Route 1 through the North Shore

While traveling north out of Boston on Route 1 is an eclectic experience to say the least. The road is narrow and rough. To each side lies thirty years of sprawl. A giant neon cactus stands tall in the distance. Parking lots melt into one another. Eroding signs loom over empty lots. Seedy motels sit adjacent to newly opened big box stores. Absurdly themed restaurants stick out, making the brightly colored fast food chains look dull. The entire stretch seems to be unable to decide what year it is and whether business is booming or dead.