I am considering a trip at the end of the month. I haven't booked anything yet, and am looking at one of two destinations, either the Dallas area to do some freeway cruising (among other things, maybe take in the World Series parade :) ), or to California and drive up the coast from LA to San Francisco and back. I don't have a tonne of time (only 5 days), and can't decide between the two. The coast run is certainly the prettier of the two, but the flight from Buffalo is longer, and more expensive, and San Francisco isn't warm this late in the year. Dallas seems like an easier trip, is cheaper, but aside from spending a couple of days photographing the freeways I am not really sure what else there is there. Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated.
if I were to land in Dallas, I'd make a beeline to west Texas, which is the most scenic part of the state in my opinion.
then I'd wonder why I hadn't flown into El Paso!
What's 5 days metric time in real time?
Regarding what there is to do in Dallas, may I ask what your other interests are, in addition to roadgeeking (if any :-D )?
I like baseball. A lot of times when I travel in the US I'll take in a ball game, but it's too late for that. I'd consider a hockey game too, but this season doesn't look promising for that. I like photography, when I went to Boston a few years ago I was quite happy to spend a day walking around the city. I'd consider going to comedy club or something as well.
Something a bit unusual you can do: one of the two plants that produce U.S. paper money is located in Fort Worth. They give tours. (The other is in DC.)
If you decide on Dallas, I hope you can avoid flying there on American Airlines (dominant carrier at Dallas/Fort Worth International). Lots of stories about major flight delays, etc. at American due to labor issues. Southwest (which uses Dallas/Love Field rather than DFW) might be the way to go.
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 01, 2012, 08:50:30 PM
I am considering a trip at the end of the month. I haven't booked anything yet, and am looking at one of two destinations, either the Dallas area to do some freeway cruising (among other things, maybe take in the World Series parade :) ), or to California and drive up the coast from LA to San Francisco and back. I don't have a tonne of time (only 5 days), and can't decide between the two. The coast run is certainly the prettier of the two, but the flight from Buffalo is longer, and more expensive, and San Francisco isn't warm this late in the year. Dallas seems like an easier trip, is cheaper, but aside from spending a couple of days photographing the freeways I am not really sure what else there is there. Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated.
I've done the L.A. to Bay Area drive (via Ca. 1), and it is
gorgeous. It is also relatively-speaking short - and possible to do in a day (though I suggest 2 days).
It's about 700 km (430 miles) one-way (via Ca. 1), and you can do one trip via the faster (though less-scenic) U.S. 101, or even faster and less-scenic (to most people) I-5 (though the Grapevine Grade north of Los Angeles on I-5 is cool in terms of roadgeeking, as is the "left hand" section of I-5 between between Ca. 14 and the Grapevine) if you want to arrive and depart from the same San Francisco Bay Area airport (don't forget about Oakland and San Jose as alternate Bay Area airports).
Or you could fly in to Los Angeles instead. LAX has Southwest (somewhat unusual for a "main" airport). Alternate airports in the L.A. area include Burbank (also has Southwest flights), Long Beach (a colleague of mine
loves Long Beach), Ontario [California] and John Wayne in Orange County.
Having just been to both states, go with California. You can do freeway cruising there as well - I had minimal delays in my time in LA and San Diego, though I know that can be unusual. (LA was on a Monday, at that.)
The Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex has a lot of freeway miles. There are still some areas where you can see great "old" road architecture - like the old Central Expressway, Harry Hines Blvd (an old alignment of US 77), or old viaducts crossing the Trinity River if that interests you. The High Five interchange and IH 635 at Dallas North Tollway construction are examples of new freeway construction. For Photography - Ft. Worth has a beautiful Botanical Garden and Japanese Garden; also the Ft. Worth Zoo has some great landscapes. The big night life spots in Dallas are Deep Ellum and in Ft. Worth, the Stockyards. I can't recommend a specific comedy club but I'm sure someone else can.
Btw, I have always been pleased with my flying experiences on Southwest - on time, courteous, have never lost my luggage.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on October 01, 2012, 11:21:15 PM
I've done the L.A. to Bay Area drive (via Ca. 1), and it is gorgeous. It is also relatively-speaking short - and possible to do in a day (though I suggest 2 days).
