Road trip! What should I see?

[alwynsw]

My wife and I will be leaving the Louisville, KY area in a week or two (date is flexible) for an extended road trip of indeterminite length. We figure to be on the road for 6-8 weeks, possibly longer. Here are our "have to" stops:

Cody, WY; Reno, NV; San Simeon, CA (Hearst Castle); San Jose, CA (Winchester Mansion); Fallbrook, CA; Las Vegas, NV, Laughlin, NV; Yuma, AZ (to pick up Missy at beevul's house. Some of you may remember the adoption thread.); Phoenix, AZ; and Mustang, OK.

What do you recommend that we see along the way? Time is not a problem because we're both retired - in our 40's NEENER NEENER NEENER. We don't care if it's right on the route or a couple of hundred miles out of the way - if it looks interesting enough. (I have been know to jump in the car at 2:00 PM to get to a restaurant in Chicago - about 300 miles - just in time for dinner at 8:00PM.)

[Bertha Venation]

1. One absolute can't miss:

The Oklahoma City Memorial. See it twice: once during the day, and once at night.

DO NOT miss it.

And one really-try-to-make-it:

The Painted Desert, Holbrook, AZ.

What a blast! Have fun and be safe.

[alwynsw]

4. We do the memorial and painted desert almost every trip to AZ

My sis-in-law lives in Yuma, AZ. My wife's aunt is in Mustang, OK. Her cousin worked in the Murrah Building.

Since I-40 is always the prime route for one direction or another, well, you understand.

Great tips!

[Bertha Venation]

6. I do understand; that's the route I took

when Mrs. V. came out to CA to get me. We drove back on I-40. It was one of the grandest times of our life.

(Mrs. V. knew two people who died in the Murrah Bldg. and a third who worked across the street who nearly bled to death -- she caught a plate-glass window. Her name is on the Survivor's Wall and she's a docent at the Memorial.)

[alwynsw]

8. See! I knew you'd understand 'cause I remember something for a change

Southern Cal to Maryland, the state of my birth. I figured I-40 had to be in there somewhere.

Luckily, my wife's cousin survived. She's as big a pain-in-the-ass as ever. We just don't pick on her about her job like we used to.

[Bertha Venation]

26. You're not gonna believe this:

Mrs. V. just told me she dreamed last night about the Painted Desert. !!!

[alwynsw]

29. Dat's pooky

Weally pooky.

[Bertha Venation]

40. she also dreamed

we bought a cat at BJ's, a blue-faced gray cat. THAT's pooky -- we already have six!

[alwynsw]

42. That's downright scary

I admit it. I tolerate my wife's cat, but I'm a dog guy. I DO NOT do litter boxes! I like outside farm cats that earn their keep. It's what I grew up with,

[Bertha Venation]

44. We gave two feral kittens we fostered to a friend for barn cats.

They're flourishing and her mice are not. ;)

[alwynsw]

46. Dat dere is whut kats is for IMO lol

[BOSSHOG]

2. Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Spend a night in the Crescent Hotel around Easter Time. You may never go home. Incredible geography and a very enlightened, friendly citizenry.

[alwynsw]

5. Haven't done that one yet.

Thanks for the info. We'll pencil it in!

[bratcatinok]

16. I vote for Eureka Springs too.

Don't stay at the Basin Park Hotel as they are pricey for what you get and the food is awful.

Beautiful scenery, hot springs and great margaritas at the Mexican food restaurant across the street from the Basin Park.

[Thtwudbeme]

3. The Last Waffle House before you go into California

Yuma, AZ

Stop and get a double scrambled with cheese, hash browns scattered covered and smothered, and raison toast.

[alwynsw]

7. That's a definite stop every time I'm in Yuma.

Try getting grits in California. Go ahead, try. I dare ya. I double dog dare ya! (And if you do find 'em, tell me where.)

[Thtwudbeme]

10. I moved home from Oregon

10 pounds under my best weight. There was simply no decent food to be found all the way up I-5.

WestCoasters, don't even bother flaming me for this one; Southern Cooking kicks "California Cuisine" (Cuisine: a term used to try and make people believe that three raw green beans beside 1 oz. of some kind of fish is actually dinner) every time.

[alwynsw]

12. AMEN!

Being a southern boy, I get hungry for biscuits and gravy for breakfast fairly often. we went to IHOP in temecula, CA during our last visit to Fallbrook (the kiddo is stationed at Pendleton). I ordered biscuits and gravy. I got 2 biscuits, sliced and TOASTED, stacked like toppled dominos, with about a tablespoon of gravy drizzled down the center of the pile. It took two trips back to the kitchen before my server had brought enough gravy for my biscuits.

When I went to pay the check, the manager, who was working the register, asked how my meal was. I politley told him that I was disappointed with my breakfast because of the gravy "incident". He ignored me completely, said. "Thanks and have a nice day. Come back to see us." He then shortchanged me, but that's another story.

[alwynsw]

45. Well, that or Cracker Barrel since they cleaned up their

homophobia act.

[fudge stripe cookays]

74. They did? Link please, I'm still boycotting....

[Kolesar]

9. Yellowstone NP--go to the Lamar Valley and watch wolves for me

Old Faithful and the Yellowstone Falls are must-see. The hike to Hart Lake is good.

New Mexico is sweet. It has a wonderful culture that predates the white people. I liked the Gila Cliff Dwellings NM north of Silver City. It is plenty remote. The hike down EE canyon is super.

[alwynsw]

11. Thanks for reminding me. I love Yellowstone!

Ah, for the good old days when I could hike! Sadly, a blown out knee keeps me off the better trails these days. (I'm gonna hide out to watch the ranger feed Old Faithful the Metamucil.) OK. That was a sick, but kinda humorous commercial.

I do enjoy New Mexico. Whoever decided it was the "Land of Enchantment" was on the money. We're taking the Trinity trip next year. It's a good reminder of what could happen. White sands and Carlsbad Caverns are great, as is Cloudcroft and the observatories. I also HAVE to go to roswell when I'm in southern NM. I never get tired of it. It's tin foil hat heaven.

A fond memory of NM: I was in the Air Force Band that played for the opening of the International Space Hall of Fame at Alamogordo in the late 70's. I forget the year.

[Flaxbee]

23. Hey, SpikeTrees... I was in the Lamar Valley about 10 years ago

and saw a black wolf leave its pack (where there were several other wolves and several pups), race down the hillside into a herd of elk, I believe it was, scatter the elk, isolate a pregnant female who just couldn't run fast enough, chase her all over the place and then as the valley dipped sorta below road-level, take her down. We didn't see the capture, it was almost as if the wolf wanted to preserve the privacy of the kill, but we saw the wolf emerge from the valley dip a little while later and presumably take some food back to the pups. It was truly amazing. My friend, who lives in Bozeman, and I were there watching the valley and looking for the wolves; it was about dusk when we saw the, then on the other side of the hill sloping into the valley we saw a grizzley coming down the valley; both carnivores were heading toward the elk herd. You could see the elk catch wind of the wolves (the grizzley was farther away) and then the lone hunter broke off from the pack and the chase was on.

Several other people who were driving by stopped when they saw us glued to our binoculars, and one of the main wolf biologists (forgot his name) was there, too. Everyone who saw it just was dumbfounded. It was beautiful, nature as it's meant to be. Brutal, but nature is "red in tooth and claw".

[alwynsw]

59. Didn't see Lamar valley

I think the wolves would be way cool

[cosmicdot]

13. have you tried a Date Shake?

the PHX-AZ-Yuma-CA route

I finally stopped and had one. Not bad.

[alwynsw]

14. Dateland!

I like their honey dipped dates too well. I'd just as well take the immodium first. The shake ain't too bad, either.

[blindpig]

15. southern AZ is tops for wildlife viewing

In a few short trips I've seen: black bear, coyote, grey fox, coati, ringtailed cat, cougar, hognosed & striped skunk, whitetail & mule deer, pronghorn, antelope & blacktail jackrabbits, at least 100 species of birds including 8 species of hummer & roadrunners. And of course sacks full of snakes, myriad lizards including gila monsters, frogs & toads more numerous than you would expect in the desert and spiders big as your hand crossing the road. (Sure hope you like animals!)
Chirichaua Nat Monument is a must for scenic. Bisbee is a very cool town to visit, historic & full of old hippies. Tombstone is a tourist trap but worth stopping in for a drink. Lots more.

[alwynsw]

17. Bisbee - Copper Queen Hotel, Lavender Pit. I love it.

Haven't been there in years. It on the list now! Thanks for reminding me. I can do Bisbee when I pop down to Wilcox and Elgin for the wineries.

