Cross-country road trip

[Matthew Gallant]

I'm driving from N. Virginia to Seattle soon, with only one planned stop so far, Dallas. Any suggestions for places to visit?

Last time I did this, from Maine to Arizona, I stopped at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the MST3K studio (and then the Mall of America), and Mount Rushmore. But return visits are an option-- well, not for MST3K-- as Angie has never been.

I'd like to see Old Faithful, and other interesting natural phenomena. Any other suggestions?

[Enduro_Man]

I assume you've already been to the Grand Canyon? Definitely go, if you haven't, but consider the National Parks in Utah, like Arches, Zion, or Bryce. Lots to see in Colorado and New Mexico, too.

Also, seriously consider stopping at Graceland, to pay respect to the greatest of all natural phenomena.

[Matthew Gallant]

We will definitely be spending the night around Memphis, but I'm not really interested in Graceland. Has anyone ever been to the Stax Museum? I might also be interested in pushing on through Memphis and going to the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. Anyone ever been there?

After Dallas, it looks like we will either stop in Denver or Cheyenne for the evening. Any can't miss places there before we go on to Yellowstone?

We'll probably leave Yellowstone the same day, which would put us at one more hotel in around the Butte, Montana area before we arrive in Seattle.

[Omniscia]

Well, if you're already going to be heading through South Dakota, Badlands National Park is nice to drive through. And it's on the way to Mount Rushmore, I believe.

[Enduro_Man]

I only spent a few hours in downtown Denver before pressing on, so I've got little to say about the city other than that it was a pleasant walkabout. My highlight of the day came during the drive out of Denver. Heading west on the I-70 past Vail was a pretty enough drive, featuring nice, if unremarkable, mountain scenery. Then the road split into two and turned downwards as we entered Glenwood Canyon. It's a brisk and curvy road (for an Interstate) that follows the Colorado River, winds between blasted cliffs, through several tunnels, and ultimately takes you right up against the water. One of the most beautiful and thrilling sections of freeway in the US, in my opinion.

The downside is that the I-70 eventually takes you to Grand Junction, which is neither beautiful nor thrilling.

[Brandon Clements]

After Dallas, it looks like we will either stop in Denver or Cheyenne for the evening
That's...a long day of driving.

[noun]

Yeah, 13 hours at least. If you're not in a hurry, I recommend sleeping in Kansas.

[tiohn]

I think that bago (http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showpost.php?p=1316144&postcount=29) has some good advice for road trips.

[BennyProfane]

If you go the northern route, definitely check out the Badlands, beautiful (stark) country. And of course a stop at Wall Drug is required.

On the other hand, the run from Dallas to Denver isn't that bad, but I wouldn't go the northern route personally (I grew up in Oklahoma and made the run to Colorado many times). Certainly you can shoot north to 70 and go west, but you can also shoot west up through Wichita Falls to Amarillo then over west into New Mexico and go north on 25. In fact if you really want to see some beautiful areas, I strongly recommend enough of a detour that way to see Santa Fe, maybe even over to Los Alamos and/or White Sands. That makes it more of a vacation than a straight drive, but there is soooo much beauty out there. Another thing along that way, a bit farther south, is Ruidoso--there's some nice skiing up there in the winter at Sierra Blanca, a resort owned by the Arapaho IIRC. Anyway, just a really beautiful area.

[tiohn]

If you go the northern route, definitely check out the Badlands, beautiful (stark) country. And of course a stop at Wall Drug is required.

On the other hand, the run from Dallas to Denver isn't that bad, but I wouldn't go the northern route personally (I grew up in Oklahoma and made the run to Colorado many times). Certainly you can shoot north to 70 and go west, but you can also shoot west up through Wichita Falls to Amarillo then over west into New Mexico and go north on 25. In fact if you really want to see some beautiful areas, I strongly recommend enough of a detour that way to see Santa Fe, maybe even over to Los Alamos and/or White Sands. That makes it more of a vacation than a straight drive, but there is soooo much beauty out there. Another thing along that way, a bit farther south, is Ruidoso--there's some nice skiing up there in the winter at Sierra Blanca, a resort owned by the Arapaho IIRC. Anyway, just a really beautiful area.

Having grown up in these parts and driven them a million billion times, I recommend that you do your best to hit southern Colorado and all of New Mexico. And for the love of God, stop and eat whenever you see a trailer selling food on the side of the road.

