American road trip

[Emirus]

This summer I’m going to drive from Seattle to Detroit. Obviously Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse will feature but I’m looking for suggestions for other places to visit on my trip. I would prefer it if the person giving the advice has actually visited the place they are suggesting.

 

[Hal9000_]

About the only other things would be Yosemite or Yellowstone? Old faithful?

 

[cowslinger64]

A bit out of the way perhaps would be driving down the Pacific Coast Highway.. Death Valley is beautiful too.. Vegas is a great stop, tho once again that, and the Grand Canyon are south. Utah is a beautiful state and seeing the Rockies is awesome too. Skip Iowa, Kansas, Ohio,...

I've been told the Trans Canada highway is spectacular.. you could come down through the Upper Peninsula down to Detroit, it's beautiful up there.. Copper Harbor, Taquahmenon (sp) Falls, Pictured Rocks and Mackinaw Island and bridge are worth seeing.

 

[jaF0]

Do you want country or city?

Country you go Minnesota, Wisconsin (possibly catch Wisconsin Dells), into MI, then down I75 over Big Mack, one of the longest suspension bridges.

City, you can go I94 and fight through the hell known as Chicago and Gary IN.

 

[jaF0]

If you go that way, try the smoked whitefish available in several places WI and northern MI if you get a chance.

 

[cowslinger64]

Do you want country or city?

Country you go Minnesota, Wisconsin (possibly catch Wisconsin Dells), into MI, then down I75 over Big Mack, one of the longest suspension bridges.

City, you can go I94 and fight through the hell known as Chicago and Gary IN.

If you plan it right, 94 can be ok. Avoid anything resembling rush hour.. lol It's usually a good place to stop for gas too.. I travel it every day here in Detroit..


Seeing the Mackinac Bridge is awesome, especially for the first time..

 

[jaF0]

I guess the main question is how do you plan to get from Seattle to South Dakota, and how much time do you have? Idaho has places like Snake River Canyon (Evel Knevil) and Colorado has the Royal Gorge.

Montana has well ......... big sky and not a helluva lot else.

Wall Drug used to be a major attraction in SD also, but I'm not sure what it's like now.

 

[jaF0]

I94 just plain sucks. There isn't any other way to put that.

I used to drive US12 as much as I could, but that's when Irish Hills was a place to go.

But in all fairness, I80 is almost as bad.

 

[jaF0]

One thing I cannot stress enough, especially for anyone who isn't used to driving very long distances.

WATCH YOUR GAS GAUGE!!!

There are places on some of those western Interstates where it's a hundred miles or more between exits and there may not be gas at all of them. The last place you want to be when you get low on gas is 80 miles from anywhere. I coasted down the mountain through the Eisenhower Tunnel and off the ramp into the first gas station one time.

 

[Emirus]

A bit out of the way perhaps would be driving down the Pacific Coast Highway.. Death Valley is beautiful too.. Vegas is a great stop, tho once again that, and the Grand Canyon are south. Utah is a beautiful state and seeing the Rockies is awesome too. Skip Iowa, Kansas, Ohio,...

I've been told the Trans Canada highway is spectacular.. you could come down through the Upper Peninsula down to Detroit, it's beautiful up there.. Copper Harbor, Taquahmenon (sp) Falls, Pictured Rocks and Mackinaw Island and bridge are worth seeing.

We are starting in San Diego driving up to San Francisco and taking about ten days. If there is anyone on in Las Vegas that we would like to see we will call there and we have been thinking of Death Valley.

 

[Emirus]

I guess the main question is how do you plan to get from Seattle to South Dakota, and how much time do you have? Idaho has places like Snake River Canyon (Evel Knevil) and Colorado has the Royal Gorge.

Montana has well ......... big sky and not a helluva lot else.

Wall Drug used to be a major attraction in SD also, but I'm not sure what it's like now.

We will be driving from Seattle to Detroit and taking 12/14 days for the trip. We are driving San Diego to San Francisco, flying to Seattle, driving Seattle to Detroit.

What is Wall Drug?

 

[jaF0]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Drug


For some it's a destination not to be missed. For others it's just another store/mall. Last time I was there was in the 70s sometime.

For that matter, if you're interested in malls, there is the Mall of America in Minnesota that some people visit from all over the world. I've never been there.

I guess it depends on what types of things you want to see, man made or natural.

