Featuring North America’s Leading Travel Destinations

Great American Roads

Traveling the HellsCanyon Scenic Byway

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Explore historical Appalachia at Heritage Farm

Museum & Village!

Romp and play in our award-winning parks!

Discover the art of hand-blown glass at Blenko!

Cheer on the Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium!

Immerse yourself in art & culture at the Huntington Museum of Art!

Catch a show at Big Sandy Superstore Arena!

Get thrills and chills at Camden Park!

Eat, drink and be merry at our unique fairs & festivals!

July 3DAWG Dazzle July 21-27Cabell County Fair July 25-27Huntington Classic: Powerboat Racing and Championship July 26West Virginia Hotdog Festival August 1-2Blenko Festival of Glass August 16Rails & Ales Festival

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Scour the city on a geocaching adventure!

WHERE GROUPS DROP ANCHOR FOR A

GREAT DAY Got a big group? So do we.....of ways to entertain

you. Like raising the sails of a historic vessel. Cruising the Mystic River. Exploring a 19th-century

seafaring village. And enjoying our galleries, exhibits, Planetarium, shopping, and delicious food.

Come for a few hours, or a full day. Information: 860.572.5309

Reservations: 860.572.5322

Byways Magazine©Copyright 2014 by Byways, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be dupli-

cated in any form without express written permission of the publisher.Byways Magazine is celebrating its 31st year of publication in 2014, featuring the leading travel des-

tinations along the highways and byways of North America. In 2010, Byways became an all digitalpublication. It is published in two versions, a free Turn-Key edition on the web for viewing onComputers, Android, iPhone and iPad. An Apple Newsstand/App Store edition including soundand interactive video is also available. All advertising and editorial is included in both versions of thepublication.

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Welcome to the annual GreatAmerican Roads issue ofByways. This year we feature

a number of well-known and not so wellknown scenic roads with historical sig-nificance.

We begin our journey on Route 9 inNew York State, cutting through Dutchess County andthe beautiful Hudson Valley. New York’s historic Route9 delivers not only a number of significant historic sitesbut also some of the country’s most celebrated naturalscenic beauty.

Our next stop fea-tures the NationalRoad, the first federal-ly funded roadway inthe United States.Some 620 miles long,the National Roadconnected thePotomac and OhioRivers and was a gate-way to the West forthousands of settlers.

When rebuilt in the1830s as theCumberland Road, itbecame the first hardsurfaced road in thecountry.

Another historicalroad is the WildernessRoad, along Virginia’sHeritage Migration Route. This portion of the trailbegins at the top of Virginia, in Winchester, the oldestcity west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This section of the Wilderness Road, the route followsThe Great Road or Valley Pike, known today as U.S.Route 11. Through the years, the road, which runs paral-lel to Interstate 81, served as a buffalo trail, Indian Path,and Stagecoach Road.

Getting to Gettysburg, PA is half the fun. Next welearn that no less than two historically significant roadslead to Gettysburg and beyond.

The Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor – one of 12heritage areas in Pennsylvania – connects visitors to oneof America’s most famous roads. Loosely following U.S.Route 30, the corridor begins just east of Pittsburgh, PA,and travels the 200 miles to Gettysburg. It’s a small -- but

historically significant part of the 2,900-mile LincolnHighway that runs from the San Francisco Bay to TimesSquare in New York City.

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, a recentlydesignated National Scenic Byway, takes travelers alonga 180-mile road trip through history. Starting inCharlottesville, VA, the home of Thomas Jefferson, theByway brings visitors north through many eras ofAmerican history, past presidential homes, and into sev-eral Civil War battlefields to Gettysburg.

Next, we travel West where the spectacular HellsCanyon Scenic Byway winds through the northeast cor-ner of Oregon.

Extremes inthe land definethis Byway andhave likewiseshaped theregion’s culturalhistory. At theeastern edge ofthe Byway is theHells Canyonstretch of theSnake River,North America’sdeepest gorge.

Here you canexperience the8,000 footdepths of HellsCanyon and the10,000 foot

peaks of the Wallowa Mountains. We complete our travels along one of the most scenic

highways in the Southwest.Sky Island Scenic Byway, one of America’s shortest

scenic byways, is also the only paved road leading up tothe top of Mt. Lemmon near Tucson in SouthernArizona.

In about an hour you can drive the 27-mile scenic SkyIsland Parkway, leaving the serene land of desert scruband climbing to nearly 9,000 feet atop Mount Lemmon.

In What’s Happening, we take a trip to Branson, MOto learn about the $1 million Light Parade that SilverDollar City is featuring this holiday season.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Byways.

By Steve Kirchner, Editor & Publisher

The Poughkeepsie Bridge & Walkway Overthe Hudson River in New York State.

