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User Content => Road Trips => Topic started by: noelbotevera on July 13, 2016, 10:42:58 AM

Title: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: noelbotevera on July 13, 2016, 10:42:58 AM
So, for next summer, I've been thinking of a couple road trips. Here are options I've been considering.
Note: Time Allocated is not definite yet.

Option 1: Detroit - Cedar Point - Cleveland
Time Allocated: 1 week?
Synopsis: So, these areas have been on my bucket list for a while, and my father hasn't visited Detroit since the early 90's. So it will probably take about 5 hours to get there, probably spending a day just getting there. Then a day or two in Detroit, two to three in Cedar Point, and a day in Cleveland. Hotel might be near Cedar Point, since it's roughly equidistant from Detroit and Cleveland.

Option 2: Hampton Roads area (incl. Williamsburg, Suffolk?, and Outer Banks)
Time Allocated: 1-2 week(s)?
Note: Not sure if anything is of interest is in Suffolk. I just want to go there to check out the US 58 bypass, and old US 58/US 460.
Synopsis: This area is something I've wanted to check out too, because I have never seen a beach in about a year or two. I've also never been to the Outer Banks (unless you consider New Bern to be in the Outer Banks). So basically, I'll dedicate a day to each city in the Hampton Roads area (Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake), NC 12 along the Outer Banks, and Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. Maybe Suffolk.

Option 3: Boston area (incl. Nashua - Manchester - Concord NH and Cape Cod)
Time Allocated: 1-2 week(s)?
Note: New Hampshire is just in here so I can brag to classmates that I have been to New England (though I already have - I went to Providence once in 2009, and does New York City count as New England?). Though I might find something interesting.
Synopsis: It's something I've wanted to do in a long time. Besides, tons of interesting places in Boston, and signs for roadgeeks (black background button copy "RIGHT TURN AHEAD", you will be photographed!). I'll dedicate maybe two days to New Hampshire, two days to Cape Cod, eight to the Boston area, and two days for going there and return.

Option 4: Toronto area (incl. Barrie and Niagara Falls, NY-ON)
Time Allocated: 2 weeks?
Synopsis: My first visit to Canada. It's something for a breath of fresh air, and I've wanted to see Niagara Falls in person. This will be an adventure, and it'll be fun. I can also see the main roadgeek attractions: QEW's directions and Ontario Highway 401 through Toronto.

More things will come later whenever I edit this post, or some interesting suggestions come along.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: US 41 on July 13, 2016, 10:54:02 AM
I haven't even thought about road trips for next year yet. I'm still planning this years road trips. A friend of mine wants me to come out to Salt Lake City sometime, so maybe that will eventually be on the list.

This winter (most likely in Feb 2017) I might make a trip back down to the southwest / Mexico, but I still haven't decided on that yet and I most likely won't for a while.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: 7/8 on July 13, 2016, 01:02:40 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 13, 2016, 10:42:58 AM
Option 3: Boston area (incl. Nashua - Manchester - Concord NH and Cape Cod)
Time Allocated: 1-2 week(s)?
Note: New Hampshire is just in here so I can brag to classmates that I have been to New England (though I already have - I went to Providence once in 2009, and does New York City count as New England?). Though I might find something interesting.
Synopsis: It's something I've wanted to do in a long time. Besides, tons of interesting places in Boston, and signs for roadgeeks (black background button copy "RIGHT TURN AHEAD", you will be photographed!). I'll dedicate maybe two days to New Hampshire, two days to Cape Cod, eight to the Boston area, and two days for going there and return.

No, most people say New England is VT, NH, ME, MA, RI, and CT only. In fact I've heard some people say SW CT isn't truly New England due to NYC's influence (this is probably debatable).

I would definitely like to take a roadtrip to Boston! It's not that far from home, but for whatever reason I've never gone out that way.

Whichever one you end up choosing, I would like to see some of the roadgeek photos :)

Quote from: US 41 on July 13, 2016, 10:54:02 AM
I haven't even thought about road trips for next year yet. I'm still planning this years road trips. A friend of mine wants me to come out to Salt Lake City sometime, so maybe that will eventually be on the list.

Same, I'm still hoping to take a short trip this summer (in August or early September)
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: kphoger on July 13, 2016, 03:57:22 PM
I'm planning our family's first just-for-fun vacation.  We'll have been married 11 years by then, but all our vacations have been to visit family, to attend weddings or funerals, for mission trips, or along with another couple or family.  This will be the first no-strings-attached vacation.  I'm thinking it'll be an eight-day road trip.

Here are the plans so far...

US-400 to Dodge City (KS), visit Boot Hill Museum, US-400 & US-54 to John Martin Reservoir State Park (CO), campground overnight.

US-50 through Cañon City (CO), side trip to Royal Gorge Bridge, US-50 across Monarch Pass & US-550 to Amphitheater Campground @ Ouray (CO); visit Box Canyon Falls, hot springs, etc.

US-550 & forest roads across Ophir Pass, CO-145 & CO-141 to Gateway (CO), then forest roads west into the Manti—La Sal National Forest (UT), campground @ Warner Lake; visit Dead Horse Point State Park, Arches National Park, Mill Creek Waterfall.

UT-128, old US-6, I-70 through Glenwood Canyon and the Eisenhower Tunnel to Black Hawk (CO), tour Hidee Gold Mine, CO-119 to Golden Gate Canyon State Park (CO), Reverends Ridge Campground overnight.

CO-119, US-6, CO-58, I-70, I-135 back to Wichita (KS).
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 12:18:37 AM
Planning on starting in Seattle and working my way to the UP in Michigan and down to Detroit.  That would get me Isle Royale and Voyaguers National Parks...which would make 46 of the 47 in the continental United States.  PLUS it would let me see some family and maybe catch some games at Comerica.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Rothman on July 15, 2016, 08:51:30 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 12:18:37 AM
Planning on starting in Seattle and working my way to the UP in Michigan and down to Detroit.  That would get me Isle Royale and Voyaguers National Parks...which would make 46 of the 47 in the continental United States.  PLUS it would let me see some family and maybe catch some games at Comerica.

Real national park purists consider all 412 units managed by the National Park Service (for what does the NPS manage, if not national "parks"?). :D
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 09:18:20 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 15, 2016, 08:51:30 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 12:18:37 AM
Planning on starting in Seattle and working my way to the UP in Michigan and down to Detroit.  That would get me Isle Royale and Voyaguers National Parks...which would make 46 of the 47 in the continental United States.  PLUS it would let me see some family and maybe catch some games at Comerica.

Real national park purists consider all 412 units managed by the National Park Service (for what does the NPS manage, if not national "parks"?). :D

They can say that all they want but there is a HUGE step down even between the National Parks and National Monuments...at least usually.  I would be 46 National Monuments and of course there is plenty of those along the way also.....Historic Sites and the rest I never bothered to count up.  I never considered myself what they might call a "purist" it's pretty good number to measure my travels through though.  Basically after I hit the 47 state side I'm going to try to tackle Alaska which might be a 2018 or 2019 thing, the main problem being is finding what planes, ships or other gets to all of them....the pace would be infinitely slower without a car also.

Funny thing is though a lot of National Monuments I've been to are out west and are managed by the BLM rather than the NPS.  I've noticed that Congress is getting really hesitant to shift some of these newer monuments to the NPS and there has been HUGE volume of them since Clinton.  Some are really deserving like the Vermillon Cliffs but there are others like the Sonoran Desert National Monument that should be rejected or turned into a wildlife refuge.  I know one of the Obama era National Monuments actually got turned back over but I can't recall which one off the top of my head.  Interestingly I was thinking about hitting on this topic for a new thread in Off-Topic...in particular National Monuments that ought to have National Park status. 

ALSO...speaking of purists, I don't do the National Park passport stamp.  I actually collect the park maps and have the National Park units mounted on a wall in my den, I used to post the National Monuments before I dug deep into the BLM managed ones.  But for the purposes of this 2017 roadtrip my route basically would be the following:

Start:  Seattle
1.  Olympic National Park
2.  Mount Rainier National Park
3.  Big Four Ice Cave
4.  WA 20/North Cascades Highway and North Cascades National Park.
5.  Seeing some friends in CDA on I-90 in Idaho.
6.  Glacier National Park and the Going-to-the-Sun Road
7.  Either Bannock or Virginia City.
8.  Yellowstone via the western entrance with a exit out of the north by Mammoth Hot Springs.
9.  TR National Park.
10.  Hitting the road hard to get out to Voyageurs National Park.
11.  Isle Royale National Park by way of boat at Copper Harbor, MI.
12.  Mackinac Island
13.  Sleeping Bear Dunes and visiting family around Traverse City.
14.  Visiting family in Lansing.
15.  Visiting family in Detroit.

Basically looking at maybe departing mid-June to ensure the Going-to-the-sun-Road is open but isn't too late to be crazy busy with tourists.  Usually there are old road alignments, rail abandonment, historic sites and ghost towns that I fill out maps with in between the major way points....including National Monuments.  :-D
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Rothman on July 15, 2016, 10:27:39 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 09:18:20 AM

They can say that all they want but there is a HUGE step down even between the National Parks and National Monuments...at least usually... 

Funny thing is though a lot of National Monuments I've been to are out west and are managed by the BLM rather than the NPS.  I've noticed that Congress is getting really hesitant to shift some of these newer monuments to the NPS and there has been HUGE volume of them since Clinton... 

ALSO...speaking of purists, I don't do the National Park passport stamp...


Step down?  Not sure where the step down between, say, Wind Cave National Park and Devils Tower National Monument.  Keep in mind there are a whole variety of other designations out there (National Recreation Areas, National Memorials, National Historical Parks, etc.).

The beginning of BLM managing certain units extended from Grand Staircase-Escalante; it was actually the Executive Department/President that pushed for BLM to get involved and not Congress.  See this article (http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060040203).

