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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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WHEELING SUSPENSION BRIDGE

West Virginia
Resembling a mini Brooklyn Bridge, this 1,010-foot-long span was the world’s longest when it opened in 1849, 34 years before the New York icon. You get a vague sense of vertigo strolling along the undulating walkway, and there’s a kind of romance in watching barges pass below on the Ohio River, bound for the Gulf of Mexico. In summer, Wheeling sponsors movies and concerts on the waterfront with the bridge as a scenic backdrop (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.