 

[HisArpy]

I would be sure to see Yellowstone on the way. In addition to that:

Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls Idaho should be on your list. If you're into WWII era warplanes there's a museum in Nampa. There's also a theme park north of Coeur d'Alene near a town called "North Pole". (Silverwood Theme Park.)

The National Bison Range in Montana is a good stop. As is the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. Think Fossils.

Badlands National Park in S. Dakota is pretty neat. Take the Loop Road. Wall Drug is in S. Dakota too but it's really only a restaurant/tourist trap with good marketing. If you decide to go to Wall, stop at the Wounded Knee museum too.

I don't know anything about Wisconsin except never ending corn fields. Sorry.

In Springfield Illinois, stop at both the Lincoln Home and Lincoln Tomb. It's not much for little kids but for adults feeling the weight of history that's there is surprising.

If you could extend your trip into Michigan, I'd also include Mackinac Island as a place to visit. (turn your right hand palm toward you. That's Michigan. Mackinac Island is at the tip of your middle finger. Chicago is to the left of your wrist.)

 

[Emirus]

I guess it depends on what types of things you want to see, man made or natural.

That’s exactly right. We will never do this again so, although my wife likes shopping, it’s more the sights and places that an American (we’re English) would want to see if someone offered them a free trip. We are open to all and any suggestions. I’m very grateful for the information I’ve received so far. Please don’t stop.

 

[jaF0]

Also read up on Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Joseph

 

[jaF0]

Sites associated with the Nez Perce: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nez_Perce_National_Historical_Park

 

[Wrong Element]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Drug


For some it's a destination not to be missed. For others it's just another store/mall. Last time I was there was in the 70s sometime.

For that matter, if you're interested in malls, there is the Mall of America in Minnesota that some people visit from all over the world. I've never been there.

I guess it depends on what types of things you want to see, man made or natural.

I saw a Wall Drug bumper sticker just the other day.

About the only other things would be Yosemite or Yellowstone? Old faithful?

Yosemite is well worth visiting, but it's nowhere near Seattle. That would be a full day's drive at least, and then another day to actually see it.


People visiting the U.S. can sometimes be shocked by just how big it is, especially if they're driving. You wouldn't want to give the impression that something like Yosemite would be just a short detour on a Seattle-Detroit drive.

 

[AbsintheFather]

We are starting in San Diego driving up to San Francisco and taking about ten days. If there is anyone on in Las Vegas that we would like to see we will call there and we have been thinking of Death Valley.

We will be driving from Seattle to Detroit and taking 12/14 days for the trip. We are driving San Diego to San Francisco, flying to Seattle, driving Seattle to Detroit.

If it were me . . . I'd leave SF and then head due east to visit Lake Tahoe and Yosemite before heading north up to Seattle.

From Seattle, I'd head a little further north to Vancouver and then drive east through the Canadian Rockies. It's so scenic. The national parks (Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper) and the glacial lakes and vistas are spectacular. Drive through the mountains until you hit Calgary and then head south back to the US and then east on Rt. 90.

I agree with the previous comments about Michigan's Upper Peninsula, whitefish, the bridge and all that. Maybe also visit Mackinaw Island, Petosky or Charleviox in Northern MI before heading south to Detroit. I'm only worried about how much there is to see and how little time you really have.

 

[Emirus]

Yosemite is well worth visiting, but it's nowhere near Seattle. That would be a full day's drive at least, and then another day to actually see it.

People visiting the U.S. can sometimes be shocked by just how big it is, especially if they're driving. You wouldn't want to give the impression that something like Yosemite would be just a short detour on a Seattle-Detroit drive.

The point about the distances is well made and important. Fortunately in over 40 years we’ve visited 20 states plus many major cities and covered a few thousand miles and so, unlike many foreign visitors, we are aware of what distances can be involved.

As I mentioned in an earlier post before driving Seattle-Detroit we are driving San Diego-San Francisco so it would be then we would take in Yosemite. We are allowing plenty of time for both journeys to try and get in as much as possible as we will not be doing this again.

 

[Emirus]

If it were me . . . I'd leave SF and then head due east to visit Lake Tahoe and Yosemite before heading north up to Seattle. I'm only worried about how much there is to see and how little time you really have.

We are taking about 12 days for San Diego-San Francisco and the same for Seattle-Detroit. We would visit Yosemite on the way to San Francisco although we did visit Yosemite a few years ago on the way from Las Vegas to San Francisco. We are flying San Francisco-Seattle.

The purpose of this thread is brain picking and I am really appreciative of the responses.