Why not get the stamps?  They've always been a relatively easy, straightforward way of recording visits.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 11:20:25 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 15, 2016, 10:27:39 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 09:18:20 AM

They can say that all they want but there is a HUGE step down even between the National Parks and National Monuments...at least usually... 

Funny thing is though a lot of National Monuments I've been to are out west and are managed by the BLM rather than the NPS.  I've noticed that Congress is getting really hesitant to shift some of these newer monuments to the NPS and there has been HUGE volume of them since Clinton... 

ALSO...speaking of purists, I don't do the National Park passport stamp...


Step down?  Not sure where the step down between, say, Wind Cave National Park and Devils Tower National Monument.  Keep in mind there are a whole variety of other designations out there (National Recreation Areas, National Memorials, National Historical Parks, etc.).

The beginning of BLM managing certain units extended from Grand Staircase-Escalante; it was actually the Executive Department/President that pushed for BLM to get involved and not Congress.  See this article (http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060040203).

Why not get the stamps?  They've always been a relatively easy, straightforward way of recording visits.

Overall I find the Parks to usually be something a little bit more substantial than the monuments.  That's not to say that there aren't monuments just as good as the parks or parks that maybe ought to be monuments.  If I recall correctly the Wind Cave was the 6th national park?  I would view a monument more a smaller geographic feature or some sort of structure.  Mesa Verde comes to mind that regard because I didn't really view it has something "better" than say a Canyon de Chelley.  I have a feeling if it was going to be designated a park unit today it would be monument.  But at the end of the day I tend to see whatever is available reasonably no matter who manages it. 

Was it now?  Regardless a lot of the BLM involvement always seemed to be for the monuments that never got much visitation.  It doesn't seem necessary to build visitor centers and staff park rangers everywhere...I'm always up for more protected lands regardless to go explore.  Off the grid places are often the best since you really are on your own, it's actually a nice change of pace and for what it's worth I find it peaceful.

Well thing was I was about 15 national parks in before I even realized that passport stamping was a thing.  I already had the maps and have a substantial number of roads maps to go along with it.  So I just figured maps was more my speed in addition to photos being infinitely more accessible these days.  Besides, I often show up well before the visitor center is open or a gate is staffed.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: noelbotevera on July 15, 2016, 11:46:24 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 15, 2016, 10:27:39 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 09:18:20 AM

They can say that all they want but there is a HUGE step down even between the National Parks and National Monuments...at least usually... 

Funny thing is though a lot of National Monuments I've been to are out west and are managed by the BLM rather than the NPS.  I've noticed that Congress is getting really hesitant to shift some of these newer monuments to the NPS and there has been HUGE volume of them since Clinton... 

ALSO...speaking of purists, I don't do the National Park passport stamp...


Step down?  Not sure where the step down between, say, Wind Cave National Park and Devils Tower National Monument.  Keep in mind there are a whole variety of other designations out there (National Recreation Areas, National Memorials, National Historical Parks, etc.).

The beginning of BLM managing certain units extended from Grand Staircase-Escalante; it was actually the Executive Department/President that pushed for BLM to get involved and not Congress.  See this article (http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060040203).

Why not get the stamps?  They've always been a relatively easy, straightforward way of recording visits.
Well, some of the parks don't make sense. Gettysburg for example should be a National Historical Park, but instead it's just a plain  National Park. Most of the Civil War battlefields that the NPS maintains are National Parks instead of National Historical Parks.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 11:50:08 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 15, 2016, 11:46:24 AM
Quote from: Rothman on July 15, 2016, 10:27:39 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 09:18:20 AM

They can say that all they want but there is a HUGE step down even between the National Parks and National Monuments...at least usually... 

Funny thing is though a lot of National Monuments I've been to are out west and are managed by the BLM rather than the NPS.  I've noticed that Congress is getting really hesitant to shift some of these newer monuments to the NPS and there has been HUGE volume of them since Clinton... 

ALSO...speaking of purists, I don't do the National Park passport stamp...


Step down?  Not sure where the step down between, say, Wind Cave National Park and Devils Tower National Monument.  Keep in mind there are a whole variety of other designations out there (National Recreation Areas, National Memorials, National Historical Parks, etc.).

The beginning of BLM managing certain units extended from Grand Staircase-Escalante; it was actually the Executive Department/President that pushed for BLM to get involved and not Congress.  See this article (http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060040203).

Why not get the stamps?  They've always been a relatively easy, straightforward way of recording visits.
Well, some of the parks don't make sense. Gettysburg for example should be a National Historical Park, but instead it's just a plain  National Park. Most of the Civil War battlefields that the NPS maintains are National Parks instead of National Historical Parks.

Actually it's a National Military Park....different classification than plain ole National Park.  The Wikipedia Page on the National Park Service actually has a table showing what kinds of units they manage:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Service
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: SignGeek101 on July 15, 2016, 10:35:06 PM
Still want to go to the US next year. I'm thinking Montana, Idaho, Wyoming or western South Dakota.

I will have to get my passport updated though. There are 10 year versions here now, so once it's done, I won't have to worry about it anymore.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 10:39:27 PM
Quote from: SignGeek101 on July 15, 2016, 10:35:06 PM
Still want to go to the US next year. I'm thinking Montana, Idaho, Wyoming or western South Dakota.

I will have to get my passport updated though. There are 10 year versions here now, so once it's done, I won't have to worry about it anymore.

Yeah it sucks you have to use one now traveling to the states.  I can't say that I was fond of Canadian customs flying into Montreal and Toronto since it became a requirement.  Makes me....well yearn for the days where I could just cross the Detroit River and go gamble without a question at the border.

You're picking some good states if that's what you decide to roll with.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on July 16, 2016, 02:57:55 PM
I'm pretty sure I will go back up to the New York Tri-State area in 2017, but I don't know if it'll be the Summer of 2017 or not. I don't even have an exact month selected. I still have a little bit of money on my MetroCard, which is due New Years Eve this year, so I'll either have to renew it before that time comes, or hope that I'll find another way to go up before then. MTA rarely refunds these things.

Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: kphoger on July 16, 2016, 03:02:14 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 10:39:27 PM
Quote from: SignGeek101 on July 15, 2016, 10:35:06 PM
Still want to go to the US next year. I'm thinking Montana, Idaho, Wyoming or western South Dakota.

I will have to get my passport updated though. There are 10 year versions here now, so once it's done, I won't have to worry about it anymore.

Yeah it sucks you have to use one now traveling to the states.  I can't say that I was fond of Canadian customs flying into Montreal and Toronto since it became a requirement.  Makes me....well yearn for the days where I could just cross the Detroit River and go gamble without a question at the border.

You're picking some good states if that's what you decide to roll with.

I think three out of five in our family now have passport cards rather than books.  I don't believe Canada offers that option, though.  The cards are more convenient to carry around.  I'll probably always choose to get a book, because the possibility of my traveling overseas is greater than for the others in my family.  But our international travel these days is always crossing into México by land.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: TravelingBethelite on July 18, 2016, 01:33:31 PM
Next summer already? I haven't even taken this year's...One summer at a time people. I did have a thought of flying out to Omaha and renting a car there then driving down and around the edge of the Western U.S., but it's just that-a concept.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: hm insulators on July 21, 2016, 01:21:23 PM
I'm hoping to do a road trip to Missouri to see a friend of mine and use his house as a home base to catch a total eclipse of the sun which will be on August 21, 2017. Be advised to all roadtrippers: If you take any kind of road trip around the time of this eclipse along a path from the Oregon coast to the South Carolina coast, I understand a lot of the motel rooms and whatnot anyway near the path of the moon's shadow are spoken for.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: pianocello on July 25, 2016, 09:15:08 AM
Not the summer, but a few close friends and I have been talking about taking a Midwestern road trip during our two-week Spring Break in March. Since we're cheap college students, it will likely revolve around staying overnight at the houses of people we know. Thankfully we're pretty spread out through the Midwest, so this might actually happen this year.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: GaryV on July 25, 2016, 04:46:42 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 09:18:20 AM
11.  Isle Royale National Park by way of boat at Copper Harbor, MI.
Add in Apostle Islands before, and Pictured Rocks after.
Quote12.  Mackinac Island
Which used to be a National Park (2nd one after Yellowstone).
Quote
13.  Sleeping Bear Dunes and visiting family around Traverse City.
Which is a National Lakeshore
Quote14.  Visiting family in Lansing.
15.  Visiting family in Detroit.
And then hit Indiana Dunes on the way home, and you'll have clinched all the National Lakeshores.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 25, 2016, 08:10:33 PM
Quote from: GaryV on July 25, 2016, 04:46:42 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2016, 09:18:20 AM
11.  Isle Royale National Park by way of boat at Copper Harbor, MI.
Add in Apostle Islands before, and Pictured Rocks after.
Quote12.  Mackinac Island
Which used to be a National Park (2nd one after Yellowstone).
Quote
13.  Sleeping Bear Dunes and visiting family around Traverse City.
Which is a National Lakeshore
Quote14.  Visiting family in Lansing.
15.  Visiting family in Detroit.
And then hit Indiana Dunes on the way home, and you'll have clinched all the National Lakeshores.

Yep, the only one I haven't been to is Isle Royale.  I grew up in Detroit and Lansing for the most part.  That would be one hell of a backtrack to California from Lake Michigan, I'm planning on flying out of Metro.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Takumi on July 25, 2016, 10:03:20 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 13, 2016, 10:42:58 AM
Option 2: Hampton Roads area (incl. Williamsburg, Suffolk?, and Outer Banks)
Time Allocated: 1-2 week(s)?
Note: Not sure if anything is of interest is in Suffolk. I just want to go there to check out the US 58 bypass, and old US 58/US 460.
Synopsis: This area is something I've wanted to check out too, because I have never seen a beach in about a year or two. I've also never been to the Outer Banks (unless you consider New Bern to be in the Outer Banks). So basically, I'll dedicate a day to each city in the Hampton Roads area (Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake), NC 12 along the Outer Banks, and Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. Maybe Suffolk.
Suffolk is mostly rural and pretty spread out. The only interesting things I know of are the disconnected VA 125, and the VA 189/272 pair out in the western reaches. They both have some seriously old concrete, and VA 189's bridge over the Blackwater River into Southampton County is kind of interesting. NC 615 is also a nice drive.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on August 04, 2016, 07:50:24 PM
My wife has a convention (don't know the dates) in Indianapolis, I think in September 2017. We're planning to drive out and then go visit a friend in St. Louis for a few days, then drive home. Sounds good to me because I've never been to Indiana or Missouri, and on the way home I can clinch I-64 and check off another state I've never visited (Kentucky). I'm pleasantly surprised she agreed to drive, but then, she grew up in Dayton, so she's used to the drive to there and Indianapolis isn't much further. This trip will replace our usual summer trip to visit relatives in Florida.