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PREVIEW

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WHERE GROUPS DROP ANCHOR FOR A

GREAT DAY Got a big group? So do we.....of ways to entertain

you. Like raising the sails of a historic vessel. Cruising the Mystic River. Exploring a 19th-century

seafaring village. And enjoying our galleries, exhibits, Planetarium, shopping, and delicious food.

Come for a few hours, or a full day. Information: 860.572.5309

Reservations: 860.572.5322

Byways • 7

FeaturesGreat American Roads 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10New York’s Historic Route 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11The National Road. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Blaze Your Own Trail Along the Wilderness Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Historic Roads Lead to Gettysburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28The Spectacular Hells Canyon Scenic Byway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Arizona’s Sky Island Scenic Byway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

DepartmentsByways Instant Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Byways Preview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Free Byways Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

What’s HappeningSilver Dollar City’s $1 Million Light Parade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Coming in future issues of Byways…. . .North America’s Top Tour Destinations, GreatAmerican Railroads, Ocean Destinations along the Altantic, Pacific and Gulf, and much more!

At right: Niagara Falls istraditionally one of themost popular group tourdestinations in NorthAmerica.

Volume 31, Issue No. 5, 2014

On the cover. On the road between Baker City and John Day on the HellsCanyon Scenic Byway in Oregon. Photo courtesy Sumio Koizumi. For moreon this spectacular Byway, turn to page 34.

To learn about Great American Roads, turn to page 10.

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Great American Roads

The Walkway Over the Hudson now has a glass enclosed elevatortaking visitors 212 feet up for amazing Hudson Valley views. TheWalkway was the first Hudson River crossing as a railroad bridge

in 1889 and is now a New York State Park.

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New York’s HistoricRoute 9

Road-tripping continues to be one of the most pop-ular ways to explore America’s past and presentand New York’s historic Route 9 delivers not only

a number of significant historic sites, but some of thecountry’s most celebrated natural scenic beauty.

Who could imagine that a little dirt road once desig-nated a postal route in 1669 by Dutch settlers wouldbecome such a desirable scenic drivethrough America’s history?

This narrow path from what is nowNew York City to Albany, followed theold trails of the Wiccoppi andWappinger tribes, eventually becomingOld Albany Post Road during Britishrule. After the Revolutionary War, partsof the original route branched off tobecome New York’s Route 9 whichnow runs 325 miles from the tip ofManhattan at the George WashingtonBridge to just south of the Canadianborder in Champlain.

Mostly two lane roads through theHudson Valley region, the route flowsclose to the Hudson River throughquaint urban neighborhoods with lushgreen trees along curvy roads of thescenic Hudson Highlands.

Highlights on Route 9’s southernportion offer a stop in legendary SleepyHollow made famous by Washington

Irving, considered to be America’s first genuine interna-tionally best selling author. His home at Sunnyside isopen for tours and events. In nearby Tarrytown just offRoute 9, travelers can explore the mansion, grounds andgardens of the Jay Gould estate at Lyndhurst Castle, andthe Rockefeller estate at Kykuit.

Route 9 then passes through Ossining where Sing,

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FDR’s desk from the Oval Office in Hyde Park.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Sing, a maximum security prison dating back to 1828sits right on the Hudson. This is where “up the river”comes from, a term criminals often referred to being sentup the Hudson River for incarceration.An offshoot of the

main route, Routes 9A and 9D follow along the Hudson,over the hills of the Highlands with views of UnitedStates Military Academy at West Point, and passing theFederalist style house and estate Boscobel, and eventual-

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The dining room of the Staatsburgh estate of the Millsfamily, another Gilded Age mansion on the Hudson.

Entrance to Walk Over the Hudson.

ly into the historic village of Beacon.Beacon is the home of the prominent museum Dia, and

a thriving cultural arts scene with art galleries, shops andspecialty food stores, breweries and restaurants alongMain Street. A highlight is Towne Crier Cafe, the longestcontinually running performance venue of its kind, fea-turing live entertainment with name and local talent anda terrific menu using local farm ingredients.

Nearby Fishkill encompasses Routes 9 and 9D.Named for Dutch words (vis) for fishand (kil) for stream or creek, the landwas granted to the Van Wyke familyby the Wappinger Indians in 1714. Justoff 9D is Mount Gulian Historic Site,a small Dutch Colonial estate withnearly 400 years of history. OriginallyWappinger tribe territory, the land wasgranted to the Ver Planck family whichserved as headquarters to General VonSteuben while he trained GeorgeWashington's troops during theRevolutionary War, and as the meetingplace for the Society of the Cincinnati.

If it’s summertime, the HudsonValley Renegades offer minor leaguebaseball fun for the whole family atDutchess Stadium in Fishkill. TheClass A Short Season Team of the NewYork-Penn League are a championteam and an affiliate of the Tampa BayRays.

