This weekend, 37 million people will shine up their wheels, pack family and friends into a car and partake in the great American pastime – the road trip.
In spite of rising gas prices and horrific traffic, the romance of the open road – and the sights, sounds and signs – is irresistible for many.
We asked some of the Openbay team to mine their phones and share some scenes from their road trips, including a few scenes from our beautiful Boston backyard (we’re partial). Take a look and let us know what we missed along the way.
Before you head out, check out these free road trip apps and find a local mechanic to sure your wheels are in great shape.
Ready, set, go!
John, in dev, shared some great shots from New England and beyond –
Sunset in St. Helena, Napa Valley, California
Relaxing on the lawn the the Breakers Mansion, Newport, Rhode Island.
Beautiful afternoon on Boston Harbor, with the requisite New England lighthouse, apparently the first known one in America.
Peeking at the now-complete Freedom tower (then a work in progress) on a road trip to Manhattan.
View over the Great Plains from the Rockies.
Kite boarders off route 1 in California.
Another New England lighthouse shot; this one’s in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Mike, in dev, gave us one beautiful shot:
This was taken from a scenic pullout on a drive called “The Height of the Land.” It’s a stunning road trip from Byron to Oquossoc, Maine with scenic overviews of the Rangeley Lakes region. It’s particularly beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn color.
Allison, in dev, took these photos along her travels:
Joanie’s Blue Crab Shack on Tamiami Trail in Ochopee, Florida – awesome frog’s legs!
Manhattan Beach pier from beach, California
Sunset over Lake Champlain in South Hero, VT
Distances from the Great Machipongo Clam Shack in Nassawadox just before crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Virginia.
Ryan, in dev, shared these shots:
Sleeping Bear sand dunes in Northern Michigan overlooking Glen Lake. Lake Michigan is right behind me. I love northern Michigan.
Lincoln Park Zoo looking towards one of the greatest cities in the US, Chicago, Illinois.
Table Rock… or Caesar’s Head… I can’t really remember, somewhere in South Carolina. Excellent view.
Alli, in member services, spends her road trip stops on the ground (or water) staying active:
Biking across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California
Paddleboarding on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts
Valentine, in PR, handed in these photos from the road:
This is Smathers Beach in Key West, Florida. Key West isn’t known for its beaches, and this one is a bit hidden, but worth a trip.
While in Virginia for a wine-country wedding, we popped into the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VFMA) in Richmond. The landscape design alone is worth a visit.
This is the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Walk up a little out-of-the-way hill, and voila – you’ve got a different (better) perspective than everyone else on the ground. The diversity of Yellowstone is staggering. If you’re planning a road trip there, extend it as long as you can.
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, just outside of Yellowstone and not far from Jackson Hole. Go kayaking on Lake Jenny, at the foot of the mountains, then spend the night at a brewery in town.