Getting off the beaten path often means getting off the interstate highways. There are still many US highways, not interstates, that are excellent roads for travel. They take us to interesting small towns, through beautiful landscapes and to historic sites not seen on the multi-lane super-roads. Highway 50 is just such a road.
Highway 50 runs from the Atlantic Ocean across to the Pacific Ocean.
You have to check the map closely, but you will see that you can start Highway 50 in
Ocean City, Maryland, travel it across the US and end up in San Francisco, California.
This summer we traveled Highway 50 from the half-way point, which is in Kansas and followed it west. By starting in Kansas. we were treated to some beautiful farm country.
From Kansas we traveled Highway 50 to ranch country in Colorado.
The highway went across a lake and through plateaus – also Colorado.
Highway 50 joins Interstate 70 in Utah but treated us to access to
Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
In Nevada the road is called the Loneliest Highway
in America. You can see why.
I saw one of my favorite bookstores on Highway 50
in Fernley, Nevada. Unfortunately, I could go in and browse.
We left Highway 50 in the state capital of California because we were heading
north to Oregon. But another couple of hours could have had us at the end of Highway 50.
If I lived somewhere else in the world and wanted to do a cross country tour of the US, I’d pick Highway 50. You won’t see many of our big-time, hot-shot cities. You won’t see many of our shopping malls that tend to all look alike anyway. But you will see a part of America that is both unique and truly American. And, you will meet some of the most friendly and genuinely good-hearted people found anywhere. We’re glad we traveled Highway 50.
I hope you’ll join me again next Sunday for more Favorite Places. If you’d like to join in, just grab the button at the top of this post, put it on your blog along with info about one of your Favorite Places. Come back and leave a link in the comment section and we’ll all come and visit you.
NORTHERN CALLIFORNIA
Your sign of Highway 50 reminds me of a very funny incident in the book “Roads to Quoz” by William Least Half-Moon. This is a wonderful travel book (we listened on tape during a road trip) describing the travels this guy takes with his wife across the country. They talk about the scenery they see, and people they meet, and restaurants they find – I loved listening to this. Anyway, it was after 9/11 and some guy was trying to take a photo of a road sign for just the sort of reason you did, and the police arrested him!
Now I’m wondering if you’ve traveled Rte 66 …
What gorgeous scenery. I hope we have time for leisurely travel like that some day. Thanks for sharing!
Route 66 is my highway. I grew up on it, for a while we actually lived in a house in Ill. right next to it, and we traveled on it frequently to see my relatives in Ariz. Many memories of that one, for instance back in the 1940s when our car would overheat going over the Rockies.
I lived 2 minutes off of 50 when I lived in Arlington, Virginia. I never knew it went coast to coast! I would love to take a road trip like this. If only I could get Jason to take the time off to do it right
Word Lily/Hannah and Barbara:
Route 66 has wonderful memories for me too. Back in the 1950’s I traveled with my family down that highway as we moved from Wisconsin to California. Over the years we’ve traveled it many times. Today big chunks of it have been eaten up by Interstate 40. Many small towns along the way are now featuring the old Route 66 that used to come through their towns. Many Boomer-age people are traveling back down memory lane and the small towns are trying to take advantage of that. It’s a nice trend.
I’m going to have to tell the hubby about Highway 50. He and our son took a 3 week motorcycle trip last year and this might be something for the future. The landscape had it all…starkness and breathtaking sights!!
thanks for the roadtrip!! Hwy 50 really is a very cool road. We loved Kansas scenery and your picture ws very nice. We know so many people — from both coasts — who feel like the middle part of the country is not worth visiting. But we really enjoyed our time there.
was that ‘unfortunately I COULD go in and browse (at the bookstore) or did you mean I could NOT go in and browse? Either way I understand.
Thanks for introducing me to Highway 50. There’s nothing my husband likes better than a road trip.
I really miss seeing all these beautiful places. my gypsy blood is really in the need of a trip…comming soon
Greetings from Highway 50! We live 1 block off of this great highway as it passes through southwest Kansas. Any time any of you are traveling through, stop in and say hi.
This is a great post … I love the photos and you’ve convinced me to give Highway 50 a try someday!