Another 13 miles north takes youinto Poughkeepsie, known as the “TheQueen City of the Hudson,” settled by

the Dutch in the 17th century and spared the battles of theAmerican Revolution to become NY’s second capital.Visit the 1869 Bardavon Opera House for contemporarylive performances and don't miss the world’s longest ele-vated pedestrian bridge, Walkway Over the Hudson,which now has a glass enclosed elevator taking visitors212 feet up for amazing Hudson Valley views. TheWalkway was the first Hudson River crossing as a rail-road bridge in 1889 and is now a New York State Park.

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Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, home of the Renegades.Photo courtesy David Spagnolo.

Frederick Vanderbilt’s Gilded Age home offerstours of his elaborate mansion.

Continuing north on Route 9 brings you to TheCulinary Institute of America, offering student-guidedtours and the chance to dine in one of their four award-winning restaurants. As you enter Hyde Park, the homeof Franklin D. Roosevelt, watch out for the historic milemarkers. These milestones placed along Route 9 dateback to the 1700s and were later thebenefit of FDR’s WPA project whichbuilt small stone structures around themarkers to protect them against ero-sion.

Recently featured in Ken Burns’highly acclaimed PBS TV series“Roosevelts: An Intimate History,”visitors can tour the birthplace, homeand grounds of FDR National HistoricSite, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Valkill, theonly National Historic Site dedicatedto a First Lady, and the recently reno-vated FDR Presidential Library &Museum, America’s first Presidentiallibrary.

Roosevelt’s neighbors were theVanderbilts and Frederick Vanderbil’'sGilded Age mansion offers tours of hiselaborate mansion, garden strolls andmagnificent views of the nearbymountains with access to the grounds

from dawn until dusk. The Staatsburgh estate of theMills family is another Gilded Age mansion on theHudson with 79 rooms of original furnishings from 1914and an unprecedented great lawn running down to theriver. Their Downton Abbey tours with costumeddocents are especially popular for groups who visit.

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Girl Friends outing in Dutchess County along Route 9.

The Staatsburgh estate mansion.

As you arrive in Rhinebeck, established 1688, you’lldiscover numerous restaurants and boutique shops, andAmerica’s oldest operating inn, the Beekman Arms atthe heart of it all. Beekman Arms has hosted dignitariesdating back to the early 18th century. Walkable from thevillage is Dutchess County Fairgrounds to catch one ofthe annual festivals and events such as the CountryLiving Fair, Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest, NewYork State Sheep & Wool Festival, and Dutchess

County Fair.As you venture further north on

Route 9 the vistas become even morespectacular as you view the CatskillMountains across the Hudson. Eachmile takes you even further intoHudson Valley countryside, rich withapple orchards, vineyards and farms.Stops along the way during harvestseason include any number of farmstands offering an abundance ofHudson Valley bounty.

A relaxing drive along Route 9 toexplore its heritage, splendid sceneryand unique attractions promises toenrich the mind, and nourish the soul,and it all began with a little dirt footpath.

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Route 9 Live LinksHudson Valley Renegades Baseballhttp://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t537

Towne Crier Cafehttp://www.townecrier.com/dining/brunch-lunch-menu

FDR Presidential Home, Library & Museumhttp://www.historichydepark.org

DIAhttp://m.diabeacon.org/sites/main/beacon

Rhinebeckhttp://enjoyrhinebeck.com

Beekman Armshttp://www.beekmandelamaterinn.com

Staatsburgh Mills Mansionhttps://www.facebook.com/StaatsburghSHS

Dutchess County Fairgroundshttp://dutchessfair.com

Walkway over the Hudsonhttp://walkway.org

Mount Gulianhttp://www.mountgulian.org

Dutchess Group Tour InformationDawn@dutchesstourism.com845-463-5444

Dutchess Tourismwww.dutchesstourism.com

Old Rhinebeck Ariel Viewof the Hudson Valley.

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The National Road, America’s First Federal Road

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The Wheeling Suspension Bridge. Wheeling, WV was the originalwestern terminus of the National Road, stretching from the Potomac

to Ohio Rivers. It was the first Federally funded road in America.

The National Road, also known as the CumberlandRoad, was the first major improved highway in theUnited States to be built by the federal govern-

ment. About 620 miles long, the National Road connect-ed the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a gateway tothe West for thousands of settlers.

When rebuilt in the 1830s as the Cumberland Road, itbecame the first U.S. road surfaced with macadam, anaggregate with layers of small stones, with a coating ofbinder as a cementing agent.

In 1811 construction began at Cumberland, Maryland,on the Potomac River. It crossed the AlleghenyMountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reachingWheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), on the OhioRiver in 1818.

Subsequent efforts pushed the road across the states ofOhio and Indiana. Plans were made to continue throughSt. Louis, at the confluence of the Mississippi andMissouri Rivers, and to Jefferson City upstream on theMissouri. After the panic of 1837, however, funding randry and construction was stopped at Vandalia, Illinois.

