| Gaming and Entertainment View the Forum Registry XML Get RSS Feed for this thread | Self-edit this thread |
|
| 0 |
Subject: Driving Across the US Posted by: Senator Urine - [141130310] Wed, May 16, 2007, 16:57 Does anyone have any suggestions on places to stop or things to do along the way? In a few weeks it looks like I'm going to be driving from PA to Seattle for a temporary work relocation, and I'll have eight days to get there. I'm not sure which route I'm going to take yet, the Northern route is definitely the fastest but I've never been to Vegas before...might be worth the extra 800 miles or so. Are there any national or state parks that anybody would really recommend (also, are there any one day passes for these? I notice the websites list 25 dollars for seven days, but I'm only going to have one day at each location). Also any good places to go tubing down rivers (or rafting, though I've never done it before)? Any really good can't-miss water parks? I'm going to try to treat it like a job, wake up as early as possible, drive 6 to 8 hours and then spend the rest of the day doing whatever I can. I don't know how many chances in life I'm going to get to drive across the country. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm looking forward to this. | |||||||
| 1 | Electroman ID: 73332719 Wed, May 16, 2007, 17:46 | When I was a teenager, I drove across to western Canada a few times. We would drive through the northern part of the US. One place I would recommend is Mt. Rushmore. Quite impressive to see in person. | ||||||
| 2 | Perm Dude ID: 48432167 Wed, May 16, 2007, 17:51 | Where in PA are you starting from? | ||||||
| 3 | Tosh Leader ID: 057721710 Wed, May 16, 2007, 17:59 |
Re: National Parks: You can a get a "National Parks Pass". The National Parks Pass is an annual pass that provides admission to any national park charging an entrance fee. The pass costs $50 and is valid for one full year from first use in a park. More than 80% of the proceeds from the sales of National Parks Passes go directly into supporting priority projects in national parks. The National Parks Pass admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle* if a park has a per vehicle entrance fee. Where a per person entrance fee is charged, the National Parks Pass admits the pass owner, spouse, children and parents. The National Parks Pass is nontransferable and does NOT cover or reduce use fees such as charges for camping, parking, tours, and concessions. | ||||||
| 4 | biliruben ID: 52014814 Wed, May 16, 2007, 18:08 |
I did the northern route from Illinois to Seattle, but mainly stuck to route 2, not 90/94. I came in August, and was driving a very old pick-up with no AC, so the southern or even middle route was out of the question. Badlands was worth an hour. Glacier was worth 5 days, but I gave it an afternoon. I would have loved to have had time for Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Northern and central Idaho is full of the wildest country that remains in the lower 48, if you are into that. | ||||||
| 5 | Tosh Leader ID: 057721710 Wed, May 16, 2007, 18:09 |
Now that I look closer ... it appears that the passes come from a different agency beginning in 2007. AND they cost $80. Sorry for the earlier mis-info. Interagency Pass | ||||||
| 6 | Perm Dude ID: 48432167 Wed, May 16, 2007, 18:18 |
The pass is a very good deal for us, but we've got kids. Dunno how it is for a single person. If you are driving yourself, make a stop in Cleveland for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. | ||||||
| 7 | Seattle Zen ID: 49112418 Wed, May 16, 2007, 18:25 |
Personally, I would go from PA to Seattle without visiting Vegas with this route in mind: Chicago, Minneapolis, South Dakota to Mount Rushmore. Head across the top of Wyoming through the Little Big Horn Mountains to Yellowstone. Then south to Grand Tetons and Jackson. Take your time in WY, it is stunning. Head to Idaho Falls and visit Craters of the Moon. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this is cool, but it is this huge mass of lava. Head north to Sun Valley then wind your way through the bitteroots to Missoula, MT. Visit Glacier National Park (they won't be around too much longer :( ) Then across the top of WA and the North Cascades Highway to Seattle. Might take more than 8 days. I've done almost all of that trip, though I have never been to Glacier National Park. If you were dead set on Vegas (save it for a stag party weekend with your buddies), head to St. Louis and Denver which will be three of the most boring days of driving imaginable. Utah is the goal and it is awesome. Head to Moab, Monument Valley, Zion National Park, then south to the Grand Canyon north rim, which has one tenth the visitors. Hit Vegas and head out to Yosemite. There are tons of things to visit in between Vegas and Seattle and you won't have time to see them all. Crater Lake in OR, Mount St. Helens in my backyard. Mt. Bachelor in Bend... | ||||||
| 8 | boikin ID: 59831214 Fri, May 18, 2007, 13:13 | i am not making the drive but i would love to take the trip you just sugested Zen. | ||||||
| 9 | GoatLocker Sustainer ID: 060151121 Fri, May 18, 2007, 13:34 |
SU, There is another forum I follow. Go to Open Roads Forum and check out Roads and Routes and also Campgrounds, Resorts, and Attractions. Understand you won't be in an RV, but you will find volumes and volumes of info. You can also do an advanced search over the last 12 months. Cliff | ||||||
| 10 | wolfer ID: 31314920 Sun, May 20, 2007, 18:32 |
Senator, While you are in the Midwest, you need to check these spots out. Tubing Waterparks a plenty | ||||||
| 11 | Boxman ID: 571114225 Sun, May 20, 2007, 19:12 |
Chicago has some real world class museums and places to eat. Either Wrigley Field or US Cellular Field are fun places to watch a baseball game too. Museum of Science & Industry Shedd Aquarium Field Museum Chicago Restaurants | ||||||
| 12 | Senator Urine ID: 375181117 Sun, May 27, 2007, 13:00 |
Hey everyone, thanks for all your help. I'm still not entirely sure what I'm going to do, but I came up with a tentative route this morning (it should be noted that each day I have to show "forward progress" towards Seattle, so unfortunately I can't spend as much time in certain areas as I'd like) Day 1: Spend day in Cuyahoga National Park, stay over in Cleveland Day 2: Spend day in Chicago and stay over there Day 3: Spend day in Wisconsin Dells and do Mt. Olympus Theme and Water Park, stay over there Day 4: Spend day and night in Sioux Falls (would rather do something else, but this seems to be the only place between WI and the Badlands) Day 5: Spend day in Badlands, stay over in Rapid City Day 6: Spend day at Bighorn Canyon (and possibly stop at Devil's Tower along the way), stay over in Cody probably Day 7: Spend day at Yellowstone, stay over in Helena Day 8: Spend day in Glacier, make the long drive afterwards to stay over in Spokane Day 9: Spend day in North Cascades, arrive in Seattle at night Does this seem doable? Is there enough to do at the Badlands and Bighorn Canyon to spend an entire day at each? What part of Yellowstone is must see? I'll unfortunately only have one day there. I may or may not have a bike with me, hopefully I will. Hopefully all the parks won't seem too repetitive, but I figure how many chances am I going to get to see these places, and it doesn't seem like there's much else out there. I'll also be driving back in November probably, so I can see a few more places then. I'd really like to check out Craters of the Moon and Hells Canyon, but I think that would have to come at the expense of Glacier and North Cascades. Still not sure what I'm going to do... | ||||||
| 13 | holt ID: 50340153 Sun, May 27, 2007, 16:26 |
when I visited the wisconsin dells I went to a place called House on the Rock. i can't describe it quickly. here's the website. there has to be some rafting and waterparks in the Dells area. it's been a while since I was there, but I seem to recall all the pamphlets being jam-packed with stuff like that. i vacationed in wyoming last summer. absolutely loved it. there's a KOA that sits under the shadow of Devil's Tower (they have a few cabins there). every night they show Close Encounters of the Third Kind (it was filmed there). the bighorn mountains are awesome. I rarely go fishing, but I did some trout fishing there in the mountain lakes and streams and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it (don't throw them back. they are too delicious. throw them on a fire!). there is plenty of good hiking or mountain-biking, or even horseback riding. also a lot of areas that are of historical interest (museums, saloons, battlefield monuments, etc.). | ||||||
| 14 | biliruben ID: 4911361723 Sun, May 27, 2007, 17:19 |
Depending on how long you will be in Seattle, you could probably cut north cascades short, as it's a day trip from Seattle. Add to glacier. Also add the badlands to glacier. ;) | ||||||