I haven't figured out what to do about the eclipse.




Regarding Isle Royale, check the weather, including the conditions on Lake Superior, before boarding the ferry. The trip over from Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor Lodge was the only time I've ever gotten seasick, and I got it BAD, hanging over the side of the boat puking my guts out. My mom had refused to buy motion-sickness pills because "we've all ridden ferries before." But the Isle Royale ferry is not anywhere remotely comparable to the Marine Atlantic ferries or even the Hatteras—Ocracoke ferry!
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: epzik8 on August 09, 2016, 08:03:05 AM
I'm considering an alternate route from Maryland to Myrtle Beach that would take me through the Delmarva Peninsula.

U.S. Route 1 over the Conowingo Dam to MD-273 to MD-213 across the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to MD-313 at Galena. Then MD-313 all the way down to Mardela Springs where I would pick up U.S. 50 which I would take around Salisbury and into U.S. 13. Then, U.S. 13 into Virginia, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, through the Hampton Roads area and into North Carolina. At Windsor I would pick up U.S. 17 and follow that the rest of the way into South Carolina.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: slorydn1 on August 13, 2016, 10:47:14 PM
Quote from: epzik8 on August 09, 2016, 08:03:05 AM
I'm considering an alternate route from Maryland to Myrtle Beach that would take me through the Delmarva Peninsula.

U.S. Route 1 over the Conowingo Dam to MD-273 to MD-213 across the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to MD-313 at Galena. Then MD-313 all the way down to Mardela Springs where I would pick up U.S. 50 which I would take around Salisbury and into U.S. 13. Then, U.S. 13 into Virginia, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, through the Hampton Roads area and into North Carolina. At Windsor I would pick up U.S. 17 and follow that the rest of the way into South Carolina.

Waive at the traffic camera on the Neuse River Bridge coming into New Bern. I may be at work and I might just see you!
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: wphiii on August 23, 2016, 11:44:29 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on July 13, 2016, 10:42:58 AM
Option 3: Boston area (incl. Nashua - Manchester - Concord NH and Cape Cod)
Time Allocated: 1-2 week(s)?
Note: New Hampshire is just in here so I can brag to classmates that I have been to New England (though I already have - I went to Providence once in 2009, and does New York City count as New England?). Though I might find something interesting.

Nashua/Manchester/Concord are not really all that interesting, at least from a tourism standpoint. If you really want to see "New England," there are a number of routes/itineraries that would be better if you can swing them. Vermont 100 is a stone cold classic, though maybe a little far afield for you and your family. U.S. 1 up the coast is also a good option, stopping in Portsmouth and Portland and then some of the little Maine coast towns (Boothbay Harbor, Rockland, etc.). Or you could follow MA 2A out of Boston and do the Lexington and Concord thing (Minute Man National Historical Park), and if you want you can keep going on 2A as it winds through a bunch of old mill towns.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: mariethefoxy on August 26, 2016, 02:10:37 AM
MA Route 2 is a wonderful drive, its unbelievably scenic on the western segment after the freeway part ends :)

Honestly if you want to see a more scenic and touristy part of NH, go to Hampton Beach or Seacoast. Nashua is pretty much plain suburbia, I only go there a lot since my best friends live up there.

New York State is not part of New England, nor is New York City or Long Island. Connecticut is kinda wierd, its like New Jersey in some aspects as its in the middle of two main cities despite having its own cities. Geographically yes its part of New England, but the southwest quadrant, West of I-91 and South of I-84 is very much NYC Suburbia so the culture in that aspect is very similar to places like Westchester or Long Island (tho Long Island is it's own animal altogether. Its a strange place compared to the rest of the country, and im sure the other islanders on this board will agree with me)

Now I dont know where you live but this route might be interesting.

from I-95 take the exit for Hutchison River Parkway, take that up to the state line where it becomes CT Route 15/Merrit Parkway. Its a lovely scenic highway. Its breathtaking in the fall when the leaves change. There is aalso a nice mountain tunnel further up. At Exit 68N-E take I-91 North towards Hartford. Stay on I-91 thru Hartford and North into Massachusetts. In Agwam MA there is Six Flags New England Im not sure exactly how to get there. Stay on I-91 to Exit 8 for I-291. If you value your life and safety DO NOT get off at any exits in Springfield, that city is one of the WORST in Massachusetts, crime and urban blight up the wazoo.
Take I-291 to the Mass Pike. Get off at Exit 15 for I-95/MA 128 and get off at Exit 32B Middlesex Turnpike, theres a nice Hilton Garden Inn there somewhere. I remember staying at it. Next day, Get back on 128 North to Route 114 in Peabody and head south into Salem MA. Salem is a lovely little city with lots of interesting magick related stuff. If you want to see boston, go out the way you came and take 128 south to US 1 south, youll see an intersting "Jersey Freeway" then the double decker Tobin Bridge into downtown boston. Go out via I-93 North into New Hampshire, Get off at NH 38 West and head on that till Pelham theres a lovely arcade called hte Pinball Wizard arcade full of old vintage arcade machines and skee ball and stuff. Head back on 38 to I-93 and go north on I-93 to NH 101, take NH 101 EAST across the state to the end into Hampton Beach, walk aroudn the boardwalk, enjoy the beach. head back on 101 to I-95 North and head into Maine, I dont know maine too well so youll have to do some research. Exit out of Maine on 95 South then keep going and take I-495 South, head on I-495 to Exit 29B MA 2 West and take Route 2 all the way across the state to Greenfield then take I-91 south back down to I-95 south, catch a glimpse of the reconstructed New Haven area then head home on I-95 south to whatever roads you take from the George Washington Bridge back to home (I have no idea where you live)
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: noelbotevera on August 26, 2016, 06:12:36 AM
I live in Southcentral Pennsylvania, so to get home, I would take I-78 to I-81 back home.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: mariethefoxy on August 26, 2016, 11:43:17 PM
easier to take I-84 to I-81, bypasses much of the NYC metro area traffic if not all of it. Also the Newburgh Beacon bridge is cheaper than the George Washington bridge
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on January 05, 2017, 11:06:57 PM
My first road trip of the year is tomorrow, rather than the Summer of 2017. I will be heading out to Polk County to help some of my relatives move... again. Which means I should bed going to be soon, because they want me early in the morning.

Maybe later on in the year (hopefully before April), I'll be able to head back to the NYC-LI area.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: epzik8 on January 12, 2017, 11:32:13 PM
My mom, two brothers and I will go to Myrtle Beach like we usually do to visit her mother, and this time it will be for her mother's 95th birthday party, which will also be a family reunion. Instead of taking I-95 most of the way down, we could go through the Delmarva Peninsula, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, through Virginia's Hampton Roads and eastern North Carolina, and then into South Carolina.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: hbelkins on January 13, 2017, 10:04:49 PM
I don't know that I will be taking any long road trips solely for the sake of road-tripping (county collecting or route clinching) this year. I may take a few short trips in my immediate area.

At this time, I am planning on attending the Twin Cities meet in August, which will be a trip of significant distance.

I'm also hoping to attend at least two other meets that are a decent distance from me. I will have to look at the calendar to figure out which ones.

I also may be taking a class at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute in Emmittsburg, Md., sometime this year. That will be yet another excursion across I-68 if I end up going.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: oscar on January 14, 2017, 06:10:04 AM
I'm scheduled for cataract surgery next month. I might also need some more work on that eye, depending on how the cataract removal goes. Especially with my history of longer-than-expected recoveries from eye surgeries, it'll be a few months before I even start thinking about this year's road trips, though I have some tentative (and conflicting) ideas to work through when I'm ready.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: noelbotevera on January 14, 2017, 04:30:20 PM
I'm hoping to go to Six Flags Great Adventure this year. My brother has applied for at least six colleges, one of them being University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. It shouldn't be a long side trip - it's an hour total (around 30-35 minutes roundtrip).
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: wanderer2575 on January 14, 2017, 07:32:00 PM
Mrs. wanderer and I are planning a road trip in mid-to late April from Detroit to NH/VT/ME.  No big cities and probably nothing touristy; this will be just for the drive and my getting more road sign photos.  I haven't had a chance to start thinking about a route, but looks like a couple good suggestions are already here on this thread.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Rothman on January 14, 2017, 10:07:43 PM
The one big trip we have planned is to fly out to SLC to visit my in-laws and then drive out to Portland, down to San Francisco and then over to Yosemite and then back to SLC.  Haven't worked out the particulars, other than flying out in the third week of June and then having to get to Portland by the 30th and then getting back here on the 6th.  Tight trip.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: cl94 on January 19, 2017, 08:49:25 PM
I'm not taking any trips for the sake of road tripping as far as I know. Big trips I have planned are the Illinois meet in May, a wedding in South Bend in June and the Twin Cities meet in August. Might use the last one to detour through the UP and get a good portion of I-75 that I'm missing.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: slorydn1 on January 21, 2017, 12:04:36 AM
We have done all of the county and road grabbing that was easy to get in one day bites, so this will be the first year of Operation Back In The Day. My wife and I would like to slowly but surely see where we grew up, back in the day (lol).

