Byways Great American Roads 2022

InstantConnect

WelcometoByways annualGreatAmerican Roadsissue.

InFloridatravelahighway wherevisitorscomefromall overtheworldtoexperience theirownadventuresinparadise.

TheFloridaKeysScenic Byways,alsoknownasthe OverseasHighway,isa113-milehighwaycarrying U.S.Route1throughtheFloridaKeystoKeyWest. Largepartsofitwerebuilton theformerright-of-wayofthe OverseasRailroad.

Thehighwayislocatedcloser toCubathantoMiami.The southernpartofKeyWestis just93milesfromCuba.Itis thesouthernmostpointinthe continentalUnitedStates.

AbrahamLincolnmeets Route66inSpringfield, Illinois.Stepintothepast and thelifeoftheLincolnfamily whenyouvisittheonlyhome theLincolnseverownedat theLincolnHomeNational HistoricSite.

ThenvisitHistoricRoute66,whichrunsthrough Springfieldprovidingmanyuniquestops,including Route66MotorheadsBar,Grill&Museum:aclassic carrestaurant,servinggreatfoodanddeliciousdrinks amongthebackdropoftheRoute66&Motor Museum.

TheBattleRoadisthefirstAll-AmericanRoadin Massachusetts.Itistheplacewhere“theshotheard roundtheworld”wasfiredonApril19,1775, markingthestartoftheAmericanRevolutionandthe birthplaceofthenation.

Preview

ByStephenKirchner,Editor&Publisher

Therearemorethan200locationsofhistoric significancealongthefifteenmilesofroad.The Bywaypassesthroughhistorictownsdatingbackto theveryfoundingofAmerica,includingLexington, andConcord.

Next,JimLeggetttakesusonthebackroadsof TennesseetotheQuietSideoftheSmoky Mountains.Butwatchoutforthebears!

TheFlamingGorgeBywayencirclesthe91-mile longLakeFlamingGorge,crosseslushforestsand thevastcanyonscarvedbytheGreenRiverand travelsdownthrough geologiclayersoftimeon thewaytotheUintahBasin ofUtah.

Youwillmarvelatstunning rockformations,an expansivelakeand abundantwildlifeona scenicdrivethrough southwestWyomingand northernUtah.

Inhiscolumn,BillGraves takesustoFredericksburg, Texastohelpcelebrate VeteransDay. Fredericksburgisthe boyhoodhomeofFleetAdmiralChesterW.Nimitz, CommanderinChiefoftheU.S.PacificFleetduring WWII.

In What’sHappening,welearnthattheNational CorvetteMuseumandAssemblyPlantinBowling Green,Kentuckyareresumingpublictoursthisfall. Thisisthe onlyfacilityintheworldwhereCorvettes aremanufactured.

TheCorvetteistheworld’slongest-running, continuouslyproducedpassengercarwithmorethan 1.75millionproduced.

WehopeyouenjoythisissueofByways.

TheFloridaKeysScenicHighwayisoneofa kind.SurroundedbytheAtlanticOceanand GulfofMexicostretchingoutasfarastheeye cansee,itwindsthroughvistasofnaturalbeauty, areasrichinhistoryandlegend,viewsofspectacular sunrises,sunsets,sparklingstars,andmoonlight. It’sahighwaywheretravelersfromalloverthe worldexperiencetheirownadventuresinparadise.

ThesouthernsectionofU.S.Route1ispartof“the oldnationalroad”thatstartedinMaineandtraveled downtheEastCoasttoFlorida.Itspredecessor routeswereprimitiveroadsbuiltinthe1880sto connectpineapplefarmsaroundoldKeyLargoto dockswherecropsweretransportedtothemainland. Beforethat,theonlywaytotravelintheKeyswas byboat.

AlsoknownastheOverseas Highway,itisa113-mile highwaycarryingU.S.Route 1throughtheFloridaKeysto KeyWest.Largepartsofit werebuiltontheformerrightof-wayoftheOverseas Railroad,theKeyWest ExtensionoftheFloridaEast CoastRailway. Completedin1912,the OverseasRailroadwas heavilydamagedandpartially destroyedinthe1935Labor Dayhurricane.TheFlorida EastCoastRailwaywas financiallyunabletorebuild thedestroyedsections,sothe roadbedandremaining

isFlorida'sirreverentsouthernmost subtropicalparadise,aunique confluenceofhistory,climate,natural beauty,culturaldiversity,architecture andunabashedromanticappeal.

mansionsandtin-roofedconchhouses werehometoErnestHemingway, TennesseeWilliams,Elizabeth Bishop,RobertFrostandJimmy Buffett,afewofthefamouspeople whodiscoveredsolaceandinspiration intheislandcity.

