HIT THE ROAD

[h2co-pilot]

NEW YORK: The Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway is a 90-mile loop around the longest of New York's Finger Lakes. The route includes 19 wineries and 215-foot-tall Taughannock Falls. Routes 5 and 20 take you across the northern part of the loop, Route 89 runs on the western side and Route 90 is on the eastern side. North of the loop you'll find the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, and south of the loop you'll find Ithaca, home to Cornell University.

VIRGINIA/NORTH CAROLINA/TENNESSEE:Virginia was named one of five "up-and-coming wine regions" in the world in the July issue of Travel + Leisure magazine, which mentioned Barboursville Vineyards, Breaux Vineyards, and Linden Vineyards among the places worth visiting. The Monticello Wine Trail (http://www.monticellowinetrail.org/), located in the Charlottesville area near Thomas Jefferson's historic home (about 120 miles from Washington D.C.), showcases 21 wineries. October is also "Virginia Wine Month," with festivals, special events and package deals; details at http://www.virginia.org/wine.

Elsewhere in Virginia, just 75 miles from Washington, D.C. in the town of Front Royal, you'll find the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. The drive runs 105 miles to Rockfish Gap, where it meets the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can drive Skyline in a day with stops along the way at scenic overlooks and loop trails through the woods. The 1.3-mile Limberlost Trail (at milepost 43) is a magical walk through a dense forest of towering trees, perfect for a family outing.

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles from Virginia through the Blue Ridge Mountains to North Carolina, ending at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Take a week to explore the entire parkway, or pick a section for a day trip or an overnight. Highlights include Mount Mitchell State Park, home to the highest peak in the East; scenic Linville Gorge; Roan Mountain; Mount Pisgah; Shining Rock Wilderness Area, and the town of Cherokee, where you'll find the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and Oconaluftee Village.

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (http://www.blueridgeheritage.com) in North Carolina is offering a new multi-attraction pass this season called The Go Blue Ridge Card, which provides discounts and special offers at 35 merchants, attractions and restaurants from the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville to Chimney Rock Park, Rockhouse Vineyards and the Swinging Bridge on Grandfather Mountain. The online card price for adults is $79 for two days.