While many of the 184 designated national scenic byways and All-American Roads are touted for their natural beauty and spectacular scenery, other byways have earned recognition for distinctive qualities beyond aesthetics. Here’s a list of quirky and surprising scenic byways that make memorable destinations for road trip adventures. Boom or Bust Byway (Louisiana)In addition to…

We often hear of extinction in the context of animals, but plants can—and have—become extinct, too. In fact, a 2020 paper cited 65 plant species that have recently become extinct in the continental U.S. and Canada. Recently extinct tree species include the Valley Head hawthorn, the Fecund hawthorn, and the Lateleaf oak. Threats to trees…

If you’ve sat in traffic during your morning commute and wished for something better, you’ve felt the effects of urban sprawl first-hand. Here’s how urban sprawl is defined and what it’s doing to our local environments and communities. Urban Sprawl Definition So, what is urban sprawl? Urban sprawl is defined as “the rapid expansion of…

Scenic Tennessee President Brings Prose and Passion to Her Roles as a Writer, Advocate, and Conservation Leader An accomplished conservation writer, nonprofit leader, and environmental advocate, Scenic Tennessee President and Scenic America Board Member Marge Davis is a driving force in scenic conservation in the Volunteer State and nationwide. In recent years, she has guided…

Former Mission Town is a Hub for Technology, History & Scenic Beauty The town of Socorro, New Mexico, takes its name from the Spanish word for “help” or “aid”—a moniker that reflects its history as well as its evolution into a contemporary community with character. Juan de Oñate and his team of Spanish explorers arrived…

With recreational marijuana now legal in 19 states and the District of Columbia, dispensaries are looking for ways to reach new customers—and many of them are turning to outdoor advertising. In an article that first appeared earlier this month in the Lansing State Journal, reporter Mike Ellis called out the boom in billboards promoting cannabis…

Scenic America needs your help finding the landscapes, streets, and highways in your community that suffer the most from scenic blight. Illustrating these not-so-scenic places helps us illustrate the importance of preserving and enhancing the beauty of our communities. Take a picture and share it through this easy portal. We’ll feature your photos on our…

Funding, Equity, Safety, Environmental Impact, and Effectiveness Are All in Question for Street Furniture Program Currently Being Rushed through City Council On Tuesday, September 20, the Los Angeles City Council will review a contract for the Street Transit Amenities Program (STAP) with Tranzito/Vector. Although Scenic Los Angeles recognizes the critical importance of bringing shade and…

In a joint committee meeting of the Los Angeles City Council’s Public Works and Budget and Finance committees Wednesday, August 24, the City’s new proposed street furniture program dubbed “STAP” was the sole item being considered. STAP has been designed to change the City’s approach as to its street furniture program.  Instead of awarding a contract…

You can write or paste a message** into the Council File comment box found here to oppose STAP contract approval and the new proposed LAMC language and the exemption of “certain approved structures from the prohibition of outdoor advertising structures in the public right-of-way.”  (Council File 20-1536)   Click here to oppose the adoption of the…