Best Seaside Drives

U.S. 1, Maine
A melting pot of geographical diversity, this stretch of Highway 1 has something for everyone. Begin in Brunswick and head down America's oldest highway (a.k.a. "Route 1") as it weaves through Maine's colorful southern coast. When you reach Camden, take the designated "auto road" to the top of Mount Battie at Camden Hills State Park. Here you'll see a stunning panoramic view of Penobscot Bay surrounded by fall foliage. End your trip in Bar Harbor–take Route 3 in Ellsworth and head south to Mount Desert Island. Cruise the outskirts and beaches of the island by following Route 102 and then trek a bit inland to visit Acadia National Park, which features 100 miles of hiking trails, the only fjord in the continental United States, and Cadillac Mountain, which, at 1,530 feet, will provide another dramatic view of the Atlantic and surrounding harbors.
• Best time to go: Late September–early October
• Length: approximately 150 miles
• Visit: www.exploremaine.org/byways/acadia.html

Route 6A, Massachusetts
Alive with vivid New England fall colors, Route 6A (also known as Old King's Highway) skims the shores of picturesque Cape Cod Bay while threading through the communities of Bourne, Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster, and Orleans. Believed to have begun as an American Indian trail that stretched from Plymouth to Provincetown, Old King's Highway snakes by hundreds of historic structures as well as views to scenic salt marshes, harbors, and open lands. Small towns along this eclectic stretch offer endless possibilities for amusement. And for those who want to brave the chilly beaches, all of the towns sport public access year-round. Barnstable's Sandy Neck Beach and its Great Marsh are particularly lovely in the off-season.
• Best time to go: September
• Length: 34 miles
• Visit: www.capecodcommission.org/byway.htm

U.S. 13, Virginia
Five minutes from the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Chesapeake Bay to the west, U.S. 13 bisects Virginia's eastern peninsula, nicknamed "The Land Between Two Waters." Extending from Maryland, the 70-mile peninsula delights drivers with historic, scenic, and natural sites. Begin (or end) your trip by crossing from mainland Virginia over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, located a few miles west of Virginia Beach. Cruising above the bay for a captivating 20 miles, you'll find yourself in the center of a stunning panorama–fall foliage on the mainland, the calm Chesapeake below, and the endless Atlantic to the east. When you reach the peninsula, weave in and out of small towns along both coasts. You may get lost, but you can't go too far in the wrong direction; the peninsula is only 15 miles wide at its broadest point. Ask locals about the best catch on Saxis Fishing Pier, take a boat trip to Tangier Island from Onancock, or visit a wildlife refuge in Cape Charles.
• Best time to go: September through October
• Length: 90 miles including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
• Visit: www.easternshore.org/trail (for itinerary and maps)

Highway 1, California
The 50-mile stretch between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, California, is abundant with oranges and golds and distant ocean blues. To see fall colors, however, look to the land instead of the trees. The abundant fruits of more than 20 pumpkin farms line both sides of the highway. Ideal for the whole family, the Half Moon Bay area tempts kids with public beaches, petting zoos, and several hay mazes during the fall. And if you can't find exactly what you're looking for, just stop and ask the friendly locals. Don't wait too long to go–much of the holiday-induced excitement fades before Halloween.
• Best time to go: September–October 31; Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 15–16
• Length: approximately 50 miles
• Visit: www.halfmoonbaychamber.org