June, 2013 Road Trip (CA, NV, UT, CO, UT, ID, OR, CA)

[ZLoth]

Apologies for the report.... I was posting in the regional boards and completely overlooking this board. Can you say "noob"?

Monday, June 17th - Sacramento -> Ely, Nevada (454 mi, 7 hours 27 mins) (US-50), staying at the Hotel Nevada. My plans include topping off in either Reno or Fallon.

Tuesday, June 18th - Ely, Nevada -> Grand Junction, CO (431 mi, 6 hours 56 mins) (US-50, I-70). Topping off in Ely and Salina, UT is a MUST.

Wednesday, June 19th - Grand Junction, CO -> Mt Evans, CO, -> Denver, CO (298 mi, 5 hours 53 mins)

Thursday, June 20th -Saturday, June 22nd - Visit some areas around the Denver area, including Pike's Peak, a Natural Museum in Denver, Air Force Academy, Garden of the Gods, and so on

Sunday, June 23rd - Denver, CO -> Price, UT (407 mi, 6 hours 13 mins). Again, topping off in Grand Junction, CO

Monday, June 24th - Price, UT -> Jackpot, NV (363 mi, 5 hours 25 mins)

Tuesday, June 25th - Jackpot, NV -> Caldwell, ID (237 mi, 4 hours 42 mins)

Wednesday, June 26th - Caldwell, ID -> Portland, OR (404 mi, 6 hours 19 mins) A slight change will have me driving on the Washington side.

Thursday, June 27th - Portland, OR -> Bend, OR -> Medford, OR (336 mi, 6 hours 36 mins)

Friday, June 28th - Medford, OR -> Sacramento, CA (308 mi, 4 hours 46 mins)

Beyond the first two days, I don't think I'm being extremely aggressive in my mileage or times. In fact, I believe that I have given myself time to pull over several times and enjoy the scenery.

[djsinco]

It has been quite a few years since I was last in Jackpot, NV. There was a large casino named Cactus Pete's on the east side of 93; the prime rib buffet was 7 nights a week and amazing. They also had a pastry chef who was born and trained in Paris (not Texas!) so I also fondly remember the desserts!

[corco]

Aw, don't stay in Caldwell- that's the worst city in the entire state of Idaho. Nampa-Caldwell is the only part of Idaho with crime, pretty much the only part of Idaho with no scenery, no good downtown- pretty much sucks.  Especially given that you're not driving that much you'll have time to enjoy where you are. Stay in Payette/Fruitland/Ontario or Boise. Boise's one of the coolest small cities in America, and I'm not just saying that because I've been associated in some way with it/lived there for 16 years- there's a lot to do there- really neat downtown, lots of good restaurants, hiking easily accessible. Well worth the 20 minute backtrack from Caldwell.

Jackpot is unique, but very cool. Enjoy it. Cactus Pete's is still the only thing there.

[thenetwork]

Wednesday, June 19th - Grand Junction, CO -> Mt Evans, CO, -> Denver, CO (298 mi, 5 hours 53 mins)

Thursday, June 20th -Saturday, June 22nd - Visit some areas around the Denver area, including Pike's Peak, a Natural Museum in Denver, Air Force Academy, Garden of the Gods, and so on

Sunday, June 23rd - Denver, CO -> Price, UT (407 mi, 6 hours 13 mins). Again, topping off in Grand Junction, CO

Going between Green River, UT & Denver, there are a lot of current,"hidden" and old alignments of US 6 which parallel I-70. Some are easier to follow eastbound, and some are easier to follow westbound. In any event, follow I-70 in one direction and the "old highway" US-6 segments the other way. Grand Junction is worth nosing around in for a few hours (Colorado National Monument's Rim Rock Drive & CO-340 between Fruita & GJ) is a great little-known loop. 

[ZLoth]

Because of something that happened at work, this whole trip has just moved from "looking forward to" to "may be cancelled". 

Any suggestions of a good moderately-priced hotel in Boise then? I still got time to cancel and rebook.

[corco]

The Shilo Inn Boise Riverside is nice- inexpensive and well located if you want to go downtown

If you like a little nicer, the Red Lion Downtowner and Marriott Courtyard on Broadway are pretty nice too.

If you're going to stay in Boise instead of Caldwell, you may as well stay towards downtown. Most of the hotels off Vista are pretty good too and only a six minute or so drive from downtown.

[ZLoth]

Unfortunately, the trip has officially been "postponed indefinitely".