Frisco Roamers favorite drives of all time!
- Darewrecks415 .
- Oct 11, 2022
- 4 min read
There are many epic drives all over the world. Today I will share my favorite drives of all time. This is a work in progress as I will continue to look for drives that have really stuck out to me. If you read my blog entries on Utah and Taiwan, you can get more information about these drives.
In no particular order, let's begin with something close to home!
Hwy 1 (California, Frisco to LA)- I used to drive to LA quite a bit alone and with friends to visit family or explore. I have taken several roads from Frisco to LA, but the longest and most enjoyable is Hwy 1. I would always pack a nice deli sandwich, if possible, Frisco’s own Freddie’s sandwiches, my favorite sandwich place in the world, and one of the few places I will eat at every once in a while, because they don’t have gluten free items. With a nice meal ready, I head off and take my 10+ hour drive to LA, which is EXTREMELY LONG! I could go another way and make it in under 6 hours easily, but my thinking it's about the journey not the destination in most cases.
While you can’t drive as fast on Hwy 1, there are other factors in play on why I take so long to get to LA. I make lots of stops! There are so many beaches along Hwy 1, and so many places I can stop at and explore. I have done this trip dozens of times and every time I go, I find something new.
I have found spots near Santa Cruz that hug the coast and have rivers with houses along the banks, I have walked sand dunes and explored Monterey Bay, as well as Carmel and Pebble Beach. I stop at almost all the state beaches and drive through Big Sur and explore the area via random spots. It is just awesome. All the while I’m looking for a new place to eat my sandwich and have done so at many beaches along the west coast. All the while I’m observing various birds, sea lions, and elephant seals, depending on my stops.
There is nothing more charming than driving along and coming to small towns like Pismo Beach nestled along the coast and making a stop, just to explore, or in Santa Barbara where everyone has been super nice to me, especially while driving.
HWY 1 offers a relaxing yet beautiful drive, iconic sunsets, some nice beaches, interesting animals, and towns along the way.
If you have not done HWY 1, or even if you have, I would go again, take your time, and explore all it has to offer. What makes it fun for me is the exploration and deciding to go off the main road to see a beach or drive down a random road to see where it goes. If you have the time, try it out.
Scenic Byway 12 (Utah)- While I am not ranking these in order, this was probably the most impressive drive I have ever done in my life! I will also admit, I am much more of a coastal person. There is no coast on 12, but what makes it so impressive is the massiveness of the area and its otherworldly appearance. Rocks and mountain ranges of various colors, constant shifting of setting, and its uniqueness, sets this drive apart from anything I have ever experienced. One moment, you’re driving through a landscape of red rocks shaped like towers, hoodoos, rocks balancing on other rocks, and the next sprawling mountain ranges and vast barren areas of different colors and interesting canyons and wonders. All the while, farms, towns, and random house's dot the area.
This is a place you want to make sure you have a full tank of gas, water, and snacks! There are areas where you drive high up and are narrow which can be quite scary, but at the same time awe inspiring because the area looks limitless. It just stretches on and on. As the landscape continues to shift from otherworldly images, you will be greeted by forests rich in green, oranges, and reds. As I said, it is constantly shifting which keeps the drive extremely interesting and wonderful.
Burr Trail (Utah)- This may be a bit premature, as I have not driven through the Burr Trail in its entirety. The Burr Trail is another road where you need to make sure you have a full tank of gas, water, and snacks. What impressed me about this road was the massiveness of the red rock that towered over you from the sides. You’re just driving through a massive canyon of red. I believe you can reach Capitol Reef National Park via this road, but I haven’t done it, so I won’t confirm. There are many places to randomly stop and explore!
Highway 95 (Utah)- Utha’s Bicentennial Highway Scenic Byway runs 133 miles From Hanksville to Blanding. I would most def spend some time exploring Hanksville, and again, make sure you got gas, water, and snacks for this long one. This road was extremely amazing as well. While not as diverse as 12, it is almost as impressive! Like 12, you will see massive rock formations and mountain ranges. The icing on this road is when you see the Colorado River and crossing bridges. While we didn’t go to the river itself, it was great looking down below and taking photos and videos. 12 and Burr don’t have much in terms of water, so seeing the massive Colorado River in this setting was absolutely amazing. Before leaving the road make sure to check out Natural Bridges National Monument. You can do a loop drive around the park, which can be done relatively quickly, in about 45 minutes, or you can do a trail or two.
Hwy 11 (Taiwan)- Hwy 11 is on the east coast of Taiwan. Like California Hwy1, it is a coastal drive that is equally beautiful in some ways. While it lacks the animals of Hwy1, the beaches and landscape remind me of a mix of Hawaii and Hwy 1. Imagine a tropical Hwy 1. This is a relaxing coastal drive with lots of places to stop and explore. Because Taiwan is so safe, I mean it. Stop ANYWHERE and explore. Look at my blog on Taiwan’s favorite drives for more information on this drive.
Nantou/Chiayi Connection (Taiwan)- This drive crosses two counties, hence the name. This is a mountainous, windy road with waterfalls, and beautiful views. For more information, check this drive on my Taiwan blog section.
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