Does your best friend know you cuddle?
Haha, no I don't think so but not because it's in a closet. : ) You can say where we 'met'. There isn't anything I wouldn't want him to know about me.
I have done coast to coast road trips in U.S. and while some places are nice, they don't simply hold a candle to Newfoundland.
If you're around New Jersey, it's only about a day of driving to the Ferry. Canada's highways are basically empty so you can comfortably and safely drive 200 kmh anyway.
After you enjoyed the fjords, there's a world famous coastal drive in Nova Scotia.
Not to mention the world's largest flotsam and jetsam, on the drive back to U.S.
Oh, and there's PEI, of course!
It's a short detour (should be under 4,000 miles actually), but waaaay worth it.
You mentioned life changing moments.
In all my cross country road trips, I had maybe 3-4 such moments in U.S.
Way above 25 in Newfoundland road trip.
About half an hour from St.John, there's an Easternmost point of the American continent.
I adjusted my hiking in Gross Morne to make sure I catch the big winter storm there (Middle of November).
I was rewarded with mind-blowing atmospheric phenomenon when giant waves started freezing mid air and disappearing , completely obliterated.
I watch a lot of NatGeo, but you don't see that stuff there.
Granted, I almost got wiped off the shore with one wind gust (happens there all the time), but you can't experience this in U.S.
Say what you will about Canadians, but unlike Americans, they do indeed know how to build Proper Nature...
You are aware the border is closed, no?
None of that stuff is my thing anyway but thank you for the suggestions.
Right, I did already forget about the border...
I was planning to go there again in April for the Iceberg season and meet whales, but it might be still closed, given how well 'Murica's doin'...
@AceCuddlerMike sorry to inform you but most bars that don't serve food are closed by the order of Governor Sisolak in Las Vegas. Yes, unfortunately that includes casino bars. There are plenty of great cuddlers out here though that I can recommend in private. Buffets are also not your traditional buffets, they are run like restaurants where they serve you.
@CrossFitNLattes Thanks for the info. We're not going on this trip for bars or booze. And we're not going for cuddling. Only bars I'd be in are the ones which DO serve food and only if a particular dish is raved about there. You confused me on the last part. Why is it called a buffet? Doesn't matter to me if I'm holding the tongs or someone else is. I'm going to see the food at the buffet tables or not??
In the UK, Pizza Hut buffets have become serve at the table, from a short list of pizza options. I'm not sure if they are made to order ( = long wait ), but you probably can't have just one slice of something.
The change isn't so much for the "hands on tongs" issue, but because people wouldn't "socially distance" at the buffet area unless they went up one at a time, which would be too slow.
I suspect all buffets are going to be done a different way for a while.
I don't know if seeing the food was a big help to me, but it was useful to ask advice of others "How hot is this curry ?"
Arizona sucks but goto Sedona it’s beautiful
@DeathbyChocolat I wanted to see Sedona. As is, I'm hoping we can shave some time off a meal or two and get to the Grand Canyon before dark that day. We'll see how it goes but I might have to settle for photos : (
Being that it's already a coast to coast trip and back, trying to stay close to the interstates.
Made a change to add Yellowstone (Old Faithful/Grand Tetons) so only thing different is 8 September. Makes for a very long day but didn't want to change everything after..
