FIVE AWESOME FALL ROAD TRIPS

Oct 05, 2022

It’s fall, the air is getting crisper, the days are getting shorter. That can only mean one thing: it’s time to put on some comfortable driving shoes, pack a flannel shirt and hit the road to catch the Technicolor fall foliage. But before you head out on the highway, be sure to put on a pair of Eagle Eyes sunglasses—that way the colors will brighter, crystal clear and sharper than ever, and your eyes will be protected from the damaging blue light and UV radiation.

And before you hit the road, consider these five incredible fall destinations:

1. THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY – VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA

Nestled along the Blue Ridge Mountains, this spectacularly beautiful roadway winds nearly 500 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia down to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. For most of the length of the parkway, there are trees above and below you, which makes you feel surrounded by the magnificent colors. The road passes by old farmsteads, mountain meadows and dozens of scenic overlooks. There are also an abundance of fantastic hiking trails and working farms along the drive totally worth stopping for, especially if you're trying to work up an appetite. And since you may be flying above the clouds for part of your drive, the perfect pair to accompany you on this trip is our beautiful, classic aviator sunglasses. Or if your tastes run to the more contemporary—check out the Jet or Gauge.

2. ROUTE 100 – VERMONT

There's no two ways about it: New England is prime territory for fall colors—and Route 100 in Vermont has been called the best foliage drive in the state. Stretching the length of the state, from Massachusetts to Lake Memphremagog (don’t ask us to pronounce it) at the Canadian border, Route 100 passes through idyllic small and larger towns like the resort town of Stowe and Waterbury, home to Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory (you should definitely stop for a tour and a bite of pumpkin cheesecake ice cream). Not only do you get breathtaking fall colors -- this drive gives you a taste of everything that makes New England so perfect for a road trip: country stores, craft galleries and farm stands where you can grab a hot cider to warm up. Route 100 is a classic drive if there ever was one—so we suggest some classic shades for the trip—like the Halley sunglasses from our women’s collection—or perhaps the Blair or Carina. Any direction you head, Eagle Eyes has you styled with the perfect look.

3. YOSEMITE VALLEY LOOP - CALIFORNIA

When people think of California, they tend to think of bright green palm trees in January, but California's many mountain and coastal areas have some awe-inspiring fall colors to offer. But the granddaddy of all fall foliage drives in California is Yosemite. There are many gorgeous routes throughout the park, but a great place to start is the Yosemite Valley Loop, which offers the postcard views you're anticipating (Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan), framed in the bright reds, yellows, and oranges of autumn. And when we think California, we think Charlie sunglasses. Combining an effortlessly classic style with West Coast sophistication, Charlie comes in 4 frame colors and our exclusive TriLenium^® lenses that protect your vision from damaging blue light and UV radiation.

4. SAN JUAN SKYWAY - COLORADO

Twisting and winding 236 miles through the mountains of southwest Colorado is the San Juan Skyway. The breathtaking (and sometimes stomach-turning) views from this scenic highway clinging precariously to the side of the San Juan Mountains are worth a million bucks -- or at least according to the name of one section between Silverton and Ouray called The Million Dollar Highway. The skyway passes through old mining towns as well as popular mountain towns like Telluride and Durango and Silverton. And if cliffside driving gets you a little nervous, you can hop aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, to ride through the mountains just like in the old days, via steam locomotive! And the perfect sunglasses for this Colorado sojourn? How about a pair of shades from our Sports Collection like PanoVu, Bolt or Force?

5. CIRCLE TOUR OF LAKE SUPERIOR - MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, ONTARIO

While conquering the whole thing is more of a bucket list road trip than a weekend drive, the 1300-mile Circle Tour of Lake Superior offers expansive lake views, historic lighthouses, stunning waterfalls -- and, of course, spectacular fall color. The path of the tour hugs the edge of Lake Superior through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and into Ontario, Canada, but any portion of this route offers beautiful foliage, unique small towns, and lakeside vistas. And no matter what the lighting conditions are on your Circle Tour, we’ve got you covered with our exclusive 3in1 Vintage Round eyewear system.

THE BEST WAY TO VIEW FALL COLOR

Whichever point of the compass you select, a must-have accessory for any fall road trip is a pair of your favorite shades. Eagle Eyes polarized lenses don’t just make fall colors pop by reducing glare, they protect your eyes by blocking scattered blue light and 99% of harmful UVA and UVB solar radiation. Eagle Eyes are available in driving as well as active styles, just in case you decide to get out of the car and go for a hike. And for those early autumn nights, try our full line of Night Driving glasses. With Eagle Eyes’ beautifully brilliant eyewear, you’ll never look at fall the same way.