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Wife and I are looking to retire next year, and would like to take a trip across the USA with our yellow lab. So far we are planning to see Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Redwood Forest.
Just wondering if any of you guys have done that, and what you found to be the best and worst sights.
We didn't do a cross country trip but just returned from a week in Sedona, AZ, Grand Canyon and Vegas. Sedona is magnificent. The Grand Canyon is a very humbling experience - takes your breath away! Friends of our told us that they loved Bryce and Zion Canyon (in Utah), Yellowstone/Grand Tetons just as much! We hope to see these as well one day soon. Sounds like you'll have a great trip - enjoy.
Of all of the trips taken by all of the people I have known in my life, my favorite was a trip a retired police officer (and an outdoorsman) made with his camper and truck. He and his wife drove from LI, NY to Alaska. They towed a small boat with a motor and if I remember correctly also took a canoe. They traveled with another couple who also took their vehicle and a boat. They fished when they could and ate what they caught at night. I think they had one of those screen tents to eat under because of bugs. Sometimes they camped in a campground and sometimes they didn't. They took their time. Once a week they checked into a motel. They drove along the northern states and cut into Canada in Manitoba. On the way back, they traveled down from Canada through Washington state (to visit a family member) and came back to NY through the Southern states. If I remember correctly, they were gone for about 3 - 4 months between May and September. I do remember he said he went through a few tires but I don't remember if that was primarily on the truck or the boat trailer and that turkey was ourageously expensive in Canada at which point I kiddingly asked why he didn't bag one of his own (since he hunted, too). It was in the 80s. I have never seen better trip photos than the ones from that camping vacation.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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I've done most of my traveling west of Missouri River (Lived in Colorado - WY during my 'formative' travel yrs + had trucking delivery rte though mountain states)
Determine to be flexible and spend as long as necessary (fuel prices in future or poor health may make it a 1 time event, but lets hope not, as you will not see it all)
I do like the National Parks (Golden Eagle pass purchased annually for over 35 yrs), but I make the trip just as important (maybe more) as the destination. Thus that is why I prefer to use 'private guest homes', even in the rare event I use my RV in place of my 50 mpg 'grease-burners'. (I like meeting 'locals' + the $10 / night price is pretty decent for RV or bed, the food, and fun and local info is irreplaceable, especially staying a few days with farmers to 'help-out'... couple options are 'evergreen travel club', and 'affordable travel')
ID (SE)/ Utah (NE) hang around Bear Lake. + a zillion other things (rte in ID west border from Boise to Lewiston (through Riggins). Best in late May or Fall
Sandpoint, ID and rte to Big Sky / Glacier Park is nice, But DON'T miss Alberta and BC rockies
WA, Palouse Falls, Leavenworth, North Cascade Highway, Mt Baker, Rainier, St Helens, Adams, Olympic NP + Rain Forest, Columbia Gorge, San Juan Islands, Port Townsend, Poulsbo...
OR North and south coast, Portland (Rose Gardens x3), Mt Hood, High desert Museum (so of Bend) Crater Lake,
NoCA, Lasson NP, Lava caves, Redwoods, (Samoa Cookhouse ), Bodega Bay, SF (Park RV at Larkspur ferry, very pretty ride, very cheap (buy a Translink pass) OR stay at Fort Mason Hostel (free parking). Santa Cruz, Monteray Aquarium, Carmel, Heast Castle, SLObisbo, Santa Barbara, LA (Eat at Philipees, just west of Union Station (sandwich shop open since 1920's ~ $5.00, great stew and french dips, ate there last week!) ....
My grandparents took 3 trips to CA from NY when my grandfather retired, it was a long time ago and I think each trip was about 6 wks by car - traveled all different routes, one hitting some northern states, another the central states and another the southern states - they sent us a lot of postcards and took a lot of pictures, had a great time, I rem. hearing about Yosemite and tumbleweeds in TX among other things. They had a large map in their basement w/ the different routes outlined in diff. color markers. It was really a big highlight for them (esp. my grandfather, I think after the first trip, my grandmother w/h just as soon stay home, LOL).
I had a friend who when he retired spent over a year seeing the US. He planned the trip several years before. What he did was send for different states tourist books which were free . He then planned the trip and where his stops would be. He bought a F250 diesel truck and a 5th wheeler. He had a ball and spent like four months longer than expected. It surprised me because he was never a truck guy . When he got back he sold the truck and trailer.He had a relative house sit during this time.Good Luck and have fun.
I am going one step further. My wife and I are selling the house. We are seriously downsizing and may just store the remainder while we travel. If not we will relocate from the east coast to the west and then take off with an RV. I expect to be on the road for weeks or months at time and hopefully for years.
As to highlights, any of the national parks in the west are spectacular. Arches and Canyonlands are my favorites. I am looking forward to Yellowstone and other parks I have not seen for years or have never visited.
In Arizona Grand Canyon and Sedona are attractive landscapes. I have been to all of the places you mentioned and all are worth seeing. You didn't mention what you like to do? Fish, Casinos, etc., etc. Lots of stuff on the internet re specific interests.
I don't know if you already saw this website but it is full of useful information that may help you with your trip. Might be a good place for you to ask questions.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dj10
I don't know if you already saw this website but it is full of useful information that may help you with your trip. Might be a good place for you to ask questions.
The Escapees have classes / workshops that are very helpful to young and old. I highly recommend them, and would consider them essential if you plan on towing, and have not done this as a profession. Recently there was a terrible accident here on an interstate bridge between a semi and a brand new RV that was being towed home from the dealer. The retirees hit the brakes on towing vehicle because the trailer got to swaying and the result was a very tangled up mess and severe injuries. This could have been easily avoided. Towing and even heavy RV rigs with undersized brakes and weak suspension can be a handful in a crisis.
Note:, we want you to have a good time AND a safe time.
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