| 15 | wolfer ID: 24148211 Tue, May 29, 2007, 13:11 |
Re 13. There are plenty of waterparks, tourist spots, etc. Also, Senator, while you are in South Dakota, you need to check these spots. | ||||||
| 16 | Senator Urine ID: 141130310 Tue, May 29, 2007, 21:19 |
I think I'm pretty much locked into everything (the stupid forward progress restriction screws things up), but I'm still not too sure what to do on my two days in South Dakota. It looks like I'll have one day in the eastern half, driving from Wisconsin to Sioux Falls, and one day in the western half around Rapid City. The eastern day, as of now I was thinking of just biking around Sioux Falls. I'm really tempted to do that tubing that wolfer suggested in #10, but it seems like it would add a couple hundred miles at least onto the trip. Do you know of any other tubing places along the way, or close to Sioux Falls? The western day, now I'm really not sure. I was planning on the Badlands but I keep hearing mixed things. Is there a lot to see there, or is it basically a "see this for an hour, that's pretty much it" type deal? How would you guys compare the Badlands to Wind Cave to Custer? I was also thinking of doing the Spearfish Canyon scenic drive, is there stuff to do along the way? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, I can't wait to get out there. | ||||||
| 17 | holt ID: 50340153 Tue, May 29, 2007, 21:53 | I used to live by sioux falls. i wouldn't consider it to be much of a tourist spot. especially compared to the other stops on your itinerary. | ||||||
| 18 | Senator Urine ID: 141130310 Tue, May 29, 2007, 22:07 |
Yeah, Sioux Falls is part of the forward progress issue and just a convenient location along the way. I was thinking of either biking, doing the water park (any good?), and at night possibly trying to find a cheap poker game. If I skipped it and drove straight through, I'd be spending the entire day in the car and have to cram all the western SD stuff in at night. I'd love to get a day in Idaho but I think I'll have to save it for the way back. For the first Wyoming day also, is Devil's Tower worth checking out? It's kind of out of the way from the Rapid City area to Bighorn Canyon route. Also I don't really know anything about Bighorn Canyon, is that somewhere I can spend an entire day? | ||||||
| 19 | wolfer ID: 24148211 Wed, May 30, 2007, 16:30 |
Re 16: Tubing no, Kayaking on the other hand....... There is not that many bodies of water in southwest Minnesota. | ||||||
| 20 | wolfer ID: 24148211 Wed, May 30, 2007, 16:33 | Okay, I meant Canoeing. | ||||||
| 21 | Senator Urine ID: 141130310 Wed, May 30, 2007, 21:40 |
I was just thinking after looking over the websites, am I going to have to be worried about bears at Yellowstone and Glacier? I'm doing this trip on my own, and hiking alone generally seems to not be recommended. Should I be alright generally as long as I stick to the main trails? Which trails of Yellowstone and Glacier are musts? | ||||||
| 22 | wolfer ID: 31314920 Fri, Jun 01, 2007, 22:57 | Silly me. I forgot to tell you about a little landmark that you should also check out. | ||||||
| 23 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 01:53 | I would not stop in Sioux Falls. I would spend the 3 more hours or so and go straight to Rapid City and stay there. | ||||||
| 24 | holt ID: 50340153 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 07:04 |
Agreed Ref. It's just not a very interesting city, in my opinion. It's within the boundaries of South Dakota, but it has the feel of being a city in Nebraska or Iowa, if you know what I mean. I guess if all you need is a hotel it works. about the bears, there's not much need to worry about em. don't carry tasty snacks with you when you're hiking, try to make some noise while you walk so you don't surprise them, and if you camp out, don't store food in your tent (or anywhere close to your tent). if you really want to be safe (and assuming you don't carry a .44 magnum around) you can buy some pepper spray made especially for bears. if worst comes to worst, just roll up in a ball and pray. don't try climbing a tree. it only gives the bear a chance to do two of his favorite things at one time. me and my brother used to joke around about what tactic we would use if we were chased by a bear on a mountainside. we determined that running down the mountain was probably really bad and that running up would tire you out to quickly. so we decided you want to run "sideways" across the mountain, in hopes that it would throw off the bear's gait and slow him down. seriously though, fatal bear attacks are pretty rare. most of the attacks that do occur are in Alaska and Canada. | ||||||
| 25 | sarge33rd ID: 99331714 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 10:32 |
Actually, Sioux Falls is a very nice little town with a rich history of its own. At any rate, if I'm understanding correctly, the real point of stopping there is to make "forward progress" the next day and have time to spend in/around Black Hills/Mt Rushmore. | ||||||
| 26 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 13:23 |
I know Sioux Falls pretty well. It is a nice little community but with little to do. They have an independant minor league baseball team and a minor league basketball team. Both are well attended. Well because not much else to do. I am not an afficinado of Rapid City, but I am told it is a great place to stay and the night life and people are super. I hear even the bars are fun and friendly even if you go by yourself. Plus with Mt. Rushmore right there and all the other stuff, I'd skip SF. I'd rather wake up and go have fun then wake up and drive 4 hours first. | ||||||
| 27 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 13:31 | If you have to show forward progress every day, I guess I could understand sleeping at SF and then going to RC and spending all day and night there. Just checked and it is 347 miles from SF to RC. You can drive really fast as there is nothing on the highways. Still you're looking at 4 hours plus to get there. | ||||||
| 28 | GoatLocker Sustainer ID: 060151121 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 13:52 |
So, if there isn't a lot to do in SF, still make the stop. Get to bed realitively early. On the road at 4 or 5 puts you in Rapid City by 9 or 10 and gives you the whole day there. Even if you stop for breakfast, you're still in great shape. Cliff | ||||||
| 29 | sarge33rd ID: 99331714 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 15:21 |
Precisely Cliff. Besides, SF isnt barren of activity. There is a lot of history there if one is into that sort of thing at all. Ref...I'm from Sioux City (90 miles to the south) I know SF isnt a "mecca" or anything approaching it, but it is a nice city with some nice things to do/see. If nothing else, just get a room, chill, catch a flick and your breath, Like Cliff said, head out bright and early, and you're in the Blackhills before lunch even allowing for a breakfast stop. | ||||||
| 30 | holt ID: 50340153 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 17:23 | I didn't mean to imply that Sioux Falls is a bad town. It's a good town for all the "every day" stuff. | ||||||
| 31 | GoatLocker Sustainer ID: 060151121 Sat, Jun 02, 2007, 20:55 |
Holt, Understood what you were saying. Been 45 years or more since I was last in SF, so not willing to even try and guess about it. I just know how I like to travel with the RV, and what I said fits that profile well. I prefer 200-300 miles a day and stopping early is good. Cliff | ||||||
| 32 | beastiemiked ID: 3101646 Mon, Jun 04, 2007, 17:06 | Anything cool in Denver? I'm here for at least tonight and possibly tomorrow night. | ||||||
| 33 | SU in Chicago ID: 45531523 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 00:40 |
Hey guys, I'm in Chicago right now, and I doubt anyone gets this before I check out tomorrow but figure it's worth a shot. My plan tomorrow was to get up real early and spend the day in Wisconsin Dells at Mt. Olympus, and then drive to Onalaska / La Crosse and stay over there, before driving to Sioux Falls the next day and Deadwood the next. It's looking like thunderstorms though of course, so now I have to figure out what to do (the forward progress thing is killing me here). This internet is painfully slow so I can't look around too much and I have to get to bed, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. A few things off the top of my head after dealing with google maps on near dial-up speeds: A) Drive out of the way to Minneapolis after spending the pre-checkout time biking around Chicago, then do Minneapolis to Sioux Falls the next day and continue with the original plan. B) Same as A, except replace Minneapolis with Des Moines C) Same as A, except skip Sioux Falls and go to Bismarck. D) Something else, please. Any ideas? Anything I can spend a day on in Wisconsin? Are Minneapolis / Des Moines / Bismarck worthwhile? I could theoretically change my trip entirely and head through Utah and work back up, but I really wanted to hit Glacier and Yellowstone, and coming back in November possibly Glacier may be difficult. I hate forward progress, it's keeping me from Hell's Canyon. | ||||||