My parts will be relatively easy. Southwestern lower Michigan/NE Illinois can can be reached from here in a day, and one day back so if we leave 2 days for sight seeing and the like on each trip I'm confident we can fit those in with using minimal amounts of vacation time.

My wife's stomping grounds will be a much bigger deal, and will require alot of time off to do so, especially by car. She grew up in the Lewiston, Idaho area and that's not exactly right around the corner. She spent her final year of childhood not far outside of San Diego, California, too. What we are hoping for there is that my youngest son wants to be a Marine, and maybe he will get sent to San Diego for recruit training and if he does we can check out that area as well. If this happens it would be a fall of 2018 trip, so I guess I am getting ahead of myself here.

I think we can definitely get one or both of my trips done this summer, though.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on February 01, 2017, 01:02:58 PM
I have a dental appointment sometime in March and my trip to the Tri-State area will hopefully start after that.

Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on February 11, 2017, 05:24:20 PM
My wife was supposed to be attending a convention in Indianapolis in September or October, and she surprisingly agreed to drive out because she thought we could then go to St. Louis to visit friends. The distance from home to St. Louis is within about ten miles of the distance to her sister's house in Florida. I was fine with all this, especially since it presented the opportunity to clinch I-64 on the way home. Now the convention has been moved.....to St. Louis. Not sure we're going to drive out, but the possibility is still there because she's talking about visiting someone else in Chicago, and I then suggested the possibility of going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the way home (hey, if I'm going all that way for her trip, I at least get to throw something in for myself.....and as I typed that, I found myself speculating on the idea of going up to Toronto instead to see the Hockey Hall of Fame). Problem is, while they've moved the location they have not set a date, so the whole thing is up in the air.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: epzik8 on February 16, 2017, 11:56:03 PM
This is how I'm going to Myrtle Beach from Harford County, Maryland in June.

I-95 from Maryland exit 74 all the way through Maryland, through Virginia and into North Carolina. At about Wilson, North Carolina, my mom plans to hit up Interstate 795 and follow that to Goldsboro, and then she'll take U.S. 117 from there to...I guess that's Alternate 117?...at Calypso, with a stop at the Mount Olive pickle plant along that stretch. That will take us to I-40 and we'll follow that to I-140 just north of Wilmington, and then pick up U.S. 17 and follow that the rest of the way into South Carolina.

Coming back, we'll probably take our usual South Carolina Route 9 to U.S. 701 to NC-410 to U.S./Interstate 74 to I-95 in the Lumberton area.

And by the way, this is going to be for my grandmother's 95th birthday party family reunion. No, "95th" is not a typo.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: TravelingBethelite on February 17, 2017, 09:57:43 AM
My dad and I are headed out to a weather convention/camp in Lincoln, Nebraska, then to his ranch house out in Douglas County, Missouri, for a total of two weeks this June. I'm very excited for it. (But then again, I'm always excited, as far as roadtrips are concerned! :bigass:)
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on March 03, 2017, 11:29:58 PM
Remember when I said that my road trip is going to take place after I go to the dentist? Well now it's one day after that visit... NEXT WEEK!

:wow:  :-o



Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: US 41 on April 18, 2017, 11:19:29 AM
Now that I've had more time to think about it I have decided to take a trip this summer to Saguenay, QC (over 5 days); and then in the Fall I am going to finally going to go to Mazatlan, Mexico (over 8 days). I'm a lot more prepared to do the Mazatlan trip now than I was in the past. I've been meaning to go for several years now, but I've never actually had the opportunity to do it. This year I am going to go for it. I'm going to wait until the fall though, that way I'll have more time to prepare and it will be a little cooler out by then. I'd rather go to Mexico when it's in the 70's and 80's, not in the 90's and 100's. Canada is the complete opposite. I want to go in the summer when it's nice and in the 70's and not in the 30's (or lower). Canada is super easy to prepare for though.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: kphoger on April 18, 2017, 01:57:59 PM
Totally envious of both trips.  I hope you get to do them both.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Max Rockatansky on April 18, 2017, 02:24:24 PM
The quest for the three remaining National Parks in the lower 48 continues as this one will be reality in August:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19217.0
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: cl94 on April 18, 2017, 07:02:41 PM
My big road trip for the summer is looking to be Memorial Day weekend to/from the Kankakee meet. Heading out there will involve a bunch of clinching near Cleveland and Chicago plus a stop at the New York Central museum in Elkhart. The way back will have me visiting five state high points and getting a good amount of US 40, plus a possible clinch of US 209 depending on time.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: 1995hoo on April 20, 2017, 07:25:41 PM
We've decided to head to Miami (Pembroke Pines, actually, although we'll stay in Weston via a timeshare exchange) to visit relatives. Their kids wanted us to come visit since we didn't see them at Christmas. This year we're taking the Auto Train both ways mainly for convenience.

Our trip to St. Louis that is the subject of a different thread is still in the cards for October, but I haven't really done a lot of serious planning yet.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on May 12, 2017, 12:37:38 PM
There may be a good excuse for a road trip in August 2017:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/wonder/in-august-2017-america-will-see-its-first-total-solar-eclipse-since-1979/vi-BBAZKT5?ocid=spartandhp

I don't know if I'm going to take one to South Carolina just for this, but it might be good for someone else.

Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on May 17, 2017, 02:52:21 PM
I'm considering a 10-day New England trip this summer if I can get the time off I would like to have for it. I haven't worked out any of the particular details yet but it's been 10 years since I was last in the region and I've been itching to return for a long time.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on May 17, 2017, 05:09:39 PM
Not doing much road tripping this summer. Furthest will probably be cape cod or Maine. My families next big vacation will be Disney world in February, but that will most likely be by plane.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Rothman on May 17, 2017, 05:34:28 PM
My summer plans changed more than a bit.

Still headed out to SLC and Portland, but Yosemite is out of the cards.  Going to still head down the coast, but only going as far as northern California before turning back.

New addition is a nine-day road trip to the Florida Keys by way of Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA...in August.  Timing could be better, but what are you gonna do.

November will be a trip to Nashville over Veterans' Day weekend.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on May 27, 2017, 12:44:44 AM
I'm still planning for my second NYC Metro Area trip for November myself.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: leroys73 on May 28, 2017, 11:11:42 AM
Last summer had good plans but in August a broken leg stopped me in the middle of one road trip.  So this summer i may have to catch up.

The family is going on a real vacation to The Dells in Wisconsin during August.  In July I will take my daughter and granddaughter to Florida to help out with my ageing aunt. 

My trips will run well into the fall.  I have some maybe, or probable, motorcycle trips on the calendar such as Beartooth Pass, ride the roads in Arkansas, a trip to Ohio to visit another aging aunt, and one along the Natchaz Trace then over to North Carolina.  Even Key West is in the mix.  So surely a couple of them will turn out. 
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: MNHighwayMan on May 28, 2017, 11:32:30 AM
I'm taking a trip to Missouri or southern Illinois so I can see the solar eclipse in totality on August 21, but other than that I don't have anything major planned. There'll probably be some more shorter, spur-of-the-moment trips in between now and then but that's the major one I have lined up.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on May 28, 2017, 07:54:53 PM
I might be going to Acadia or upstate New York.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: leroys73 on May 29, 2017, 12:01:49 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 28, 2017, 07:54:53 PM
I might be going to Acadia or upstate New York.

I hope you get to go as it will be a great trip.
Title: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: golden eagle on June 09, 2017, 04:18:25 PM
I took a road trip to Williamsburg, Virginia (been here since last Saturday) and heading back home tomorrow. I also went on a day trip to the District of Columbia and had a blast. Other than a possible trip to Nashville in July, I have no other summer trips planned.

I was able to clinch I-85 in its entirety, and added I-95, I-64 and I-295 to the list of interstates I've personally driven.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on June 09, 2017, 08:27:20 PM
I'm looking at trying to go clinch some of the West Virginia state highways I'd planned to get on what was to be an extended trip to the New River Gorge for the meet that I couldn't attend because I fell ill. I also want go back out to western Kentucky to scout a possible meet centered on the conversion of the Purchase Parkway to I-69 and the US 68/KY 80 bridges across the lakes.

And I'm planning to go to Minnesota for the meet there in August.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: MNHighwayMan on June 09, 2017, 08:44:48 PM
In July I'm going up to Duluth (MN) to visit my aunt. My secondary objective (actually primary, but who wants to admit that over family? :spin:) is to get pictures of Duluth area highways, like the end of I-35/MN-61, I-535/US-53, and MN-194.

I'm also going on a trip southward to see the totality of the solar eclipse in August, but I'm not sure where I'm precisely going yet. I don't think that's going to be decided until the few days beforehand to ensure good weather.

Edit to add: I would've loved to have gone to that road meet in Minnesota, but with those two trips, combined with other outside factors, means that I'm gonna have to skip it.
Title: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: I-90 on June 09, 2017, 09:13:55 PM
Going to Omaha ne then going to the badlands and mt rushmore


 
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on June 09, 2017, 10:25:06 PM
I'm going to northern Vermont some time in the next month. I'll be able to nearly clinch I-91 and I-89.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Takumi on June 10, 2017, 02:32:55 AM
Probably a trip to Nags Head. I said this last year, but injured my back the week before and couldn't drive for long distances for awhile.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on June 10, 2017, 02:54:25 AM
Hopefully to New England in August. I'm still hashing out most of the details, but I've resolved after 10 years to get back there.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Great Lakes Roads on June 10, 2017, 11:07:57 AM
June:

July:

August:
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on June 11, 2017, 04:22:20 AM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 10, 2017, 02:54:25 AM
Hopefully to New England in August. I'm still hashing out most of the details, but I've resolved after 10 years to get back there.
Where in New England?
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: 7/8 on June 11, 2017, 06:25:48 PM
Should this thread be merged with the other one? https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18347.0 (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18347.0)

Anyway, I have two trips planned this summer.

