain Inn
Glenwood Springs, CO
3. Tonopah, NV; For wallet-watchers, Jim Butler Inn & Suites, 100 South
Main St., Tonopah, NV, 775-482-3577, www.jimbutlerinn.com,
$70-$95 looks like your typical roadside motel. But inside the room, there’s a sitting area, a gas
fireplace, a flat screen TV, and comfy bed with nice bedding. The bathroom is the basic sink outside,
toilet and shower behind a door kind of thing, but it's clean, very friendly and centally
located to all Tonopah attractions.
Jim Butler Inn and Suites
Tonopah, NV
4. Lancaster, CA; The budget minded will be ecstatic at the Inn at Lancaster, 44131 Sierra Hwy,
Lancaster, CA 661-945-8771, www.innoflandcaster.com,
$77-$87. Lancaster identifies
strongly with the what used to be Route 6, the Sierra Highway, and though most
people travel through on the parallel and faster Highway 14, the
Inn at Lancaster is actually ON Sierra Highway. The Inn
at Lancaster is a wonderful, clean, comfortable and pretty place with lots to
offer; a nicely landscaped outdoor
pool, a complementary dinner in the early evening (ie, pizza,hamburgers), a complimentary continental breakfast, complimentary movie, fitness
center, flat-screen TV’s and free Wi-Fi (always a plus). The Mom and Pop of
record, Andy and Jeannie Holnberg, have a place to be proud of.
Inn of Lancaster
Lancaster, CA
Honorable Mention;
5. Coralville, IA; This motel no longer exists but was inextricably linked to Historic Route 6 and so I have to include it on this list. Blue Top Motor
Court sat proudly on old Route 6 from 1952 – 1996. Twelve tiny
cottages were arranged in a semi-circle around a swath of lawn that contained a
grill, picnic tables and swing sets.
It was spotless, comfortable, and each cabin had a walk-in closet
“larger than my room at the Jefferson Hotel!,” according to one celebrity
guest, Bob Hope. Generation after generation of University of Iowa students and
professors, families of Medical Center patients and road-trippers returned time
and time again – the Blue Top was a touchstone for many. Poet Laureate of the State
of Iowa, Mary Swander, then an Iowa Writer’s Workshop
student, stayed for months in The Penthouse – the dormer apartment above the
motel garages and later wrote an homage to the Blue Top.
Replica of Cabin #1 at Blue Top Motel
Coralville, IA
We've all known about US Route 6 for awhile now, but The Grand Army of the Republic Highway is gaining notice far from its northern transcontinental route.
Notable East Coast restauranteur Stephen Starr wanted to include a seafood place among his other hotspots in Philly, New York, DC and Florida, and the name Route 6 came to mind because "Route 6 is the main road through Cape Cod." Little did he (or his PR people) know that the Route 6 in Cape Cod extends all the way to California, and ironically runs 440 miles along the northern border of Pennsylvania.
No matter. They will soon. Meanwhile, when you're in town, try a lobsta or fried clam with a swig of specially brewed, unfiltered Rye ESB called Route 6 Ale, at the one and only Route 6 in Philadelphia!
I wish it many successful years!
Todays New York Times featured a National Section Front Page piece titled "Gas Drillers Invade Hunters' Pennsylvania Paradise." Embedded within the story is a map magnifying Potter County, and specifically Coudersport, highlighting also a nice, clear Route 6 shield. That natural gas drillers have taken over this area of PA's Route 6 should come as no surprise to my readers. I wrote about the hydraulic fracturing controversy, and spoke to those it effected both before and during my trip with inconclusive results.
As I made my way across country on US Route 6, I took daily videos through my windshield. As you can see from the last few minutes (around 4:45 mark) of these snippets of the Hawley to Wellsboro segment, natural gas extraction might be an economic boon to "G-d's Country," PA, but it is also a dirty, dusty business (at least while clearing and drilling).