Beyond the National Road's eastern terminus atCumberland and toward the Atlantic coast, a series ofprivate turnpikes were completed in 1824, connectingthe National Road (Pike) with Baltimore, Maryland, and20 • Byways

Petersburg Tollhouse. Photo by A.S. Burns, courtesy Library of Congress..Below, National Road marker, Columbus, OH. Photo courtesy Brant Jones.

its port on Chesapeake Bay; these feeder routes formedwhat is referred to as an eastern extension of the NationalRoad.

In 1835, the road east of Wheeling was turned over tothe states for operation as a turnpike. The road's routebetween Baltimore and Cumberland continues to use thename National Pike or Baltimore National Pike and asMain Street in Ohio.

In 1912, the Cumberland National Road was chosen tobecome part of the National Old Trails Road, whichwould extend further east to New York City and west toSan Francisco.

In 1927, the National Road was designated as the east-ern part of U.S. Highway 40, which still generally fol-lows the National Road's alignment with occasionalbypasses, realignments, and newer bridges.

Many of the National Road's original stone archbridges also remain on former alignments. Notableamong these is the Casselman River Bridge nearGrantsville, Maryland; built in 1813-1814, it was thelongest single-span stone arch bridge in the world at the

time.Also in Maryland, you'll find the Washington

Monument State Park in Middletown, where in 1827 cit-izens erected a monument to George Washington thatoriginally stood 15-feet high on a 54-foot circular base.Though it fell into disrepair after, the monument hasbeen restored twice and remains a popular site for hikersand bird watchers. Or drive through Mount Airy, for-merly a railroad town, which now features several vine-yards open for tours and picnics.

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge across the OhioRiver, opened in 1849, is the oldest vehicular suspensionbridge in the United States still in use. A newer bridgecarries I-70 and the realigned U.S. 40 across the rivernearby. The original bridge is listed as both a NationalHistoric Landmark and a Historic Civil EngineeringLandmark.

One of the road's original toll houses is preserved in LaVale, Maryland, and two others are located in Addison,Pennsylvania, and near Uniontown, Pennsylvania; theyare known as the La Vale Tollgate House, Petersburg

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The original Wheeling Suspension Bridge onthe National Road, Wheeling, WV..

Photo courtesy Chris Light

Tollhouse, and Searights Tollhouse respectively.Many mile markers can still be found along the

National Road, some well-maintained, others deteriorat-ing, and yet others represented by modern replacements.

Today, various portions are now signed as U.S. Route40, Alternate U.S. 40, or Maryland 144. A spur betweenFrederick, Maryland, and Georgetown in Washington,D.C., now Maryland Route 355, bears various localnames but is sometimes referred to as the WashingtonNational Pike; it is now paralleled by Interstate 270between the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Frederick.

The full road, including extensions east to Baltimoreand west to St. Louis, was designated "The HistoricNational Road, an All-American Road" in 2002.

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The S Bridge on the National Road eastof Old Washington, OH. Photo courtesyBwsmith84.

Cumberland National Road marker in River-side Park, Photo courtesy Dave Umling andCity of Cumberland, MD.

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One of the most famous of all Great AmericanRoads is the Wilderness Road, Virginia’sHeritage Migration Route. The road’s name con-

jures up exploits of Daniel Boone and the determinedsettlers who poured after him through the CumberlandGap on their way to the Wild West.

More than 43 million Americans can trace their her-itage to families that migrated along the trail.

The portion of the trail that we are considering beginsat the top of Virginia, in Winchester, the oldest city westof the Blue Ridge Mountains and the largest metropolisof Frederick County, organized in 1738. In this section ofthe Wilderness Road, the route follows The Great Roador Valley Pike, known today as US Route 11. Throughthe years, the road, which runs parallel to Interstate 81,

served as a buffalo trail, Indian Path, and StagecoachRoad.

In the early 18th century, Frederick County, Virginiawas the destination of European settlers – newly arrivedEnglish, Scots, Irish, and German immigrants who camesouth from Pennsylvania in search of good, cheap farm-land. Religious conviction also influenced area settle-ment as Governor William Gooch permitted dissidentfaiths to practice their own beliefs, instead of requiringthem to join the Episcopal Church.

In the mid-1700’s, Frederick County became the mili-tary and political training ground for GeorgeWashington, who came to the area at the age of sixteento survey land. Washington built Fort Loudoun duringthe French & Indian War, and at the age of 26, was elect-

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Blaze Your Own TrailAlong the Wilderness Road

Beginning in Winchester-Frederick County, VA

Belle Grove Plantation.Photos courtesy

VisitWinchesterVA.com

ed to his first political office asFrederick County’s representative tothe Virginia House of Burgesses.