For Canada Day weekend, I'm ironically heading down to the U.S. (Indianapolis) with a friend for a Pokemon TCG tournament. I plan on avoiding the "fort-to-port" route in order to get new counties and interstate mileage. I'm not sure yet if we'll have time to see the city, but at least I've been to Indianapolis once before (two years ago), so it won't be the end of the world if we're too busy.

In August and September (before Labour Day), my family plans on driving to Orlando to spend a few days in Disney World/Universal Studios. We're also thinking of seeing Nashville and Atlanta on the way down (both cities for the first time). I'm hoping to see the eclipse in Nashville (finger-crossed that it won't be cloudy!). We still have lots to plan for this, but it's already looking like I'll get a lot of new counties and road mileage, and Tennessee will be a new state for me :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: golden eagle on June 12, 2017, 11:17:39 PM
Quote from: 7/8 on June 11, 2017, 06:25:48 PM
Should this thread be merged with the other one? https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18347.0 (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18347.0)

Anyway, I have two trips planned this summer.

For Canada Day weekend, I'm ironically heading down to the U.S. (Indianapolis) with a friend for a Pokemon TCG tournament. I plan on avoiding the "fort-to-port" route in order to get new counties and interstate mileage. I'm not sure yet if we'll have time to see the city, but at least I've been to Indianapolis once before (two years ago), so it won't be the end of the world if we're too busy.

In August and September (before Labour Day), my family plans on driving to Orlando to spend a few days in Disney World/Universal Studios. We're also thinking of seeing Nashville and Atlanta on the way down (both cities for the first time). I'm hoping to see the eclipse in Nashville (finger-crossed that it won't be cloudy!). We still have lots to plan for this, but it's already looking like I'll get a lot of new counties and road mileage, and Tennessee will be a new state for me :thumbsup:

I initially posted this in the off-topics forum, but was moved here. If the mods want to merge it with the other thread, I'm fine with it.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on June 16, 2017, 08:26:38 AM
Quote from: JJBers on June 09, 2017, 10:25:06 PM
I'm going to northern Vermont some time in the next month. I'll be able to nearly clinch I-91 and I-89.
I'm leaving for Vermont on June 19th, and will be going very close to the Canadian border on I-91.
I also might be going to Atlanta in July.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: epzik8 on June 16, 2017, 05:37:45 PM
Harford County, Maryland to Myrtle Beach next week. We'll take I-95 down to I-795 at Wilson, and then follow U.S. 117 to U.S. 701 to SC-9.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: jwolfer on June 16, 2017, 08:07:11 PM
I dont have vacation days yet... New job started this year... So a quick trip from Jacksonville to Savannah and Orlando is about all

LGMS428

Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: epzik8 on June 23, 2017, 12:11:12 AM
Quote from: epzik8 on June 16, 2017, 05:37:45 PM
Harford County, Maryland to Myrtle Beach next week. We'll take I-95 down to I-795 at Wilson, and then follow U.S. 117 to U.S. 701 to SC-9.
I'm leaving this morning! It'll be such a fun trip.
Title: Re: 2017 summer road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on June 24, 2017, 04:54:01 PM
Quote from: leroys73 on May 29, 2017, 12:01:49 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 28, 2017, 07:54:53 PM
I might be going to Acadia or upstate New York.

I hope you get to go as it will be a great trip.
Acadia is likely for August.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on June 25, 2017, 10:41:08 AM
Quote from: JJBers on June 16, 2017, 08:26:38 AM
Quote from: JJBers on June 09, 2017, 10:25:06 PM
I'm going to northern Vermont some time in the next month. I'll be able to nearly clinch I-91 and I-89.
I'm leaving for Vermont on June 19th, and will be going very close to the Canadian border on I-91.
I also might be going to Atlanta in July.
Vermont got delayed to today, so I just left...and I'm I-291 (CT) right now.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on June 25, 2017, 10:24:22 PM
Quote from: JJBers on June 25, 2017, 10:41:08 AM
Quote from: JJBers on June 16, 2017, 08:26:38 AM
Quote from: JJBers on June 09, 2017, 10:25:06 PM
I'm going to northern Vermont some time in the next month. I'll be able to nearly clinch I-91 and I-89.
I'm leaving for Vermont on June 19th, and will be going very close to the Canadian border on I-91.
I also might be going to Atlanta in July.
Vermont got delayed to today, so I just left...and I'm I-291 (CT) right now.
How is the trip so far?
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on June 26, 2017, 06:09:22 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 25, 2017, 10:24:22 PM
Quote from: JJBers on June 25, 2017, 10:41:08 AM
Quote from: JJBers on June 16, 2017, 08:26:38 AM
Quote from: JJBers on June 09, 2017, 10:25:06 PM
I'm going to northern Vermont some time in the next month. I'll be able to nearly clinch I-91 and I-89.
I'm leaving for Vermont on June 19th, and will be going very close to the Canadian border on I-91.
I also might be going to Atlanta in July.
Vermont got delayed to today, so I just left...and I'm I-291 (CT) right now.
How is the trip so far?
Well, I just got back about 2 hours ago...I only now have to drive on I-91 south of CT 150 to fully clinch it.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on June 27, 2017, 08:56:15 PM
Acadia will be 4th of July.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: US 41 on July 03, 2017, 11:40:51 PM
I'm going to Pennsylvania this month and then after that I'm going to drive to Virginia Beach. I'm planning on driving on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (US 50), barely driving into Delaware on DE 54 to add another state to my list (will be my 35th state), and then driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel system (US 13).
https://goo.gl/maps/5pYzMcp84zH2

This fall (November) I'm going to be driving to Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi (Mexico) by entering at Eagle Pass and then leaving at the Colombia POE (NW of Laredo). I'll add Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas to the list of Mexican states I've visited which will bring my count up to 6 (previously have visited Coahuila and Chihuahua). https://goo.gl/maps/za64Na8yUTE2

I also might end up taking 4 days off at some point and drive up to northern Ontario in either August or September. I always enjoy my time up there.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Gulol on July 05, 2017, 09:56:41 AM
Just wrapped up a 3300ish mile trip.  Denver to Cleveland via I-80 and I-90 to check out the Rock and Roll HOF, then onto Niagara Falls via Buffalo along I-90.  From there into Toronto to spend a couple of days (the 401 certainly gives the 405 in LA a run for its money in terms of traffic!), then back to the states via the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit with stops in Chicago (I-94) and Kansas City (I-55 and I-72/US 36) on the way back to Denver (I-70).
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on July 08, 2017, 12:48:36 AM
Back from Acadia. Went to the scoodic peninsula, very nice with not a lot of people.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on July 08, 2017, 12:04:37 PM
Alright, I'm flying to Atlanta on July 18
Then I'm staying the night there until July 19
Then, I'm driving on I-75/I-40/I-81 on July 19 and July 20 back up to home.
It's crazy. Here's the way back trip:
(https://i.imgur.com/uOYPU7o.png)
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: US71 on July 08, 2017, 04:17:33 PM
I'll be driving to Dandridge, TN in early September for the annual RMCA meet. Probably take I-40 there then hit the US Highways heading home.

A couple weeks ago, I drove to McAlester, OK, then McKinney, Greenville, and Paris TX, teast through Hugo, Idabel, and Broken Bow, OK to DeQueen AR and home.








Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on July 09, 2017, 10:45:59 PM
Quote from: US71 on July 08, 2017, 04:17:33 PM
I'll be driving to Dandridge, TN in early September for the annual RMCA meet. Probably take I-40 there then hit the US Highways heading home.

A couple weeks ago, I drove to McAlester, OK, then McKinney, Greenville, and Paris TX, teast through Hugo, Idabel, and Broken Bow, OK to DeQueen AR and home.
Is rmca the ymca for another gender?
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: US71 on July 09, 2017, 11:33:53 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on July 09, 2017, 10:45:59 PM
Quote from: US71 on July 08, 2017, 04:17:33 PM
I'll be driving to Dandridge, TN in early September for the annual RMCA meet. Probably take I-40 there then hit the US Highways heading home.

A couple weeks ago, I drove to McAlester, OK, then McKinney, Greenville, and Paris TX, teast through Hugo, Idabel, and Broken Bow, OK to DeQueen AR and home.
Is rmca the ymca for another gender?

Not quite.


Road Map Collectors Association  (http://roadmaps.org)


Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on July 10, 2017, 12:55:26 PM
Quote from: US71 on July 08, 2017, 04:17:33 PM
I'll be driving to Dandridge, TN in early September for the annual RMCA meet. Probably take I-40 there then hit the US Highways heading home.

A couple weeks ago, I drove to McAlester, OK, then McKinney, Greenville, and Paris TX, teast through Hugo, Idabel, and Broken Bow, OK to DeQueen AR and home.

Dandridge seems to be an odd location for this meeting. It's on the periphery of the Smokies, but I can't see anything that would cause it to be a great draw.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: US71 on July 10, 2017, 01:04:51 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 10, 2017, 12:55:26 PM
Quote from: US71 on July 08, 2017, 04:17:33 PM
I'll be driving to Dandridge, TN in early September for the annual RMCA meet. Probably take I-40 there then hit the US Highways heading home.

A couple weeks ago, I drove to McAlester, OK, then McKinney, Greenville, and Paris TX, teast through Hugo, Idabel, and Broken Bow, OK to DeQueen AR and home.

Dandridge seems to be an odd location for this meeting. It's on the periphery of the Smokies, but I can't see anything that would cause it to be a great draw.

The meet is Sevierville, but the hotel is Dandridge.  It's also the Dixie Gas Swap Meet. The cheaper hotels must be Dandridge.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Rothman on July 11, 2017, 02:45:11 PM
Just came back from a pretty straightforward trip out west.  Flew out to SLC and drove to Champoeg State Park in Oregon for my sister's wedding.  Stopped  to see friends in Boise.  Standard I-15 to I-84 to I-5.

Headed out on US 26, came down US 101 hitting a bunch of state parks.

The interesting bit is that we wanted to go to Hiouchi, CA to see Stout Grove.  However, US 199 was closed because of a major accident east of the town.