TheFloridaKeysScenicHighway

mostspectacularscenery.Whileit’s

asthe“RoadtoParadise”.

Experienceoutstandingnatural beauty,world-classfishinganddiving, festivals,sunsetcelebrations,stateand nationalparks,watersports,historic sites,museums,islandcuisine, sunshine,tropicalatmosphere,rich culturalheritageandfriendlypeople thatenjoythelaid-backlifestyleofthe FloridaKeys.

andfindafeelingofbeautyand relaxationinaone-of-a-kindlocation foundnowhereelseintheworld.

AbrahamLincolnmadeSpringfield,Illinoishis homefrom1844to1861beforebecoming president.Springfieldoffersamultitudeof attractionsrelatedtothepopularpresident,withmore Lincolnsitesthananywhereintheworld.

StepintothepastandthelifeoftheLincolnfamily whenyouvisittheonlyhometheLincolnsever ownedattheLincolnHomeNationalHistoricSite. Strollthroughthebeautiful,historicneighborhood surroundingthehomeandtourLincoln’shouse whichwillgiveyouarareglimpseintothelifeof Lincolnasahusband,fatherandneighbor.

AbrahamLincolnPresidentialLibrary

TheAbrahamLincolnPresidentialLibraryand Museumistheofficiallibraryandmuseumofthe 16thU.S.president.Experiencepivotalmomentsin Lincoln’slifeandenjoyimmersivedisplaysand amazingshowsthatexplorethehumancostsof slaveryandwar.

ViewLincolnandhisfamilythroughartifactsnot foundanywhereelseintheworld.Numerousexhibits exploreLincoln’slifefromhisboyhoodina Kentuckycabintohis1860campaignforPresident oftheUnitedStates.

AtriptoSpringfieldisnotcompletewithoutavisitto theOldStateCapitolHistoricSite,areconstruction ofthefifthStateHouse.ServingastheStateCapitol from1840-1876andduringthe20thcentury’sCivil Rightsmovement,itsrestorerscarefullyrecreatedthe buildinginwhichLincolngavehisfamous“House Divided”speech.

Enjoyaself-guidedwalkthroughthehistoricsiteand visitwithstafftolearnmoreuniquedetailsaboutthe historyofthissite.

TheLincolnTombStateHistoricSite,designedby famedsculptor,LarkinMean,isnestledinOakRidge Cemetery.Withinthewallsofthisstunninggranite monumentisthefinalrestingplaceofAbraham Lincoln,hiswife,Maryandthreeoftheirfoursons. Lincoln’soldestson,Robert,isburiedinArlington NationalCemetery.

AttheentrancetotheTombitself,thereisabronze bustofMr.Lincolnwherevisitorsfromaroundthe worldhavestoppedtorubthenoseofthestatuefor goodluck.

MakeastopattheLincolnMemorialGardenfora trulyzenexperience.Awoodlandandprairiegarden

withover5milesoftrailsleadyouonajourney throughtheIllinoislandscapeLincolnwouldhave known.Dependingontheseasonyouvisit,youcould discoverspringtimedogwoodsinfullbloom,colorful prairiewildflowersofsummer,burnishedautumn leaves,orsnow-coveredmapletreesburstingwith sap.

HistoricRoute66

HistoricRoute66runsthroughSpringfieldproviding manyuniquestops,includingRoute66Motorheads Bar,Grill&Museum:aclassiccarrestaurant, servinggreatfoodanddeliciousdrinksamongthe backdropoftheRoute66&MotorMuseum.While there,snapapicwiththeWorld’sLargestOutdoor Route66Shield!Ifyoutimeitjustright,youcan takeinsomemusicoragameinthenew Motordome.

