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5. Texas Hill Country — Central Texas
In the heart of the Lone Star State, Route 16 wanders from San Antonio through cowboy country into the beautifully rugged Texas Hill Country. With Lyle Lovett or Willie Nelson crooning on the stereo, the top must go down along a stretch of Route 470, which winds its way through hills where wildflowers and wildlife abide in harmony. Enjoy 470’s Texas-sized twists and turns as the smell of barbecue floats through the warm, southern air, announcing the arrival of another Texas summer.
6. Daytona Beach — Florida
Drop the top and cruise 16 miles of beautiful hard-packed beachfront on the warm Atlantic Ocean alongside hundreds of other cars, trucks, golf carts and all-terrain vehicles in memory of the original Daytona 500 Speedway. In the early 1900s, just two cars raced across the sand in one of the most spectacular and exciting events in sports: The Daytona 500. Stock car racing on the beach ended in 1953, but the spirit of racing along the ocean is still alive today in Daytona.
7. U.S. 1. — Florida Keys
U.S. 1 links a chain of subtropical isles that arc off the tip of Florida. South of the town of Marathon, U.S. 1 crosses the spectacular Seven Mile Bridge, one of the world’s longest bridges. Seemingly made for a convertible, it offers sweeping views of the open Atlantic on the left and the Gulf of Mexico to the right. For its final 30 miles, U.S. 1 crosses one small tropical key after another until it reaches Key West, an eclectic tropical town whose atmosphere is more Caribbean than American.
8. Portland Head Light/Ft. Williams Park — Cape Elizabeth, ME
Portland Head Light is the oldest of Maine's 66 lighthouses. It was built during Washington’s presidency and is the most photographed lighthouse in America. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote several lines of his poems while sitting at his favorite spot near the base of this tower. "Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind," Wadsworth advised. Convertible owners can park, put down the top and watch from there.
9. Blue Ridge Parkway — North Carolina to Virginia
There are certain roads that scream for a convertible, and nowhere is a case better made for just that than the Blue Ridge Parkway. This 469-mile road that connects Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks offers both beauty and adventure at every turn. Go topless and inhale the stunning scenery and close-up views of the ancient hills and smoky hollows that make up the Blue Ridge Mountains.
10. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca — Monterey, CA
Nestled in the hills overlooking the picturesque Monterey Peninsula lies one of the most historic race tracks in the country. The many winding roads that surround the raceway, which lies sandwiched between the storied towns of Carmel and Salinas, make for exhilarating convertible driving and are bested only by the sinuous two-and-a-quarter-mile racetrack. Spend some time enjoying the racing action, or park under a wise, old cypress tree with a copy of Steinbeck’s Cannery Row.
The inaugural “Top-10 Top-Down” list of prime locations throughout the U.S. to take a convertible was announced by Mazda President Jim O’Sullivan.
“Because of the immense and longstanding popularity of the Miata, Mazda is proud to be linked with all things convertible,” O’Sullivan said. “We know automotive enthusiasts from around the country, especially Miata owners, appreciate the incredible open-air feeling of putting the top down, and we are thrilled to be able to highlight some of the best destinations for a convertible.”
(Source: Mazda North America) (...BACK)
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