Headed to Crescent City to the NPS information center there and the nice volunteers told us we could take Howland Hill Road instead and would be let through on the other side of town.

Best detour I have taken, ever.  Spectacular forest on a 1.5 lane dirt road.  Came right into Stout Grove and thought the trees on the road were more dramatic.

Anyway, ended up driving past the crash site on our way out and saw rescue workers roping up to descend into the wide gorge.  Evidently, a vehicle flipped the guardrail.  Other vehicles were involved.

Anyway, headed out to and stayed at Oregon Caves National Monument, then headed up to Crater Lake and came back to SLC via OR/NV 140 ("Winnemucca to the Sea").

A good vacation.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: froggie on July 16, 2017, 08:06:33 AM
Quote from: JJBersWell, I just got back about 2 hours ago...I only now have to drive on I-91 south of CT 150 to fully clinch it.

You crossed into Canada at Danby Line?  (only way you'd fully clinch I-91)

Meanwhile, I'll be headed out on my summer roadtrip/vacation sometime next weekend for a few weeks.  Out to Minnesota and back, via Lafayette, IN on the way out and probably through southern Canada on the return trip.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on July 16, 2017, 07:13:36 PM
Quote from: froggie on July 16, 2017, 08:06:33 AM
Quote from: JJBersWell, I just got back about 2 hours ago...I only now have to drive on I-91 south of CT 150 to fully clinch it.

You crossed into Canada at Danby Line?  (only way you'd fully clinch I-91)

Meanwhile, I'll be headed out on my summer roadtrip/vacation sometime next weekend for a few weeks.  Out to Minnesota and back, via Lafayette, IN on the way out and probably through southern Canada on the return trip.
Yeah, for like 5 minutes, before I turned around and went through US Customs. If you want to, you can count Quebec as my third Canadian province traveled. First time I've to Canada for about 11 years.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on July 17, 2017, 08:46:42 PM
Nyc might be in the works for August.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on July 18, 2017, 09:50:41 AM
I just got done with a couple of small trips. I went on a route-clinching journey to West Virginia a couple of weekends ago. Then I went to western Kentucky to scout for the meet I'm proposing.

The upcoming Twin Cities meet is going to be my longest trip in several years.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on July 23, 2017, 01:06:06 PM
Just returned from my annual road trip to an ultra trail race. I've got a sign for the Road sign city name photo game thread that if played correctly could give up to 5 choices to play from per the A-Rule :sombrero:.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on July 24, 2017, 12:01:05 AM
I went to Atlanta then back. Whoo hoo....
Photos (https://flic.kr/s/aHsm1vYhrm)
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on August 08, 2017, 04:34:36 PM
There's a possibility I may end up going to the NYC-Long Island area sooner than I planned. I don't want to go into the reasons why.

Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: froggie on August 08, 2017, 04:42:12 PM
Just completed my main road trip of the summer.  2.5 weeks, 6400 miles, 12 states and one Canadian province.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on August 09, 2017, 10:53:52 PM
I'm going on another trip on the 13th to upstate New York, in the middle of the adirondacks. I've been there twice already, so I believe there won't be much to clinch driving wise, but photos will be brand new.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5j9sCaw.png&hash=8f7139775d4ace0b15159afb843cf9c9c87d9d86)
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: hm insulators on August 10, 2017, 12:26:51 PM
I'm looking forward to my road trip to Branson, Missouri next week to see an old friend I haven't seen in many years and use his home as a base to see the eclipse of the sun. I'll probably use I-40 for much of the way but nothing's really cast in concrete, so to speak. I've reserved a rental car as my 21-year-old Buick probably couldn't make the trip.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on August 21, 2017, 05:28:58 PM
I'm going up sometime after Labor Day. I'll explain why after the trip.


And with any luck, I'll still go up by myself again in November.

Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Rothman on August 24, 2017, 10:04:44 AM
So far this year, I have:

1) Flown out to SLC, driven out to Portland, down the coast and back through Crater Lake

2) Driven from here in Upstate NY down to Key West and back

3) Driven to central TN and back for the eclipse.

Didn't pick up that many counties or interstate mileage, but did finally clinch the entirety of I-70.  Saw a decent number of National Park Service sites, too, including the Dry Tortugas.

One more trip planned this year to head to Nashville (further west than where I was for the eclipse) in November.

Good year for getting out, if not for improving my stats. :D
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: cl94 on August 24, 2017, 12:54:24 PM
Had a couple of long trips so far this year:

- Kankakee meet Memorial Day Weekend. Made that a week and detoured to grab 5 state high points on the way home, plus got a new state (Wisconsin) and a ton of new mileage.
- Northern Tennessee for the eclipse. Finally got clinches of I-71 and I-79, plus a bunch of 3DIs, a couple Kentucky parkways and some state routes.

I did a couple of multi-day clinching trips back in June to finish clinching NY, with another planned to finish off Vermont next month (only ~1/4 of the state left).
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Jim on August 24, 2017, 02:57:31 PM
My two big summer trips are complete.  Mostly Florida and known territory (visiting people) back in June-July, and the just-completed trip to Nebraska for the eclipse.  I picked up a lot of new clinchables on the recent trip: a new minor league ballpark in Louisville, filled a gap in I-75 in Ohio, US 60 (for the most part) between Louisville and the Evansville area, a new route through western Missouri, a circle in eastern Nebraska out from Omaha to Grand Island on mostly US 34, back on mostly US 30, and some US 6 in western Iowa, all of that giving me about 10 new counties too.  Also made my first visits to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, Neil Armstrong Museum, and Louisville Slugger museum/factory.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on August 24, 2017, 03:47:26 PM
I'm possibly not finished for the summer, I might be going to the Augusta area this September or after.
But my biggest trips, Atlanta to Willimantic, and a trip to New York, with the return a massive detour all the way to New Hampshire.
Here's my New York Trip:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FvMUla0b.png&hash=c5c60e997973556ede5b135cedb5215fc25512df)
And here's my upcoming trip to Maine:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6ofav30.png&hash=df14d9662c39d2770f7b556718d60bc1c571e8e8)
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: JJBers on August 25, 2017, 04:10:38 PM
Quote from: JJBers on August 24, 2017, 03:47:26 PM
I'm possibly not finished for the summer, I might be going to the Augusta area this September or after.
But my biggest trips, Atlanta to Willimantic, and a trip to New York, with the return a massive detour all the way to New Hampshire.
Here's my New York Trip:
snip
And here's my upcoming trip to Maine:
snip
Surprise trip to Acton, MA this weekend, I'll be back Sunday. October.
Map:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F1NkmhOO.png&hash=10511181ed5133d0e8f9fda086cc358fb22f54a0)
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on August 27, 2017, 11:13:29 PM
Just went to the white mountains.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: hm insulators on August 30, 2017, 01:56:06 PM
Quote from: hm insulators on August 10, 2017, 12:26:51 PM
I'm looking forward to my road trip to Branson, Missouri next week to see an old friend I haven't seen in many years and use his home as a base to see the eclipse of the sun. I'll probably use I-40 for much of the way but nothing's really cast in concrete, so to speak. I've reserved a rental car as my 21-year-old Buick probably couldn't make the trip.

The trip to see the eclipse was a success! I saw totality from a little town not far from St. Louis called Potosi.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on September 13, 2017, 12:21:06 AM
Apparently I'm going to wind up in one to New York City and Long Island sometime this weekend.

The one I wanted for November is still being planned.


Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: D-Dey65 on September 25, 2017, 10:46:39 PM
As I had promised on two previous posts, I would explain why I was taking an earlier trip to the New York Tri-State Area when I came back. Now that I'm back, I'm going to tell you.


It was so my mother and I could bury my father's urn at Calverton National Cemetery. The man died just before all the hurricanes came, thankfully.

We took turns to drive, and at times it was a long, nerve-wrecking, and confusing drive for my mother, but not for me. It was especially bad in the DC Metro Area, as those of us in the know would expect.

On the way back, I decided I would take the wheel and get her around Baltimore and DC via US 301. Not such a great idea, since there MDTA was replacing bridge joints, and forcing traffic to use one lane. Virginia and Maryland had better team up and replace that damn thing soon.


Add to that the family Jack Russell Terrier who hates going in cars, and you've got even more of a fiasco.


I'm still going back up in November by myself, but I haven't set a date.



Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: hbelkins on October 07, 2017, 02:10:01 PM
Shortly after I had to cancel my plans to attend the Twin Cities meet due to using up all my accrued leave time from work due to a medical issue, i found myself with some unplanned, unscheduled time off. I used the opportunity to take three road trips.

First was a trip out to the midwest to retrace some of the route I'd planned to take to the Twin Cities. I used the opportunity to clinch US 150 and I-39, and also to fill in some holes in my Iowa and Minnesota county maps.

Next, I ventured into West Virginia to clinch a bunch of state routes, which put me in a position to finish off West Virginia's signed primary route system. That trip took me into the northern and eastern panhandles, and I got to drive the most recently finished portion of Corridor H.

Finally, I headed to North Carolina to finish clinching the US route that runs closest to my home, US 421. Also on that trip, I completed I-40 and US 52 in North Carolina.

In addition, my brother and I went to Tennessee into the path of totality for the solar eclipse.

Then, when I went to the Columbus meet last weekend, I completed all Ohio River crossings between West Virginia and Ohio, and clinched West Virginia's signed state primary highway system.

I'm gradually getting those photos up on Flickr and Facebook.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: oscar on October 07, 2017, 05:40:17 PM
I took one huge mega-road trip this summer, cross-country to California and back with lots of sidewinding and side trips along the way. The trip took about two and a half months (net of two breaks, one a side trip flying round trip between Seattle and southeast Alaska, the other flying round trip between Sacramento and home), putting about 25,000 miles on my old pickup truck.