I am often asked to give a one minute commentary on my 3,602 mile trip across country. Most people want to know "What's the highlight?" Well, there were many highlights - but the highest light came more than midway through my journey in a town outside of Denver, CO. I wrote the following about this amazing youth group and hope everyone who reads this gets a chance to see The Westernaires in action:
Westernaires Practice At the Foot of the Rockies Lakewood, CO
If you happen to hit Lakewood, Colorado on a weekday evening around
sunset, you must make time to watch The
Westernaires practice precision riding at break-neck speeds. These
impressive 9-19 year olds, will give you goose-bumps, get you teary-eyed and
make you proud of our Country’s youth.
Westernaires Tack Room Lakewood, CO
The Westernaires, 15200 W. 6th Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado
Westernaires "Tenderfoot Board Meeting" Lakewood, CO
(303) 279-3767 learn and practice drills at Fort Westernaire-a complex of indoor and outdoor arenas
(7 in all), classrooms, and a phenomenal museum – the Orrin C. Curtiss Westernaire Museum of Western and Riding History -
that you can enter if you happen to come through on a Saturday (also a practice day throughout
the year) between 10am and 2pm.Based on the notion that “The Old West had values worth learning,” says
The Westernaire’s director, Glenn Keller, “all Westernaires must visit the
museum when they first sign up.”Inside, there’s a library filled with Western and Colorado History books
– among them an 1867 Revised Statues of
Colorado.The kids begin their
training by first learning about the anatomy of the horse, the history of the
region, including Native American History, the origins of the US Cavalry (the
Westernaires portray this old branch of the military in shows), and the
progression of the saddle. There are branding irons, various kinds of barbed
wire, bits, bridles, stirrups and spurs and, incredibly, the carriage that
brought Abraham Lincoln to the train in Springfield, IL as he set off for
Washington DC to serve as US President.This was the same carriage used by Buffalo Bill Cody in his Wild West
Show, and its not by happenstance that Buffalo
Bill’s Wild West Show and the Westernaire’s
Horsecapades are so similar.“We are the West Incarnate,” Keller says.
The Westernaires have had just two directors in the
organization’s 62 years; E.E. Wyland who, in 1949 was asked by the Lakewood
Youth Council to “start something for kids,” and Keller who, in 1983, grew the
Westernaires into the 1,000-strong organization it is today. When Keller took
over the reins, only 5% of the Westernaires went on to college.Today, 95% do. Keller feels that for
some of these kids who are at-risk and from broken homes, this program is so
important they stay in school just so they can continue to be Westernaires (a
requirement). Along with the obvious riding skills, kids learn perseverance,
personal responsibility, leadership and respect for adults; all the ingredients
of good citizenship.
Westernaires practice at sunset in the Rockies Lakewood, CO
Children as young as nine years old start out in the
“Tenderfoot” division and must learn the very basics even before getting on a
horse.After nine or ten years of
practice, drills, diagramming, and bonding with their horse and like-minded
colleagues, each Westernaire hopes to be called upon to join the elite Varsity Big Red Team, earning the
coveted and prestigious “Red Sweater.”
Westernaires Varsity Big Red Team Member wearing coveted red sweater Lakewood, CO
“It’s a real family – you really get addicted,” says one
parent/volunteer, Debbie Koop, who has two Westernaires daughters and is an
instructor herself.The program is
so important to participants, many return as volunteers; there are 350 – 500
graduates and parents who just can’t let go and want to give back.They sew the costumes, teach kids at
all levels, and take care of the 30 acres of property. “We’re a totally
self-supporting organization,” Keller explained. “We believe in doing for
ourselves.” For the most part, the Westernaires are funded by ticket
sales.They put on a Wild
West-like show – called Horsecapades - in Denver every year, selling over
42,000 tickets at $7 each. Participants in the program pay a nominal fee for
training and costumes.Excelling
at precision riding, rough riding, authentic Cavalry Riding and Liberty Riding
(no saddle or harness), the Westernaires are one of the best (if not the best)
trick-riding teams in the United States, and merit the slogan “Best At Speed.”
It takes determination, tenacity, attention to detail and
teamwork, plus lots of heart, sweat and tears to pull off effectively. If you
hit it just right, watch a Westernaires drill against the backdrop of the Rocky
Mountains and the setting sun, you will be touched. Practice is most weekday evenings in the summer.
