"This 25-mile gravel backcountry loop delivers solitude and close-up swamp scenery—eerie flooded woods with trees festooned by air plants and the occasional ghost orchid, dark pools where alligator eyes break the surface, and long stretches driven 'without seeing another soul.' The route is lined with cypress forests and offers sightings of egrets, barred owls and other water-woodland species, providing an unhurried, immersive scenic drive." - Stanley Stewart Stanley Stewart Stanley Stewart is a multi-award-winning travel writer and author of three acclaimed books. He is a regular contributor to The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. His work has taken him to more than 50 countries. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines