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Blue Ridge parkway, Cowee Mountain overlook
Mary Anne Baker photo
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Elvert Barnes
Cherry blossoms - tidal basin walk along Maine Avenue, SW, Washington DC
Elvert Barnes photography
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128/365 Best view in NY state
Letchworth State Park - Inspiration Point
Chris Waits photo
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Letchworth State Park - Middle Falls
Peter Hoffman photo
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Brian Biggs
Watkins Glen
Brian Biggs photo
By Jeff Crider & Perry Mack
Sometimes we are in a rush to get home after a warm southern winter. But if you take some time, you’ll enjoy wonders that are at their most inspiring in spring. Here are several options for scenic drives as you head back home to eastern Canada.
– The Blue Ridge Parkway: One of the most scenic drives in the Eastern U.S., the 754 km (469 mi) Blue Ridge Parkway encompasses three states — Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia — and two national parks, including Great Smoky National Park and Shenandoah National Park. Spring wildflower and tree blossoms include dwarf iris, tulips, violets, Indian paintbrush, various species of rhododendrons and dogwood trees. Visit www.blueridgeparkway.org for detailed information on wildflowers and their respective blooming schedules. You can also listen to a recording with updated wildflower bloom information by calling (828) 298-0398, then press option 3. For campground information, visit www.campingcarolinas.com and www.virginiacampgrounds.com and www.gocampingamerica.com.
– Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C.: Cherry Hill Park in College Park, Md. is the closest campground to Washington, D.C. and is often used as a base camp for travellers wanting to see the peak of the cherry blossoms, which typically takes place from late March until mid-April. Special Washington D.C. events include the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which includes a Blossom Kite Festival Apr. 2 and the annual National Cherry Blossom Parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 16. For more information, visit www.nationalcherryblossonfestival.org. For campground information, visit www.mdcamping.com and www.virginiacampgrounds.com.
– Waterfalls, Rivers and Canyons of the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania: The scenic Pocono Mountains offer numerous opportunities for hiking, rafting, sightseeing and photography. Some of the more popular destinations include Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Bushkill Falls, according to Jason Vaughan, president of the Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association. The Delaware Gap is a 70,000-acre recreation area where the Delaware River cuts through a ridge in the Appalachian Mountains. Scenic attractions include waterfalls, rhododendron ravines, hemlock forests and a section of the Appalachian Trail. Bushkill Falls, for its part, is a series of eight privately owned waterfalls and is often called the Niagara of Pennsylvania. Trip planning resources include www.poconomountains.com and www.pacamping.com.
– The Finger Lakes Region of New York: The Finger Lakes area offers numerous scenic attractions, including Watkins Glen State Park, which has 19 waterfalls, and Letchworth State Park, which is often called the Grand Canyon of the East. Watkins Glen and Letchworth won third and first place, respectively, in the 2015 USAToday Readers Choice Awards for Best State Park in the U.S.
Watkins Glen features a scenic stream that descends 400 feet and generates 19 waterfalls as it flows past 200-foot cliffs.
The biggest attraction in Letchworth State Park is the Genesee River, roars over three major waterfalls in a deep gorge surrounded by lush forests. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting and hot air ballooning.
Other Finger Lakes region attractions include the Finger Lakes Beer Trail, which features 33 different stops where you can enjoy locally produced, craft-brewed beers.
The Finger Lakes region also has several award winning wineries and wine trails, such as the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, the Canandaigua Wine Trail, the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, and the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Visit www.fingerlakes.org for detailed information on things to see and do in the Finger Lakes region. For camping information, visit www.nycampgrounds.com.