Making Summer Last

Article created for My Ford Magazine

Four Scenic Road Trips for the Efficiency-Minded Traveler

For the efficiency-minded traveler, here are four journeys for taking in great warm-weather sights - while charging up along the way.

SANTA MONIA PIER TO THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, CA

From the charging station at the Santa Monica Pier to the Golden Gate Recreational Area, take in some epic scenery along Highway 1.

Charge Stations

200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Charge up at the scenic Santa Monica Pier while chowing down on some fresh seafood or riding the pier’s iconic Ferris wheel.

3301 East Main St, Ventura, CA 93003
Stop in downtown Ventura for a charge and go for a quick hike in the sprawling Santa Monica Mountains.

1111 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Head over to the zoo and see the penguins play while recharging in Santa Barbara.

154 8th St., Grover Beach, CA 93433
Charge your car at Arroyo Grande’s City Hall and go see an outdoor concert at nearby Heritage Square Park.

319 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Observe a breathtaking view at the top of the Valencia Peak Trail while your car gets juice in San Luis Obispo.

3000 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles, CA 93446
Go for a leisurely cheese and wine tasting while you recharge in Paso Robles.

117 N 2nd St, King City, Ca 93930
Recharge in King City and go see a movie at the local cinema.

200 Lincoln Ave, Salinas, CA 93901
Ride the historic trolley around Old Town while you charge in Salinas.

55 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Park-and-charge on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and breathe in the whimsical energy of the rides and carnival games.

1016 Lincoln, San Francisco, CA 94965
Recharge one last time in Golden Gate Recreational Area before venturing into the rolling hills of San Francisco.

NEW YORK CITY TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

Between the Jersey Shore and Philly history, this Mid-Atlantic stretch has something for everybody—as well as the nation’s highest concentration of charging stations.

Charge Stations

50 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Start with a charge in Manhattan while you get lost in the neon glow of Times Square.

458 Greenwood Ave, Trenton, NJ 08609 Brush up on your history and go see the Old Barrack Museum, which was constructed to house British troops during the French and Indian War, while you recharge in Trenton.

2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy , Philadelphia, Pa 19130
Dig into some authentic Philly cheesesteaks at John’s Roast Pork while you get juice in Philadelphia.

40 E West St, Baltimore, Md 21230
Stop in Baltimore to recharge and follow the Raven to the grave of literary great Edgar Allan Poe.

777 North Capitol St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 Stroll past the blooming cherry blossoms and historic government monuments as you get one last charge in Washington, D.C.

CAMBRIDGE, MA TO BAR HARBOR, ME

Charge up in the city of Cambridge before heading north to Maine, where a cool drink and a well-deserved lobster roll await your arrival.

Charge Stations

1 Bennett St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Start with a charge in Cambridge and go see the stunning flower sculptures at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Portsmouth, 34 Handover St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Check out one of the area’s scenic lighthouses while you recharge in Portsmouth.

427 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
Browse through one of the town’s antique bookstores while charging in Portland.

Augusta, 14 Anthony Ave, Augusta, ME 04330
Grab a quick charge in Augusta and tour the State Capitol building while you wait.

Bangor, 114 Sylvan Rd., Bangor, ME 04401
Gaze upon a towering 31-foot statue of Paul Bunyan while you charge in Bangor.

Bar Harbor, Buildings and Grounds, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Stuff your face with lobster rolls and shrimp while you relax and charge up in Bar Harbor.

LAKE MICHIGAN CIRCUMNAVIGATION

Around the lake we go: heading north from a charge-up in downtown Chicago, you’ll need seven charges and a ferry to get home.

Charge Stations

3400 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
Make funny faces at yourself in the stainless steel Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park while you charge in Chicago.

4940 88th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53144
Look at some prehistoric bones at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum as you charge up in Kenosha.

209 E Mason St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Catch a ball game at Miller Park and cheer on the Brewers while you recharge in Milwaukee.

5515 Racetrack Rd, Sheboygan, WI 53081
Get lost in your imagination at Bookworm Gardens, a collection of gardens based on children’s literature, while you get juice in Sheboygan.

2970 Greenbrier Rd, Green Bay, WI 54311
Stop and charge in Green Bay and go roam with coyotes and wolves at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary while you wait.

125 E. 8Th St, Traverse City, MI 49684
Hear some classical string arrangements at the City Opera House while you charge in Traverse City.

MI 49683
Fill up on sausages and eggs at Rosie’s Country Café while recharging in Thompsonville.

Hart, 120 Washington St, Hart, MI 49420
Stop for a quick charge in Hart and go for a swim in the nearby scenic Silver Lake.

746 East 16th St, Holland, Mi 49423
Get some fresh produce at the local farmer’s market while recharging in Holland, Mich.

11111 Wilson Rd, New Buffalo, MI 49117
Charge one last time in New Buffalo and burn some spare change on the slots at Four Winds Casino.

SNEAK PEEK: 2015 FOCUS ELECTRIC

1. Focus Electric runs on a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery, which means it never needs a drop of gasoline, ever.

2. Being 100% gasoline-free, the Focus Electric produces zero CO2 emissions. Talk about improving your carbon footprint.

3. The electric motor gives you a quiet, energy-efficient ride, but also delivers quick, smooth acceleration and driving fun.

Illustration by Pixotico/iconfinder; Santa Monica Pier: Matt Payne/Getty Images; NYC: David Joyner/Getty Images; Cambridge: Denis Tangney Jr./Getty Images; Lake Michigan: Jose Luis Stephens/Getty Images