 

[Wrong Element]

The point about the distances is well made and important. Fortunately in over 40 years we’ve visited 20 states plus many major cities and covered a few thousand miles and so, unlike many foreign visitors, we are aware of what distances can be involved.

As I mentioned in an earlier post before driving Seattle-Detroit we are driving San Diego-San Francisco so it would be then we would take in Yosemite. We are allowing plenty of time for both journeys to try and get in as much as possible as we will not be doing this again.

Ah, OK. I really should try reading more before I comment. This is a point my wife has also made on occasion.

California can be a vacation all by itself, of course.

 

[HisArpy]

We are taking about 12 days for San Diego-San Francisco and the same for Seattle-Detroit. We would visit Yosemite on the way to San Francisco although we did visit Yosemite a few years ago on the way from Las Vegas to San Francisco. We are flying San Francisco-Seattle.

The purpose of this thread is brain picking and I am really appreciative of the responses.

There are 3 possible routes from San Diego to SF. Which highway are you thinking of using for the majority of your trip?

Highway 101/ Highway 1
Interstate 5
Highway 99.

Highway 101/Highway 1 offers the most interest on a direct line up the coast. Sea World in San Diego, San Juan Capistrano Mission, Disney/Knotts Berry Farm in La., Hurst Castle, Monterrey Aquarium, Carmel and Big Sur. Plus you can stop at the beach and watch the waves almost any time you want.

Interstate 5 is the most direct and fastest but boring boring boring for most of the trip. It's really a transportation corridor more than anything.

Highway 99 offers side trips into the Sierra. Go east at Visalia for the loop through the Sequoias that comes out in Fresno. Yosemite. Highway 49 through the Mother Lode country. Tahoe.

 

[Emirus]

There are 3 possible routes from San Diego to SF. Which highway are you thinking of using for the majority of your trip?

Highway 101/ Highway 1
Interstate 5
Highway 99.

Highway 101/Highway 1 offers the most interest on a direct line up the coast. Sea World in San Diego, San Juan Capistrano Mission, Disney/Knotts Berry Farm in La., Hurst Castle, Monterrey Aquarium, Carmel and Big Sur. Plus you can stop at the beach and watch the waves almost any time you want.

Interstate 5 is the most direct and fastest but boring boring boring for most of the trip. It's really a transportation corridor more than anything.

Highway 99 offers side trips into the Sierra. Go east at Visalia for the loop through the Sequoias that comes out in Fresno. Yosemite. Highway 49 through the Mother Lode country. Tahoe.

An immediate decision from your post. Interstate 5 is definitely out. We aren’t interesting in getting to San Francisco quickly (we have allowed 10 days travel) or anything boring. So thank you for that information.

We have been thinking (although this is not set in stone) of zigzagging our way up to San Francisco based on the advice of people who know more than we do.

Previously the major cities we’ve visited in California have been a day in San Francisco; two days in Las Angeles seeing the usual tourist things; and four nights in San Francisco. But we want to see more of the “real America” that we’ve seen in other states over the years.

 

[jaF0]

If you think about using the PCH, check ahead for any problems. It's prone to landslides after they've had a lot of rain.

 

[thør]

An immediate decision from your post. Interstate 5 is definitely out. We aren’t interesting in getting to San Francisco quickly (we have allowed 10 days travel) or anything boring. So thank you for that information.

We have been thinking (although this is not set in stone) of zigzagging our way up to San Francisco based on the advice of people who know more than we do.

Previously the major cities we’ve visited in California have been a day in San Francisco; two days in Las Angeles seeing the usual tourist things; and four nights in San Francisco. But we want to see more of the “real America” that we’ve seen in other states over the years.

San Francisco is a wonderful place for the real America. Just be careful where you step, there's feces on the sidewalks downtown.

Take the BART to Berkeley, walk uphill to Euclid, and have pizza for lunch at La Val's. It's the same as it was in the 70's, with the exception that they now have gluten-free and vegan offerings. After pizza, continue half a block to Ridge and look along the curb uphill. About a block and a half up hill, you will see a surface expression of the Hayward fault as it shears the curb and sidewalk. Turn back toward campus and walk across Hearst and onto campus. If you continue in a line south, you'll end up at Telegraph, where you can celebrate the Antifa uprising or just see winos urinating on cars. A block down is the Bank of America building with no windows, because after the 60's riots, the windows were considered a liability. Then, a downhill walk back down the south side of campus to BART.