29 August 5am Depart Spurlock 6-7am Breakfast at Waffle House 17137 Dumfries Rd 11-12pm Lunch in Blacksburg- Souvlaki 201 College Ave 4-5pm Dinner in Knoxville -Myrtle's Chicken & Beer 13 Market Sq 7-730pm(time change) small dinner#2 in Nashville -Mas Tacos 732 Mcferrin Ave 1030pm Arrive Memphis motel 9822 Huff N Puff Rd, Lakeland Tn, 3645 Canada Rd, Lakeland,9779 Huff N Puff Rd, Lakeland, TN
30 August 8-9am Breakfast in Memphis Brother Juniper's, 3519 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN 38111 9-12pm Graceland 12-1pm Lunch The Bar B Que Shop 1782 Madison Ave 4-5pm Dinner in Hot Springs AK Deluca's Pizza Neopolitan 407 Park Ave 5-6 Hot Springs National Park 1130pm Arrive Oklahoma City motel 1800 E Reno Ave,1750 E Reno Ave, 2200 S Meridian Ave,
31 August 8-9am Breakfast in OKC Waffle Champion 1212 N Walker Ave #100, Oklahoma City 9-11am National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 Northeast 63rd St 11-12pm Lunch Nic's grill (Fried onion burger w everything)1201 N Pennsylvania Ave 4pm Arrive Amarillo 4-5pm RV Museum 4341 Canyon Dr 5-6pm dinner Coyote Bluff Cafe (burger from hell and green chili fries)2417 S Grand St 930pm (time change)Arrive Santa Fe 9-10pm late dinner Five and dime general store 58 E San Francisco St(frito pie) 10pm arrive motel 3695 Cerrillos Rd, 3007 Cerrillos Rd, 1742 Cerrillos Rd
1 September 8-9am Breakfast Tia Sophia's 210 West San Francisco St (breakfast burrito) 1230-1pm Four Corners Monument, 597 NM-597, Teec Nos Pos, AZ 86514 1-2pm Lunch Grandma's Frybread Shack NM-597, Teec Nos Pos, NM 5-6pm(Time Change) Dinner Little Thai Kitchen 1051 S Milton Rd # D, Flagstaff, AZ 730pm Arrive Grand Canyon South rim 730-800 South rim 830-900 West rim
2 September 1am Arrive motel 1500 Railroad Pass Casino Rd, Henderson, NV, 1301 W Sunset Rd, Henderson, NV 89014•(702) 547-7777, 110 Ville Dr, Boulder City, NV 89005•(702) 293-6444 8am coffee 10-11am Breakfast Mr Mama's 5693 S Jones Blvd Ste 106, Las Vegas 1130-1230pm Hoover Dam 1-130pm In n out Burger 1051 W. Sunset Rd Henderson Nv(burger of course) 130-7pm Las Vegas!! 7-9pm LV Buffet 1130pm Arrive motel in Barstow CA 195 Main St•(760)256-7866,1511 E Main St, (760)256-5673, or Victorville 16901 Stoddard Wells Rd(760)243-1463
3 September 8-9am Breakfast Lola's Kitchen, 1244 E Main St, Barstow, CA 92311 1130-12pm San Diego La Jolla Cove 1230-130pm Oscars Mexican Seafood, 746 Emerald St, San Diego, CA 92109 230-300pm Mexico border driving 400-500pm Dinner Brigantine Seafood, 3263 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 630-730pm TCL Chinese Theatre, 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 745-8pm Drive on Mulholland Drive, scenic overlook (Hollywood sign) 830-900(or whenver) Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier(make sure to take sunset blvd) 11pm Corn Man 2338 Workman St Travel Inn 401 S Westlake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90057•(213) 484-9306
4 September 8-9am Breakfast Eggslut 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles 930-10am Mae Ting’s Coconut Cakes 1200 N. Main St., Chinatown(9a-5p) 1030-11am Mariscos Jalisco 3040 E. Olympic Blvd., Boyle Heights(9a-6p) 1130-12pm Takoyaki Tanota 350 E. 1st St., Little Tokyo(1130a-9p) 1230-1pm Lee's Taco Truck 1515 South La Brea Ave(11a-4a)not a typo
5-530pm Dollar Hits 2422 W. Temple St., Historic FilipinoTown(5p-11p) 7-8pm Hot Motha Clucker 4625 Woodman Ave., Sherman Oaks(7p-12a) 11pm Arrive San Luis Obispo motel
5 September 8-9am Breakfast Libertine Coffee Bar 1240 Broad St SLO 1-2pm Lunch Bacalhau Grill 1555 Alum Rock Ave San Jose 3-4pm Visit Chinatown SF 4-5pm Dinner Sotto Mare 552 Green St (Cioppino seafood stew) 5-6pm Visit Fisherman's Wharf Waterfront area 6pm Drive across Golden Gate Bridge 830pm Arrive motel Days Inn 1215 R St, Merced, CA 95341•(209) 259-4013