By now my readers know that the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower first made landfall on what are now the dunes in Provincetown, MA. Yes, they went on to colonize Plymouth, but these voyagers provisioned and began life in the New World on the very tip of Cape Cod that just so happens to be Mile One of US Route 6.
The Mayflower, 1620
Provincetown, MA
So, it seems fitting that if our nation's roots can be found where US Route 6 begins, our wings soar close to where US Route 6 ends - at the Air and Space Port in Mojave, CA. Commercial Airline and Cellular King, Sir Richard Branson, has been testing his latest, privately-financed space-ship, the Feather, for his fledgling spin-off, Virgin Galactic. This century's Pilgrims and Explorers, Branson and his team are at the forefront of space-exploration and commercial space-travel just 120 miles from the historic western terminus of US Route 6 in Long Beach, CA.
From Cape Cod, MA to Long Beach, CA, US Route 6 passes through hundreds of communities large and small. I crossed the country as the economic tide rolled out yet again for the average American homeowner and worker. Shuttling from one Main Street to the next, I noticed that despite the Great Recession, some communities were pulling together to revitalize former flagging downtowns - turning them into places where locals, and even tourists would want to flock.
These, then, are Best Ten Main Streets on US Route 6:
Commercial St. - Quiet in Offseason
Provincetown, MA
1. Provincetown, MA; If you're into tie-dye, pirates, glitter eye-shadow (on men), steamed lobsters, sand dunes and a frenzied Main St. - come to the edge-of-the-world town of Provincetown, MA to spend a squeezy, pleasy, teasy few hours on Commercial St. Fun Factor: Off the Charts.
Center Flagpole
Newtown, CT
2. Newtown, CT; An All-American Town even before this WAS America. Newtown is known for having more pre-1825 homes than any town in state, and at least one - on Main St. - from which the owner watched Revolutionary War troops walk by while sitting on his front porch. Patriotic Rating: Five (Out of Five) Stars.
Main St. Wellsboro, PA
3. Wellsboro, PA: Best known for the iconic Wellsboro Diner, Wellsboro, PA takes its charming “stuck-in 40’s” identity very seriously. Street lamps set within a grassy median, tree-shaded sidewalks; this Main Street hasn't changed much in decades and that's the draw. Charm Factor: Way Up There.
Canals of Vermilion, OH
4. Vermillion, OH; The most picturesque "Yachting Center" in the middle of the country, Vermilion has carved out a series of canals from Great Lake Erie giving its downtown the feel of a crowd-pleasing full-service marina. Views are as sweet as the Ice Cream Sundaes at Big Ed's. Nautical Rating: Unexpectedly High.
Pedestrian Mall, Iowa City, IA
5. Iowa City, IA: Though U of Iowa students love to assemble on the brick, pedestrian-only streets in the center of Iowa City, a broad range of non-students do, too. There's no better place for senior citizens to meander or young parents to push a stroller - where you don't have to worry about moving cars. Excellent restaurants, a new terrific library, lots of comfy bench seating and playground equipment make Iowa City's downtown a model for other like-sized cities. Sophistication Rating: Brilliant But Unpretentious.
Downtown Ashland, NE
6. Ashland, NE: This is the smallest Main Street on the list, nestled between the larger cities of Omaha and Lincoln. But Ashland's got plenty of heart, several art galleries, buildings on the Historic Register, and a winery tasting room. In addition, near the incongruous Licoma Beach Lighthouse on the outskirts of town right on Route 6, a Culinary Institute of America (CIA) trained chef has just opened a Bar and Grill. Nifty things are happening in pretty and unassuming Ashland, Nebraska. Tourist Magnet Rating: High and Growing.
Main St. Golden, CO
7. Golden, CO: The Welcome to Golden sign that arcs over Main Street says it all. Brick-lined, historic, laid-back - Golden's downtown is everything you'd want in Western Hospitality. There's plenty to eat and buy, and more to see and do including of course, taking one of the most popular brewery tours in the country. Coors of Golden Colorado is right here. Howdy Y'all Factor: Ten (out of Ten) Gallon Hats.