By 1820, stagecoaches were run-ning on the Great Road, and theFrederick County towns ofWinchester, Stephens City, andMiddletown provided relaxing stopsfor dusty, weary travelers.

Visit the Winchester-FrederickCounty Visitors Center, located at1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road, tobegin blazing your own trail. Drivingdirections and brochures are availablefrom the friendly and helpful travelcounselors. In Winchester-FrederickCounty, visitors following theWilderness Road will get a betterview of history when they explorerelics of the era: old homes built ofnative limestone, GeorgeWashington's headquarters, the ruins of an old churchused as barracks during the Revolutionary War, the old-est tombstone in the Shenandoah Valley, an inn that haswelcomed travelers since 1797, an 18th century grainand livestock farm, and much more.

Some specific attractions on the trail include:Abram’s Delight Museum, built in 1754.• Old Stone Presbyterian Church, home of the first

Sunday School south of the Mason-Dixon line.• Site of Historic Fort Loudoun, built by George

Washington.

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Newtown History Center andwagon exhibit.

George Washington’sOffice Museum.

• Loudoun Street Pedestrian Mall, a center of com-merce for more than 250 years, bursting with uniqueshops, restaurants, cafés, and lively events.

• George Washington’s Office Museum & statue ofGeorge Washington as a 16-year old surveyor.

• Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, dedicated tointerpretation of the art, history and culture of theShenandoah Valley.

• Opequon Presbyterian Church, oldest Presbyteriancongregation west of the Blue RidgeMountains.

• Newtown History Center, a com-plex of homes and museums.

• Wayside Inn, reportedly the oldestcontinuously operating inn inAmerica.

• Belle Grove Plantation, an 18thcentury grain & livestock farm with anelegant limestone manor built in 1797.

From Winchester-Frederick County,the Wilderness Road Trail continuessouth on Rt. 11 through ShenandoahCounty, Harrisonburg, Lexington, andpoints south to the Cumberland Gap.The Wilderness Road: Virginia’s her-itage Migration Route is a 501c3 cor-poration, formed to promote theregion in Virginia from Winchester toCumberland Gap as a tourism destina-

tion. For more information onThe Wilderness Road, please

www.wildernessroadva.orgFor more information onWinchester-Frederick County,www.VisitWinchesterVA.comCall 1-877-871-1326.

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Wayside Inn, reportedly the oldest continuously operating inn in America.

Abram’s Delight cabin.

George WashjingtonStatue.

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For visitors to Gettysburg, Pa. – one of America’smost historic towns – getting there is half the fun.Surrounded on all sides by popular destinations

such as Washington, DC, Lancaster and Hershey, PA., aswell as Baltimore and Philadelphia, Gettysburg isbecoming increasingly more popular to travelers.

These neighboring attractions provide visitors withthe opportunity to experience a variety of destinations inand around Gettysburg, and two historic roads are bring-ing these experiences even closer.The Lincoln Highway Corridor

The Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor – one of 12heritage areas in Pennsylvania – connects visitors to oneof America’s most famous roads. Loosely following U.S.Route 30, the corridor begins just east of Pittsburgh, Pa.,28 • Byways

Historic Roads Lead to Gettysburg

Lincoln Highway ExperienceMuseum.

and brings travelers 200 miles to Gettysburg, Pa.It’s a small – but unique – chunk of the 2,900-mile

Lincoln Highway that runs from the bay at San Franciscoto Times Square in New York City.

Along the way, travelers experience such attractions asthe Lincoln Highway Experience Museum, Flight 93Memorial, Fort Ligonier, the Gettysburg battlefield, aswell as the majestic vistas along the route through theAllegheny Mountain Range. The road is famous for itsroadside attractions such as the Coffee Pot, Mister Ed’sElephant Museum and the Roadside Giants sculptures.

Additionally, the corridor is dotted with roadside signs,murals, diners, museums and its signature gas pumps.

The Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor reminds vis-itors of a bygone era – one before the interstate highwaysystem and turnpike service plazas; when the time on theroad was as much fun as the destination itself. Visitwww.lhhc.org for more information on the LincolnHighway Heritage Corridor.The Journey Through Hallowed Ground

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, a recentlydesignated National Scenic Byway, takes travelers alonga 180-mile road trip through history. Starting inCharlottesville, Va. near the once-home of President

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Paintings and signs mark theroute of the Lincoln Highway.

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Monocacy Aquaduct in Frederick, MD is part of the TheJourney Through Hallowed Ground Scenic Byway.

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Thomas Jefferson, the JTHG brings visitors norththrough many eras of American history, past presidentialhomes, and into several Civil War battlefields toGettysburg.

Stretching a width of 75 miles,this byway features 400 years ofEuropean, American, and African-American heritage, and is said to be“Where America Happened.” TheJTHG includes more than 10,000historic sites, nine presidentialhomes, 13 national parks anddozens of historic towns.