| 34 | SU in Chicago ID: 45531523 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 00:41 | And wow, I managed to do an A, B, C, D thing for this. Anyone from the basketball forum is probably not surprised at all. | ||||||
| 35 | GoatLocker Sustainer ID: 060151121 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 00:46 |
SU Don't know if you will get this or not. I've been away from that area of the country for 35 years. But, if it were me, would not go to Des Moines. I grew up there, and would say there really isn't too much to do. I think I would to to Minneaplois/St Paul. Been a long time, but expect you can find more to do. Then contiune on with your plan. Watch the weather and be safe. Those T-Storms there can be really bad. Cliff | ||||||
| 36 | holt ID: 50340153 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 00:55 |
isn't Bismarck way off course? i spent a few days in bismarck a few years ago. thought it was a nice little city. it's a clean place, with nice people. at least that was my experience. of course, it's surrounded by the vast featureless expanses of north dakota. if it were me I'd be taking the straightest quickest line to western S.D. and wyoming. | ||||||
| 37 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 01:47 |
Stay out of Bismarck!!! OMG it is desolate. Sioux Falls is much better. Worse thing about Bismarck is that there is nothing and it is flat. Wind of any kind pushes your vehicle all over the place and many dead areas where you don't even have cell coverage. People there love their minor league basketball and hockey but as a whole not as friendly as SD people. No idea why. Also Bismarck is aobut 6-7 hours North and West of SF. There is no NW passage so you'd have to go up to Fargo and then west to bismarck. Obviously you'd be going via Minneapolis so you wouldn't be going to SF at all, but you're still heading northwest instead of west and you'll absorb that distance by the time you go northwest and then again southwest. Funny tidbit about Bismarck--they have no buses. Everything is by taxi and only have one cab company that controls the whole city (taxi 9000). I had an off day in Bismarck once and I went to the state capitol building. It was virtually deserted on a work day in the middle of the week. I spent an hour to 90 mins looking through their history of Dakota "museum". I did learn that there used to be an ocean in the Dakotas. Also went to their mall and it wsa also deserted. Decided to go see a movie and I found out it was closed. It's a state law that movie theaters can't be open while school is in session I was told. So much for weekday matinees!!! | ||||||
| 38 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 02:06 | I guess if you're heading to Billings anyhow where 90 and 94 meet back up it doesn't really matter if you're skipping Rapid City. BUt if it were me, i'd take 94 through SF and sleep there as you suggested. Get up early and spend the day and night in RC. Then I'd head west toward Yellowstone. Maybe you could make it to Cody or somewhere close. Spend the enxt day at Yellowstone. Not sure what your timetable will be at that point but you could head north and catch 90 again and head toward Spokane. | ||||||
| 39 | holt ID: 50340153 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 02:59 |
LOL @ North Dakota. What a state. No offense, in case anyone lives there (YEAH RIGHT!). one thing. I do remember some slight hills there. played disc golf there and it had some slight elevation. I know disc golf isn't real popular and no one here probably cares, but Bismarck has 2 courses. one of em is pretty great actually, and the other is decent. | ||||||
| 41 | biliruben ID: 52014814 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 16:24 |
Hell's Canyon ain't all that. But keep moving! I got a flat tire in Bismark. Nice people, but a bit scary. This dude sees me struggling in the rain, on a hill, with a crappy jack, which my truck full of all my worldly possessions including my bed, had just rolled off of, nearly crushing me. He's on the other side of the highway going the other direction. He goes to the next exit, comes back around and helps me out with his sweet hydrologic jack. He looks at me and says all serious like: "Now you owe the next person". Uh, Thanks. I think. That reminds me. I think I have a debt to pay! | ||||||