I loved Bisbee in the 70's. It's similar to Jerome. Copper moved out, hippies moved in. Lots of cool art. I still drink coffee from a cup i bought in the mid 70's in Bisbee. It one of those one-of-a-kind things from an artist that made them before one-of-a-kind was run-of-the-mill.

I'm not a know it all about AZ, but I lived there for about 15 years.

[waterman]

18. Anything in west central or southwestern Colorado or southeast Utah.

There is a famous grand loop that lots of folks know about. Covers a huge area from the western Rockies, into the desert. I also recommend northern Idaho and western Montana. I once hiked across the country. Took two years and 4300 miles. I still have those places blazed into my memory. You almost can't go wrong once you get to the Rockies and beyond. Have fun. I'm envious.

[alwynsw]

30. I do love the Four Corners area

Hiked much of the Malpais in my younger days.

[TNDemo]

19. Have you been to San Francisco?

It's really different than anywhere else so if not try to tour it. Berkeley is interesting. Just sit on Telegraph Avenue and watch the folks go by and you will be endlessly entertained. We like to eat at The Stinking Rose restaurant. If you like garlic, then it's for you.

[alwynsw]

31. Haven't been to San Francisco since the early 80's

Used to love the place. Probably like it as well or better now. Used to love to stay at, heck, the name escapes me but it's on Union Square. I think it's the Drake. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Consider SF added.

[catmandu57]

20. A couple of canyons

The grand if you've never seen it will make you stop in your tracks. It's a touristy thing, but well worth seeing. Also, if you're going to be in Vegas drive up 15 to Zion Canyon, the road going to the north partr of the park switches back on itself as you climb an almost verticle wall, then through the tunnels with windows, it's a must see.
Sounds like a fun fun trip, I'm envious of you.

[alwynsw]

32. I love 'em both.

Also Canyon of Fire. Grand is out on this trip, did it again last time. May scoot to the north rim, tho. I do like Bright Angel.

[randr]

21. My wife and I take these trips every year or so

and we have found the road north of Santa Fe, NM to Pagosa Springs (best hot springs in the country!)our favorite. It is like a trip back in time. From there you are within a two day trip to so many beautiful places. We have lived in Western Colorado for many years and have not yet been able to see all the places within two days travel as yet.
Find the two laners, such as Highway 50, and take your time!

[alwynsw]

33. Agreed on the 2 lane roads.

I also like to drive Hwy 666 to piss off the fundies. It's been renumbered in AZ, but it's still 666 in NM.

[randr]

50. fundies changed it in colorado too

Not sure about the last little leg in Utah.

[alwynsw]

62. Ohhhhh Ahhhhh

Can't let that terrible Satanistic number live! Must change it!

Dammitall anyway. I like the symbolism.

[Dees]

22. Big Sur, CA....you won't forget it.

[alwynsw]

34. Haven't done that yet.

Will pencil it in.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. If you plan on being near Camp Pendleton, PM me

I am a stone's throw away. :hi:

[alwynsw]

28. Fallbrook, right outside the gate - almost

the kiddo is stationed there. Will PM.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

41. Great and please do!

I'd love to meet you :-)

[alwynsw]

43. Same here.

Matter of fact,I'd love to meet any DUers on the way. Lunch, dinner, breakfast, or coffee is on me! No Japanese food. Mrs, alwynsw hates Japanese food. I'm OK so long as flesh is involved in the meal, so I guess it's coffee or stronger libations for any veggie DUers we may meet.

I WILL see beevul in Yuma and possibly Columbia and slackmaster in CA. (We're all shooters. Not a real popular DU pastime, but we're weird or something.))

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

51. Slackmaster is my buddy and we get along fine

If you guys want to go for some Mexican in SanDiego let me know and I'll get a couple other Du'ers together as well.

[alwynsw]

67. Thats entirely possible

Slack and I have discussed meeting a couple of times whilst I've been planning this.

[zelda7743]

25. El Morro National Monument

In Northwest New Mexico....you can see signatures of conquistadors (if you're into that type of thing). :)

http://www.nps.gov/elmo/

[alwynsw]

35. Got it in my Nat'l Parks Passport.

I loved it and the history surrounding it.

[Astarho]

27. Oak Creek Canyon

always beautiful and I personally like meteor crater, although many think it's just a big hole in the ground, but if you're an astronmy buff or a fan of the movie Starman, you'll love it.

Sunset Crater is cool too.

[alwynsw]

36. OOH! Oak Creek - Slide Rock

Damn near killed myself there a couple of times. I love it.