[Trey]

Try to drive through Utah, it's beautiful. I stayed at the Xanadu of campgrounds in Utah. There was manicured grass, a golf course, a pond... incredible.

[tiohn]

Try to drive through Utah, it's beautiful. I stayed at the Xanadu of campgrounds in Utah. There was manicured grass, a golf course, a pond... incredible.
Fuck that bullshit straight up my ass, Trey's ass, and anyone else's ass. If that's what you are looking for, stay the goddamn hell home. Or go to Utah. They apparently have closely-shorn grass and Mormons, neither of which are natural or beautiful.

[rjcc]

Well, if you're already going to be heading through South Dakota, Badlands National Park is nice to drive through. And it's on the way to Mount Rushmore, I believe.

badlands>>>>>>>>grand canyon

[Pogue Mahone]

If you are taking the northern route and aren't in any particular hurry, you could retrace Lewis and Clark's path (http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/). In fact you've got nearly the perfect path already, considering your starting and ending points. I'd be highly jealous -- if you were in fact to do this, please report back to the class.

[Omniscia]

And take plenty of pictures.

[BaconTastesGood]

What are you doing in Dallas? We could try to do a fo'real QT3 meetup if you have the time.

[Mr_PeaCH]

Honestly, there's a wealth of sites to see in and around the 4 corners states; how slow do you care to drive through?

The problem with mixing in the Grand Canyon from the way you're coming is that you're going to go way out of your way to see it and/or miss out on a lot of other good stuff. If you find yourself heading this way mix in a stop to the meteor crater outside of Flagstaff, AZ.

New Mexico, as mentioned, is very rich visually; you can do some great sightseeing from the car windows. I whole-heartedly agree with eating from the roadside trailers.

In southwest Colorado you will find any number of ancient Pueblo and Anasazi dwellings; all of which are worth a stop. If you can, the ruins up by Mesa Verde have a campground to give you an excuse to walk about a bit more. Pictures do not do these sites justice; they have to be experienced.

If you're coming this way now (New Mexico, up into CO probably around Pagosa Springs) and headed west on 160 taking you into Anasazi country you're now primed for beautiful southeastern Utah. Again, some great visuals you can take in from the car window but if you can manage to stay a night here try for the campground in Capitol Reef Natl. Park. The sights are amazing, the campground had (yes!) beautiful, manicured lawns and deer came out every evening to graze, and it was just down the road from an amazing U-pick peach orchard. I'm drooling right now just remembering lying on that lawn with peach juice dribbling down my arm. Xanadu indeed.

[Ergo]

If you're coming in from Montana, take I-84 west through the Columbia Gorge. Absolutely gorgeous, particularly when sunny. Stop off at the Rogue Brewery in Hood River.

[Major Icehole]

If you stop in Denver there are a ton of great places to get a local beer. Let me know if you're coming through and we'll organize a meet up.

[Moore]

prairie dog town in somethnigorother, kansas! It has 6 legged buffalo and two headed cows. sorta.

[Matthew Gallant]

We're visiting family in Dallas. Not going to the Grand Canyon. Dallas to Denver is actually a 13-hour trip, totally doable in one day.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Ergo, I-84 seems to be quite a bit south of Montana. I think after Yellowstone, we are probably going to be itching to get to Seattle without going too much more out of the way.

[Incendiary Lemon]

If your going through Yellowstone take Beartooth Highway (http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2281/). Its an amazing drive.

from their flack

Providing visitors access to Yellowstone Park's northeast entrance, the Beartooth Highway makes its way across the rugged Beartooth Mountain Range in Montana and Wyoming. The road is the highest elevation highway in the Northern Rockies and provides dramatic views, unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities, and unparalleled wildlife watching

[Matthew Gallant]

If your going through Yellowstone take Beartooth Highway (http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2281/). Its an amazing drive.

from their flack
Excellent!

[Incendiary Lemon]

I drove it quite a long time ago and would love to do it again. Beartooth had just opened for the season and while it was gorgeous on the ground we entered into snow squalls at higher altitudes. Nothing dangerous but beautiful to see. Perhaps the best part about the road is how little traffic it sees. Yellowstone can be a traffic jam on a bad summer day and Beartooth lets you skip much of that.

Absolutely hit the badlands if you can.