Hit the road to fitness: choose a scenic drive through Maine or Virginia and burn calories by the mile

Shape, July, 2004 by Carole Jacobs

Round up some friends and hit the open road for a summer adventure! The seaports of Maine and the highlands of Virginia offer a variety of ways to rev up your fitness, blasting calories (see our running tally) while you road trip your way along scenic highways and byways.

*Calorie burn is an estimate based on a 145-pound woman and on length and difficulty of trail and/or activity. Trail mileage is round-trip. Hotel rates are double occupancy.

road trip 1 Up the Downeast Coast of Maine

View from the rearview mirror This scenic drive winds past quiet coves, untouched beaches, a picturesque 18th-century hamlet and vast blueberry fields.

Closest major airport Bangor International Airport, Maine (about 50 miles northwest of West Gouldsboro on U.S. 1)

Mileage 298 miles (round-trip), two overnight stops

Map check From West Gouldsboro, go north on U.S. 1 to State Route 186, then south to Schoodic Point. Back on U.S. 1, go north to State Route 187, south to Jonesport, north to U.S. 1 and south on Route 191 to Cutler. Back on U.S. 1, go north to State Route 189 and Lubec.

DAY 1 Mile 0: West Gouldsboro Head south on Route 186 to Schoodic Point, a 2,000-acre section of Acadia National Park. Take a hike: The park's 7.2-mile one-way shore drive winds past quiet beaches and thundering surf. Park and speed walk for an hour. * Calorie burn (CB): 415 Cooler filler-upper: Pick up the fixings for a picnic lunch at Darthia Farm's store, open from June through September (207-963-2770, darthiafarm.com).

Mile 38: Jonesport Take U.S. Route 1/1A north to Route 187 and Jonesport and enjoy a half-hour stroll around this hilly seaside town of weather-beaten clapboard houses. * CB: 99

Mile 43: Great Wass Island Preserve Take the bridge to Beals Island, then continue on the Great Wass causeway, which leads to the preserve. Fitness op/lunch break: Park and hike the two-mile trail to Little Cape Point, which winds through Maine's largest stand of Jack pines to spectacular beaches, ocean vistas and sea birds including blue herons, bald eagles and osprey. * CB: 164

Follow signs back to U.S. 1 and go north to Mile 71.5: East Machias. Snooze control: Stay at the Riverside Inn & Restaurant, a Cape-style captain's house built in the early 1800s overlooking the East Machias River and featuring a Victorian dining room, vegetable and flower gardens, a pond and a waterfall (from $95, including a full breakfast; 207-255-4134, riversideinn-maine.com). The inn's dining room serves pasta, steaks, salads and fresh seafood ($14-$22). Night moves: Count falling stars on an (unguided) hour-long stroll around the inn's parklike grounds. * CB: 197

* Fitness bonus burn for the day: 875 calories

DAY 2 Best breakfast in town: Fuel up on the inn's bountiful breakfast before a morning of kayaking.

Mile 76: Machiasport From the inn, drive east about half a mile. Cross the bridge over the East Machias River, then turn right on Route 191 South. About four miles down the road, on the right side, you'll see the sign for Machias Bay Boat Tours and Sea Kayaking. Gottado guided tour: Paddle past seals, rugged cliffs and petroglyphs ($48 for a three-to-four-hour kayaking tour; 207-259-3338, machiasbay.com). * CB: 592

Cooler filler-upper: Pick up picnic goodies at Coastal General Store (207-255-0505). From Machiasport, backtrack up Route 191 to U.S. 1 in East Machias. Turn left to cross the bridge over the East Machias River. Continue four miles and cross the Machias River Bridge.

Mile 90: Roque Bluffs State Park ($2 per car; 207-941-4014) Turn left on Roque Bluffs Road. Continue for six miles to the end of the peninsula and find pristine beaches where you can park and roam for a half-hour and wade in the 60-acre freshwater pond. * CB: 99

Mile 100: East Machias Head back to the inn: Take Roque Bluffs Road up to U.S. 1. Turn right and follow U.S. 1 to about three blocks north of the inn, where you'll hop on Route 191 South for Maine's most stunning coastal views. Wind south past fishing shanties, wooded hillsides and historic towns to the quaint fishing village of Cutler. Take a hike: About 11 miles south you'll see Western Head Trail. This easy two-mile loop emerges from dense woods to a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, highlighting rocky ledges pummeled by the crashing surf. * CB: 164 Brake for fuel: Find a pretty spot to enjoy the foodstuff you picked up earlier.

Mile 113: Cutler Gotta-do guided tour: See the largest puffin colony on the coast of Maine as well as seal and whale species on a scenic sail to Machias Seal Island (Bold Coast Charter Co., five-hour tours, $60; 207-259-4484, boldcoast.com).

Mile 131: Cobscook Bay State Park ($3 per adult; 207-941-4104) Take a hike: From Cutler, take State Route 191 north to West Lubec; go west on State Route 189 to Route 1, then north about three miles to reach the 888-acre park. An easy two-mile nature trail leads to dramatic views of Whiting Bay's 24-foot tides. Then, take the pleasant half-mile Shore Trail past secluded coves. * CB: 170