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This road trip path hits 8 iconic destinations along the East Coast.<\/p>\n
JC MILHET<\/p>\n
Hans Lucas\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re plotting your next great American adventure, the best East Coast road trip route delivers everything in one sweep \u2014 granite peaks and Atlantic surf, founding-era landmarks and Cuban caf\u00e9s, Spanish moss and street art. Here\u2019s how to make it count from Maine to Miami Beach.<\/p>\n
Miami Beach, Florida: A High-Energy Start<\/p>\n
Kick things off with tropical vibes at home in Miami. The Art Deco Historic District<\/a> packs more than 800 Art Deco buildings into a single square mile. Order Cuban classics at Versailles Restaurant<\/a>, open since 1971, and finish with a walk through the Wynwood Walls<\/a> outdoor street art museum.<\/p>\n Savannah, Georgia: Spanish Moss and Ghost Stories<\/p>\n Savannah is often called the most haunted city in the country, and it leans in. Stroll Forsyth Park<\/a> past its iconic fountain, dine inside The Pirates\u2019 House<\/a> \u2014 the oldest building in Georgia \u2014 and brave a tour of Bonaventure Cemetery<\/a> after dark.<\/p>\n Charleston, South Carolina: Southern Charm That Slows You Down<\/p>\n Photograph the thirteen pastel houses of Rainbow Row<\/a>, a designated historic landmark. Book dinner at Husk Restaurant<\/a>, a Michelin-recommended<\/a> farm-to-table take on Southern cooking. Then ferry out to Fort Sumter National Monument<\/a>, where the Civil War began.<\/p>\n Washington, D.C.: Monuments, Memorials and Market Days<\/p>\n The capital is built for slow walks and big ideas. The National Mall and Lincoln Memorial<\/a> anchor an outdoor collection of monuments, while the National Museum of African American History & Culture<\/a> traces slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement and African American achievement in sports, music and government. Spend a Saturday at Eastern Market<\/a> in Capitol Hill for produce, food and crafts.<\/p>\n New York City: The Stop That Reinvents Itself<\/p>\n In the most populated city in the country, even repeat visitors find something new. Walk the High Line<\/a>, a former elevated train track turned plant- and art-filled promenade. Take in panoramic skyline views from One World Observatory<\/a>, the tallest tower in the country, built where the original World Trade Center stood. On summer weekends, Smorgasburg<\/a> draws food lovers to open-air markets across Brooklyn and Manhattan.<\/p>\n Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: An Underrated Stop With Big Stories<\/p>\n Philly is where the nation was born \u2014 and where Rocky ran up those steps. See the Liberty Bell and tour Independence Hall<\/a>, the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Then graze your way through Reading Terminal Market<\/a> and its 75-plus vendors before charging up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art<\/a>.<\/p>\n Boston, Massachusetts: History You Can Walk Through<\/p>\n Roll into Boston, where Revolutionary history meets some of the country\u2019s best seafood. The Freedom Trail<\/a> links 16 historic sites along a single walking route, and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum<\/a> lets you toss tea into the harbor at interactive exhibits. Cap the day at Union Oyster House<\/a>, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the U.S., serving since 1826.<\/p>\n Bar Harbor, Maine: End Where the Mountains Meet the Sea<\/p>\n Cap off your trip in Acadia National Park, where the Cadillac Mountain<\/a> summit catches some of the earliest sunrises in the country. Refuel with the legendary popovers at Jordan Pond House<\/a>, then time your visit to Thunder Hole<\/a> \u2014 a rocky inlet that booms when waves crash through it just right.<\/p>\n Eight stops, one coastline, a thousand stories \u2014 that\u2019s the East Coast road trip worth taking.<\/p>\n This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Miami Herald<\/p>\n