| 42 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 17:21 |
LOL! He must have just seen Pay it Forward! The highway in general is flat--at least 94 anyhow. Surprised how strong those winds get. | ||||||
| 43 | biliruben ID: 52014814 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 17:56 |
Maybe Pay it Forward is about him! This 1995. Hydrologic? What the heck is that? Sounds like a cool f'in jack, that's what. Very new age. That would be hydrolic. As a general rule, don't slow down until you see The Rockies. | ||||||
| 44 | holt ID: 50340153 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 18:35 |
lol - hydraulic. hydrologic. i think you may have just invented an invention there. :D | ||||||
| 45 | biliruben ID: 52014814 Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 18:40 |
Thanks, Man! Spelling ain't my forte(sp?). | ||||||
| 46 | holt ID: 50340153 Fri, Jun 08, 2007, 17:57 | hope the Senator gives us some more updates. sounds like a fun trip. | ||||||
| 47 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Fri, Jun 08, 2007, 22:46 | Yeah three days. Don't even know if he was able to see our suggestions. | ||||||
| 48 | wolfer ID: 31314920 Fri, Jun 08, 2007, 22:51 | Agreed. I would love to hear if and where he stayed Wednesday night in La Crosse which happens to be my neck of the woods. | ||||||
| 49 | GoatLocker Sustainer ID: 060151121 Fri, Jun 08, 2007, 23:26 |
I sure hope he didn't go to Des Moines. Talk about disappointment central. Cliff | ||||||
| 50 | holt ID: 50340153 Sat, Jun 09, 2007, 04:15 | LOL @ Des Moines. for a few years I lived midway between Des Moines and Omaha. We NEVER went to Des Moines for entertainment. Always Omaha. | ||||||
| 51 | holt ID: 50340153 Sun, Jun 10, 2007, 02:25 | crap - hope the bears didn't get him. | ||||||
| 52 | biliruben ID: 4911361723 Sun, Jun 10, 2007, 09:48 |
For second there, I thought he was already in Seattle. A bear swam from one of the Sound islands into a town just south of Seattle called Des Moines. | ||||||
| 53 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Sun, Jun 10, 2007, 11:29 | LOL, I've been to Des Moines, WA before. There is an awesome fresh fish place there too. Just outside of SeaTac. | ||||||
| 54 | Tosh Leader ID: 057721710 Sun, Jun 10, 2007, 15:59 |
Re: 52 - That island is the one that I live on. The crazy bear swam across the Sound on the West-side, walked to the Eastern-most point of the island in about 48 hours, and then swam across the Sound again (this time through the major shipping lane) into Des Moines. The Coast Guard was out there with him to make sure no cargo ships ran him over. He swam 2 miles in just under an hour. This was big news out here, especially when he was wandering around the school. The last bear to swim to the island was 1993. I'm just glad he left the island before one of the local yahoos shot him. He was captured 5-6 days later, about 25 miles from Des Moines. All it took to capture him was a couple dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. The local wildlife experts have no clue on why he was traveling so far, and so fast. They have never encountered this behavior before. | ||||||
| 55 | holt ID: 50340153 Sun, Jun 10, 2007, 20:11 | he was probably on a tight schedule to meet Senator Urine on I-90. | ||||||
| 56 | SU in Spokane ID: 495111123 Tue, Jun 12, 2007, 00:16 |
Hey guys, I'm out in Spokane now, and unfortunately only have one day left before arriving in Seattle tomorrow. Debating between North Cascades National Park, Mount Ranier, or somewhere else, I'm open to suggestions as always. I'll check in before I leave in the morning. I have to get to bed now, I'll fill everyone in when I get settled. Thanks for all of your help, this trip has been amazing and I can't wait to hit the spots I couldn't get to this time around in a few months. | ||||||
| 57 | Seattle Zen ID: 46315247 Tue, Jun 12, 2007, 00:38 |
I vote North Cascades. Take Highway two to Wilber, then 174 past the Grand Cooley Dam, to Bridgeport, the 153 through the Methow Valley onto the North Cascades Highway 20. Ya need to buy a map. The mountains are so close and spectacular, man, it's a sight to behold. The drive from Spokane to Mount Rainier is long and to be honest, most of it is ugly. From Spokane to Yakima, four hours, not much to look at. On the other hand, I found driving the Eastern part of Washington on Highway Two interesting because of the intimacy of the two lane highway. Mount Rainier is so cool that you should drive down on a weekend day if you have a free one. Going from Spokane to Rainier is at least six hours, rounding the mountain to get back to Seattle is three... well, maybe you are used to that kind of schedule. | ||||||
