@ElliotMacLeod Correct, going through Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis! We actually went through TN once a couple of years ago on our way to LS Fest in Bowling Green, KY. So far I have Graceland down as our TN attraction, and of course, food stops. : )
@verona Checked that one off as a child. I'm from Baltimore : )
If you're doing the coastal highway at the end, you can go clear from san fran down to san diego, there's so much there. The san fran hostel green Tortoise is a favorite of mine, they do food rescue and you never have to pay for food while you stay there. The coast is so sweet all the way down, constant spectacular views and you can pull over to sleep in a lot of spots. If you go all the way down past LA and toward San Diego you might be able to reach Al Otro Lado and do some border support for people trying to seek sanctuary.. I always like to add something like that into my adventures.. and up till covid you could just go over the boarder to do the work, but now I think you stay on this side. Then if you come back up you can ride through Joshua tree right after.
@BooksnTeas Thanks for the ideas! : ) So THATS where U2 got Joshua Tree... lol I've been to 40 countries but never farther west than Denver one time. And flew there for a softball tournament. Other than that farthest was....Chicago?
@AceCuddlerMike I used to live right near Rose Axel Street in Washington Heights New York and always wondered if that's where Axel Rose got his name.. it's a teeny tiny curved street, not even one whole block. Joshua Tree National Park is also named after the tree itself because there are so many. It's a desert.
@BooksnTeas I'm embarrassed to say that I had never heard of the park or the tree, only the (amazing) album. : )
OMGOSH!!! This sounds like such a fun adventure!! Joshua Tree was so interesting! I rode through it on the back of a motorcycle.... VERY enjoyable. I can't wait to read about it after you're all done with the trip!!
Well I've been looking things up and planning most of the evening and i'm burned out. So far I have us making it to the Grand Canyon on the 1st. Making good time as it's been more about eating than seeing sights until we get out west. Want to make sure we have time to see what we want to see out west before my friend has to be back at work. If we make good enough time he might not have to pay for a flight home.
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 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 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
@AceCuddlerMike I hope you'll be posting photos, especially of the food.
I also hope you'll be stopping random people on 31st to ask "Is this the way to Amarillo ?" 😀
In the vicinity of Amarillo TX (not sure what "the stovepipe" is... Northern Panhandle?) there is Palo Duro Canyon. If you decide to visit it for a hike, make reservation days ahead of time. I believe that this is the next largest canyon after Grand Canyon.
@UCpaaHVg6u0 Yes, looks more like a stovepipe/smokestack to me than the handle of a pan. : )
My friend is much too large for hiking. He can amble around on flat land a bit.
@AceCuddlerMike This image won't get out of my head.
@geoff1000 LOL Ummmm…..why?? Cuz I said my friend is large?
Out on I-40 in west NM and east AZ, you'll be snaking back and forth with Route 66. There's the hotel of teepees you may have seen on some movies. The Navajo Reservation is north of 40, including Monument Valley up into Utah. Wide open spaces. Flagstaff is a neat little mountain town/college town. Meteor Crater is right off of 40 in AZ - a massive crater caused by an asteroid. South of 40, about a half-hour, down I-17 in AZ is Sedona - beautiful rock formations enveloping a small town. You can take the switchbacks down 89A.
@DT80 I wanted to see that crater since we were on 40 all the way out, but when we go up to see the 4 corners monument then back down to Flagstaff, the route that would go by the crater is nearly an hour longer than the suggested route, so I've just pulled up some pics and videos of that. This trip is long enough without long detours. Of course, if I finish this plan and I've done better time than I thought, I might add a few tweaks. I am still working on Los Angeles right now. I have one day where all we do is hit the famous food trucks haha. LA is going to be almost 2 days
I can tell you a lot about hot springs in CO or NM. Moab, UT is surreal in terms of landscape. Depending upon flow, floating on inner tubes down Boulder creek in Boulder, CO is a kick. I loved the Grand Tetons.
@littermate Thanks! Will check those out online. I'm currently planning the route to Colorado from Oregon. Stopped around 3am last night after planning an overnight in Elko, NV then have been doing physical work all day. Time to shower and get back to the planning.
Done...for now....still over 40 days away though so who knows : ) Next step to pull up GasBuddy.com and start making another list!
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 8-9am Breakfast Rolberto's 2525 Mountain City Hwy Ste 105A 12-1pm find lunch along route. 3-4pm(time change) Arrive La Beau's 69 N Bear Lake Blvd Garden City, UT(Raspberry shake...get food too) 415pm Chevron, 604 W Logan Rd, Garden City, UT 84028 (another Raspberry shake here) 915pm 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 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
@AceCuddlerMike Re: Crater Lake and "Yeah I just want to jump in once." and "...I need to jump off a cliff." plus the time you've given yourself there (in another thread?)...
I've been thinking I should let you know... There really are no cliffs to jump off of where you'd land in water (unless you maybe had a flying squirrel suit). It's a caldera so the walls are all pitched, jagged and unforgiving - Basically, if you jumped it would be a painful way to go...
But you can get down to and go into the water ~ The only (safe) way is steep trail along the Northern rim. It descends over 650 feet (200 m) from the Cleetwood Cove parking lot... the trail is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) long with an 11% grade. (Thanks wikipedia!) On alltrails.com it's listed as "strenuous" and takes a bit to hike round trip. But it's pretty sweet if you have the time (and stamina 🥵)!
Also, if you're planning to drive the entire loop to check out all the amazing vistas (the whole loop is open and should be at least through September) it can take 1.5 hours not including stops (stopping at various overlooks can easily double that time).
Every where you go out there is absolutely breathtaking, and I have yet to see an image that captures what it's actually like to be there (it's truly an experience)! 🏞
If your plan was to just travel along one side and exit, I recommend taking the in and out to the Pinnacles! They're also something that no picture does justice and are totally worth it! And no hike is required - just park, stroll and enjoy!!!
@quixotic_life Thanks for the info. This is what led me to believe I could but any way I can get in : )
Skip to 2:32
Oh right... Once you hike down there of course!!! I was picturing from waaaaay higher up. Lol!
@AceCuddlerMike
@quixotic_life Haha what am I Greg Louganis? No not like Acapulco. Highest I've dove from was a 10 ft board and that took some thought.
I am half Greek, however : |
Hahaha! I love it! Why do those boards have to be so high, narrow and bouncy? Give me the 10ft rock and I'd be okay.... but the board... hard Nope!
I was 13 I think the first time I encountered a 10ft and I just knew I had to. It was a hotel in Miami called the Monmartre or something like that. Got up there...thought about climbing back down. Then turned away from the water, got on my stomach and hung off the board by my hands before dropping. Got back up there then stepped off, feet first. Then jumped a littler higher still feet first. Then dove but pretty much straight down. Before long I was jumping upwards, then curving down into a swan dive (that was scary)
Looks like a great trip! Give me a wave when you're in Denver.
@littermate Will do : ) I'll try to remember to get a pic from Mt. Evans and post it
I was gonna say, I'll join you for dinner if you'd like company, but then I remembered, well, social distancing.
@littermate Still a month plus before Denver so who knows but if things haven't changed for the better we'll be finding outdoor tables so you're welcome to come say hi. You can keep in touch around the dates we'll be there. My best friend will be with me. 571-655-1097
OK! I'll make a note.