TheCozyDogDriveInisatraditionalRoute66 dinerthatbecameapartofthehistoryofTheMother Road,andthehistoryofSpringfield,when,in1946, inventorEdWaldmireintroducedthe“CozyDog”, thefamous“hotdogonastick”.TheWaldmire

andbreweriesintheSpringfieldarea.Theselocally ownedbusinessofferthebestincraftbeer,winesand deliciousnoshesinbeautifulsettings,manywith outdoorgardenareas,livemusicandspecialevents. NotriptoSpringfieldwouldbecompletewithout experiencingtheoriginalHorseshoeSandwich,a traditionthatdatesbackto1928.Findoneatnearly anydiningestablishmentintown,butdon’tleave

TheBattleRoadbeginswhere“theshotheard roundtheworld”wasfiredonApril19,1775. ItmarkedthestartoftheAmericanRevolution andtheBirthplaceofthenation.

TheBywaypassesthroughhistorictownsdatingback totheveryfoundingofAmerica,includingLexington, settledin1642andConcord,thefirstinland settlementinMassachusettsdatingfrom1635.

Therearemanylocationsofhistoricsignificance alongtheroad.TheseincludethethreeunitsofMinute ManNationalHistoricalPark,locatedinLexington, Concord,andLincoln,wheretheopeningbattleofthe RevolutionaryWarcomestolifeasyouexplorethe battlefieldsandhistoricstructureswherethefighting occurred.

All-AmericanRoad

TheBattleRoadScenicBywaywasrecentlynamed anAll-AmericanRoadthroughtheFederalHighway Administration’sNationalScenicBywaysProgram. Thedesignation,whichconstitutesRoute2A,

MassachusettsAvenue,isthefirstAll-American RoadinMassachusetts.

TheBattleRoadfollowstheapproximatepathofthe Britishregularsduringthebattlesthatmarkedthestart oftheAmericanRevolution.TheBywayrunsalong approximatelyfifteenmilesofroadsinthe communitiesofArlington,Lexington,Lincoln,and Concord,includingpartoftheMinuteManNational HistoricalPark.

Walkalongthehistoricdowntownsorleavethebustle forsolitudeonthemanyadjacentwalkingtrails.Both stonedustandpavedoff-roadbikepathsparallelthe Byway.OrrentacanoeontheConcordRiverand glideunderthehistoricOldNorthBridge.

Notonlyisthisroutefamousforitsroleinthe AmericanRevolution,theBattleRoadBywayisa “RoadtoRevolutions”becauseofliterary, environmental,andtechnologicalrevolutionsthat haveoccurredthroughoutitshistorythatcontinue today.

Morethan200significantplacesliealongthefifteen milesoftheBattleRoadBywaythatspansthefour historictownsofArlington,Lexington,Lincolnand Concord.

Arlington,incorporatedasatownin1807,wasa villageofCambridgeknownasMenotomyinthe Revolutionaryperiod.PaulRevereandWilliam DawestraversedthisareaontheirwaytoConcordand thebloodiestbattlesofApril19,1775tookplacein thistown.TodayArlingtonisalivelysuburbwitha burgeoninglocalartsscene,beautifulparksandopen spaces,andbusinessdistrictsthatboastuniquelocal retailersandtwotheaters.

Concord,signifyingagreementandharmony,was incorporatedasthefirstinlandsettlementin Massachusettsthroughagrantfromthe MassachusettsGeneralCourtdatedSeptember12, 1635.Itwasthesceneofthefirstresistancebattleof theAmericanRevolutionaryWaronApril19,1775. Itisconsideredbymanythebirthplaceofthenation, wherethe“shotheard’roundtheworld”forliberty andself-governmentwasfired.Duringthemiddleof the19thcentury,Concordwashometosomeofthe greatestliteraryandtranscendentalmindsinAmerica.

AuthorsHenryDavidThoreau,RalphWaldo Emerson,BronsonandLouisaAlcott,andNathaniel Hawthornealllived,workedandwroteinConcord.

Lexingtonwassettledin1642asCambridgeFarms andincorporatedin1713.OnApril19,1775,local militiafacedtheBritishregularsandthefirstshotof theAmericanRevolutionwasfiredonthetown’s BattleGreen.It,likeConcord,isconsideredbymany thebirthplaceofthenation,asthe“Lexington Alarm…evokedacommonspiritofAmerican patriotismfromMainetoGeorgia”.

