Trip West

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Thinking of driveing west and back on a two month trip. I'm in the think-crazy mode and have to stay very conservative to even consider it.

I wish to be at Whidbey Island, WA for an event on 11 - 15 Sept.

If we drive, will go out early to avoid snow (I hope). Would like to go by Mt. Rushmore, Denver, Pikes Peake, Grand Tetons, Glacier NP.

Most likely will bring the van and "Hold-up" in it where we may. Any places you would recommend for staying over on our way?

Timeshare suggestions are welcome if available for a night or two. Might could spend close to a week near Yellowstone/Grand Tetons.

Will come back the southern route in late Sept/ Oct.

Email your Must See list to me.

Bob and Caroll

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Thinking of driving west and back on a two month trip. ...

What are some of your Must See places?

Do you have pointers on these?
Mt. Rushmore
Grand Tetons
Salt Lake
Glacier NP
Puget Sound
Oregon Coast
Napa Valley
San Fran
Yosemine NP
Grand Canyon
Pikes Peake
Branson

[Steve Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve]

A few ideas

Hi Robert,

That sounds like a fun trip! I love a good road trip...and I have driven back and forth across the country many times.

The list of attractions you have asked about is extremely varied...so some of what constitutes a "must see" will depend on your tastes. These are the ones I'd pick of those:

1) Grand Teton National Park. Truly spectacular mountain scenery. Also close to Yellowstone which I would include as a "must see".

2) Glacier National Park. Stunning and gorgeous. Different enough from the Tetons to make both parks well worth seeing.

3) Oregon Coast. Absolutely world class coastal scenery.

4) Yosemite. The Yosemite Valley is quite the grand site. I wouldn't want to miss it.

Places on your list I would definitely not consider "must see" attractions:

Branson - some of the shows are fun, but otherwise the place is way overrated in my personal opinion. Tacky and cluttered with nice...but unimpressive...scenery.

Great Salt Lake - I live in Utah and this state has some spectacular scenery. Salt Lake City is also a beautiful city with a lot to see and do. But...Great Salt Lake is not pretty and is not worth going out of your way for. The Uinta Mountains, the Wasatch Mountains, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, etc are all much nicer places to visit than the lake.

Pike's Peak - I really like Colorado and lived there for a while, but Pike's Peak isn't nearly as dramatic or awesome (to me, at least) as the Tetons and Glacier.

The others on your list depend on your interests.

Hope this helps a bit...it's fun planning a big adventure!

Steve

[JoAnn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoAnn]

IF you get the chance to stop in Salt Lake City, try to make it on a Thursday. Thursday evening the Mormon Choir practices, and it is open to the public..get there early. Double check the day. But it was the highlight of one of our trips west. Magnificent.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I have yet to visit this part of the country. Reading through Steve's post and the others, has intrigued me.

Please be sure to take lots of pictures and post your vacation highlights. Enjoy your trip....

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Thanks Steve and JoAnn

Anyone else?

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Here's what I've received thus far

Thank You All! Please keep the posts and email coming.


In case anyone cares to have the information I'll post:
============================================

one of my favorite spots is Sedona...beautiful Red rocks, mountains, sun sets

take I-90 stop in Austin MN to see the Spam museum.

Mitchell SD to see the Corn Palace. Very interesting and they change the whole outside every year with a new theme. All done with corn, sorghum, wheat.

Spearfish SD has a beautiful canyon road we took. That's where some of the last scenes from 'Dancing with Wolves' were filmed. Also driving out in that area you see some great rolling hills. We stopped at Wall Drugs just because of all the signs! We got some ice cream there. Interesting.

We also drove through the Badlands.

If you take I-70, you could drop south on I-75 and go to /Dayton & Wright Patterson AFB and see the Air Force museum...that is interesting and would take all day.

I-80, stop in Amana, Iowa for good food and interesting shops and history. There was a colony there..mostly German. We've stopped a couple of times to eat, but did stay in a hotel in town once.

Grand Circle tour from Seattle, to Spokane, to Glacier NP, then up to Banff, Lake Louise, Kamloops (I think), Vancouver and back to

there are a few RCI points resorts near Glacier NP.

There is at least one RCI weeks resort near the Western Entrance to Yellowstone. However, there are various places to stay overnight within Yellowstone Park inself. Go to their website to check on availability--when we visited there about two years ago, the overnight rates were from $60.00-$100.00 per night for a family of four, depending on whether you wanted a rough cabin or a motel. ...They conduct a wagon train ride to an area where they serve an outdoor dinner with entertainment. There is a bus ride tour of the lower park and the Grand Tetons, which includes crossing the Snake River on a ferry and lunch in a teepee.

you can find valuable information on the camping forum at www.rv.net - click on the "open roads forum". There is information on roads & routes, things to see on the way as well places to stay (or avoid).

stop in Salt Lake City, try to make it on a Thursday. Thursday evening the Mormon Choir practices, and it is open to the public..get there early. Double check the day. But it was the highlight of one of our trips west. Magnificent!

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Thinking of driveing west and back on a two month trip. I'm in the think-crazy mode and have to stay very conservative to even consider it.

I wish to be at Whidbey Island, WA for an event on 11 - 15 Sept.

If we drive, will go out early to avoid snow (I hope). Would like to go by Mt. Rushmore, Denver, Pikes Peake, Grand Tetons, Glacier NP.

Most likely will bring the van and "Hold-up" in it where we may. Any places you would recommend for staying over on our way?

Timeshare suggestions are welcome if available for a night or two. Might could spend close to a week near Yellowstone/Grand Tetons.

Will come back the southern route in late Sept/ Oct.

Email your Must See list to me.

Bob and Caroll

When are you planning to start your trip? The summer is pretty short at some of the places you like to visit. November in Whidbey Island must be for personal reasons because it's too late for enjoying the summer in the Seattle area.