6 September 8-9am Breakfast Joe on the Go Cafe 2806 G St. Merced, 11-1pm Mariposa Grove in Yosemite to see Redwoods, Falls, Half Dome, etc 1-2pm Lunch Curry Village Yosemite 530-630pm Dinner Nash & Proper 3621 Broadway Sacramento, CA 1030pm Arrive motel Budget Inn 306 N Main St, Yreka, CA 96097•(530) 842-6835 Or motel 6 1785 S Main St, Yreka, CA
7 September 8am Coffee and depart for Oregon 9-10am Breakfast Punky's Diner 953 Medford Ctr Medford Or 1130-1230 Crater Lake 1-2pm Lunch Beckie’s Cafe, 56484 OR-62, Prospect, OR 630-730 Dinner Diamond Inn Bar 200 Pueblo Blvd Denio, NV 11pm Arrive motel Centre Motel 475 3rd St, Elko, NV 89801•(775) 738-3226 or Rodeway Inn 736 Idaho St, Elko, NV 89801•(775) 738-7152
8 September 7-8am Breakfast Rolberto's 2525 Mountain City Hwy Ste 105A 12-1pm find lunch along route.(quick lunch to see yellowstone before dark) 4-430pm(time change) Yellowstone Old Faithful 530-6pm Grand Teton Park 845pm Chevron 604 W Logan Rd Garden City, UT (Raspberry shake) closes at 9!!! 9-1000pm La Beau's 69 N Bear Lake Blvd Garden City, UT(Raspberry shake...get food too)get there by 9!! 230am arrive motel Traveler's Inn 2690 W Highway 40, Craig, CO 81625•(970) 824-7066 or Super 8 200 CO-13, Craig, CO 81625• (970) 329-2208
9 September 8am Coffee/ Depart for Steamboat Springs 9-10am Breakfast Taco Cabo 729 Yampa St Steamboat Springs, CO 10-1030am Howelsen Hill Ski Area, Howelsen Pkwy, Steamboat Springs, CO 11-1pm Strawberry Park Hot Springs, 44200 Co Rd 36, Steamboat Springs, CO 130-230pm Lunch Laundry 127 11th St Steamboat Springs, CO 3-5pm Karen's house and cows?? 730-8pm Red Rocks Ampitheater (Jimmy Buffet is playing but just want to see the venue) 830-930 Dinner La Fuente Restaurant, 1409, 3023 W 44th Ave, Denver, CO (smothered steak and bean burrito) 10pm arrive motel 6 3050 W 49th Ave, Denver, CO•(303) 455-8888
10 September 8-9am Breakfast Bonfire Burritos 2221 Ford St, Golden, CO 80401 11-12pm Mt Evans Scenic Road (highest road in Denver) 130-230pm Lunch Smokin Yards BBQ 2736 Colorado Blvd Idaho Springs 5-6pm Bighorn Canyon Trading Post 5610 E, US-50, Salida, CO 630-730pm Diner Las Camelinas 128 W 1st St Salida, CO 930pm arrive motel Knights Inn 2409 E Pikes Peak Ave, Colorado Springs, CO•(719) 471-0990
11 September 8-9am Breakfast Boulder St Diner 2416 E Boulder St 930-1030am Garden of the Gods 12-1pm Lunch La Calle Taqueria Y Carnitas 1565 W Alameda Ave Denver, CO 7pm-11pm Bumpin Buffalo Bar and Grill, 245 Main St, Hill City, SD(chislic) 1130pm (or whenever) arrive motel Dakota Cowboy Inn 208 W Mt Rushmore Rd, Custer, SD•(605) 673-4659
12 September 8-9 Breakfast Skogen Kitchen 29 N 5th St Custer, SD 930-1030am Mt Rushmore Monument 1130-1230pm Lunch Harry's Hideaway 16092 Hwy 1416 New Underwood, SD 6-7pm(time change) Dinner Taphouse 41 2101 W 41st St Sioux Falls, SD 1030pm arrive motel Super 8 106 Southeast, 21st St SE, Rochester, MN•(507) 282-1756 or Best Price Inn 1817 S Broadway, Rochester, MN•(507) 289-2376
13 September 8-9 Breakfast Hollandberry Pannekoeken 214 N Broadway Rochester, MN 2-3pm Lunch Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, 439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 6-7pm(time change) Dinner Nine Irish Brothers Lafayette In 1030pm arrive motel Super 8 Wyndham 5655 Feder Rd, Columbus, OH 43228•(614) 335-4681
14 September 8-9am Breakfast Scotty's Cafe 2980 E Broad St Columbus, OH 12-1pm Lunch Black Bear Burritos 132 Pleasant St Morgantown, WV 1-4pm Real estate showing? Visit Campus? Talk to students? 4-5pm Check into motel 6 3506 Monongahela Blvd, Morgantown, WV 26505•(304) 599-8181 or Hotel M 1400 Saratoga Ave, Morgantown, WV 26505•(304) 599-1680 5-6pm Dinner Flying Fish 5003 Mid Atlantic DrMorgantown, WV
15 September House showings with realtor Talk to students Look at some rentals Off campus housing office?
16 September 8-9am Breakfast 1230 Arrive Fairfax
If you're into hot springs and they're open, there are hot springs in both Idaho Springs and Salida.
Lou Malnati's pizza SUCKS!!!! GINO'S EAST PIZZA!!!