I'd also suggest two days for that trip. San Luis Obispo would be the perfect place to stay overnight. If you can, stay at the Madonna Inn along US 101 south of town (pricey but unique); if not, at least stop by and check out the men's room in the basement, with the famous waterfall urinal.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on October 01, 2012, 09:00:06 PM
if I were to land in Dallas, I'd make a beeline to west Texas, which is the most scenic part of the state in my opinion.
then I'd wonder why I hadn't flown into El Paso!
El Paso has a pleasant airport. FWIW.
Quote from: NE2 on October 01, 2012, 09:26:58 PM
What's 5 days metric time in real time?
Five days. Under the only major decimal time system ever used, the day was the same duration as in the common clock, but it consisted of ten hours of 100 minutes each. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Republican_Calendar)
I'd definitely suggest the California trip. It's a great drive via CA 1 with a lot of great stops along the way.
I'd certainly advise you to exit just south of Monterey and go along the famous 17 Mile Drive, provided it's a clear day. That area can get fogged in pretty easily, but it's stunning on a day when the sun is shining. There are some incredible views the entire drive, and some gigantic estates that make you wonder what their residents do to afford living there. If you're a golf fan, Pebble Beach is worth a stop.
If you have 5 days, you could easily extend your drive out a bit further, taking 101 across the Golden Gate and driving north into Marin County and the Napa Valley just to the northeast.
Let us know what you decide. Either way, I look forward to the pictures.
I'd go with California too. There is actually a reasonable amount to see in the DFW area (Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, a couple of quite good art museums in Fort Worth), but I'd consider it more a weekend destination. As others have said, Los Angeles offers good freeway cruising possibilities, and it also offers a wider chronological cross-section view of freeway development.
Quote from: OCGuy81 on October 02, 2012, 09:55:59 AM
There are some incredible views the entire drive, and some gigantic estates that make you wonder what their residents do to afford living there.
The late Larry Fine (of the Three Stooges) would have remarked that some of those places are "so big they remind me of the reform school."
Quote from: OCGuy81 on October 02, 2012, 09:55:59 AMIf you have 5 days, you could easily extend your drive out a bit further, taking 101 across the Golden Gate and driving north into Marin County and the Napa Valley just to the northeast.
Headed north, Muir Woods is definitely worth a visit (even though it's named in honor of John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club - but I won't hold that against him or the massive trees there).
I have been to the L.A. area before, but I never went further then the Topanga Canyon Road.
LA freeways are a lot of fun to cruise around, the only issue that I have with them is that they are difficult to photograph. Like many states, California erects fences on all of their overpasses which makes taking photos from them very difficult. Texas doesn't seem to fence their overpasses.
If I chose California, I would envision the trip as this. I work a midnight shift until 07:30 in Toronto on Wednesday October 31, book it to Buffalo, NY and take a midday flight to LA. Arrive in LA around the evening rush, enjoy a burger from In'n'out (best part of CA), and then head northwest. Two days on the PCH, (thursday and friday), then a day in San Francisco on Sat, back to LA on sunday via US101, and then a half day in LA before flying out on the redeye monday overnight, getting back to buffalo on tuesday morning. Back to work at 15:30 in Toronto on Tuesday. Is that too ambitious for the time I have? Seems pretty whirlwind.
Ah, nothing better than a long day of travel after an overnight shift. I've done it several times. I spent most of June and July working F/Sa/Su overnight, driving somewhere Monday morning and not getting back until Friday afternoon.
It's ambitious, but I don't think that's too ambitious at all.
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 02, 2012, 03:42:04 PMLA freeways are a lot of fun to cruise around, the only issue that I have with them is that they are difficult to photograph. Like many states, California erects fences on all of their overpasses which makes taking photos from them very difficult. Texas doesn't seem to fence their overpasses.
The mesh fences can be worked around--it really depends on what kind of equipment you have. The early freeways (pre-1950) don't have mesh fencing, though signs on them tend to have barbed wire surrounds and graffiti shields. I have had reasonably good luck sticking the lens housing on a point-and-shoot camera through the mesh, though this doesn't work for oblique shots.
This is a through-the-mesh shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/argatlam_roads/4792860866/
I use an SLR which has a larger lens making through the fence photos more difficult.
I took this one of the same interchange a couple of years ago.
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/CA/I/110/I110_CA_cl_13-7_north_lg.jpg (http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/CA/I/110/I110_CA_cl_13-7_north_lg.jpg)
You can see the edge of the fence in this one though...
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/CA/I/105/I105_CA_cl_15-7_east_lg.jpg (http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/CA/I/105/I105_CA_cl_15-7_east_lg.jpg)
I got some decent LA freeway shots from my car.
