Help me plan my itinerary from Chicago to LA!

[Ellen Forradalom]

It's happening! Looks like I'm getting a formal offer next week for a gig. Assuming that comes through, I need to make plans to drive across the country. Where should I stop, what should I see, where should I eat, who can I crash with?

[Maddy McCall]

1. Los Angeles or Louisiana.

I only ask because I can advise you on Louisiana, but I can't advise you on LA.

[radwriter0555]

5. VIVA LAS VEGAS baby!

Just make sure your car's air conditioner is tops.

And the fuel pump.

And the water pump.

And the belt.

And brakes. You'll need brakes.

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. Ventura County, CA

to be exact.

[Capn Sunshine]

3. If you have lots of time, take the old Route 66

If not, use Mapquest. The old 66 is a southerly route and would avoid much of the late- Feb snow. You will see things like Gallup, NM ( Roswell a nice side trip; so is Carlsbad caverns) Santa Fe and Albuquerque and The Grand Canyon. The California Desesrt. Ghost towns , all kinds of historical curios.

couple of Route 66 links:
http://www.historic66.com/
www.tauzero.com/Route66/Route66.html


Oh, and if you drive, if you aren't already a member , join the So Cal AAA :

http://ww2.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/ZipCode.woa/wa/route?area=join&gcid=s15141x015&keyword=aaa

Just enter the Ventura Co. zip.

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. Kick

Because I'm looking for advice!

:kick:

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Let me talk to my brother and get back with you...He made the trip

from Chicago to LA to live about 10 years ago and had the time of his life! :hi:

[trof]

7. It winds from Chicago to LA,

More than two thousand miles all the way.
Get your kicks on Route 66.

Oh, yeah.
Do it!

[skygazer]

8. How much time do you have?

I've travelled several routes across - 94 across North Dakota and Montana is beautiful but I don't know how the weather may be in those areas - snow might be an issue. You can take 80 to 76 to 70 to 15 which brings you right in to LA - that goes through Denver and Las Vegas and some nice territory. Or you can take 80 right into SF and visit all us folks in the Bay Area before you head south - you'll miss Las Vegas but hit Tahoe which is prettier anyway.

I love a good road trip! Lucky you! :woohoo:

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. I'll give myself a week

80 into the Bay Area sounds intriguing. I could also take the southerly route--55 to eventually join 40 across Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona--to minimize getting snowed on.

[skygazer]

14. 80's nice

And unless it's actively snowing in the Sierras, it's generally a pretty easy crossing. I did it in December in an old beat up VW when I first moved out here - just travelling blind essentially.

There are a lot of us in the area! Come see us! :hi:

[Benfea]

9. I'm confused. Why would you ever want to leave Chicago?

They don't have proper Italian beef sandwiches in California, don't go!

[Ellen Forradalom]

10. Job

I know what you mean, though. Try to explain the peculiar charms of Chicago to an outsider and they just don't get it.

[Benfea]

12. I will eat spanakopita and paczkis in your honor.

I once read an article in a pizza magazine about a Chicagoan who moved to southern California. Every time he ate at a pizza restaurant in California, he would put his placemat on the floor, then use it Muslim-style to pray in the direction of Chicago and beg forgiveness for eating "heathen pizza."

PS — Bobak's has an online store, so you can still enjoy Maxwell Street style sausages even in California.

[Ellen Forradalom]

13. Hahaha!

I might do the same. No matter how strangely they stare at me!

There is NOTHING like Pizzeria Due pizza. NOTHING.

[Benfea]

15. I'm kind of partial to Gino's East, but....

…the graffiti might be swaying my opinion. ;)

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. This is the only peculiar charm of Chicago I need to know

Will you be staying with us awhile or is your gig temporary? :hi:

Are you aware Republicans in Ventura County outnumber Democrats 41 percent to 38? :grr:

[huskerlaw]

17. OMG! CONGRATS!!!

Another LA DUer is always a good thing.

Congratulations!!!! :bounce:

As for an itinerary...I drove out here from Nebraska in October. There's not really all that much to see. The mountains outside of Salt Lake City are really pretty. :shrug:

[Ellen Forradalom]

19. I'm wondering if I should take 80 at this time of year

or swing further south, say 70 or 40.

[huskerlaw]

25. Good point.

It would probably be wisest to swing south. There's too many tall mountain ranges that are prone to blizzards on 80.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. If you take 70 through KC

PM me and you can meet some KC DUers for a drink or something.

[GOPisEvil]

18. Get your kicks on Route 66!

Route 66 ran from Chicago (right by the Art Institute) to the Santa Monica pier.

[KitchenWitch]

22. GMTA

You beat me!

[prolesunited]

20. You HAVE to start

with a going-away party thrown by the Chicago crew. :hi:

[Ellen Forradalom]

23. Well start planning

because I'm gonna have to hit the road in a week or two!

PS How does Pizzeria Due sound? Man I'm gonna miss that Spinoccoli pizza.

[KitchenWitch]

21. Get your kicks, on Route 66

Just teasing, best of luck to you!

[begin_within]

24. Route 66, baby! You'll never forget it. Go to:

http://www.historic66.com/