Lincolnhasitsrootsiningenuity,actionand perseverancegoingbackto1729whenthetown fathersbegana25-yearstruggletoformaseparate communityfromConcord,LexingtonandWeston. TheireffortswererewardedandtheLegislature establishedtheTownofLincolnin1754.Onthenight ofApril18,1775,duringhishistoricridetoConcord, PaulReverewascapturedinLincolnbyaBritish patrol.Thenextday,astheRedcoatsmarchedalong theBattleRoad,over100Lincolnminutemenand militiaralliedforindependence.Thesemenwerethe firsttoreachConcordwheretheyjoinedtheBattleof ConcordattheOldNorthBridge.

AtMinuteManNationalHistoricalPark,theopening battleoftheRevolutionisbroughttolifeasvisitors explorethebattlefieldsandstructuresassociatedwith April19,1775,andwitnesstheAmerican revolutionaryspiritthroughthewritingsofthe Concordauthors.The threedistinctunitsofthe Parkarelocatedwithin theTownsofConcord, Lincoln,andLexington. https://www.nps.gov/ mima/index.htm

TheBattleRoadByway isrifewitharchitectural gems.Fromhumble colonialmillsand homesteadstotheselfdesignedhomesof famousmodernistslike WalterGropius,abroad sectionofAmerica’s architecturalhistoryison displayontheByway. Innovatorsofcutting edgetechnologiesfrom the1600sthroughtoday havethrivedwithinthese communities.Visitthe historicOldSchwamb Millthatsurvivesasa continuouslyoperating sitewhere,formorethan threehundredyears, immigrantPuritan, Yankee,andGerman entrepreneursharnessed thefreewaterpowerofa narrow,fastmoving brooktorunmachines anddevelopaseriesof family-owned businesses.

Thenation’sWorldWar IItechnologiceffortsin developingradarandthe beginningsofthehightechmovementhave rootswithinthese communities.Residents alongtheBywayinclude aformerEnglishman whoinventedtheWorld

Visitorcenters

WideWeb,dozensofNobelprizewinners,notable scientists,entertainers,andauthors.

TheLexingtonVisitorCenter,operatedbythe

LexingtonChamberofCommerce,islocatednearthe LexingtonBattleGreenandtheBuckmanTavern.At theCenter,youcanviewadioramaoftheBattleof Lexingtonandpickupbrochuresanddirectionsto areaattractions.Publicrestroomsareavailable.

TheMinuteManNationalHistoricalParkVisitor

Centeronroute2AinLincolnoffersorientation programs,exhibits,information,rangerprograms,and abookstore.Thisisagoodplacetobeginyourvisitto thePark.Onefeatureoftheexhibitdesignisa specially-commissionedmuralbyartistJohnRush thatdepictsColonistsandBritishRedcoatsfighting alongtheBattleRoad.Publicrestroomsareavailable.

TheNorthBridgeVisitorCenteratMinuteMan

NationalHistoricalParkinConcordisintheformer mansionofMajorButtrickoftheConcordMinute Men.TheCenteroffersanexhibitofclothing, uniforms,andaccoutrementsofColonialmilitiaand Britishregularsaswellasinformation,ranger programs,andabookstore.Publicrestroomsare available.

TheConcordVisitorCenter,operatedbytheConcord ChamberofCommerce,islocatedonMainStreetin thecenterofConcordbehindtheMiddlesexSavings Bank.AtthebeautifulnewCenter,brochuresand informationforConcordareaattractionsareavailable. PublicrestroomsarelocatedattheVisitorCenter.

TheWayside

Overmorethanthreehundredyears,TheWayside anditsfamilieswitnessedandinfluencedboth Concord’sandAmerica’srecordedhistory.Early occupantsofthehouseincludedSamuelWhitney, memberoftheMassachusettsProvincialCongressin 1775andmustermasterforConcord’sminuteman companies.

OnApril19,1775thehousewasdirectlymentioned byGeneralThomasGageasaplacetobesearchedfor armsandsupplies.DespiteBritishsoldiersmarching

rightpastthehouseastheyenteredConcord,thereis noevidencetheystoppedandsearchedit.The Waysideisamongthepark’s11April19thWitness Houses.

