America's Byways® Press Room
February 1, 2003 - Romantic Stops on America's Byways™

Make your journey as romantic as the destination with a drive on some of America’s best roadways

Washington, D.C. - Trying to spend a weekend away from the kids or celebrate an anniversary, then get off the highway and onto the Byway. America’s Byways™ beckon with sights and activities - natural, historical, and just plain romantic - to suit any couple. Designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the 39-state collection of the nation’s finest roads spans the country, including New Hampshire, Kentucky, and Colorado, where lovers’ lanes and other spots await.

America’s Byways™ is a community-based grassroots program with each roadway nominated for distinction by local residents. In New Hampshire, the 108-mile White Mountain Trail is surrounded by glaciated mountains - more than 20 of them top 4,000 feet - and lakes too numerous to count. It’s little wonder that writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne and 19th Century American landscape painters like Thomas Cole were inspired by these views. Serious hikers can take to Crawford Path, the oldest continually maintained footpath in the country. Running the length of the southern Presidential Ridge from Crawford Notch to Mount Washington, the path is a well-known section of the Appalachian Trail. Lovers can retreat at the end of the day to the Mount Washington hotel. Open every summer since 1902 - and now in winter months too - this National Historic Landmark is known for its opulence, allowing guests to relax in comfort. Look for the menus printed daily on an antique water-powered press.

In Kentucky, the Country Music Highway winds through the valleys and vistas of Eastern Kentucky - an area better known as home to music stars and legends like Loretta Lynn, the Judds and Dwight Yoakam. Travelers along the highway can experience the region’s rich music history by stopping to see a show in Ashland at the Paramount Theater, which first opened its doors in 1931. After the show, a night at the charming Levi Hampton House Bed and Breakfast, situated on three acres of rolling lawns, provides an intimate escape.

In Colorado, the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway travels through 14,000 foot peaks - also known as “Fourteener” Country - and crosses the Continental Divide twice. After spending the day whizzing down the slopes, couples can bundle up, grab a blanket and take a horse drawn sleigh ride at Copper Mountain Resort.

“America’s Byways™ tell America’s story,” says Dick Hamilton, president of the White Mountain Attractions Association. “With stops at mountain getaways and ski resorts - as well as grand turn-of-the-century B&B’s and covered bridges - these roads showcase some of the best that America has to offer. Plus, travelers can often avoid the congestion and stress of major roadways. The journey on America’s Byways™ is as enjoyable as the destination.”

America’s Byways™ are a collection of distinct and diverse roads, designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Travelers can plan trips that last for an hour, a day or longer by visiting www.byways.org. Maps, weather information, and unique stories are available for all 96 roads designated as America’s Byways™. For more information about itineraries, visit www.byways.org or www.seeamerica.org.

Featured romantic drives include:

New Hampshire: White Mountain Trail 108 miles (Allow at least 2.5 hours)

  • Visit Littleton, named the “Ninth Best Small Town in America” by Norman Crampton in his book, The 100 Best Small Towns in America, and the historic Thayer’s Inn. Guests there have included Ulysses S. Grant, P.T. Barnum, and Bette Davis.
  • Enjoy a variety of outdoor activities along the White Mountain Trail. Many resorts on this Byway offer ice skating, snowshoeing, and alpine skiing. For winter enthusiasts who want to see New Hampshire under the stars, the Bear Notch Ski Touring Center in Bartlett offers cross-country skiers guided moonlight tours.
  • Escape from the cold New England winter by seeking retreat at the Sugar Hill Inn. Crackling fires and candlelight dinners await in this cozy bed and breakfast, located in the quaint town of Sugar Hill, home of America’s first ski school.

Kentucky: The Country Music Byway 144.1 miles (2 days)

  • Searching for a secluded mountain retreat? Then plan to stay at the May Lodge, nestled amongst pine trees and mountains in the Jenny Wiley State Park. This park offers visitors a variety of activities, including hiking trails and elk sighting tours.
  • Take a romantic drive to see the Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge in Greenup, KY. The original footings and frame of this 155 ft. long bridge are still intact. The bridge was built in 1855 and it is one of Kentucky’s 13 remaining covered bridges.
  • Stop at Breaks Interstate Park to view the “Grand Canyon of the South” - the largest canyon east of the Mississippi, which is five miles long, 1,600 feet deep and over 250 million years old. Twelve miles of hiking trails and four scenic overlooks allow visitors many opportunities to experience the beauty of this park.

Colorado: Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway 75 miles (up to a day)

  • Take a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride at Copper Mountain Resort, through lush mountain forests to a miner’s tent where passengers are treated to an Old-West meal and live entertainment. Copper Mountain also offers world-class skiing, with over 2,400 skiable acres.
  • Grab your golf clubs for winter putt-putt. Celebrate Crystal Carnival Weekend in March and play miniature golf on the snow. Other weekend activities include dog sled races and a 1950’s sock hop.
  • Put on your snowshoes and hike the Treeline Loop trail along the Continental Divide. This trail begins at the summit of Tennessee Pass, across the highway from the entrance to the Ski Cooper resort.

About America’s Byways™

The America’s Byways™, established under the Federal Highway Administration, coordinates All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways. There are 75 National Scenic Byways and 21 All-American Roads in 39 states, including nine with portions in more than one state. These roads were selected because they possess some or all of the following intrinsic qualities: scenic, historic, natural, recreational, cultural and archeological. America’s Byways™ are a collection of distinct and diverse roads, their stories and treasured places.

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