Buckle
your seat belt, grab a gallon of sweet tea and binge watch “The Dukes of
Hazzard” because this blog post will take you on a scenic road trip through the Deep South. While it isn’t quite the West Coast, there’s
still a handful of remarkable drives located in the Southeast that will satiate
even the most adventurous convertible owner.
After careful deliberation, we’ve selected a handful of roads in the
Southeast that’re well worth traveling. These
drives are all special for the scenery, history or culture (aka comfort food)
you can experience along the way. Trust
us—we ain’t just whistlin’ dixie.
Lookout Mountain Parkway
The
Lookout Mountain Parkway will take you across state lines and on a scenic
journey through the south. Along the way
you’ll spot towering waterfalls at the Little River Canyon Preserve and
Noccalula Falls Park. If you make the
drive up to Tennessee and aren’t afraid of heights, ride the Lookout Mountain
Incline—it’s the world’s steepest railway.
Make sure to take a pit stop in the tiny town of Mentone, Alabama to
experience some small town southern culture.
Cherohala Skyway
A
National Scenic Byway located in Tennessee, the Cherohala Skyway cuts through
two national forests—the Cherokee and the Nantahala. Take your convertible along the winding
42-mile road and enjoy the incredible view from the Santeetlah Overlook. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better
vantage point of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Coastal Highway Route 17
Boasting
fantastic seaside scenery and spectacular seafood eateries, U.S. Highway 17 is
perfect for a low-key, coastal drive. If you have a hankering for some deep-fried
ocean critters, be sure to stop by Love’s Seafood or the Old School Diner to satisfy
your craving.
Seven Mile Bridge
This
stunning expanse of road stretches over the Florida Keys and is unquestionably
our top convertible drive in the Deep South.
For a little under seven miles, you’ll race your convertible over
beautiful, blue ocean water. If you’re
interested in a history lesson, take a walk down the original Seven Mile Bridge
(pedestrian traffic only) and learn about the road’s origins as an overseas
railroad.
These
routes just scratch the surface of the innumerable driving opportunities
waiting to be explored by convertible owners in the south. Was your favorite scenic convertible ride
excluded from our list? Leave a southern road trip suggestion in the
comment section below.