Duringthe19thcenturyasuccessionofauthorscalled thishousehome,mostnotablyLouisaMayAlcottand NathanielHawthorne.They,alongwiththeir neighborsRalphWaldoEmersonandHenryDavid Thoreau,andotherauthorssuchasHenryWadsworth Longfellow,andHermanMelville,beganaliterary traditionrecognizedasdistinctlyAmerican.

TheAlcotts,whoownedthehousefrom1845-1852, calledit“Hillside”.HereLouisaMayAlcott,authorof LittleWomen,andhersisterslivedmuchofthe childhooddescribedinthebook.

NathanielHawthornewrote TheScarletLetter, House oftheSevenGables, TwiceToldTales,andother novelsandpublications.Heandhisfamilyownedthe housefrom1852through1869andcalledit“The Wayside”.

Formoreinformation,visit:

https://battleroadbyway.org

TravelingtheHighways&Byways withBillGraves

eteransDayis celebratedmore widelyinour countrynowthanitwas, say,adecadeago.It’sa daythatseemstoinvolve allofus,notjustveterans andthoseclosetothem. It’sbecauseofthisnew generationofsoldiers, sailorsandMarines,who serve,manybasedfarfrom ourshores,remnantsof earlierwars.Intheirquiet andmodestway,theyhaveraisedourawarenessof

VeteransDay–Fredericksburg,TX

Vthesacrificeveteransofallwarshavemadeforour securityandourfreedom.

Andthesenewvets,fromourwarsintheMiddle East,havesensitizedourappreciationandmaybe evenourguilt.Wenowrealizethattheseyoungmen andwomen–onlyonepercentofthepopulation–andtheirfamilies,havecarriedthefullloadofour warsfortherecentpast.UnlikeWorldWarII,when weallcontributedtowinningit,thesemodernwars askverylittleoftherestofus.

Andtoourcredit,wearenowexpressingour gratitude.

“Thankyouforyour service.”That'sa pieceofverbal sentimentthatisnew tothevernacularof oursociety.Ihearit oftenandsayit myselfwhenImeeta personinuniformor apersonwhoonce woreone.Whendid westartdoingthat? Idon’tknow. ButIcantellyou whenwedidn’tdoit: whenourguyscame backfromVietnam. Thankfully,wehave workedthroughthat andnowaretryingto makeupforit.

VeteransDayis observedonNovember11th.Itwasinitiallycalled ArmisticeDay,andstillisinmanycountriesofthe world.ItmarkedtheendofWorldWarIthatended atthe11thhourofthe11thdayofthe11thmonthof 1918.

OnVeteransDayIam attheNational MuseumofthePacific WarinFredericksburg, Texas.Alongwith families,assembled hereinthemuseum’s MemorialCourtyard, areveteransofallour warssince1941.A colorguardopenedthe ceremonyhereat precisely11am. Thiscourtyard,partof thissix-acremuseum complex,issurrounded bylimestonewallsthat bearplaqueshonoring individuals,shipsand unitsthatfoughtinthe Pacific–1941to1945.

OtherWWIImuseums intheU.S.,including

Guam,coverthewarinthePacific,butnoneinsuch detail.Heretheyhadaheadstart.Theybegan collectingartifactsinthe1960sandrecording interviewswiththosewhofoughtinthePacific.

ThemuseumcoversnotjustthehistoryofthePacific War,butAmericanandJapanesecultureofthetime.

ThereasonthatitisinthehillcountryofTexasis becauseFredericksburgistheboyhoodhomeofFleet AdmiralChesterW.Nimitz,CommanderinChiefof theU.S.PacificFleetduringWWII.

Shortlybeforehisdeathis1966,AdmiralNimitzwas approachedbyalocalgrouptobuildamuseumhere inhishonor.ThesitewouldbethelandmarkNimitz Hotelbuiltbyhisgrandfatherin1852.TheAdmiral saidthathewouldapprovetherequest,butonlyif themuseumwasdedicatedtoallthosewhoserved withhiminthePacific.

Andsoitcametobe:theNimitzMuseumwasinthe hotelfor10years.Butin1999formerPresident

GeorgeH.W.Bush,himselfaNavypilotinthe PacificWar,cuttheribbontotheBushGallery, openingtheNationalMuseumofthePacificWar. With60,000squarefeetofbuildingspace,itisthe onlyonelikeitintheworld.

