5 Sunniest Drives in North America
Spring is here! The sun is finally blessing us with its presence. The clouds part, April showers bring May flowers, and the blacktop is calling. It’s road trip season.
You’ve been stuck with darkness and a shrinking Vitamin D count since October. Now is the time to drop that top (convertible top, that is) and head to the sunniest drives in America… North America.
See Canada, we’d never forget about you. It may always be sunny in Philadelphia, but that’s not the only Western Hemisphere spot where UV rays constantly bombard us. Here’s a few places we’d like you to travel, for a bit of extra sunlight.
Pacific Coast Highway – California
California’s Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most beautiful, yet dangerous drives in America. Winding highways and gorgeous landscapes cause a large number of accidents every year – but what’s life without a little danger?
Also known as “Highway 1″ when it passes through California, the route begins in Lund, British Columbia, and extends southwards over 9,000 miles to the South American town of Quellon, Porto Monte, Chile.
Arctic Alaska – 24 Hrs. of Sunlight
It’s a common misconception that Alaska is sunny half of the year, dark the rest. Only parts of the giant state suffer from this a few days around summer and winter solstices. But when it’s high noon at 12 midnight, there’s no better way to check out glaciers and mountain ranges of our largest state. Mountain goats, moose and caribou are just some of the beautiful wildlife you’ll witness on a drive across Alaska. You won’t freeze even during summer months, as July highs reach near 72 degrees.
Key West – Florida
A popular vacation destination for decades, the sunny island clusters of Key West receive more sun than most of its surrounding counties. Connected by the famous Seven Mile Bridge (guess how long it is) “The Keys” offer clear ocean sailing, scuba diving, and of course, sunbathing. Make sure you leave before hurricane season, and watch out for gators (we mean sports fans).
Columbus Blvd & Penn’s Landing – Philadelphia
Ok, so it’s not ACTUALLY always sunny in Philadelphia, but the City of Brotherly Love lies at the end of Interstate 76 (they’ve a thing for anything referencing 1776 or Ben Franklin around here). On 76, you can head up towards the picturesque Valley Forge area for a long hike, or across PA’s rolling hills to Pittsburgh, or trek out to Ohio and even as far as Chicago.
Buffalo Trail – Trans-Canada Highway in Medicine Hat, Alberta
Home to the world’s tallest “teepee” (Tipi) and a prestigious college, Medicine Hat in Alberta boasts over 2,512 hours of sunlight each year. You can get to this region of Western Canada (or is that still considered Mid?) by taking the “Buffalo Trail” portion of Route Transcanadienne – Trans-Canada Highway. This section of Medicine Hat is straight out of 1850 – complete with historic buildings and national parks. It’s one of the most beautiful section of Canadian Plains, we highly suggest a road trip through it.
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