Travel Guides for the Scenic Route
Not every journey needs to follow the fastest route.
Some of the best travel experiences happen when you turn onto an unfamiliar road, stop in a town you’ve never heard of, pull over for an unexpected view, or spend a little longer than planned photographing something that caught your eye.
That’s the kind of travel you’ll find here at Back Roads Lens.
My travel guides take you beyond the usual highlights and into the landscapes, scenic roads, small towns, national parks, wildlife areas, historic places, and overlooked corners that make traveling so rewarding.
These guides are shaped by my experiences as a travel photographer and by a simple belief:
The journey is just as important as the destination.
Start Exploring
Whether you’re planning your next road trip or simply looking for somewhere new to explore, start with the destination that interests you most.
Explore By Region
Northeast
Explore mountains, lakes, covered bridges, historic towns, and the changing seasons of New England and the Adirondacks.
Southeast
Explore coastal roads, historic towns, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico fishing towns, and Southern back roads.
Appalachia
Explore mountain roads, small communities, coal heritage, waterfalls, forests, and the stories found in the hills.
Midwest
Discover wide-open landscapes, small towns, historic roads, lakes, farms, and the places that are easy to overlook when you're simply passing through.
Northwest
Explore dramatic mountains, forests, lakes, volcanic landscapes, and some of the most beautiful scenic roads in the country.
Southwest
Experience red-rock landscapes, desert roads, national parks, historic towns, and some of America's most iconic scenery.
Alaska
Discover glaciers, wildlife, mountains, coastal communities, historic towns, and the wild roads and waterways of the Last Frontier.
Hawaii
Explore Hawaii beyond the typical resort experience, with scenic drives, local communities, dramatic landscapes, waterfalls, beaches, and places worth slowing down to see.
Explore All Travel Guides
Discover the United States and explore all travel guides.
Traveling With a Camera?
Travel and photography have always been connected for me.
I’m not interested in simply photographing the most famous viewpoint. I want to discover what makes a place unique—and then find a way to tell that story through a photograph.
That might mean getting up early for the right light, stopping at an overlook I hadn’t planned on, watching for wildlife, exploring an old town, or simply noticing a scene that makes me want to pull over.
If you’re a photographer, you’ll find plenty of ideas for what to photograph along the way.
And if you’re not a photographer, I hope these guides encourage you to slow down, notice the details, and really look at the places you’re visiting.
What You’ll Find in My Travel Guides
My guides aren’t intended to be generic lists of things to do.
I want them to help you get a feel for a destination, discover what makes it interesting, and decide whether it’s somewhere you’d enjoy exploring.
Depending on the destination, you’ll find:
Places Worth Seeing
The landmarks, viewpoints, attractions, and unexpected stops that caught my attention.
Photography Opportunities
Perspectives, places, and moments that are especially rewarding through the lens.
Wildlife & Nature
Places where nature and wildlife become part of the experience, with an emphasis on observing and photographing wildlife responsibly.
History & Local Stories
The history, people, traditions, and stories that help give a place its character.
Practical Travel Information
Helpful information about getting there, what to expect, where to stay, and making the most of your time.
My Experiences Along the Way
Because sometimes knowing what a place actually felt like is just as useful as knowing where to park.
Featured Travel Guides
Start With These
If you’re new to Back Roads Lens, these are a few good places to begin.
Grand Teton National Park and Mormon Row
One of the most recognizable landscapes in the American West—and a place where light, timing and patience can completely change the photograph.
Kauai, Hawaii
Discover dramatic coastlines, lush valleys, waterfalls, wildlife, and the unforgettable landscapes that make Kauai one of Hawaii’s most rewarding islands to explore.
Badlands National Park
Explore rugged rock formations, sweeping prairie, wildlife, and otherworldly landscapes in one of South Dakota’s most unforgettable national parks.
Trillium Lake
A beautiful example of how an ordinary stop can become an unforgettable photographic experience.
Travel Stories Along the Way
Not every travel experience fits neatly into a guide. Sometimes the story is what stays with you.
Throughout Back Roads Lens, I share the unexpected moments, people, places, wildlife encounters, and photographs that have become part of my travels.
One of those stories explores something I’ve thought about for years: the difference between traveling and vacationing.
Traveler vs. Vacationer: What’s the Difference and Which One Are You? →
Keep Exploring
There are plenty of other ways to explore Back Roads Lens.
Scenic Drives & Road Trips
Discover scenic roads, memorable routes, and journeys where getting there is part of the adventure.
Wildlife
Explore wildlife encounters, destinations, and stories from the field.
Mastering Travel Photography
Learn more about composition, light, perspective, wildlife photography, and visual storytelling.
Photo Galleries
See the landscapes, wildlife, roads, and places I’ve photographed along the way.
About Me
Learn more about my travels, photography, and the story behind Back Roads Lens.
The Road Is Waiting
There are still roads I haven’t traveled, towns I haven’t discovered, landscapes I haven’t photographed, and stories waiting to be told.
I hope these travel guides inspire you to slow down, look a little closer, and discover a few places and stories of your own.
Thanks for coming along for the journey.
— Debbi
Back Roads Lens