Americans are looking closer to home to satisfy their travel bug these days. So how about the ultimate road trek along the most scenic drives in the U.S.?

The best of the one-day journeys have been suggested by Sheila Resari of www.GORP.com. In this column and the next, we'll highlight her picks for drives on the Mainland, from west to east.

Seward Highway, Alaska: Driving south from Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, to the fishing community of Seward, it's hard not to slow down traffic. Down the cliffs to your right, the chilly waters of Turnagain Arm stretch out before you, harboring white beluga whales and hardy board sailors. The Chugach Mountains rise up from the road on your left, dotted with trickling waterfalls, clusters of Dall sheep, and enterprising rock climbers. After curving back and forth between this rock and a hard place, the road cuts through the heart of Chugach National Forest until it reaches Seward and Resurrection Bay.

Length: 127 miles (half a day). Season: June to mid-September.

Activities: Birding at Potter Marsh, picnicking at McHugh Creek, riding the ski tram up Mount Alyeska, sightseeing at Portage Glacier, hiking and camping in Chugach National Forest, and silver-salmon fishing in Seward.

California Highway 1, California: Begin in Monterey, the capital of Alta California under Spanish and Mexican rule, and the home of some of the oldest buildings in the state. Drive south on Highway 1 toward Morro Bay through the California wilds, flanked by parks, reserves and a sea otter refuge that extends from Carmel to Cambria. Pass through pricey Carmel-by-the-Sea and watch for gray whales migrating past Point Lobos State Reserve (December through April). One of the most exciting stretches of Highway 1 is the two-lane, cliffside drive through Big Sur country, where jagged mountains plunge down into pounding surf. Bixby Creek Bridge is a remarkable engineering feat that spans a huge gorge with a single concrete arch. Or tour Hearst Castle, the lavish 115-room mansion of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst.

Length: 123 miles (six hours). Season: All year. Activities: Historical sightseeing in Monterey, beachcombing at Carmel River State Beach, wildlife viewing and birding in Point Lobos State Reserve, and hiking in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming: From the old mining town of Red Lodge in southern Montana, the Beartooth Highway quickly enters hill country. Millions of years ago, great masses of metamorphic rock were thrust up and became the vast plateaus above the road; canyons were carved out by the flow of glacial ice. Vista Point offers a 9,200-foot view across Rock Creek Canyon to the Beartooth Plateau.

In Wyoming along the edge of the canyon, overlooking glacial lakes and wildflower-laden meadows, you'll reach the western summit of Beartooth Pass, at 10,947 feet. On the way down, look first for Bear-tooth Falls, then for another thunderous waterfall near Lake Creek. Near Yellowstone, climb the old fire tower, Clay Butte Lookout, for a sweeping view.

Length: 68 miles (three hours). Season: Late spring to fall. Activities: Camping, hiking the Beartooth Loop, and picnicking and fishing at Beartooth Lake