| 58 | SU in Lynnwood ID: 55531712 Sun, Jun 17, 2007, 14:20 |
Hey guys, figured I'd check in and let you know how it went. First day I did Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Took a bike ride along the Tow Path trail, and went to a few of the waterfalls. I was going to hike some more but a downpour started, so I figured I'd see what Cleveland had to offer. Apparently the entire city shuts down at 4 pm, there was nowhere to eat and the only place to possibly get food was CVS. Reminded me of Providence, where I regrettably spent my college years. Second day I got to Chicago and just ran a lot throughout the city and met up with an old friend for deep dish at Giordano's. Good stuff. Chicago seems like an amazing city, which isn't surprising at all considering it produced Billy Corgan, aka the greatest musician of all time. The Wisconsin Dells thing got screwed up as I said before, but I realized that I could park at the hotel in Chicago until 3 pm. So I did the bike ride along the lake up to Hollywood and back, and ended up staying in Onalaska, WI for the night as I originally planned. Drove down to the La Crosse riverfront and wandered around on those trails for a bit. Day 4 in Sioux Falls was the surprise hit of the trip. I did that big bike trail loop around the city and hung out in Falls Park for a bit. Just a fun trail, you could go really fast and the weather was great. Day 5 I did the Badlands and Spearfish Canyon, and stayed over in Deadwood. Deadwood was interesting, even the supermarket had slot machine type games in it. I've noticed though that outside of Atlantic City (and I'm assuming Vegas too) you can't find a 2-4 limit or 1-2 no limit game of hold em, so I ended up not playing. I'm cheap. Day 6 was Bighorn Canyon, which was strange because I was really the only person there. I think over the course of the entire day I only saw two cars pass me. First time I've ever heard absolutely complete silence. I stayed over in Cody, and went for a bike ride down along those trails by the river. Saw a bunch of animals, as well as naked people. Day 7 was Yellowstone, which was great. Drove by the lake, and then walked around the geysers and the canyon area the rest of the day. A big herd of bison walked right in front of my car and took a dump, in a month when I get to my apartment I'll have pictures. At night I drove up to Helena but didn't get to explore at all. I kind of wish I stayed in Butte, just because I'm horribly immature. Day 8 was supposed to be Glacier, but I found out that morning that the entire middle section of that road through the park was still closed. Meaning if I still went there, I'd have to basically spend the entire day driving around the park to the other side, and then make the 6 hour drive to Spokane late at night. So I made the last second decision to go to Silverwood amusement park in Idaho, which turned out to be my "Lebron for Duncan" move of the trip. I had heard great reviews of Tremors, putting it ahead of rides back east like Boulderdash and El Toro, but it didn't really do much for me. Good ride but nothing special. Timber Terror was decent too, but I learned that I really can't do roller coasters anymore. It's weird, I've sat on Batman the Ride 28 times in a row without getting up, but I was completely destroyed an hour and a half into the day and had to leave. Good way to throw away 42 dollars. I left for Spokane and went biking in Riverside State Park at night. The last day I decided to go with North Cascades, which was a pretty good time. Hiked the Thunder Knob trail, most of the other trails were still closed because of snow or washed out due to the flooding there this winter. It's weird seeing water that color, I'm used to the brown sludge back east. Thanks for all your help in planning this, I had a great time and can't wait to do it again in October / November. | ||||||
| 59 | holt ID: 595151418 Sun, Jun 17, 2007, 21:23 | awesome. sounds like a good trip. wish I had taken my mountain bike with me when I went to wyoming last summer. you can always find something fun to do when you've got your bike with you. thanks for posting. | ||||||
| ||||||||
Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?) | ||||||||