Additionally, these visitors alongthe JTHG are finding great food,great outdoor recreation, wineriesand events along the Byway. Formore information on the JourneyThrough Hallowed Ground, visitwww.hallowedground.org.

Gettysburg, itself, is an Americandestination, but when paired up withthe Lincoln Highway HeritageCorridor or the Journey ThroughHallowed Ground, it truly creates agetaway that enlightens, engagesand entertains travelers from around

the United States.For more information on Gettysburg, visit www.destinationgettysburg.com

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Lincoln Highway Experience museum.

Thomas Jefferson’s home atMonticello in Charlottsville,Virgina.

The Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, PA.

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A stately mansion, beautiful rolling farmland, exqui-site gardens, a repository of more than 200 years ofAmerican history and culture – all of these can befound at Oatlands Historic House and Gardens nearLeesburg, VA along the Journey Through HallowedGround Scenic Byway.

The Snake River winding through Hells Canyon in Eastern Oregon.Photo courtesy X-Weinzar.

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The SpectacularHells Canyon Scenic

Byway

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The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway winds through thenortheast corner of Oregon, taking in the craggy8,000 foot depths of Hells Canyon and the 10,000

foot peaks of the Wallowa Mountains. Along the way, you’ll encounter exceptionally scenic

country and fascinating cultural history in the ancestralhomelands of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indiansand along the Historic Oregon Trail.

The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a 208-mile loopencircling the Wallowa Mountains, intersecting withInterstate 84 at La Grande and Baker City. Extremes inthe land define this Byway and have likewise shaped theregion’s cultural history. At the eastern edge of theByway is the Hells Canyon stretch of the Snake River,North America’s deepest gorge. It boasts hair-raisingrapids, awesome rock formations, and many signs of theindigenous peoples that once called this vast area home.

At the core of the Byway are the Wallowa Mountainswhose jagged, snowcapped peaks are reminiscent of theSwiss Alps. Flows of plateau basalt, batholiths of gran-

ite, and layers of shale were buckled and folded to formthe mountain range.

West of the Wallowas, the bountiful Grande RondeValley unfolds. Once a spring and summer gatheringplace for members of the Umatilla, Yakima, Shoshone,Walla Walla, Cayuse and Bannock Nations, the valley isnow a rich agricultural center, hosting fields of hay,wheat, grass, mint, and canola as well as cattle, sheep,and horse ranches.

Surrounding the Byway, the Hells Canyon NationalRecreation Area, the Eagle Cap Wilderness area, and theWallowa-Whitman National Forest offer incomparableoutdoor recreational opportunities. Numerous camp-grounds and trail systems are available. Anglers can fishthe region’s many rivers or Wallowa Lake. Hunters canpursue deer, elk, bear, cougar or bighorn sheep. Visitorscan experience the backcountry on a pack trip or raftingadventure. When the snow falls, downhill skiing is avail-able at area resorts, and abundant open spaces make fora snowmobiling/snowshoeing wonderland. Cultural

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On the road between Baker City and John Day, OR. Photo courtesy Sumio Koizumi.

events and attractions showcasing theregion’s heritage, including rodeos,powwows, music festivals, craftshows, concerts and other communitycelebrations, can be enjoyed all alongthe Byway, throughout the year.Baker City

As you travel on Interstate 84, enterthe Byway’s southern end by takingexit 304 and following the signs toOregon Highway 86. Start yourcanyon adventure with a tour of theNational Historic District in BakerCity, the “Queen City of the Mines.”Late 19th century Victorian architec-ture dominates the commercial andresidential buildings of the city’sdowntown, where many buildings,including the famous Geiser Grand

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Launching fishing boats on Wallowa Lake, near Joseph, OR.Below, Baer House Bed and Breakfast in the historic district

of Baker City, OR. It is a Victorian Italianate style home circa 1882. Photos courtesy Sumio Koizumi.

View of Hells Canyon Dam from the air. Photo courtesy Sam Beebe.

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Hotel, have been carefully restored. North of town, takeOregon Route 86 east to the National Historic OregonTrail Interpretive Center at Flagstaff Hill.The Baker-Copperfield Highway

Continue east on Oregon Route 86 through sagebrush-covered plateaus, the fertile farms of Richland, and min-ing towns like Halfway, Pine and Copperfield. Earlypioneers first traveled portions of this route on their wayto the Willamette Valley in the early 1840s. Gold strikeson the southern side of the Wallowa Mountains and theBlue Mountains brought another wave of settlers to theregion in the 1860s. Later settlers were attracted by fer-tile valleys and abundant timber; agriculture and forestproducts are still important industries in northeastOregon. Today, visitors come to Halfway for outdooractivities including backpacking, horseback riding,snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, rafting, fishing andhunting. Many use the town as a point of departure forHells Canyon adventures.Snake River and Hells Canyon

To see the river from its shore, drive past the junctionof Forest Road 39 to Oxbow and continue on the Idahoside of the river until you reach Hells Canyon Dam.You’ll discover the mighty Snake River as it approaches40 • Byways

Display inside the National Historic OregonTrail Interpretive Center in Baker City, OR.Most people walked or rode horses and didnot ride in the wagons. Above right: Pioneerwagon encampment display .Photos courtesy Sumio Koizumi.