I should mention that there are a couple of drives in Texas that are shorter than L.A.—San Francisco which have something to offer:
Dallas–Austin–San Antonio
Dallas–Houston–Galveston
To truly appreciate west Texas as agentsteel53 suggested would require a longer drive: Odessa is more than 300 miles away, and that's just where the true west Texas scenery begins (not even, really).
Quote from: kphoger on October 02, 2012, 09:40:07 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on October 01, 2012, 09:00:06 PM
if I were to land in Dallas, I'd make a beeline to west Texas, which is the most scenic part of the state in my opinion.
then I'd wonder why I hadn't flown into El Paso!
El Paso has a pleasant airport. FWIW.
Unfortunately, there's not much else there.
Quote from: wphiii on October 02, 2012, 11:02:05 PM
Unfortunately, there's not much else there.
Big Bend is an easy drive away, as are destinations in New Mexico, Chihuahua, and even Sonora.
If I flew from Buffalo to El Paso I'd wonder why I didn't just clinch US-62 instead
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 02, 2012, 03:42:04 PM
If I chose California, I would envision the trip as this. I work a midnight shift until 07:30 in Toronto on Wednesday October 31, book it to Buffalo, NY and take a midday flight to LA. Arrive in LA around the evening rush, enjoy a burger from In'n'out (best part of CA), and then head northwest. Two days on the PCH, (thursday and friday), then a day in San Francisco on Sat, back to LA on sunday via US101, and then a half day in LA before flying out on the redeye monday overnight, getting back to buffalo on tuesday morning. Back to work at 15:30 in Toronto on Tuesday. Is that too ambitious for the time I have? Seems pretty whirlwind.
It really just depends on what kind of traveler you are. It's certainly very feasible if you're the kind of person who enjoys seeing as much as possible when they travel even if it's at the expense of quality time in just one place. I'm one of those, so what you described sounds like something I'd try to do.
Also if you're looking for budget accommodations in San Francisco and are not averse to hostels, I highly recommend the Green Tortoise (http://www.greentortoise.com/san-francisco-hostel/index.php).
Quote from: agentsteel53 on October 02, 2012, 11:05:33 PM
Quote from: wphiii on October 02, 2012, 11:02:05 PM
Unfortunately, there's not much else there.
Big Bend is an easy drive away, as are destinations in New Mexico, Chihuahua, and even Sonora.
Of course, I'm referring only to El Paso itself. The significant other lives there, so I've indeed found myself getting very familiar with the surrounding destinations. It's gotten to the point where I insist on booking it to Cloudcroft practically as soon as I land.
Quote from: wphiii on October 02, 2012, 11:14:29 PM
Of course, I'm referring only to El Paso itself. The significant other lives there, so I've indeed found myself getting very familiar with the surrounding destinations. It's gotten to the point where I insist on booking it to Cloudcroft practically as soon as I land.
not a bad idea. Cloudcroft rocks. I have a friend who hunts in that area, and he took us on some neato back roads in the area.
oh, ever been to Juarez? I'm heeding the warnings and not going there - staying out of the border towns during my Mexico explorations; especially Juarez!
Quote from: agentsteel53 on October 02, 2012, 11:24:34 PM
Quote from: wphiii on October 02, 2012, 11:14:29 PM
Of course, I'm referring only to El Paso itself. The significant other lives there, so I've indeed found myself getting very familiar with the surrounding destinations. It's gotten to the point where I insist on booking it to Cloudcroft practically as soon as I land.
not a bad idea. Cloudcroft rocks. I have a friend who hunts in that area, and he took us on some neato back roads in the area.
I love how you can just roam around up there in the Sacramentos and have no idea you're anywhere near a huge desert. NM 244 in particular is a pleasant "back door" between Cloudcroft and Ruidoso.
Quoteoh, ever been to Juarez? I'm heeding the warnings and not going there - staying out of the border towns during my Mexico explorations; especially Juarez!
I actually meant to ask you in the previous post if you'd done much driving in Chihuahua and Sonora because I've pretty much
only been to Juarez when I've gone across the border, as most of la novia's family lives there. The situation seems to be improving ever so slightly, at least enough that I've been able to be out and about in the main plaza, as well as a shopping mall, without feeling an overwhelming sense of danger. It still feels a bit uneasy, and I generally do try to keep as low a profile as possible whenever I go. It's a shame, too, because even a moderately safe Juarez seems like it would have so much more to offer than El Paso.