Sculptures on Main St.
Grand Junction, CO
8. Grand Junction, CO; An outdoor enthusiast's utopia with world-class restaurants, Grand Junction draws fit folks who love the good things in life. That apparently extends to public art: Main Street has become something of an outdoor sculpture garden. Flourishes like filigreed drainage grates, a sidewalk water-playground for kids, and funky shops and eateries prove that Grand Junction puts an emphasis on design as attraction. Main Street Aesthetic: Very Fine.
Newest Downtown Ceramic Mural
Bishop, CA
9. Bishop, CA: Bishop's history is literally written on its walls, or drawn as the case may be. It's all about the murals in this small, adorable Eastern Sierra Mountain town. Tourists come to hire mules and back-country guides and grab a bite to eat, then stay to admire the paintings. Appearing like a mirage in the middle of the desert, Bishop is that longed-for, charming oasis after a long and dusty drive. Artistic Factor: Impressive.
Revitalized Main St.
Lancaster, CA
10. Lancaster, CA: Feathery foliage, parking nooks, cool restaurants, playground, shops and (soon-to-be-opened) art/history museum has rendered Lancaster's newly renovated Main St. a pedestrian-friendly hangout. If you haven't been to this LA commuter town in awhile, you'll be shocked for sure. Formerly down-at-heals, Lancaster is transforming its "broken-windows" reputation into a desirable destination. Reinvention Factor: Lofty.
Why is October always the spookiest month? I guess because darkness comes earlier, days and nights turn windy, and of course, costume stores sell out of ghosts and goblins (and Freddie Kruger) for Halloween.
In honor of October, I present to you The Tombstone Trail - Indiana's cemetery-studded US Route 6. It's a Route 6 excursion like no other.
But I'll let the experts tell you:
This is a road trip like no other featuring over eight historic cemeteries across several northern Indiana counties and communities. More than 75 stories spanning the centuries and miles will be found along the Grand Army of the Republic Highway (U.S. 6).
This year the Trail pays special tribute to the 150th anniversary marking the beginning of America's greatest conflict- The American Civil War. Stories from both the Union and the Confederacy will be featured in our local cemeteries.
The Tombstone Trail will also mark the 70th anniversary of the United States entering World War II, and pay tribute to the men and women who served some role during this global battle that defined a generation.
For some a graveyard may seem like the end of the road, but in northeastern Indiana it is just the beginning of a month-long celebration of the lives of those who have gone before us.
Guided, group, and self-guided tours through these silent cities of stone are available.
For more information contact the Noble County Visitors Bureau at 1-877-202-5761You can also find and "like us" on Facebook.
A hotel “Happy
Hour” is usually a quiet scene. You
pour yourself a glass of Chardonnay or Merlot and make small talk with a few
other guests. Generally billed as a “wine and cheese reception,” it’s a welcome
prequel to a night out and I have to admit, very appreciated, especially
because most hotels (by and large fancy ones with big names) make you shell out
beaucoup bucks for sample-sized snacks and drinks from your guest-room
“Honor Bar.”
The following establishments however, are standouts. They elevate
Happy Hour and other amenities to Royal Treatment; spoiling guests with
complimentary afternoon libations, wi-fi and hot gourmet breakfasts. (Sure, it
might reflect in the room rate, but we don’t feel nickel and dimed to extremes.)
FIRST PLACE
Happy Hour at Magnolia Hotel Omaha, NE
The Magnolia Hotel
in Omaha, NE takes top honors for an unabashed, complimentary free-flowing beer
and wine (a succulent private labeled Cab Sav from Napa) fest. For one hour each afternoon, you can
drink to your heart’s content, chat up the bartender (yes there is one! Be sure to tip him or her), then wobble down the street to Old Market for
dinner. Upon your return, expect warm
cookies and cool milk before bedtime and a nice hot buffet breakfast in the
morning. Wi-Fi is also FREE at
this boutique hotel in the midst of a fun downtown, making the Magnolia the
best bloomin’ place to stay in Omaha. Magnolia
Hotel; 1615 Howard Street, Omaha, NE (888) 915-1110www.magnoliahotels.com $90-$190.