Wallowa County Stage Stop Realty in Joseph, OR.Photo courtesy Sumio Koizumi.

the southern end of Hells Canyon, the deepest river-carved gorge in North America. According to Nez Percefolklore, Coyote dug Hells Canyon with a big stick toprotect ancestors in Oregon’s Blue Mountains from theSeven Devils mountain range across the gorge in what isnow Idaho. Geologists believe that Hells Canyon wasformed by normal stream erosion as the Snake River cutits way through rocks of a rising mountain range, begin-ning 6 million years ago. It is still being cut and is prob-ably deeper and more rugged today than at any othertime in its history.

The 652,488-acre Hells Canyon National RecreationArea, designated in 1975, encompasses a 71-mile stretchof the Snake River and contains some of the country’smost remarkable scenery, plants, wildlife and geology.Relatively mild winters and abundant deer, elk, andbighorn sheep drew native peoples to the canyon. Signsof human habitation date back over 11,000 years.Pictographs and petroglyphs, as well as winter pithousevillages, are scattered along the river, documenting thepresence of those early inhabitants. A rafting or jet boatexcursion on the Snake provides an excellent way toexperience the abundant wildlife and grandeur of thecanyon.Hells Canyon Overlook

Return to Forest Road 39 and travel 16 miles to ForestRoad 3965. From here, a short drive brings you tobreathtaking vistas at Hells Canyon Overlook. The

paved overlook — which rests at 5,400 feet — providesoutstanding views of McGraw Creek, Hells Canyon, andthe Seven Devils Mountains which stand at the Idahoborder. The Overlook features interpretive displaysabout the canyon formation.Wallowa Mountains and Eagle Cap Wilderness

Back on Forest Road 39, you’ll head north across the“Wild and Scenic” Imnaha River and then west towardsome impressive views of the majestic WallowaMountains. The Imnaha provides important spawninghabitat for steelhead trout and chinook salmon, andoffers excellent angling opportunities. The 387,915-acreEagle Cap Wilderness offers five campgrounds and 10trailheads, should you wish to stretch your legs andexplore this pristine wilderness up close and personal.

Skirting the northeast foothills of the WallowaMountains, you’ll soon reach Joseph, a quaint recre-ational hub and thriving art community. One mile southof town, glacially-formed Wallowa Lake features a statepark with a variety of accommodations including yurtsfor rent. A tramway takes you to the summit of Mt.Howard, where 2 miles of easy trails lead to viewpoints.

There’s superb fishing and hiking for all ages in localstreams and the lake. Geologists have proclaimed themoraines on either side of Wallowa Lake the mostimpressive moraines in the world.

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Arizona’s Sky Island

Scenic Byway

Travel along one of the most scenic highways in theSouthwest, complete with mountain forests,canyons, deserts, and breathtaking vistas.

Sky Island Scenic Byway, one of America’s shortestscenic byways, is also the only paved road leading up tothe top of Mt. Lemmon near Tucson in SouthernArizona,

The road, also known as the Mount Lemmon Parkway,takes visitors through five life zones, from SonoranDesert lowlands all the way up to a mixed-conifer forest,the geographic equivalent of traveling from Mexico toCanada, in just 27 miles.

Start your journey among giant saguaro cacti of theSonoran desert and climb to shady conifer forests atnearly 9,000 feet, passing through layers of biologicaldiversity. Enjoy spectacular views and recreationalopportunities from hiking and camping to picnicking andskiing.

Near Tucson, the towering saguaro cacti clusteredacross the desert corrugations of Saguaro National Parkloomed, brooding, ever a mystery. The defining plant ofthe Sonoran Desert, the largest of the saguaros are 200years old, 50 feet high and weigh in at 8 tons.

In about an hour motorists can drive the 27-mile sce-nic Sky Island Parkway, leaving the serene land of desert

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Above: View of Tucsonfrom the mountain top.Right: Giant saguarocacti of the SonoranDesert on the climb toshady conifer forests atnearly 9,000 feet.

scrub and climbing Mount Lemmon into a mixed coniferforest. For outdoor recreationists, it’s a perfect getaway.

“Any man experienced in driving a car, can make theroad all right, but it is no place for . . . women drivers,”wrote Allen B. Jaynes on August 12, 1919, in a com-mentary on the newly constructed highway leading fromthe desert floor surrounding Tucson up into the forestedslopes of Mount Lemmon. Perhaps Mr. Jaynes didn’trealize that this lofty peak, reaching up in elevation to9,157 feet, was named for a woman – in fact, the firstAnglo woman to hike to the summit.