@AceCuddlerMike ....Waffle Champion (total party in your mouth) and Nic's...YESSSSSSSSS!!!!! I do hope that you enjoy your brief stay in the Sooner State!!
@cuddlybear998 Is that so? Well, I normally read polls, yelp, forums and try to get a consensus. There isn't a great place out there that you can't find one person who was unhappy, or a lousy place that you can't find one person who loved it. Gotta go with numbers when you don't know. I do, however, have a cousin in Round Lake Beach who grew up in and around Chicago and worked in the city his whole life, so gonna get his opinion yet and may adjust. We also want to find a Ravens bar and I found one in the city so we can watch our team against Cleveland in week 1. : ) Thanks for your take. Keeping Gino's in mind.
@MelanieL Thanks Melanie! I'm looking forward to it. If we weren't too early we'd be stopping to see a Sooner football game! Maybe some other time.
@cuddlybear998 He said "I'm a Gino's fan big time" : ) So first we gotta try to shave a couple of hours off our 2pm arrival in town, looks like an early morning. Because I forgot nfl games start at noon in Chicago, not 1 like I've been used to my whole life. So we'll be heading to George Street Pub asap then we'll worry about pizza. Well I will, my bud is diabetic but still eats like crazy. He does try to avoid bread though
@AceCuddlerMike I lived my whole life in the Chicagoland area and my entire family has also! We all think that their deep dish pizza is always soggy and wet. Their is a Lou Malnati's lottery 5 minutes from my house and I did carry out once. It was soggy and wet. I don't know what all the hype it's about. It's like Portillo's. Their food is alright but their alot of other places that have better hotdogs and Italian beef sandwiches. It's all hype for Portillo's and Lou Malnati's. Because it's a Chicago name. I always recommend Gino's East for deep dish pizza. Don't believe all that hype that's online.
@AceCuddlerMike Ok, great! They do have some other stuff than pizza.
If you can catch a cirque de sole (sp?) show in Vegas you NEED to. ( I have no idea if they’re still having shows at the big casinos right now ) but most of them are fantastic.
Im from Chicago and I have to say I’d choose Lou Malnoti’s over Gino’s East. Must try the deep dish sausage ( patty ) pizza.
I have a lot more recommendations.. used to travel a lot.. i didn’t read through your whole itinerary, but I have great suggestions for SLC, Dever, Boulder, and other parts of Colorado, Chicago, Maryland, and PA.
Ps. You must hit New Orleans & Savannah on your next trip
Have fun!!!
@saramajara Thank you Sara. I guess I'm just gonna have to get eat pizza at one place then get a take out for the road, haha. Yes I hope to do Mardi Gras/Bourbon street some day. Re Vegas, I'll check it out. I'm just hoping to try one of the legendary buffets! Even that might have to wait till the dust settles.
T minus 9 hours to blast off!! I got us a Nissan Versa, beautiful blue. Brand new and for $30 per day! Score!
.....and it's all loaded up
Have fun @AceCuddlerMike !
What a terrific idea and potentially life changing experience. Over the course of my 60+ years, I’ve lived on both the East and West Coasts and remain a big fan of the wonderful scenery and vistas you’ll see in California. Think about traveling Route 1, the Pacific Coast Hwy from Los Angeles North to San Francisco. The views and sights along the way are spectacular.
One particularly nice stretch is San Simeon, Hearst Castle up to Monterey and onto San Francisco. There’s a relatively unknown jewel of a California State Park, Asilomar, located in the Monterey/Pacific Grove section of the city. Asilomar use to offer lodge-type accommodations, cafeteria style meal service and direct access to beach just a short walk from the housing and main buildings. I think it’s still there. Also assume pricing is still pretty reasonable for this state park location set in a peaceful cypress grove. It also happens to be just a 10-minute drive from the entrance to the extraordinarily scenic “21-Mile Drive” (e.g viewing the “Lone Cypress”) through the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course ending in Carmel.
If travel takes you North of San Francisco, give some thought to taking Route 1 along that stretch of road as well. Been wordy up to this point so I’ll leave the detailed descriptions of the many incredible places to see and dine to others. The oyster beds and fried or fresh Pacific oysters on the half shell should not be missed.
Have a grand time and I’m envious. Blktravelnman
I am getting a break from driving and we’re west on 40 in Oklahoma about 1.5 hrs til OKC. Saw a really cool sunset over the plains a little while ago.
I wasn’t expecting an art exhibit but it was an amazing surprise
Abe 🙂