Abouttheauthor: Afterseeingmuchoftheworld asacareernavalofficer,BillGravesdecided,afterhe retired,totakeacloserlookattheUnitedStates.He hasbeenroamingthecountryfor20years,muchofit inamotorhomewithhisdogRusty.Helivesin RanchoPalosVerdes,Californiaandistheauthorof OntheBackRoads,DiscoveringSmallTownsof America.

Hecanbereachedat

trafficthanPigeonForgeandGatlinburg(25minutes away).

Indeed,thisscenicregionprovedmorerelaxing, almostprefectforsmall-townaficionadosand outdoorsytypesseekingruralbicycletrails,amyriad ofenchantinghikingtrails,horsebackriding,trout fishing–orrelaxingtothesongofburblingstreams.

HereLittleRiver,bornintheSmokyMountains, watersleapandgurglethroughsun-splashed woodlands,rockycanyonsandpastoralmeadows localsarehappytoshare.

Atwo-lanebridgeoffHighway321leadsintoLittle RiverCampground,asurprisinglypeacefulresort wherewe’dbookeda“TinyHome”nicelyfurnished, fullyequipped,centrallylocatedkitchenandtwin queensizebedrooms,withownshowersatopposite ends.

Weenjoyedourspacioushillsideverandah,firepit included,overlookingpleasantlandscapesrichin maturetrees,andinvitinglywelllaidout.

Asizablepavilionavailableforentertainingor events,attractivewaterfallfedswimmingpool,small convenienceshopforessentialsandlocallyflavored souvenirs,it’sallhere.

Afteradaybehindthewheel,aleisurelywalkalong shadedtrailsrefreshesthespiritswatchingfishermen casting,afamilytubedrifting,carefreeonthelazy current.Asmallspatteringofrusticcabinsandsmall homesteadslinetheoppositebank.

Atreeaffixedsignread: WatchOutForBears.

Speakingofbears,dovisitnearbyAppalachianBear Rescue,121PaintedTrilliumWay,Townsend.

LastyearABRsuccessfullyfosteredsevencubs. Threewerereturnedtotheirownmothers,twowere rescuedfromSouthCarolinaandtwofromAlabama.

ABRisastorefrontBearRescueandeducation center.Bearsarenothousedheresotheywon’tgrow accustomedtopeople.However,thisrescue associationprovideseducationonhowtokeepbears safer,rehabilitateorphanedcubsandyearlingswhile raisingmoneytocarefororphanedbears.

“Blackbearsarenaturallytalentedswimmersandour currentthreemaleresidentsarenoexception.Hops, Barley,andBourbonbearshavebeenspendingmany afternoonspoolside.Whiletheydon'thavetheir mothersheretoteachthem,theirinstinctsare provingtobeveryvaluableinswimminglessons.”

Bearencountersadvice!

“Knowwhattodowhenyouseeabear.Neverrun fromabear.Don’tapproachabear–justquietly moveawayandleavethearea.”

LocalAdvice

“Thereareacountlessnumberofhikesonecantake, butmanyarecrowded,”hostTravisKirkland explains.“One,alittlelesscrowdedwhereyougetto seesomehistoryis‘LittleBriarGapTrail’.Itisin theLittleGreenbriarcommunity,homeofthefamous (orinfamous)Walkersisters.

Theyrefusedtoselltheir123-acrefamilyfarmtothe NationalParkandlivedthereuntilthe1960s.The trailcontainstheLittleGreenbriarSchool,whichis ontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces,then there’stheWalkerhome,alsowithaninteresting history.”

Astonoteworthydining,Kirklandcontinues.

“Agreatspotforaniceromanticdinnerorcelebrate aspecialoccasionistheDancingBearLodge.Itisn’t asecretbyanystretch,butmygoodness,itisa wonderfuldiningexperience,andyoucanrenta cabinthereaswell.Greatcuisinethatcan’tbefound anywhereinthearea,withtheiraward-winning AppalachianBistrothatisfarmtotable,alongwith someverynicecocktails.”

https://dancingbearlodge.com/

“Aruleoftheblueroad:Becarefulgoinginsearch ofadventure–it’sridiculouslyeasytofind.”