The Oregon coast and California as well as Arizona are OK later in the year. Isn't it nice to be retired and to be able to hit the road for an extended period of time?

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Trying to decide which way to travel

I've been checking everything slanted toward driving the whole thing, realizing that getting to Mt Rushmore and returing from Grand Canyon would be drudgery driving... over half of the mileage and fuel cost. That also involves at least 7 days of eating and cost of lodging.

Just to keep everyone informed... Airline fares for Sep. and Oct. now have us thinking of flying to the west coast, renting a van for touring...
Yosemite, San Fran, son near Portland, VP2 event at Whidbey Is, Glacier NP, Grand Tetons, Mt Rushmore... then fly back from that area.

Does anyone know, from experience, the latest dates that roads get closed for Glacier NP? Also, is the first of October too late for touring the Grand Tetons?

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

...Does anyone know, from experience, the latest dates that roads get closed for Glacier NP? Also, is the first of October too late for touring the Grand Tetons?

I see where the shuttle bus schedule ends in mid- September. That indicates, we may need to move our dates up a bit. I was hoping to do the trip after schools are in session.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Trip Plans Change

REASONABLE Southwest fares and unreasonable car rentals have me thinking of flying into SEATAC, purchasing a vehicle, doing my tour on the way home.

I'm working on auto selection on-line with Jet Chevrolet in Federal Way, near SeaTac.

Will modify the itinerary into two trips:

1. Visit son and family near Portland before schooling starts. Loop through Oregon/Washigton to Glacier NP and Calgery/Vancouver. Return to Puget Sound for the Patrol Squadron reunion on 12 to 14 September.

2. Loop to Portland again, drive Oregon Coast, Redwood NP, Napa Valley, San Fransisco, Tahoe, Yosemite, LV, G Canyon, Salt Lake City, Tetons, Rushmore on drive to Yorktown.

Steve, the Uinta Mountains, the Wasatch Mountains, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, may be included.

Anyone know of other places to include. My returning trip is open ended, so I can see and stay where ever (restricted by $$$ of course).

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Does anyone know, from experience, the latest dates that roads get closed for Glacier NP? Also, is the first of October too late for touring the Grand Tetons?

The roads in Glacier, especially Going to Sun Road generally are open until about mid September but could close earlier depending on conditions. They sometimes get snow in August depending on the year. Also some of internal park roads are gravel and really dependent on conditions. If Going to Sun Road closes you can still get around back and forth from West to East side but it is a longer drive and not as spectacular scenery. There is a spot on the road South of the Park called Goat Lick that is pretty interesting. The mountain goats trek miles to get there and lick the mineral salts that come out of the mountain at that point. You get some real good views of mountain goats.

Your trip sounds great. Oregon coast is beautiful. We really liked Yellowstone but I would be careful of that timeing on Grand Tetons, you could have some snow in October even in Yellowstone.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Hi Robert,

That sounds like a fun trip! I love a good road trip...and I have driven back and forth across the country many times.
... The Uinta Mountains, the Wasatch Mountains, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, etc are all much nicer places to visit than the lake. ...

Hope this helps a bit...it's fun planning a big adventure!

Steve

Timing of Trip West will start after completion of Mt Rushmore/Bad Lands/Black Hills on 26 August.
People to see in that area, ya know!

I do wish to complete Teton & Glacier NPs before roads become snow-closed. My reunion at Puget Sound is 12, 13, 14 September.

That's only a 16 day gap.

I've only briefly looked into the UT sites. It would take a lifetime to just do the parks. They are so spread out, planning alone would take six months! So it appears I'll have to make another trip. Darn the bad luck.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Our cross country

Trip West will start on 22 August. It may take until October to complete the loop.

As many things as we hope to view, I still realize we will pass up much more.

I still could use pointers on what there is to see, not only at these obvious places, but the in-between things, those that make for in interesting trip.

Mt. Rushmore & Badlands (Corn Palace and Wall Drugs)
Grand Teton, Yellowstone
Uinta and Wasatch Mountains
Glacier NP
Puget Sound, Seattle/Tacoma, Olympic Peninsula, Mt Rainier and Mt St Helen
Oregon Coast & lighthouses, Columbia Gorge, vineyards and orchards, Mt Hood
Napa Valley, San Francisco, Monterey Coast
Yosemine & Sequario NPs
Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon
Garden of the gods, Pikes Peake
Branson, Ozarks
Missisippi at Memphis

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Trip West will start on 22 August. It may take until October to complete the loop.

As many things as we hope to view, I still realize we will pass up much more.

I still could use pointers on what there is to see, not only at these obvious places, but the in-between things, those that make for in interesting trip.

Mt. Rushmore & Badlands (Corn Palace and Wall Drugs)
Grand Teton, Yellowstone
Uinta and Wasatch Mountains
Glacier NP
Puget Sound, Seattle/Tacoma, Olympic Peninsula, Mt Rainier and Mt St Helen
Oregon Coast & lighthouses, Columbia Gorge, vineyards and orchards, Mt Hood
Napa Valley, San Francisco, Monterey Coast
Yosemine & Sequario NPs
Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon
Garden of the gods, Pikes Peake
Branson, Ozarks
Missisippi at Memphis

Caroll's bones and joints will not allow her to do Trip West. I thought I'd have to do it on my own.

Gerald Church, an old school chum in Midland, Michigan, has graciously agreed to travel with me. He lost his Florence to cancer one year ago.
I’ll be heading his way on 20 August. We’ll ferry across Lake Michigan from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Gerald has his grandson’s wedding to attend at Spearfish, SD on 25 August. Mount Rushmore and the Badlands are right there, so that will work.

Gerald has never toured the Northwest so this is of great interest to him.