The outbound trip was basically a southern itinerary, clinching the parts of US 412 I hadn't previously covered then the south end of US 85 in El Paso to clinch that route, then over to US 191 from the border into Utah then picking up US 89 in Utah to start on finishing off both routes, then diving south to Yuma and along the border to San Diego before turning back north to the Extra Miler Club annual meeting in Ontario CA. From there I worked my way north through rural eastern California, toward Seattle for my side trip to Alaska, then back down to Sacramento for round-trip back home. After flying back to California, I wandered around northern California some more, then north into the total eclipse path just after the eclipse watchers had started clearing out, then some zigzagging from Oregon to Wyoming then back, then up to Montana to finish off several US routes, then arriving back home two days before the cataract surgery from which I'm now recovering.

As I mentioned in the solar eclipse threads, my August travels took me across the parts of the totality path between eastern Oregon and southwestern Wyoming. Unlike others on this forum, I set out to avoid the eclipse and its associated crowds and traffic. But eclipse-avoidance proved to be about as much of a pain in the ass as eclipse attendance. I might do things differently for the next U.S. total eclipse in 2024.

This was a productive but somewhat unpleasant road trip. My old pickup truck had three breakdowns along the way, each throwing me off my itinerary for a day or two. So this will almost certainly be that truck's last road trip, though I'm still noodling whether to replace it and with what. I had hoped to get in some hot springing, but it turned out to be the wrong season for most of the springs I wanted to visit (unpleasant weather and/or forest fires). I couldn't even get in some beach time, so until the last two days of my trip visiting some friends on the Jersey Shore, my only "beach experience" this summer involved a bear killing a deer on a cold gravel beach, less than 100 yards from the lodge where I was staying.

But just this year (including previous trips) I've been to 44 states (including Alaska and Hawaii), three Mexican estados, and four Canadian provinces -- no new counties or other jurisdictions, though my off-Interstate travels took me to many county seats I hadn't previously visited. I also finished off US 2 (western -- already clinched the eastern segment), US 12, US 20, US 26, US 30, US 85, US 89, US 95, US 191, US 310, and US 412, as well as about 95% of the California state highway system.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: Roadgeekteen on October 08, 2017, 08:33:54 PM
Quote from: oscar on October 07, 2017, 05:40:17 PM
I took one huge mega-road trip this summer, cross-country to California and back with lots of sidewinding and side trips along the way. The trip took about two and a half months (net of two breaks, one a side trip flying round trip between Seattle and southeast Alaska, the other flying round trip between Sacramento and home), putting about 25,000 miles on my old pickup truck.

The outbound trip was basically a southern itinerary, clinching the parts of US 412 I hadn't previously covered then the south end of US 85 in El Paso to clinch that route, then over to US 191 from the border into Utah then picking up US 89 in Utah to start on finishing off both routes, then diving south to Yuma and along the border to San Diego before turning back north to the Extra Miler Club annual meeting in Ontario CA. From there I worked my way north through rural eastern California, toward Seattle for my side trip to Alaska, then back down to Sacramento for round-trip back home. After flying back to California, I wandered around northern California some more, then north into the total eclipse path just after the eclipse watchers had started clearing out, then some zigzagging from Oregon to Wyoming then back, then up to Montana to finish off several US routes, then arriving back home two days before the cataract surgery from which I'm now recovering.

As I mentioned in the solar eclipse threads, my August travels took me across the parts of the totality path between eastern Oregon and southwestern Wyoming. Unlike others on this forum, I set out to avoid the eclipse and its associated crowds and traffic. But eclipse-avoidance proved to be about as much of a pain in the ass as eclipse attendance. I might do things differently for the next U.S. total eclipse in 2024.

This was a productive but somewhat unpleasant road trip. My old pickup truck had three breakdowns along the way, each throwing me off my itinerary for a day or two. So this will almost certainly be that truck's last road trip, though I'm still noodling whether to replace it and with what. I had hoped to get in some hot springing, but it turned out to be the wrong season for most of the springs I wanted to visit (unpleasant weather and/or forest fires). I couldn't even get in some beach time, so until the last two days of my trip visiting some friends on the Jersey Shore, my only "beach experience" this summer involved a bear killing a deer on a cold gravel beach, less than 100 yards from the lodge where I was staying.

But just this year (including previous trips) I've been to 44 states (including Alaska and Hawaii), three Mexican estados, and four Canadian provinces -- no new counties or other jurisdictions, though my off-Interstate travels took me to many county seats I hadn't previously visited. I also finished off US 2 (western -- already clinched the eastern segment), US 12, US 20, US 26, US 30, US 85, US 89, US 95, US 191, US 310, and US 412, as well as about 95% of the California state highway system.
Have you clinched all of the 2di us highways?
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: oscar on October 08, 2017, 08:55:08 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on October 08, 2017, 08:33:54 PM
Have you clinched all of the 2di us highways?

Not even close. The US routes (including 3dius routes) are a huge system covering over 138,000 miles (more than three times as large as the Interstate system), about 40,000 miles of which I haven't traveled. My coverage is particularly weak in the southeastern states, and north-south routes between the Rockies and the Appalachians.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on October 13, 2017, 05:59:07 PM
So I ended up taking a roadtrip to Navarre in early September. As I'm running out of unclinched roads in my immediate area I now have to go further.
Title: Re: Summer 2017 road trips
Post by: kphoger on November 21, 2018, 04:07:54 PM
I never did get around to writing this trip report last year, so here it goes.




On June 17, our family of five left Wichita for a road trip out west.  This was our first just-for-fun vacation, and we were excited.  I had an ambitious itinerary planned out through Colorado and eastern Utah.  I had most everything we would need for camping–tents, mats, blankets, and all that good stuff; a wood-burning camp stove, pallet wood for fuel, cookware, and recipes; a good cooler, groceries, and shopping lists for along the way; buckets, biodegradable soap, a foldable shovel, three 20-liter jugs of drinking water...

The trip ended up being an adventure, but not in the most pleasant of ways.  We never actually made it to Utah, although we came within three miles of the state line before aborting that part of the plan.  We had a lot of fun, but we also had a lot of stress.

The original plan:

Day 1:
Wichita to Dodge City (US-400)
Dodge City to John Martin Reservoir S.P. (US-50)

Day 2:
John Martin Reservoir S.P. to Royal Gorge (US-50)
Royal Gorge to Continental Divide at Monarch Pass (US-50)
Monarch Pass to Ouray area (US-50, US-550)

Day 3:
In and around Ouray

Day 4:
Ouray area to Ophir Pass (US-550, Ophir jeep road)
Ophir Pass to Bull Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite (Ophir jeep road, CO-145,  CO-141, Castleton-Gateway forest road)
Bull Canyon to Moab area (Castleton-Gateway forest road, La Sal Loop Road, UT-128, US-191)


Day 5:
Arches N.P.

Day 6:
Dead Horse Point S.P.
Mill Creek Waterfall


Day 7:
Moab area to Cisco (UT-128, old US-6)
Cisco
to Glenwood Canyon (old US-6, I-70)
Glenwood Canyon to Central City area (I-70, Central City Pkwy)

Day 8:
Central City area to Wichita (CO-119, US-6, CO-58, I-70, I-135)

Our family car is a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder, and we packed it to the gills, including an old Sears X-Cargo box on top.  With two concrete blocks and 60 liters of water directly over the rear axle, it was a little bouncy but not terrible.  The cargo box doesn't affect fuel economy very much except when there is a stiff head wind or at speeds above 70 mph or so.

I had developed a license plate spotting game for us to play during the trip.  I assigned point values to each state and province, based on proximity and population–such that large states and nearby states were worth fewer points than small states and faraway states.  I also divided the game into an eastern section and a western section, and each team had to decide if they wanted to record their find or take the risk and wait for a higher-point sighting during the other half of our trip (each state or province could only be counted once).  The only exception was if you spotted a license plate from an Indian reservation in a state you already had, in which case you could claim both point values for that state.

Day 1.  At Dodge City, we visited Boot Hill Museum.  In advance of the trip, I had our family reading about Bat Masterson, cattle drives, and cowboys, so the introductory video and some of the exhibits were exciting for the older two boys.  We were also just in time to see the noon shootout.  Heading on from there, we skipped the Santa Fe Trail tracks site, because I planned to see the one at John Martin Reservoir S.P. instead.  Well, it turned out that recent high water at the reservoir had that one closed off, so we never did get to see the trail remnants.  Only two of our campgrounds on this trip allowed for reservations, so I had reserved those a couple of months in advance.  The first one was for our first night at John Martin Reservoir S.P. in southeastern Colorado.  Lake Hasty Campground has 109 sites, and I thought there was no way in heck it would fill up even on the weekend, but I decided to play it safe and reserve.  Sure enough, when we arrived, there was a sign stating the campground was full.  Our oldest son liked our first night of camping the best, because it was the only night we used two separate tents and he enjoyed not having to sleep with us and the little squirt.

My three sons, happy to be on the road
(https://i.imgur.com/ql6WSv3.jpg)

The obligatory photo opp
(https://i.imgur.com/bneFovn.jpg)

Packed to the gills
(https://i.imgur.com/AqFaG4N.jpg)

Learning how to put up a tent
(https://i.imgur.com/xYK1w4x.jpg)

Because license plate spotting isn't nerdy enough without an Excel file
(https://i.imgur.com/LaCY1Wh.jpg)

On Day 2, we headed out early, with Ouray as our target.  This was to be one of our longest days of driving, with a few stops along the way.  Pueblo was our first encounter with 85-octane gas.  Our car recommends 91, but if you read further in the manual, it actually only requires 87.  I usually fill up with mid-grade, which is 89 around here, but I happily used 87 in Colorado, knowing that it runs just fine on that octane.  85 was offered even as far east as Burlington (elev. 4170), which surprised me.

We stopped at Royal Gorge.  My wife doesn't like high bridges over water, so walking across Royal Gorge made her a little shaky, especially when park vehicles would drive by and shake the boards.  But that wasn't the really scary part.  What she really didn't like is that I was planning to take the aerial gondola back across.  When we got to the gondola station, our middle son started freaking out, hyperventilating, trying to run away, sobbing heavily.  He had seen people zip-lining across the gorge and, when he saw the cables, he thought we were going to cross by zip-line.  Then the gondola arrived.  "You mean we're going in the cool cars?"  he exclaimed, and then bounded up the steps as happy as could be.  My wife made it OK, but she charged me to never make her do something like that again.

