1

Pacific Coast Highway

Image: Joe Pilié

The Pacific Coast Highway , officially known as California State Route 1, runs along the stunning California coastline. This iconic route stretches from Dana Point in Orange County to Leggett in Mendocino County, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, rugged cliffs, and charming coastal towns.

Designated by the United States Department of Transportation as an All-American Road , the Pacific Coast Highway also serves as a vital artery for residents in the Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area. Unfortunately, the route is also known for its frequent coastal landslides, which often cause sections of the road to be closed or redirected inland, so if you are planning to take this route, be sure to check conditions and plan ahead.

2

Blue Ridge Parkway

Image: Angela Bartosh

For those who love bluish mountains and epic landscapes, this route is a must-visit. Winding through the Appalachian Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

This 469-mile drive is renowned for its fall foliage, lush scenery, and panoramic vistas. Whether you plan to hike some of its many trails, explore historic sites, or simply enjoy the views from the comfort of your vehicle, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a truly rewarding experience. Just be aware that the road is not maintained in winter, and certain sections and high passes may be closed from late fall through early spring.

3

Route 66

Image: Nikolai Justesen

Famously dubbed the "Mother Road" by Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath , Route 66 embarks on an epic cross-country journey from Chicago to Santa Monica, stretching a total of 2,448 miles. Immortalized in songs and media, this historic road has achieved legendary status, not only as one of the country’s most celebrated routes but also as a symbol of the United States around the world.

This iconic route takes you through picturesque small towns, vast deserts, and quintessential Americana. Though the original road was supplanted by the Interstate Highway System in 1985, much of the historic route has been preserved as a National Scenic Byway , now known as "Historic Route 66."

4

Great River Road

Image: Mitchell Kmetz

Following the course of the Mississippi River , the Great River Road stretches 2,340 miles through ten states, from Minnesota to Louisiana. The term "Great River Road," however, refers not only to the official network of roadways that follow the river's path but also to a broader region of historical and touristic significance.

Originally extending north into Canada, it once connected with the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. Notable stops along the route include the Twin Cities, Mark Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, and the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

5

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Image: Tevin Trinh

Located in Montana's Glacier National Park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is a 50-mile engineering marvel, with sections carved into steep rock faces. This alpine route traverses the Continental Divide through Logan Pass at an elevation of 6,646 feet, offering jaw-dropping views of glaciers, waterfalls, and wildlife.

The road is named after Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, which dominates the eastbound view beyond the high pass. According to a Native American legend, a deity called Sour Spirit descended from the sun to teach the Blackfeet tribe how to hunt, giving the mountain its name.

6

Overseas Highway

Image: Ilse Orsel

Connecting mainland Florida to Key West, the Overseas Highway is a 113-mile journey across a series of bridges and tropical islands. Much of the route was built on the remnants of the Overseas Railroad , which was severely damaged and partially destroyed by the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. In the 1950s, the Overseas Highway was revamped into a major coastal route linking Miami to Key West.

This exotic drive not only offers spectacular views of turquoise waters and coral reefs but also provides the opportunity to spot local wildlife such as American alligators, American crocodiles, and Key deer.

7

Tail of the Dragon

Image: Stephen Cook

Deals Gap , a thrilling mountain pass along the North Carolina–Tennessee state line, is famously known as the Tail of the Dragon due to its astonishing 318 curves in just 11 miles. This legendary stretch of U.S. Route 129 is a global favorite among motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts, who often come to challenge their vehicles and driving skills on its winding curves.

As the road forms part of the southwestern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park , the 11-mile stretch remains free from urban development and features numerous scenic overlooks and pull-off points.

8

Hana Highway

Image: Claude Piché

Also known as The Road to Hana, the Hana Highway on Maui, Hawaii, is a 64.4-mile stretch of Hawaii Routes 36 and 360 that traverses through rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and seascapes. As it meanders across the island, the road features over 600 curves , leading to the charming town of Hana, one of the most isolated communities in the state.

Before you get too excited, though, be prepared for a journey that can take nearly three hours. Although the distance may seem short on paper, the highway's winding, narrow nature and its 59 one-lane bridges can significantly extend travel time.

9

Natchez Trace Parkway

Image: Mika Matin

Stretching 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a journey rich in history and natural beauty. This scenic drive follows the ancient Native American trail of the same name, even preserving sections of the original path.