RUNNERS UP
Afternoon Wine and Cheese Reception
Crowne Pointe Inn
Provincetown, MA
The Crowne
Pointe Inn - a cozy-hip place two blocks from tourist mayhem in Provincetown, MA hosts a low-key but bountiful wine and cheese
hour. There’s an extensive selection
of both reds and whites, and a beautiful spread of cheese, fruit, crackers and
other nibbles. In one of the most jubilant, gay (in all ways) resort towns in
America, rooms on or near crazy Commercial St. can hike
up sky-high in the summer. But
Crowne Pointe Inn guests enjoy the satisfying “happy hour,” unlimited use of
the saunas and mineral bath in its world-class Shui Spa, and a savory
multi-course, cooked to order gourmet breakfast for two. And FREE parking! For Route 6 explorers
in the land-of-no-parking-spaces, this is the ultimate perk! www.crownepointe.com 82 Bradford St.,
Provincetown, MA, 877-276-9631, rates $99-$650 and vary by season.
Ruth and Larry Stoll with Fresh Baked Goods
Atwood House B&B, Lincoln, NE
No booze, but there’s plenty to eat at the Atwood House B&B in Lincoln, NE,
especially if you’re a fan of sweets. Congenial owners Ruth and Larry
Stoll coddle their guests with white chocolate-dipped strawberries upon
arrival, unlimited baked goods throughout the day and movie-theater-sized boxes
of candy and popcorn to accompany your choice of in-room flick (from a vast DVD
and Video selection). In the morning, you’re treated to an irresistible freshly-cooked gourmet breakfast served on bone china with linen napkins and Waterford
Crystal. All this in an opulent
Neo-Classical Georgian Revival mansion just steps from the imposing Nebraska
State Capitol Building. Atwood House
B&B, 740 South 17th St., Lincoln, NE, 1-800-884-6544, www.atwoodhouse.com, $85-$199
My last post highlighted seven awe-inspiring attractions that I encountered on US Route 6.
Going through my notes (as I put together a US Route 6 coast to coast guidebook), I realized that I didn't include some sites that might not be grand in size but effected me deeply. One such spot was the very remote "Freedom Rock" in Iowa between the tiny towns of Menlo and Casey.
This is what I originally posted while traveling "The 6":
“Freedom Rock"www.thefreedomrock.com, drive West from Menlo on the White Pole Rd. until you come to a
Greenfield arrow pointing left. Take the left, go over I80 and in a couple of
miles you’ll see a painted rock. Normally
crowded, this 56 ton boulder is a literal touchstone for veterans and families
of the fallen who come to pay their respects. The artist, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II (named “America’s
Hottest Husband” by Redbook Magazine a few years back), uses the ashes of
fallen vets mixed with paint in his poignantly rendered war scenes. He repaints the 5 or 6 ft. tall boulder
every Memorial Day. This year, he
included “ 5-15-11; Justice Served.”
The Freedom Rock
Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II
Menlo, IA
The Freedom Rock
Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II
Menlo, IA
The Freedom Rock
Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II
Menlo, IA
Young Bubba now wants to take his talent on the road - creating murals for Veterans Hospitals and Military Memorials.
I am a big fan of Dancing With the Stars - and this past Monday I sobbed uncontrollably when injured Iraq Veteran-turned-actor, J.R. Martinez danced a tribute to the soldiers who never made it home. Seeing that and then remembering my stop at Iowa's Freedom Rock, I dedicate this post to all those who fight for our country and for our freedom.
Thanks also to Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II for keeping our soldiers and veterans in our minds and hearts.
The Freedom Rock
Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II
Menlo, IA
US Route 6 runs clear across the United States through some spectacular landscapes. It also touches areas, some remote, where brilliant and brave engineers and construction workers risked their lives to build a never-before-seen marvel. Here are SEVEN WONDERS - both manmade and natural - to see on US Route 6.