Went to Oak Creek for the Harmonic Convergence (8-8-88). One of the best things I ever attended.

[Astarho]

54. All part of the fun

I made one wrong step and found myself up to my neck in the creek. Although if you want a spectacular view and a less crowded area along the creek, go to Red Rock Crossing.

[alwynsw]

37. Many thanks for the sugggestions

The Missus and I do get around a bit. We spend about half the years traveling both in and out of the country. Last few years, it's been mostly US - each showing the other things we might not have seen before.

I've added a few to my itenerary. May add more! Who knows? I don't have to be back until mid-May.

[pfitz59]

38. Grover Hot Springs

West of Reno. South of Tahoe. Just off US 395. Well worth the stop.

[alwynsw]

39. Thanks. Will check it out.

[5thGenDemocrat]

47. I'm sure you already know this, but...

You gotta check out the Hoover Dam.
Damn. It's a BIG damned dam.
John
Got married in Las Vegas (number two). Got divorced in Saginaw 22 months later.

[alwynsw]

48. I always wanted to ski down the face of Hoover Damn

It just looks soooooo cool! I can't imagine being one of the High Scalers that worked on it. An amazing engineering feat!

Got married in an Indiana casino (#3) and it took! We're danged near blissful.

[Columbia]

49. You should check out

Death Valley, CA

It's hot as hell and there's absolutely nothing there.

[alwynsw]

52. Except for dried up skydivers, that is, huh?

Columbia is a poopie head - to infinity plus one.

[Columbia]

55. Nah

The vultures get to the skydivers pretty quick.

[alwynsw]

56. So that's what happened!

All this time I thought you'd just "kissed" a joshua tree on the way down.

Are we ever gonna have fun in the Gungeon again?

[alwynsw]

53. Kick for the evening crew suggestions

[catmandu57]

57. I don't know where else to suggest

It sounds like you've been there done that, that in itself is pretty cool. So, why don't you do a DU tour, visit as many DU'ers evil or otherwise as you can.

[alwynsw]

58. Cool idea!

I have traveled fairly extensively in the US, but there are always those special out of the way spots. That's what I'm hoping to find.

So far, I've got at least 4 DUers on my list. Who's next?

[Wickerman]

60. Somewhere without any Gun shops!

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[alwynsw]

64. Go back to your room!

I got a day pass. Who let you out of the Gungeon?

ESCAPE! ESCAPE! Gungeon mod gone wild in the lounge!

[gator_in_Ontario]

61. Vegas! n/t

[Goldberg]

63. Go to the Black Hills and the Badlands.

Great sites with excellent views. :thumbsup:

Also go see Canyonlands National Park.

Why not wait until the summer when it is nice and warm?

[alwynsw]

66. Cool beans!

I've never taken the time for them. darned near forgot 'em. Thanks for the tip!

[Wickerman]

70. And listen to lots of Springsteen while you are there

[opiate69]

65. Crater Lake, Oregon..

And Mt. St. Helens...

http://www.crater.lake.national-park.com/

http://www.mountsthelens.com/

[alwynsw]

68. I gotta do those!

I've only flown over both in commercial planes - and once in a helicopter for St. Helens. The helicopter was for business so I didn't get to sight see out the window much. I was stuck with some foreign businessmen and we were alll paying far more attention to the translator.

[opiate69]

69. Yeah..

I haven't made it down to Crater Lake yet, but I have gone to St. Helens... absolutely stunning drive to the Johnston Ridge observatory.

[ironflange]

71. I've been to St Helens twice

About 10 years apart. It was interesting to note the changes. Also saw Crater Lake last summer. Despite the smoke (bad fire season), it was absolutely overwhelming.

I highly recommend both (for whatever that's worth), though I'm not sure they're "open" in the winter.

The Oregon Coast is mighty nice, too.

[alwynsw]

72. They're on the list

If, for some reason, I don't make it this trip, they're definitely on for either late this summer or next summer. We're gonna take the Harley (with sidecar) up the Alcan Highway on that trip. Oughta be interesting. Last time I drove the Alcan it was in a BRAND NEW Dodge Power Wagon. A 1978 Power Wagon.

[ironflange]

73. Alaska Highway = fun trip

I've only been up as far as Watson Lake; we'll be heading to Dawson in the next few years. An alternate return trip is the Cassiar Highway through west-central BC. Came home that way, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, bumpy but much more scenic than the Alaska.