This historical route offers peaceful landscapes and numerous recreational opportunities for visitors. Notable stops include archaeological treasures like Emerald Mound , several abandoned towns and historic settlements, and the Meriwether Lewis Monument and Grave Site.

10

U.S. Route 50

Image: Paddy Kumar

U.S. Route 50 is a major highway that spans the width of the United States, connecting Ocean City, Maryland, on the East Coast to Sacramento, California, on the West Coast. Stretching 3,073 miles, this route traverses diverse landscapes but is most renowned for its rural desert and mountainous scenery in the western United States.

Particularly notable is its Nevada segment, famously dubbed "The Loneliest Road in America" due to its sparse traffic and lengthy, isolated stretches. Established in 1926 as part of the original U.S. Highway system, US 50 initially extended from Wadsworth, Nevada, to Annapolis, Maryland. The original route incorporated several historic trails, including the Lincoln Highway, Midland Trail, and the National Old Trails Road.

1

A gorilla suit

Image: ARTISTIC FRAMES

Space can get boring. It got a little more entertaining for astronaut Scott Kelly in 2016, when his twin brother, Mark Kelly, sent him a vacuum-sealed gorilla suit all the way to the ISS for his birthday.

Kelly’s crewmates didn’t know about it, so he had fun pranking them by suddenly appearing in the suit aboard the station. One of the prank videos went viral. As Kelly put it: "How can you not like space gorilla?"

2

Dirt from Yankee Stadium

Image: Chanan Greenblatt

Astronaut Garrett Reisman, a lifelong Yankees fan, of course, took a little piece of the Bronx to orbit . In 2008, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-123, he brought a vial of dirt from Yankee Stadium’s pitcher’s mound—along with other Yankees memorabilia, including items autographed by players.

3

Amelia Earhart’s watch

Image: Tomas Martinez

In 2010, astronaut Shannon Walker brought Amelia Earhart’s watch to the International Space Station. The legendary aviator had worn it during two transatlantic flights , and it traveled to space on the 82nd anniversary of her first historic solo flight across the Atlantic.

4

Pizza

Image: Alan Hardman

Space pizza finally became a reality in 2001, when Pizza Hut paid millions to deliver a vacuum-sealed pizza to the International Space Station.

It was, quite literally, a publicity stunt out of this world . The pizza—topped with salami to withstand space conditions—was eaten by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachov aboard the ISS.

5

Pieces of the Wright Brothers’ first plane

Image: History in HD

Tucked into Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit was a small piece of fabric and a fragment of wood from the Wright Brothers' 1903 Flyer—carried all the way from Kitty Hawk to the Sea of Tranquility . He took them with him as he became the first person to step onto the Moon in 1969.

6

A set of instruments to play "Jingle Bells"

Image: Ali Rashedi

Just before Christmas in 1965, astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford pulled off a surprise serenade in space.

They had smuggled a harmonica and a set of sleigh bells aboard their Gemini 6A mission and played "Jingle Bells" for Mission Control—creating the first musical performance ever in space . The instruments are now on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

7

Several LEGO pieces

Image: Eugene Chystiakov

NASA's collaboration with LEGO took a literal leap when, in 2011, sets of LEGO bricks were sent to the International Space Station aboard mission STS-133.

Astronauts assembled models—such as the Hubble Space Telescope—in microgravity, engaging students around the world in STEM education.

8

A Buzz Lightyear toy

Image: Brian McGowan

Buzz Lightyear truly went " to infinity and beyond " when a 12-inch action figure flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 2008. Spending 15 months on the International Space Station, Buzz was part of NASA’s educational outreach efforts.

Upon return, he was honored with a parade at Disney World and now resides in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

9

A lightsaber

Image: superneox lightsaber

In a nod to sci-fi fandom, a lightsaber prop used by Mark Hamill in Return of the Jedi journeyed to space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 2007.

The initiative celebrated the 30th anniversary of Star Wars , symbolizing the intersection of science fiction and real-world space exploration.

10

Dinosaur bones

Image: Jesper Aggergaard

In 1985, during NASA's SpaceLab 2 mission, astronaut Loren Acton brought aboard a fossilized bone and a piece of eggshell from Maiasaura peeblesorum , a dinosaur species known for nurturing its young.

These fossils, discovered in Montana , were sent to space to symbolize the connection between Earth’s prehistoric life and space exploration.​

11

Communion bread and wine

Image: James Coleman

In a very profound gesture, Buzz Aldrin privately took Christian communion aboard Apollo 11. As a Presbyterian elder , he carried a tiny wafer and a small pouch of wine, blessing them while orbiting the Moon shortly after the lunar landing.