WilliamLeastHeatMoon, BlueHighways:A JourneyintoAmerica

TuckaleecheeCaverns

Don’tmissTuckaleecheeCaverns,largestand

ThecavernsareknownfortheBigRoomwhich

waterfall,namedSilverFallscareensoverfantastical verticalflow-stones,asiffromsomeprimeval dragon’slair.

BourbonandGin

–sampledingoodcompany!

“Foryearsnow,we’vehadthisspiritinthebackof ourminds.Straightbourbonwhiskeyfullymatured inoakbarrelsandfinishedwithmaplewoodto produceasiplikenoother–thewhiskeywealways wantedtomake.”(CoMPANYstatement)

Additionalcommentsfromotherparticipants included,“FeltlikeCompany!!Supervisit!” “Awesomecustomerservice.Greatdrinks.Feltlike family.Lovetheatmosphere!!Wewilldefinitelybe back!”

WefoundbothJeffandHeathbusilyengagedinrestockingshelves,armfulsofbottlesclinkingneatly fiveshelveshigh.

“Idesignedthemaplewoodfinishprocesstomimic benefitsofre-barreling,”Jeffexplains.“Agingina toastedmaplebarrel,anintriguingideologyIhad experiencewithatJackDanielsontheir ‘27Goldproject’,whichwemodifiedto avoidthe20-25%additional‘angel’s share”(evaporationloss).

Mindyou,CoMPANYismorethangreat whiskey.TheyalsoprovideGHoST RAILTennesseeDryGin,anelixir earningtopmarksfromtheexpertsatthe AscotAwards.

Conjuringdayspastof“abandonedtrain tracks,disappearingintoourvalleys, mountainsandforests.Theymarkwhere we’vebeen,leavewherewe’regoingup toeachofus…”Gin,liketheworld,has becomeovercomplicatedinrecentyears. “Wedistillouraward-winningginona small,open-fired,Alembicstill.All flavorsandaromasareinperfectbalance. GhostRailtransportsyouonajourney allyourown.It’sourattempttoslow down,extractsomedeepermeaningout oflife,andmakerealconnectionswith thepeopleandplacesaroundus.”

JustashortwayoutsideofTheGreatSmoky

MountainsNationalPark,onthequietsidein Townsend,Tennessee,wemeetlegendary “BourbonBaron”JeffArnett(formerlyJackDaniel MasterDistiller)andHeathClark,AKA“Gin Guru”attheirrecentlyopenedCoMPANY Distillerytoravereviews.

“GrandOpeningWasGrandExperience,”notes oneparticipant.“Aqualityproductenrichedby greatservice,astrongpartnershipwithalocal restaurant,awonderfulambience,andabackdrop oftheSmokyMountains.What’smissing?”

Travelingthesestoriedbyways, sometimesunderrainyskies,didnothing todampenthejoysofaneastTennessee roadtrip.

https://companydistilling.com

AbouttheAuthor: PhotojournalistJimLeggett,a nativeofScotland,isbasedinNorthCarolina,and Nassau,Bahamas.Hispassions includesteamships,motorcycles,open cockpitflying,andwhiskey,in moderation.Heisalsoaveteranpipe banddrummer.

Takethelongerpaththatexploresallthat FlamingGorgehastooffer.Thisscenicbyway traversesawidevarietyoflandscapesalong theway,fromthehighdesertplainsofWyomingto upperelevationsoftheHighUintaMountainsin Utah.

ThebywayencirclesLakeFlamingGorge,crosses lushforestsandthevastcanyonscarvedbytheGreen Riverandtravelsdownthroughgeologiclayersof timeonthewaytotheUintahBasinofUtah.

SweetwaterCounty,locatedhalfwaybetween YellowstoneandCanyonlandsNationalParksin southwestWyoming,ishometo10,500squaremiles ofpure,highdesertadventure.Knownas“Flaming GorgeCountry”theareaischaracterizedbythe91square-mileFlamingGorgeLake,theGreenRiver, expansivedesertsandruggedmountains. Marvelatstunningrockformations,anexpansive lakeandabundantwildlifeonascenicdrivethrough southwestWyomingandnorthernUtah.Oneof37of thenation’sdesignatedAll-AmericanRoads,the

FlamingGorgeScenicBywayisa160-miledrive startinginRockSpringsandendinginGreenRiver. FromRockSprings,thejourneybeginsatExit99off I-80,followingU.S.Highway191souththroughthe

SweetwaterCountyboastswide-openvistasand

Utahandtakesaboutthreehours.