As we were getting ready to pull off at the Continental Divide at Monarch Pass, my wife said, "Is that us burning antifreeze?"   So I popped the hood and realized what would change the course of our vacation:  after topping off the antifreeze prior to leaving home, I had neglected to put the cap back on the overflow reservoir.  Driving across the flatlands of Kansas and eastern Colorado, it wasn't a big deal but, now in the Rockies, antifreeze was spitting out of the reservoir all over under the hood.  So I improvised a new cap:  the stopper cap from one of the 20-liter water jugs, a piece of an old tee-shirt, and a bunch of duct tape.  And so we headed (downhill!) for Gunnison, where I bought a new cap at an auto parts store.  We arrived to the grocery store in Montrose at the time I had hoped to be finding a campsite two towns south.  With no campsite reservation for the night, I really didn't want to have to search for a site at sundown, so I was starting to get a little stressed out about the delay.  Fortunately, we found a nice open site at my first-choice campground, Angel Creek Campground, southwest of Ouray.  We still ended up having to put up the tent and eat supper in the dark.

Royal Gorge
(https://i.imgur.com/mbSzaai.jpg)

My wife was not happy that I made her take the aerial gondola back across
(https://i.imgur.com/QVZtcd2.jpg)

Monarch Pass
(https://i.imgur.com/cIzSt8a.png)

US-550, south out of Montrose
(https://i.imgur.com/R4iGHw1.jpg)

Day 3 was more relaxed.  I spent a couple of hours cooking breakfast, because I'm apparently no good at keeping a hot fire in the camp stove.  Our site being far away from the port-a-potties, everyone in the family got a crash course in squatting (pooing is cool).  And, of course, our boys all thoroughly enjoyed playing with sticks and dirt.  Give a boy a stick and he's a happy camper.  We hiked up to Cascade Falls, which was still flowing very strongly; my wife struggled with the steep grade and the high elevation, but the boys were plenty happy and enjoyed climbing on the rocks and feeling how cold the water was.

After heading back to camp for some lunch, we drove north to Orvis Hot Springs near Ridgway.  Orvis is clothing-optional, but only in the outdoor areas.  It being a summer afternoon, and my wife having a sunburn already, and our boys being wusses when it comes to hot water, we spent most of our time at the indoor pool, which was less than 100°F.  We did spent a little while at one of the hotter ones outside, because it was shallow (our youngest was able to wade) and it had a little waterfall feature to sit under.  There was also a cold plunge pool kept in the 65°F range.  That was the only time I actually swam nude, because I really dislike the feeling of a cold, wet suit clinging to my legs.  Our eldest son and I were the only ones brave enough to go all the way under in the cold one.  Looking back, I wish we had gone in the evening, spent our time at the outdoor pools, and not worn swimwear.  The mineral content of the spring water turned our swimwear brown, and our middle son's white tee shirt never really came clean.

Angel Creek Campground near Ouray, CO
(https://i.imgur.com/O9oBUlQ.jpg)

Our campsite, with the stove smoking away
(https://i.imgur.com/zavPNCh.jpg)

Canyon Creek, whose gritty water we drank with lunch one day
(https://i.imgur.com/lZ0KJMY.jpg)

My original plan for day 4 was to head south along the Million Dollar Highway, over Red Mountain Pass, and then cut west on the jeep roads over Ophir Pass.  But our car was still spitting antifreeze under the overflow cap on the up-hills, so we decided to play it safe and stick to the paved highways.  So we crossed the much lower Dallas Divide (pulling over shortly thereafter to clean up our youngest son's explod-a-puke, because apparently he gets carsick in the mountains) and headed for the Dolores River canyon, following CO-141 out of Naturita.  Just a few miles after we gassed up in Naturita, however, the car finally overheated.  We immediately pulled over onto the grass and shut the car off.  CO-141 is somewhat desolate, and it was 100°F outside, so we spread a blanket out under a tree for a while.  Not having any cell phone reception, I couldn't talk to anyone for advice; I could barely even get any text messages out.  I was feeling very exposed and helpless.  Finally, some loggers stopped their empty 18-wheeler on the road to assist us.  Because I had kept seeing fluid in the overflow reservoir, and because the car hadn't been overheating, I assumed it was still full of coolant, but apparently that wasn't the case.  We put about three gallons of antifreeze and water directly into the radiator.  We assumed that my not having filled the radiator directly had caused air to be trapped in the system and caused the problem to persist, and that the issue should now go away.  We headed into Gateway to eat lunch at the gas station there, and then headed west on the dirt road through John Brown Canyon.  Coming up out of the canyon, it was a steep climb.  At the top, 2½ miles from the Utah state line, I stopped and popped the hood.  Still spitting water out under the cap.  Great.  So we canceled Utah altogether and started heading back downhill.  The brakes were burning up as we descended back down into the canyon (it hadn't occurred to me that I should use low gear, duh!), so I stopped partway down and put another gallon of water into the radiator while they were cooling.  And then we drove the remaining 60 miles to Grand Junction to find a mechanic.  With the heater on full-blast to help keep the engine from overheating again.  In 105°F weather.  We made it to GJ with no further problems.

We settled into our hotel room and then hit the pool.  Next morning, I took the car across town to the mechanic I'd settled on, having looked at online reviews and determining which one would be most like my hometown mechanic.  I told him to take his time working on it, because I didn't want a quick fix to end up being no fix at all on our way back across the Rockies.  Not knowing how long it would take, we all just lay around in bed in the hotel room all that day watching TV.

Day 6 arrived with the mechanic still needing to bleed the cooling system and do one last test drive, but he had determined what the problem was.  On every other car I've owned, the cooling system has been pressurized through the radiator, with a spring-loaded pressure cap on the radiator and a plain flat cap on the overflow reservoir.  Apparently and unbeknownst to me, our car is the other way around, pressurized through the overflow reservoir, with a spring-loaded pressure cap on the reservoir and a plain flat cap on the radiator.  So, when I had bought a replacement cap a few hundred miles earlier, it never occurred to me to make sure it was a pressure cap, and putting the new cap on the reservoir did nothing to pressurize the cooling system and still allowed water to leak out the top.  Yes, it was a ten-dollar part that tanked half our vacation.

So, in the meantime, we took the city bus to the John McConnell Math and Science Center of Western Colardo, a couple of miles from the mechanic shop.  Very unassuming, it was housed inside a grade school in a residential neighborhood.  Open the door, though, and there's all sorts of fun stuff for the kids (and adults) to learn about and get their hands on.  It was a great find, relatively cheap, and actually my wife's favorite part of the whole trip.  While we were there, I got the call to come pick up the car, so we walked the two miles across the Colorado River (my wife in flip-flops, unfortunately, because we'd left her walking shoes in the car) to the mechanic.  With a working car again, we headed over to Fruita to visit Dinosaur Journey, part of the Museums of Western Colorado.  We had originally wanted to see a dinosaur tracksite in Utah, so this was the next best thing.  The kids dug it, and the price was right.  All in all, it's probably good that we never made it to Utah, because the region was in the middle of a heat wave, with temperatures hitting 100°F by noon.  With my wife already having a sunburn and us not having done long hikes before, I doubt Arches would have been much fun.  Instead, we got some relaxation and some indoor fun.

Stuff for all ages at the John McConnell Math and Science Center in GJ
(https://i.imgur.com/cJdtUm7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/smnstKq.jpg)

Jurassic Park made these things out to be so much bigger than they really were...
(https://i.imgur.com/da76nrW.jpg)

Day 7 was time to put the car repair to the test.  Our destination was near Central City, and there were two mountain passes along the way:  Vail Pass and the Edwin Johnson Memorial Tunnel (under the Continental Divide).  At Glenwood Canyon, we stopped at the Grizzly Creek rest area and took a hike up Grizzly Creek.  The trail along the creek was beautiful, and we made it to a calm shallow spot where we could take our shoes off and wade into the cold water, throw pine cones and watch them float.  It was one of my favorite parts of the trip.  Back on the road again, I pulled over at the top of Vail Pass to check under the hood.  Hooray!  No water vapor hissing out!  Lunchtime weather in Idaho Springs was 49°F and drizzling; we changed into warmer clothes and then headed up for a tour of Hidee Gold Mine.  There, we walked back into the mine and learned about the practice and economics of gold mining from our guide, and then, way in the back of the mine, we all got to try our hand at chiseling out actual chunks of gold ore from the vein.  I had made a camping reservation at Columbine Campground a couple of months earlier; my first choice had been Golden Gate Canyon State Park, but all 135 campsites were already sold out for the weekend by that time.  Columbine–with only two sites left available when I reserved–required me to reserve Saturday night in addition to Friday night (stupid rule), but I figured that was better than not having anywhere to sleep for the night.  Our travel and meal plans having been thoroughly messed up during the trip, we had a strange combination of snack food for supper that evening, and then spent the coldest night of my life.  I had not prepared for overnight lows much under 50°F, and we really should have brought one more blanket even for that temperature.  But that night it got down to 41°F, and there was even some frost on our tent in the morning.  It was bad enough that, when our eldest son told me in the middle of the night that he had to go pee, I really didn't want to go out into the cold and so I told him to just hold it; he had wet his pants by morning, but I swear it was worth it.

Grizzly Creek, above Glenwood Canyon
(https://i.imgur.com/VYsg6ej.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MnJMLry.jpg)

Columbine Campground
(https://i.imgur.com/U9J3GeA.jpg)

On the morning of day 8, shortly after leaving camp, we got to clean up explode-a-puke #2 of the trip.  From Black Hawk we took US-6 into the Denver area and then hit I-70 back to Kansas.  This was just a day of straight driving, no sightseeing along the way.