Fort Hill
Cape Cod National Seashore, MA
1. Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod, MA: A National Park established by President John F. Kennedy, the National Seashore takes up nearly 75% of the whole of Cape Cod. With endless Atlantic Ocean views, wide sandy beaches and spectacular dunes, visiting the National Seashore should be on everyone's bucket list.
2. Kinzua Bridge/Viaduct, Smethport, PA; - about 4 miles off of Route 6 outside of Smethport, the remains of the Kinzua Bridge took my breath away. It is difficult to fathom the extent of the destruction unless you actually see it in person. In 1882, Octave Chinute (who also worked with the Wright Brothers) designed the bridge aerodynamically using no cross-braces. At 300 feet off the Valley Floor it was the highest bridge on the profitable New York - Erie Railroad line. In 2003, a freak tornado tore it apart. Now, visitors walk out onto the "Skywalk" and can stare into the valley and the twisted remnants of the bridge - at no charge.
World's Largest Geodesic Dome
Henry Doorly Zoo
Omaha, NE
3. World's Largest Geodesic Dome, Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE: The“World’s Largest Geodesic Dome” contains both the “World’s Largest Indoor Desert” and beneath it “The World’s Largest Indoor Swamp.” Yes, the zoo has the skyride, a miniature steam train, a tram, lots of animals in lots of habitats. OK, it’s a ZOO, for goodness sakes. But the enclosed deserts, caves and swamps in the dome set this place apart from all others I’ve seen. There are sand-dunes big enough for ATVing inside! And lots of exotic birds (like the Kookabura), mini-deer, meercats, pumas, roadrunners, quails, teals, fox, rattlesnake. Any animal that lives in the desert lives here. Staying on a concrete path, you can’t get lost, which is helpful because downstairs in the nocturnal “Kingdom of Night” exhibit, it gets pretty dark as you descend to caves and then swampland where you’re practically blind as a bat, but with lots of company; there are fruit bats in droves. It’s like being in a haunted house, but with great, big-eyed animals and swimming beavers instead of ghosts. Some little kids were screaming to get out. I thought it was the coolest thing.
Continental Divide
Loveland Pass, Colorado
4. Loveland Pass/Continental Divide, Colorado; The switchbacks, hairpin turns and heart-stopping drop offs are all part of the fun of Route 6 up and over the Continental Divide in a 22 mile stretch called Loveland Pass. Even in summer the drive might feature pea-soup fog and a bit of icy precipitation, but that won't stop hundreds of skiers from barreling down the still-operating Arapaho Basin, nicknamed A-Basin – the highest skiable terrain in the United States.
Loveland Pass skirts the Eisenhower Tunnel. The Tunnel prohibits tanker trucks, so those fire-traps on wheels have to negotiate the hairpin turns and switchbacks as well. Be prepared.
Glenwood Canyon on I70
Glenwood Springs, CO
5. Glenwood Canyon, CO on I70/US 6; A triumph in road engineering, this portion of I70 was completed just 20 years ago. Segments of the Glenwood Canyon roadway are cantilevered over the Colorado River, and I70 follows the very curvy path of the river, like a 14-mile side-winding snake. In some instances Eastbound runs above Westbound lanes. While driving, I saw a very long freight train hugging the canyon wall as well – on the opposite side of the river. Cars and train were mirroring each other – a seemingly impossible and elegant dance.
Colorado National Monument
Grand Junction, CO
6. Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction, CO: This is not a man-made sculpture or little ole plaque, but what should be (and what is in line to be) a new National Park. Columns of Red and white Navajo sandstone and Green Shale have eroded to form otherworldly shapes in the 11 canyons among the striated and weathered sandstone, and you can take day hikes or drive on an incredible 26-mile paved road. Though National Parks in Utah and elsewhere grab much of the "splendor of nature" attention, the Colorado National Monument rivals Arches, Brice or Zion in magnificence.
Alabama Hills
Lone Pine, CA
7. Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA; Rock formations ready for their close-up. Every single silent western, singing cowboy movie and later the movies that made John Wayne and Clint Eastwood household names all look the same – setwise. That’s because they were all filmed in these strange, rounded sandstone formations called the Alabama Hills, just a couple of hours from Los Angeles.
