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  • Blue Ridge Parkway

    Blue Ridge Parkway

    The North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway offers one of the most breathtaking scenic drives in the United States. Starting from the southern entrance at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the drive meanders through lush forests, rolling hills, and mist-covered mountains, all framed by sweeping views of the Appalachian range. The Parkway is particularly known for its vibrant seasonal displays, with spring wildflowers blanketing the landscape, and autumn bringing a kaleidoscope of reds, yellows, and oranges. Key overlooks, such as the Linville Gorge and the Craggy Gardens, offer panoramic vistas, while the numerous hiking trails invite travelers to immerse themselves in the natural beauty. As you head north, the drive grows more tranquil, with the rugged peaks of the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Escarpment serving as dramatic backdrops. The route is celebrated not just for its views but for its pristine, untouched wilderness, offering an idyllic escape for those seeking peace and connection with nature.

    Captured in October 2023, just under one year before the devastation brought to the area by Hurricane Helene. Several sections of the parkway displayed in this video are still not open as of early 2026.

    Note that this was captured with an older camera.

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  • Florida Big Bend

    Florida Big Bend

    The scenic drive through Florida’s Big Bend region offers a perfect slice of “Old Florida” charm. As you cruise along the back roads, the pace slows, and the world feels a bit more timeless. Towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss line the roadsides, and the air carries the scent of saltwater and pine. Along the way, you pass forgotten little fishing towns and rustic homes that seem untouched by the modern world. With every turn, the horizon opens up to tranquil marshes, hidden tidal creeks, and quiet backwaters—perfect for spotting wildlife or just soaking in the peaceful solitude. This drive is a refreshing reminder of Florida’s quieter, slower side, where the beauty of nature and the simplicity of rural life take center stage.

    Captured in August 2023 in Florida’s Big Bend / Nature Coast area. Locations include Cedar Key, Shell Mound, Fowlers Bluff, Manatee Springs, Fanning Springs, Suwannee, Dixie Mainline Road, Shired Island, Horseshoe Beach, Lower Suwannee NWR, Road to Nowhere, Jena, Steinhatchee.

    Just a few weeks after this video was captured, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in this area, which caused permanent damage to some of the locations in this video. In particular, the park at Shired Island had a very nice jetty which appears in this video, but was destroyed with the hurricane, along with nearby sections of road. In the following year, Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Helene also directly hit the Big Bend area, causing further damage and permanent closure to some areas, such as the Road to Nowhere, featured in this video (and in the image above).

    Note that this was captured with an older camera.

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  • Top of the World Highway

    Top of the World Highway

    The journey begins with the creak and sway of the Dawson City ferry as it carries you across the broad, silty Yukon River, leaving behind the last hints of town and easing into true wilderness. From there, the Top of the World Highway climbs steadily onto a spine of ridges where the land seems to stretch forever, rolling in soft waves of tundra and distant peaks under an immense sky. The road feels suspended between worlds—no guardrails, few signs of life, just wind, light, and an overwhelming sense of space.

    Crossing into Alaska, the solitude deepens as the route becomes the Taylor Highway, descending through rugged valleys and quiet forests where you might drive for long stretches without seeing another soul. By the time you meet the Alaska Highway, the experience lingers: a rare blend of breathtaking beauty and profound isolation that makes the rest of the world feel very far away.

    Captured in July 2025 starting at the Dawson City ferry, continuing on Yukon Highway 9 to the Alaska/Canada border, and continuing down the Taylor Highway (Alaska Route 5) and ending at the Alaska Highway (Alaska Route 2).

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  • Mount St. Helens

    Mount St. Helens

    The drive along the lesser-traveled roads to the Windy Ridge viewpoint on the back side of Mount St. Helens feels like a journey into a hidden world. Narrow, winding paths weave through dense stands of fir and cedar, punctuated by occasional clearings that reveal distant ridges dusted with wildflowers. The road climbs steadily, offering fleeting glimpses of the crater’s jagged edge through the trees, while the air carries a crisp, pine-scented breeze.

    Occasionally, the hum of the engine is the only sound breaking the serene quiet, emphasizing the remoteness of this route. When the viewpoint finally emerges, the panoramic view of the blasted landscape, forests slowly reclaiming the slopes, and the glacial remnants of the mountain’s eruption leave a breathtaking impression that feels both raw and intimate, far removed from the more crowded tourist paths.

    Captured in August 2025 along the lesser-traveled route to the Windy Ridge viewpoint of Mount St. Helens through forest roads in Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

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  • Icefields Parkway

    Icefields Parkway

    The Icefields Parkway is often described as one of the most breathtaking drives in the world, a winding ribbon of road stretching through the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Featuring jagged mountain peaks, ancient glaciers, and sweeping valleys unfolding around every turn. The landscape feels almost unreal — turquoise lakes shimmer beneath towering cliffs, fed by glacial meltwater so pure it glows, while waterfalls cascade down rock faces into crystal-clear rivers.

    Yet the beauty carries a deeper poignancy after the 2024 Jasper wildfires. Even as vast landscapes were scarred and access temporarily limited, the parkway remains a symbol of resilience — its vast wilderness still largely intact, its vistas still awe-inspiring. Driving it northward toward Jasper, you witness both devastation and renewal: blackened trees standing beside vibrant new growth, a reminder that even in the aftermath of destruction, the landscape remains profoundly majestic.

    It was rather difficult to choose what to cut to make the shorter “Highlights” version. If you have the time, I highly recommend the Extended version of this journey.

    Captured in July 2025 along Canada Highway 93 and 93A, also known as the “Icefields Parkway”.

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