Sprawling across the Montana and Wyoming borders between Red Lodge, Montana, and the Northeast Gate to Yellowstone National Park, the Beartooth Highway (US-212), a National Scenic Byway's All-American Road, stands out as one of America's most unique and picturesque scenic drives. It's not just a road but an engineering marvel that winds through the rugged Absaroka and the Beartooth Mountains, offering stunning vistas of high alpine plateaus, glacial lakes, forested valleys, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. This road offers an unforgettable driving experience, with twists and turns that will leave you breathless.

Spanning over a million acres of wilderness, the Beartooth Highway is the highest-elevation highway in Wyoming (10,947 feet), Montana (10,350 feet), and the Northern Rockies. It's a paradise for adventure enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of recreational activities, from skiing in the summer months of June and July, hiking across vast plateaus, to spotting a diverse range of wildlife such as mountain goats, moose, elk, marmots, mule deer, black bears, grizzly bears, or wolves. You can also fish for trout in nearby streams and lakes or camp at one of the 13 National Forest campgrounds. Even during winter, when the Beartooth Highway is closed, snowmobilers enjoy traversing this route through a captivating winter landscape.

The Beartooth Highway calls for an adventurous soul, challenging your flexibility as you maneuver through its sharp curves and pause at its many scenic viewpoints to admire the wildlife or take a break. So, buckle up; you're about to set off on a trip where every mile promises wonder and awe.

Gold was discovered in the Sweetwater Creek in 1842,  this initial finding, probably by miners en route to California along the Emigrant Trails, was a precursor to a more significant event. It wasn't until 1867 that soldiers from Fort Bridger discovered gold and filed the first claim in the Dakota Territory. This event led to the birth of South Pass City. When these soldiers returned to Fort Bridger that autumn, the news triggered a gold rush. The effect was swift and dramatic: South Pass City grew overnight.
 
Unlike many boomtowns that succumbed to time and neglect, South Pass City is a rare survivor, remarkably well-preserved. It is a gateway to an extraordinary past that continues to resonate today. What truly distinguishes South Pass City is its historic charm, the convergence of hard work, luck, and foresight that has safeguarded its legacy, making it a beacon of American frontier history.

The tale of South Pass City illuminates the indomitable spirit of those who dared to dream in the unforgiving Wyoming frontier. The early boom years were a test of endurance, where settlers, with their unwavering determination, laid a foundation for economic stability that outlasted the fleeting gold rush fever.  While many ghost towns faded when the gold declined, South Pass City clung to its historical roots, becoming a precious gem of American history. Today, South Pass City, a State Historic site, is one of Wyoming's most renowned ghost towns and the most authentic old settlements in the American West, a testament to the settlers' perseverance.

Nestled in the rugged heart of Natrona County, lies a landscape like nowhere else in the state of Wyoming. It is so bewilderingly alien that it could easily be mistaken for a slice of Mars dropped onto Earth. Hell's Half Acre, as it is ominously named, stretches across an expanse that belies its daunting moniker, sprawling far beyond its implied dimensions into a 320-acre scarp of jagged ravines and intricate rock formations.

The story of Hell's Half Acre begins millions of years ago, when it was created primarily by erosion and sculpted by the relentless forces of  weather. Yet, despite its seemingly inhospitable terrain, this area harbors a rich tapestry of life and history. Native American tribes have long revered this land; tales of spirits and otherworldly beings are etched into its very essence. Meanwhile, pop culture has also cast its spotlight onto this eerie landscape — serving as an alien planet backdrop in the Hollywood film Starship Troopers. As we peel back the layers on Hell's Half Acre, prepare to embark on an exploration that defies expectations at every turn.

No matter the season, Hawks Nest State Park is renowned for its breathtaking view of the New River Gorge. While this park is not part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Hawks Nest is adjacent to the National Park. At just 10 miles north of the New River Gorge Bridge near Ansted, West Virginia, its location on the New River and the nearby Gauley River National Recreation Area puts it at the heart of one of the country's most challenging whitewater rafting areas.

The Laurel Highland region of Pennsylvania is one of the most picturesque regions in the United States. The beauty here is extraordinary, yet it becomes particularly enchanting in Autumn.

The fall foliage starts to unfold in mid-September when the first frost hits the mountains and peaks around mid-October. During this time of year, the landscape is adorned with a spectacular array of autumn colors ranging from yellows and gold to oranges, reds, browns, and even a little residual summer greens.  Although the foliage is magnificent, there's much more to admire here.

One of my favorite Laurel Highland road trips is the Somerset County Covered Bridge Tour. With ten covered bridges along the way, this drive is approximately 175 miles long, and it begins and ends in the town of Somerset. It sends you down country roads and historic highways while taking you through delightful small towns and past significant historic landmarks. And the scenic views of charming rural landscapes are everywhere you look. It's an easy two days of exploring, making it the perfect starting point for a weekend getaway.