Experiencing America > 2025 > A Drive Through The Mountains > Day 1
Day ONE...
Friday, April 11th, 2025
This years first multi-day trip took us to the east coast with a good amount of time in Pennsylvania. The first day was Chicago to Pittsburgh. This journey started at 4 a.m. to allow time to get through Northwest Indiana and avoid traffic, and reach new photo areas at the start of day light.
Now to State #2...Indiana!!
WB I-80/94; U.S. 6 at the Indiana/Illinois State Line.
Other than a stop at a Hardee's for breakfast in Elkhart; it was a quick journey across the state.
Northern Indiana as the Indiana Toll Road streches across it.
Now to State #3...Ohio!!
The Ohio welcome sign on EB I-80/90/Ohio Turnpike.
Moving across Northwest Ohio the first area that we needed to canvas for the fellow websites was the Greater Toledo area. This had us in areas of Southeast Michigan.
Now to State #4...Michigan!!
The Michigan welcome sign on NB U.S. Rt. 23/223.
Once in Michigan it was a drive around parts of Monroe County in Southeastern Michigan. The only notable sights was a giant Uncle Sam, and a lighthouse along Lake Erie.
An Uncle Sam along U.S. 23/223.
Looking out over Lake Erie at Luna Pier, MI.
The lighthouse at Luna Pier, MI.
Back to State #3...Ohio!!
SB I-75 at the Ohio welcome sign.
The first place back into Ohio was to head to a small part of the State of Michigan that can only be accessed by coming from Ohio.
Back to State #4...Michigan!!
The trip into the Lost Peninsual was brief. It is mostly a marina, and a marker for the state line.
Looking east at the boundary marker.
Looking at the Ohio side of the marker.
The Michigan side of the marker.
Looking north into Michigan.
Back to State #3...Ohio!!
After the Lost Peninsula and back to Toledo it was to see the park of the man that made Toledo famous, Jamie Farr. Farr is best known for playing Max Kinger on the classic TV show M*A*S*H.
A sign for Jamie Farr Park.
A plaque in Jamie Farr Park.
After going to Jamie Farr Park it was time to leave Toledo and head east. To go east we headed along the Lake Erie shore towards Sandusky.
Looking north out over Lake Erie at Port Clinton.
A mural in Port Clinton.
The Port Clinton Lighthouse.
Now it was time to make up some ground. We headed across the Ohio Turnpike, but did make a side trip down through Akron. All we found was traffic. I am sure Akron is a nice place, but we couldn't see it through all of the traffic. Sooo it was back to the Ohio Turnpike and to the next state...
Now to State #5...Pennsylvania!!
The Pennsylvaia Welcome Sign on EB I-76 at the Pennsylvania/Ohio State Line.
Shortly into Pennsylvania we headed south through the Beaver River Valley. This took us down past Geneva College, through New Brighton, and to the Ohio River. Along the way we saw some old and new sights from these old river and steel towns.
A sign for the newspaper in Beaver Falls.
Once to the Ohio River, we headed west along the northern banks and back to the Buckeye State. At the state line was a small set-up for where the nations westward land survey began. This was where Pennsylvania/Ohio and formerly Virginia all met.
A marker for the land survey.
A marker for the land survey.
A marker for the land survey.
Back to State #3...Ohio!!
WB OH 39 at the Ohio Welcome Sign.
We were briefly into Ohio before we left again. Right across the Ohio River is the northern tip of the State of West Virginia. For our other sights there were some content that needed to be gathered, and with Ohio River crossings at a premium we headed right into West Virginia.
Now to State #6...West Virginia!!
WB U.S. 30 at the West Virginia Welcome Sign.
After touring Chester, West Virginia and covering the entire length of U.S. 30 and the Lincoln Highway in West Virginia it was time to cross the Ohio again to Ohio...
Back to State #3...Ohio!!
WB U.S. 30/OH 39; NB OH 11 at the Ohio Welcome Sign.
This took us into the Ohio River town of East Liverpool. Here we found an arts district and that is about it.
A mural in Downtown East Liverpool.
So we headed down the Ohio River along the Ohio side and eventually arrived in Steubenville. Scenic Steubenville...along the Ohio River...that is about all I can say for Steubenville. We did find out that this was the birth place of Dean Martin. When we Google Dean Martin and Steubenville, it gave us the address to his home. Which was an empty grass lot. Other than a few road signs there wasn't much more we could find on Dean Martin in Steubenville.
A street sign in Steubenville.
Back to State #6...West Virginia!!
EB U.S. 22 at the West Virginia Welcome Sign.
Exploring more of the tip of West Virginia we came across an interesting object in a park near a steel mill in Wierton. So far we do not know what it is. Is it for military defence? Is it for steel production? This we do not know.
The object in Wierton.
As night set in it was time to high tail it to our stopping point for the evening; Pittsburgh. Leaving West Virginia, it was time for night driving in the mountains on unfamiliar roads.
Back to State #5...Pennsylvania!!
EB PA 844 at the Pennsylvania/West Virginia State Line.
Now onward to Pittsburgh, and prep for Day 2!
Day TWO