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Scenic route

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A scenic route is a specially designated path for travelers. These routes can be roads or even waterways. They are designed to travel through areas of natural or cultural beauty. Most of these paths include scenic viewpoints for people to stop and look. A government body usually decides which routes get this special status. This might be a Ministry of Transport or a Department of Transportation. These designations help travelers find the most beautiful parts of a region.

There are several ways a scenic route can be created. Some are built specifically for the purpose of tourism. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a famous example of a road built just for this. Other routes are existing roads that are promoted with advertising and signs. Some were once the main roads for heavy traffic. In the United States, these are called scenic highways once most traffic bypasses them. An example is the Lincoln Highway in Illinois.

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MUTCD M10-1

Routes can also be described as multi-modal. This means they can be followed using many different types of transportation. A traveler might use a road, a waterway, or a rail line. They could even travel by bicycle or on foot. The Great West Way is an example of such a route. In Europe, these paths are often easy to find. They are frequently marked with brown tourist signs. These signs display the name of the route or a specific symbol.

In the United States, the highway system has very specific types of scenic routes. Some are special routes of the U.S. highway system. These routes often feature "Scenic" banners. They are typically longer than the "parent route" they belong to. Currently, only one route in the country keeps this official designation. That route is U.S. Route 40 Scenic in Maryland. There are also programs for National Scenic Byways and National Forest Scenic Byways. These are chosen because they have unique characteristics.

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MUTCD M10-1

National Parkways are another distinct type of scenic road. These are found within the National Park System. They are built for recreational driving through historic or scenic areas. National Parkways are different from most other scenic routes. They are built with a buffer of park land on both sides of the road. They may also include large recreation areas or satellite parks along their length. This design helps keep the focus on the natural environment.

Theme routes are special tours based on a specific topic. These routes aim to give visitors a better insight into a certain subject. They are very popular throughout Europe. A theme can be anything from architecture to history or culture. Some routes focus on wine growing regions or Dutch tulip fields. Others might lead through the Swiss Mountains or Norwegian Fjords. There are even routes that follow a chain of medieval castles. The Trail of the Eagle's Nests in Poland is one such example.

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Berthabenzmemorialrouteschild

Some theme routes are created to honor specific historical events. The Bertha Benz Memorial Route commemorates a very important journey. It honors the world's first long-distance trip by automobile in 1888. Other routes focus on industrial history or specific cultural traditions. For instance, Scotland has the Malt Whisky Trail. There are also routes that follow the Golden Ring of Russia. These paths turn a simple trip into a way to learn about the world. They connect people to the history and the land around them.

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