Every year on the final Monday of May, the US celebrates Memorial Day. Originally created as a Decoration Day, a day to commemorate lost Civil War soldiers, the holiday shifted into an occasion for general expressions of memory by the early 20th century. It also heralds the official start of summer in the USA. A four-day weekend to remember and celebrate. To look forward to what’s next. To usher in summer. A time when we find ourselves craving an adventure. To get out of the city. To get lost. 
 
We daydream of throwing a satchel into a vehicle and setting forth with friends, or alone, with no expectations.  We choose where we feel the most alive- to linger, swim, hike, climb, stand, relax, and be our best selves.  The following ten drives are the best coastal routes in the United States. Spaces in which nature's elements- air, wood, water, earth and fire- meet in harmony, unfurling for inspiration and soul nourishment. The road beckons. Where to?
 
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Editor: Susan Brickell

2014