Road Trip

[CG]

Taking off in a few weeks for our first retirement road trip. The plan is to be gone for four weeks ... give or take.

We have family members staying at our place. They have done it before but only a week long stint. In the past because of job commitments we were only allowed a weeks vacation at a time. Once back in 02 I was able to take two weeks, it was great but I was getting itchy to get back to work to see if it toppled to the ground lol.

Going to Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada (maybe), California, Oregon, and back home to Washington. Ive been to all these places before but never had time to stop and enjoy much.

Hoping to go up the left coast as far as possible as long as it hasnt washed away. I really love Northern Cali and we have family there we might pop in on.
Also have friends and family in Arizona we have planned visiting.

Like I mentioned I have been to all of these places and seen most of the popular tourist areas, but if you have some cool places that might not be in the guide books let me know. I like seeing that kind of thing.

[Sheepdip]

Yosemite is a must see if you have not already. I hear now you have to have reservations ..WTH?
I only live 70 miles down the hill, and when I was a kid (60's) we just loaded up the camping/fishing gear and went to Yosemite.
Times have changed

[CG]

Yeah the National Parks aren't the same. Like you said all you used to have to do was load up and go. We do have our National Park pass though and are working on our timing but its a little bit tougher because we dont really want a set schedule.

[truckster]

If you're in southern Utah, one of my favorite hikes is lower Calf Creek Falls. It's an easy hike and beautiful scenery.

[tim71]

Sounds like a lot of fun, have a safe trip. I’m a year away from my wife joining me in retirement and we plan to hit the road also for a month or so. I’m looking forward to it.

[68bowtie]

Cool! Sounds like it will be a great trip. Norcal coast is beautiful for sure.

[GOPAPA]

If you or the wife like Chocolate ,,then the small town called Solvang California just off the 101 has the best . But first ... start at Santa Barbara and head up the coast to get to Solvang and then , you will see some pretty beaches and then continue on up to Oregon and there is the most picture perfect beaches in the world..

[dave6672]

I love a road trip. Enjoy and please post pics when you get back!

[LockDoc]

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Hope you have a great trip Mark. We will wait for the wild stories when you get back....
.

[72 tigger]

Road trips are great!
Please keep us updated in your travels

[Palf70Step]

Enjoy your trip. Looking forward to seeing/hearing if you can take vacation that long. I still have a rough time being out more then 2 weeks.

[special-K]

The North Rim of Grande Canyon is a different way to see the canyon, drive across it, go to the river, and see Glen Canyon Dam. Also the south Utah desert areas. I don't know how much has changed, but when we went only one out of ten went to the North Rim. Far more natural, higher elevation, so wooded. Not the tourist trap that the South Rim is.

In California, of course the redwood groves near the coast, but also Fern Canyon north of Eureka on the coast. More inland are the Trinity Alps, a very nice area

[Getter-Done]

My Uncle retired and settled in North California.

He was a park ranger in one of the Redwood Forest somewhere in California.

There is more to see in Idaho that I thought when I looked it up.
The Snake River, Yellowstone and The Potato Factory.



I hope you have a Great Vacation.

[CG]

Taking notes as suggestions come along. I appreciate the input.

We looked up Calf Creek Falls, thats a beautiful place.

Chocolate in Solvang sounds very good, especially since it doesnt look to be much off our intended route.

Yosemite is on our maybe list, its out of the way of our intended route. Have to wait and see on that one.

I have been reading up on the Grand Canyon and I agree on the North Rim. Something I missed when I was down there before. We have family in Eureka, I never miss seeing the Red Woods when down that way. They really are something to behold.

Like I mentioned we are still a few weeks out so we are always open to suggestions, from sites to good eats.

[68bowtie]

If you do happen to add Yosemite to your route you’ll likely drive right passed mister sheepdip, and very close by me too. I’d buy you a beer at Dust Bowl Brewery if that’s not too far off your path. Maybe some other folks in the area could meet you there for a quick show and tell…

[LS short box]

I assume you will driving a late model convertible for the trip? If you don't have one places like Hertz rents them. We did that 5-6 years ago in Rapid City and toured the Black Hills area for a week. Mustang GT vert. It was great fun.
Have great safe trip.

[CG]

We are actually renting an SUV. We have one of our own but I dont really want to add an additional 3000 plus miles to it. Unsure if we want to purchase one more new vehicle before we croak. Anyway being on the road for a month we will have a bunch of extra stuff with us we wouldnt usually have on a week long trip. So the SUV is roomier.

We have taken our little Fiat 500 with the top that folds all the way back on road trips. An OK little car, but defiantly not made for a long haul trip.

I have been to the Black Hills many times. Another great place, and like you said beautiful with a convertible. I did ride my Harley (long since sold) all through there one year.

[LS short box]

Maybe your plans aren't going further east and north but the Tetons and Yellowstone are pretty cool. Best in early to mid May before all the tourists show up. I lived in Bozeman as kid and our Sunday trips were a loop thru the park. Around the lake and Eden Valley. Then as a bonus the garbage dump near West Yellowstone watching the bears grizz and blacks going thru the garbage
The deer/elk/buffalo/moose/bears and maybe even a wolf will look a bit scruffy in May but still fun to watch.
The Beartooth highway is very cool but may not be open in early May.

[special-K]

Correct me if my memory is off, but isn't Pismo Beach somewhat near Solvang? You know how it is when you're traveling, driving all day, what you remember being close could be hours away. It seems to me it was in the same general area. Anyway, maybe for a motorhead break you could go see some sand devils ripping it up. you know, something for the wife . Hey, she gets chocolate and you get Vroom!

[GOPAPA]

[QUOTE=special-K;9304644]Correct me is my memory is off, but isn't Pismo Beach somewhat near Solvang?

Solvang is a Dutch small town where movies have been made due to the whole town windmill look it has and of course it's Chocolate ,,and just a hop and a jump north along the 101 is Los Olivos where Davey Crockett (Fess Parker) has his own home grown grape wine establishment for tasting and if one wants you can drive out of town to his Ranch ,, then as Tim says on up to Pismo Beach which is right along the 101 about 50 miles you can go out on a big warf and watch surfers and of course have lunch of most any kind of sea food there is .
I have done all of this as my son and family lives at Solvang and Los Olivos .
It's gonna be hard to pick and choose out of all the sites to see,,traveling thru the states you have in mind,, when done be sure and come back with a full page write up ,I for one will read ever bit of it .