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6 Must-See Bridges

On foot or via car, these attractions provide free and dramatic thrills

by: Bill Newcott, from: AARP The Magazine, March 28, 2012

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PERRINE BRIDGE

Twin Falls, Idaho
Arcing like a steel rainbow 486 feet above the Snake River since 1976, the Perrine is the only bridge in the United States where you can walk halfway across and jump off — legally. That’s because BASE jumping (parachuting from fixed objects) is allowed all year without a permit. One mile to the east, you can still see the dirt ramp Evel Knievel used in his ill-fated 1974 attempt to jump the Snake River canyon (free). — Photo by Newscom

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En español | Leaping across rivers, canyons and seemingly endless seas, bridges can provide cheap — and dramatic — thrills. But a quick drive over a scenic bridge can be frustrating; you want to stop the car, lean over the railing and soak in the scenery. Happily, there are lots of must-see bridges that are as welcoming to pedestrians as they are to vehicles. What’s more, with few exceptions even toll bridges don’t generally charge for folks on foot. Here are six camera-ready crossings.