Audubon Shares Seven Scenic Nature Destinations For Last-minute Summer And Fall Travel

Explore Wildlife, Natural Habitats, Hiking Trails and Conservation Efforts

NEW YORK--Aug. 14, 2012: As travelers contemplate last-minute summer trips and Labor Day plans, Audubon invites Americans to exit the highway and discover beautiful nature destinations with its list of seven scenic stops. Spanning cities across the country, the travel ideas feature a lush array of bird, animal and plant life plus a diverse look at some of the nation's natural habitats. The "Exit the Highway" initiative is part of a $20 million TogetherGreen project with Toyota to fund conservation and spur interest in taking care of the environment.

"It's not too late to fit in a summer trip that is scenic and educational at the same time," said Luisa Arnedo, TogetherGreen program manager at Audubon. "We hope our suggestions inspire people to consider nature as a vacation destination. So often, outdoor parks and recreation areas are right around the corner and we forget that they are filled with miles of opportunities to hike, bike, picnic or just relax."

To trade highways and byways for the scenic route, try these road trip ideas:

Audubon Center at Debs Park -- Los Angeles, California -- Bring the binoculars to this nature escape, which features more than 140 types of birds nestled in walnut-oak woodland, grasslands and coastal sage scrub. Also, check out Audubon Film Fridays for a free nature-themed movie appropriate for all ages (shown in English and Spanish).
Bartel Grassland -- Matteson, Illinois/Greater Chicago Area -- Embark on your own butterfly walk or bird sighting adventure on this 585-acre prairie restoration project. Bring a sketchpad to capture the rich plant life or listen to the sounds of rare birds like Grasshopper Sparrows who return here to nest.
Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center -- Scarborough, Maine -- Located on Maine's largest salt marsh and an important bird area, visitors can rent a canoe, go birding, take a walk on the trails and explore the marsh, either with guide or on their own.
Pickering Creek Audubon Center -- Easton, Maryland -- Explore the Chesapeake Bay through educational programs, strolls through the woods and rare wildlife sightings, including the Bald Eagle and the endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel.
Swindler Cove at Sherman Creek Park -- New York, New York -- Connect with family and nature at one of the many city parks and gardens that make up Bette Midler's city-wide restoration project. Families can explore an urban forest, one of the only saltwater marshes on Manhattan's shoreline and the magnificent Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse.
Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm -- Dayton, Ohio -- Enjoy six miles of trails that wind throughout this 200-acre sanctuary, including a working farm, farm animals, wildlife and engaging educational displays.
Trinity River Audubon Center -- Dallas, Texas -- Explore trails through wetland, forest and prairie habitats at this 6,000-acre forest. Scenic overlooks abound making this a fun place to enjoy nature photography and outdoor activities. Outdoor enthusiasts may even want to join their "citizen scientist" program, which has volunteers help scientists track wildlife.

These Audubon sites represent seven of the nearly 100 nature destinations in more than 60 cities featured at ExitTheHighway.com. This summer, Toyota and Audubon are challenging people to take a pledge to spend time in nature at ExitTheHighway.com. For every pledge and every photo shared from nature trips, participants are entered to win a Toyota Prius v, a new evolution in hybrid vehicles with more cargo space and Prius' heritage of environmental performance and fuel economy.

For more information, directions and sweepstakes rules, visit ExitTheHighway , Toyota Causes or on Facebook at togethergreen.