The only other time I've driven in Mexico was from the border crossing at Lukeville to Puerto Penasco. It's a major American tourism route and is supposed to be about as safe as it gets in northern Mexico, but even that drive felt kind of creepy, as there was very little traffic, and every so often a black SUV with no license plate would pull right up on your ass and, being so isolated, you can't help but wonder what its agenda is, and then it just passes you and goes on its merry way. This is why I am quite curious as to what your driving experience has been in the Mexican border states.
Also in West Texas: Hueco Tanks, McDonald Observatory, Balmorhea. New Mexico - White Sands. Particular to road-geeking would be the fabulous Camino Rio (FM 170), old or abandoned alignments of US 80, 90, 290, and - possibly - the ghost lights of Alpine-Marfa. Sonora - further to the east - has beautiful caverns.
Further descriptions of central or south Texas (ie. Austin/San Antonio/Houston/Galveston) available if helpful to you. I hope you will post pics of whatever trip you decide to take.
Quote from: US81 on October 02, 2012, 11:47:25 PM
Sonora - further to the east - has beautiful caverns.
The Caverns of Sonora are wonderful, they've got to be one of the most spectacular, yet totally unheralded attractions in the entire country.
I was talking to a border patrol agent recently and he said that the Sonoyta-Puerto Penasco route is being used more and more by drug traffickers. I was unimpressed with Puerto Penasco; too many tourists. But there is a national park there off of highway 8 which I intend to visit.
I've only been to Chihuahua once. some photos may be found here:
https://www.aaroads.com/blog/2012/08/01/sonora-part-i/
https://www.aaroads.com/blog/2012/08/01/sonora-part-ii/
I need to post the photos of the second day (Sonora and Baja California); dang too much work!
I've only been to Juárez once (and El Paso, for that matter). That was back over New Year's 2001/2002, before the increase in violence. We did no sightseeing, just a taxi drive between bus station and hotel (which I made more than once because I'd left a bag in the taxi). However, if I were in El Paso, I would try to go see a bullfight in Juárez. I've never been to one, so I think it would be a cool experience.
I grew up going to Big Bend, and it is definitely a cool place, especially if you have 4WD capability (I never did). Before 9/11, you could cross the river in a rowboat to two different communities (Santa Elena and Boquillas), but they closed the crossings because apparently El Qaeda terrorists were just swarming over the border there (not); I don't know if the situation has relaxed. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is also less than 200 miles from El Paso. If you like spicy food, make a trip the other direction to Hatch, NM–less than 90 miles.
Quote from: kphoger on October 03, 2012, 11:31:48 AMthey closed the crossings because apparently El Qaeda terrorists were just swarming over the border there (not); I don't know if the situation has relaxed.
officially no, but those El Qaeda (hah!) terrorists are busy crossing the river and threatening to interrupt our freedom by selling us trinkets.
In case anybody is interested, I ended up choosing Texas. The flight was cheaper, and what can I say? I am a sucker for big urban freeways.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.asphaltplanet.ca%2FTX%2FI%2F10%2FI10_TX_dv_759-75_west.jpg&hash=d7faa0c88479a0fc00c386de4962aa4b1df5909f)
More here:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/TX/I/10/ (http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/TX/I/10/)
The big Texan freeways are something I've yet to see. My only visit to the state on the ground was a short drive from New Mexico along a two lane road. I would like to take some photos of five level stacks, particularly from a surface street with an ultrawide lens.
My next trip is likely to be Arizona in February so at least some of the stacks in Phoenix are a possibility although it's the saguaro I'm more interested in.
Those look like HO/T lanes in that photo. Thanks for posting it. Ours in Northern Virginia are to open next Saturday and it's interesting to me to see how they're configured in other cities (the only ones I've actually driven in are the ones in Miami). Much wider "median" between the managed lanes and the general-purpose lanes in the picture you posted.
I've wanted to make a trip back to Texas for a long time. I was born there but we moved to Virginia when I was one year old, and on my only trip back to the state (a high school trip to a convention in the summer of 1990) I didn't get back to see where I was born and the like, only got to the convention at the University of North Texas in Denton. I kind of wish the Formula One race had been in October. I'd love to go, but there is no way I'm making that trip the weekend before Thanksgiving, especially when we're hosting dinner this year.
I did find a picture of our old house on Google Street View and sent the link to my parents and they commented that it didn't look all that different from how it looked 40 years ago.....