Five Coastal Drives for Summer Winter and spring were tumultuous, weather-wise. Across much of the country, many have been battling blizzards, twisters, hurricanes and the occasional flash flood. Thankfully, for many states, threatening skies have been replaced by a front of quintessential summer weather - 80 degrees and sunny - which means it's time to pack an overnight bag and head for the open road. But there are so many beautiful drives to choose from, it can be difficult to pick one. Here are a few suggestions for summer road cruises with ocean views and relatively mild temperatures: Bailey Island, Maine Just east of Brunswick, Me., about 25 miles north of Portland, Route 24 splits from Route 1 and unwinds into a breathtaking 16-mile journey to Bailey Island in Casco Bay. In addition to dazzling views of Maine's jagged coastline, the route is dotted with quaint summer cottages. Only about 400 people live on the island. At journey's end, many visitors typically head to Morse's Cribstone Grill for its lobster B.L.T. sandwich and basket of fried clams. Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts With 40 miles of uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts runs through several New England fishing towns, including Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham and Provincetown. For those looking to take in a little ecological tourism, the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail is an ideal stop. The 1.25-mile walking trail takes visitors on a looping elevated boardwalk that cuts through a forested swamp. The swamp is one of many in the area fed by "freshwater kettles" - ponds formed by blocks of ice left by receding glaciers during the ice age. Big Island Belt Road, Hawaii The best way to take in the splendors of Hawaii's Big Island is to drive around it on the Hawaii Belt. Attractions include a vast lava dessert, active lava flows and a coffee plantation. Along the way, drivers typically plan pit stops at Punalu'u Bake Shop - a landmark known for slices of Portuguese sweet bread - and the Coffee Shack, which offers diners a simple but fresh menu of locally sourced dishes, including the much-beloved Papaya Special (fresh papaya, Lilikoi yogurt, coconut, with two scrambled eggs and a pastry). Seward Highway, Alaska Alaska's Seward Highway is the perfect getaway for drivers looking for a remote road adventure. Beginning in Anchorage, the highway cuts through 127 miles of pristine Alaskan shoreline, ending in the harbor town of Seward. The most striking scenery can be found at Resurrection Bay, near Seward, where fishing boats and kayaks mix with sea lions, otters, harbor seals and humpback whales. The Pacific Coast Highway It may seem an obvious route, but it's quite possible that no other American road offers such long stretches of coastal beauty. Running from Orange County to Mendocino in California, the P.C.H., as it's known, affords views of everything from the golden coastal mountains of Southern California to the famous serpentine along the Big Sur's many textured precipices. Traffic through the Los Angeles section can be brutal, but if you're going to be stuck in it, why not stop at one of Malibu's many beaches for a dip? Farther north, past San Francisco, enjoy the starkly beautiful scenery that served as a backdrop for Alfred Hitchcock's film, "The Birds." In between long expanses of natural beauty, motorists have chances to stop in California mission towns like San Luis Obispo and Carmel. None of these suggestions mean that you should avoid driving into the Lower 48"s interior or to Canada. These are merely starting points for what could turn out to be grand adventures.