12

Golf clubs (and golf balls)

Image: Peter Drew

During Apollo 14, Alan Shepard secretly packed a makeshift 6-iron —a golf club head duct-taped to a lunar tool—and two golf balls.

On live TV, he took a couple of awkward, one-handed swings while wearing his stiff spacesuit. The first ball flopped; the second soared "miles and miles," Shepard joked. It actually traveled about 40 yards, which is quite impressive in lunar terms.

1

Sleep routine

Image: Tina Witherspoon

Your body is a routine animal. If you eat at a certain time, you’ll probably feel hungry around that same time the next day. If you go to sleep at a certain hour, you’ll likely feel sleepy at that same hour the next day.

Use this to your advantage by sticking to a consistent sleep schedule , both for going to bed and for waking up. If you do this consistently, your body will embrace this routine, and it will start to come naturally.

2

Food and drinks

Image: Kelsey Chance

Avoid going to bed shortly after a large meal. Your digestive system will stay active for a long period of time potentially keeping you awake until it finishes processing the food and drink you've consumed.

The same goes for alcohol: while it might make you feel drowsy at first, it can disrupt your sleep later in the night.

3

Create a good sleeping environment

Image: Ainur Iman

A dark, quiet, and cool bedroom makes for a good sleeping environment . Your senses will continue capturing and processing any light or sound present in your bedroom, which is why it is important to minimize these distractions as much as possible.

4

Avoid long naps

Image: Tânia Mousinho

This one is quite straightforward: your body only requires a certain amount of sleep , and if you use up a large portion of it during the day, you may find yourself staying awake longer at night. While a short, 20-minute nap during the day can help restore your energy, a longer rest period will subtract from your nighttime sleep.

5

Physical activity

Image: Chander R

Regular physical activity and spending time outside every day are great ways to promote better sleep at night. However, it’s important to avoid physical exercise if you are too close to your bedtime to avoid overstimulation.

6

Avoid going to bed with worries

Image: Yohann LIBOT

Whatever worries you may have in your life, try to avoid thinking about them while you're trying to sleep. Stressful thoughts can delay sleep and create anxiety , leading to less-than-optimal rest. Instead, write down any issues you need to deal with and save them for the next day.

7

Light exposure

Image: Gabe

Spending time in natural sunlight or bright light during the day can help keep your circadian rhythm healthy and, in turn, improve your daytime energy and enhance the quality and duration of your sleep at night.

In contrast, avoid exposure to screens for at least half an hour before going to bed. Nighttime light exposure can have the opposite effect from daytime exposure because it reduces your levels of melatonin, which helps you relax and get deep sleep.

8

No alcohol before bedtime

Image: Vinicius amnx Amano

As mentioned earlier, drinking alcohol before bedtime is not recommended . Alcohol can cause or worsen symptoms of sleep apnea, increase snoring, and disrupt normal sleep patterns. It also alters nighttime melatonin production, which plays a key role in regulating your body’s circadian rhythm.

9

A good bed and pillow

Image: Andrew Neel

Poor-quality bedding can lead to increased lower back pain , making it harder to sleep well. Firm and medium-firm mattresses are available at different price ranges and can be a good choice for comfort and to avoid back pain.

Pillows should not cause neck pain, either. Find a pillow that isn’t too high and offers comfort for your sleep style. It will make for a better rest, and your body will thank you in the morning.

10

No liquids right before bed

Image: Steve Johnson

There’s nothing wrong with being hydrated during your sleep time, but having to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom is not great. If this happens repeatedly, it can negatively affect your sleep quality and daytime energy.

To minimize interruptions, try reducing your fluid intake in the last hour before bed . This can help lower the chances of waking up during the night.

11

Good sleeping temperature

Image: Vin Jack

One way to guarantee uncomfortable sleep is a bedroom that’s either too cold or too hot . The ideal temperature can vary based on the individual, but most research suggests that sleeping in a cooler room—around 65 to 68 degrees—is optimal.

12

At least seven hours of sleep

Image: sq lim

Each age group requires a different amount of sleep each night, but for most people, seven hours is the bare minimum to ensure proper rest. If you have a specific wake-up time, calculate a target bedtime that allows for at least seven hours of sleep . Give yourself extra time before bed to wind down and prepare for sleep whenever possible.