This scenic byway gets its name from areas of biolog-ical diversity in the Coronado National Forest that risedramatically from the desert floor to stand wreathed inclouds as 12 widely scattered “sky islands,” so named formountains being like islands of forest in a sea of desert.

The elevation at the peak reaches over 9,000 feet.Wide, paved, bordered by guardrails and topped by clearblue sky, the road provides a genuine treat for those seek-ing a day away.

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Silver Dollar City’s AnOld Time ChristmasPresents NEW $1 MillionLight Parade StarringRudolph

Silver Dollar City lights up its brightest season witha new $1 million light parade featuring the belovedChristmas character Rudolph the Red-Nosed

Reindeer® for An Old Time Christmas. One of the nation’s most acclaimed holiday festivals,

An Old Time Christmas also features a 5-story Christmas tree with a light and soundshow, Broadway-style musical produc-tions, holiday foods and five millionlights, November 1 - December 30 at theBranson, Missouri theme park.

Rudolph's Holly Jolly™ ChristmasLight Parade, led by the most famous rein-deer of all, debuts on the 50th anniversaryof the television special. First airing in1964, ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’is the longest-running, highest ratedChristmas special in television history. AsGrand Marshal, Rudolph leads the newevening parade of nine musical, lightedfloats - one featuring Sam the Snowman -- as it winds through the streets of the City.The floats, illuminated with 100,000 ultra-bright LED* lights, were designed exclu-sively for Silver Dollar City with animatedfeatures from huge drumming bears andcymbal-playing penguins to a cowboy dollrocking on a hand-carved wooden rockinghorse. The parade is accompanied by 33colorful costumed characters, including

Rudolph’s friend Bumble the Abominable SnowMonster, 14-foot moose characters, 12-foot tall elves and10-foot candy canes, plus penguins, elves and a troupe ofmarching wooden soldiers.

The parade follows the lighting of the 5-Story SpecialEffects Christmas Tree on the Square, a towering iconwith over 250,000 colorful LED lights that is the center-piece of the Christmas on Main Street light and soundshows beginning at dusk each evening. The massive treeblazes in synchronization to the musical movements ofChristmas songs, up to 100 light changes per second,while lights around the Square flash along with it,accompanied by surround-sound.

The festival also features two popular musical produc-tions, It's a Wonderful Life and A Dickens’ Christmas

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Carol. It's a Wonderful Life presents amusical interpretation of the inspirationalstory that was voted the #1 “InspirationalFilm of All Time” by the American FilmInstitute, and features unique specialeffects and a talented’cast of 14singer/actors. A Dickens’ ChristmasCarol, also an original musical adaptationof a famous classic story, includes elabo-rate sets and visual effects, flying spirits,pyrotechnic special effects and a talentedcast of 15, accompanied by a live band.

Since its debut more than two decadesago, Silver Dollar City's An Old TimeChristmas has become one of the coun-try’s most recognized events for spectac-ular lighting and world-classentertainment.

Guests can view the park's lights fromhigh above the ground too -- in tempera-tures down to 42 degrees, guests can soar into the nighton the park's coasters and rides, including the ground-breaking top-rated wood coasterOutlaw Run.

Finecraftsmanship is also

showcased, as the park’s 100 demonstratingcraftsmen create one-of-a-kind handmade holiday items,from blown glass ornaments and angels to potterydessert platters.

The tastes of the season are in abundance throughout

the park, including a prime rib buffet and tra-ditional favorites such

as turkey with apple-raisin dressing. Festive holiday treats from

apple dumplings to hot wassail can be found throughoutthe park, and the bakery cooks up fresh homemade fruit-cakes. For kids, there’s a lunch with Santa, available onweekends, and classes at the Midwest Living Culinary &Craft School feature holiday specialties.

Information: 800-831-4FUN(386) or visit www.silverdollarcity.com

What’s HappeningWhat’s Happening

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Byways is published bi-monthly by Byways, Inc. and distributed electronically throughout North America.Byways is emailed to more than 4000 tour operators plus selected travel agencies through the internet. Subscriptionsare complimentary. An iPad & iPhone version is available for consumers in iTunes and Newsstand in the App Store.

Byways’ distribution includes motorcoach companies, tour operators, and selected travel agents, bank travel man-agers, school band and athletic planners, and meeting planners. For advertising rates, editorial deadlines, or to placeadvertising insertions, contact: Byways Magazine at 502-785-4875.

©Copyright 2014 by Byways, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be duplicated in anyform without express written permission of the publisher.

Editor and PublisherStephen M. Kirchner

Advertising Director502-785-4875

Internet:bywaysmagazine.com byways@motorcoach.com

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