TheGreenRiverbelowFlamingGorgeDamisjustly famousforworld-classflyfishing,raftinganddaily guidedfishingtrips.

Forthosewithlesstimeontheirhands,theoneday raftingtripthroughSplitMountainCanyonin DinosaurNationalMonumentisaperfectadventure! This9-milefloatisrichinsceneryandhasjust enoughwhitewatertoaddalittleexcitement.

Asyoucrossthebridgeovertherailroadtracks,you arecrossingamajorhistorictransportationcorridor. Duringpioneertimes,thiswaspartofthefamous OverlandStageTrail,avitalrouteacrosstheWild West.Inthelate1860s,theTranscontinentalRailroad wasbuiltalongthesamecorridor.

TheBigFireholeTurnoutisapaved10-mileroad offeringthenorthern-mostaccesstoLakeFlaming Gorge.Theuniquechimneyformationshavebeen carvedbywindandwatererosion.BigFirehole offersaboatlaunch,camping,restroomsand lakesidepicnicfacilities.

concentrationofraptors(Hawks,Falcons,Eaglesand Vultures)inthelower48states.ClayBasinalso servesasamajorundergroundstoragefacilityforthe numerousnaturalgaswellsintheregion.

OutlawCountry

AtMinnie’sGap,theroadtotheeasttravels20miles onpavedandgradedroadstohistoricBrownsPark. Itsremotelocationalongthreestatebordersattracted manyoutlaws,andBrownsParkbecameamajorway stationontheOutlawTrail.Itsmostfamousresidents wereButchCassidyandtheSundanceKid,although acolorfullistofotherslikeMattWarner,TomHorn, QueenAnnandJosieBassett,andMexicanJoe Herreraaddedtoitsnotoriousfame.Today,the charmofBrownsParkisthatlittlehaschangedfrom thosefrontieryears,althoughflyrodshavereplaced sixgunsformostofitsvisitors.

Asplendidviewofthelakeawaitsyouatthisbyway pullout.Thecolorfulredcliffsacrossthelake

stationaryboatsyouseearelikelyseekingthestate’s record-breakinglaketroutthatprosperinthese waters.

TakeAFreeTour

Don’tmissFlamingGorge’spremierVisitorCenter atFlamingGorgeDam.Interpretivedisplaysofthe areaandfreedamtourscanbeenjoyedyearround. Enjoythenewlyconstructedpicnicfacilities,boat dockandfishingpierlocatedattheotherendofthe parkingarea.

GreendaleJunctionistheintersectionofU.S. Highway191andUTHighway44.Fromhere,a choiceneedstobemade…southonU.S.Highway 191continuestoVernal,Utahandthelandof dinosaurs.NorthonUTHighway44leadstohistoric GreenRiver,Wyoming.Eitherdirectionis packedwithscenicwondersandcountless recreationalopportunities.

RunningbetweenVernalandManilaon U.S.Highway191andUtahHighway44, theFlamingGorge-UintasNational ScenicBywayclimbsfoothillsandmajor geologicalformations,reachingtheone billion-year-oldexposedcoreoftheUinta MountainsnearFlamingGorgeNational RecreationArea.

Forthisportionofthetour,headnorthon UTHighway44.

TheRedCanyonVisitorCenterislocated onarockypoint,1,700feetabovethe lakeasitwindsthroughthisdeepcanyon.

Stunningoverlooksareplentifulhereanytimeof year.

Asyoutravelnorth,youwillreachthetownofGreen River,WyomingandExpeditionIsland,whereJohn WesleyPowellbeganhisvoyageofexplorationdown theunchartedwatersoftheGreenandColorado Rivers.Today,visitorscanenjoytrails,swimming, kayakingandpicnickingatthisidyllicsite.Thisis yourlaststopontheFlamingGorgeScenicByway.

https://www.flaminggorgecountry.com https://www.tourwyoming.com

https://www.corvettemuseum.org. Since1953,theCorvettehasbeen America’sSportsCar.TheNational CorvetteMuseumisa501(c)3,not-forprofitfoundation,servingasaneducational andresearchinstitutionwiththemissionof celebratingtheCorvette’sinventionand preservingthelegendaryautomobile’spast, present,andfuture.