OT: Automobile "Adventure Trips"

[Bruce K]

So, my wife and I have done a bunch of "Adventure Trips" over the years

Hop in the car (usually our Mini Cooper S) and go as far as we can to spend a day on back roads and discovering small towns and neat shops. We try to avoid highways and stay on scenic back roads.

We also try to use no more than 1 to 1.5 tanks of gas and get it all done in just the one day

We are thinking of maybe trying something bigger and longer this summer. Maybe as much as 2 weeks. Throw a bag in the car and head west.

Thinking Niagra Falls, then over/around by Chicago, into the Dakotas (Rushmore, Wall Drug, Little Bighorn) over towards Yellowstone. Then maybe down to Las Vegas (Valley of Fire), then Grand Canyon, visit some relatives in Mesquite, NV, then up towards Denver/Boulder then east to Nashville and home.

Not sure we can make it happen, but if we do, does anyone have suggestions on "Must See" places to stop and check out.

Really looking for natural wonders, Americana, historical sites, etc

Has anyone done a trip like this either a cool one day or a long distance adventure? If so, share stories, please.

BK

[velotel]

Yea, 6 weeks to cross the country, saw lots of stuff, lots of parks, but I suspect things have changed just a bit since then. That was 1955, with my mother and two brothers. Cool trip though.

[eddief]

I know wrong side of the country, but anyone getting near Tahoe should see this place. 3 hours from Berkeley. No traffic, no people, but lots of views, birds, cycling. Tour de Manure next weekend:

http://216.92.171.121/news/?p=369
http://tourdemanure.org/

Funky great housekeeping cabins:

http://canyonranchsierraville.com/

[cp43]

I've driven cross country 3 times, each time in ~1 week. Covering that much distance in that short a time doesn't leave much time to see everything for more than a couple hours.

I think that with the route you outlined, you'll have to spend so much time in the car, that you won't get to spend much time at the stops. My advice would be to save some of the destinations for another trip, and spend more time at the destinations you pick, and less time driving.

If you end up at the Grand Canyon, do a hike. I went there, and never left the rim. As cool as that view is from the rim, it's pretty much the same all along (at least the section I was at). I'd love to go back and take the time to hike, at least part way, down the canyon.

[Ralph]

The beauty of a trip like you mention is you can plan it as you go.

Took my 12 year old grandson (when he got old enough to sit in front seat with Grandpa) on a trip like that from Central Florida.

Where do you want to go first Jack? Grandpa....how about the Varsity Drive in in Atlanta? Biggest drive in restaurant in US. OK Jack, no problem.

Next stop. Where next Jack? Grandpa.....How about the Arches in St Louis, and the museum of Westward Expansion underneath. No problem Jack.

Where next Jack? Grandpa....how about Mt Rushmore? Sure....No problem Jack.

Where next Jack....Grandpa....how about Budweisure brewery in Ft Collins. Sure...no problem Jack.

This was only part and trip went on for almost two weeks.....thru the eyes of a 12 year old. And over 5000 miles. Loved every minute. A real road adventure for a 12 year old. His trip. His way.

[rpm]

That's a great trip, but too long for two weeks. Next weekend, we're leaving the Twin Cities for the Dakotas and Yellowstone, and we'll be taking two weeks for just that loop. We're taking our our oldest grandkid, who is 8, and stopping first at the Little House on the Prairie museum in SD, then onto the Badlands and then the Black Hills. There are many great hikes there and things to do--Jewel and Wind Caves, the Mammoth and dinosaur digs in Hot Springs, Rushmore and Crazy Horse, Spearfish Canyon, and then on to the Devil's Tower and Yellowstone.

If you want a really nice up north trip, do a Great Lakes trip. Go from Niagara and drive across Canada to St.Sault Marie and go through the UP to Bayfield WI and see Lake Superior (or go to Thunder Bay and down through the spectacular MN north shore to Duluth). Then go across to Green Bay and either go up to Door County or take the ferry across to Ludington MI and go up to see the Great Dunes on the Michigan West coast. Drop down to Chicago and then home.

[commonguy001]

My wife has a coworker that does this nearly every year. He and his wife are avid outdoor types and do a lot of hiking and that type of thing. They usually rent a Prius for the week or two they're gone and don't use their own cars as they do huge loops with big mileage.
Last time (from MN) included a few days hiking the Grand Canyon, Arches (and probably a couple others in Utah), Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

[Birddog]

If this summer, you will be hard pressed to find lodging in or near Yellowstone, Rushmore, Grand Canyon on a spur of the moment basis.
Wall Drug is all kitsch and can be done in a couple hours. Rushmore was anticlimactic for our family, but Crazy Horse was immense and interesting. I'd probably go to Devil's Tower. If in Gillette WY for the 4th of July, their fireworks show is one of the all time biggest and best.
I'd probably head across Michigan's UP and check out Dorr Co Wisconsin on the way to S Dak but that kinda makes Chicago tougher to do. The road less traveled can be a lot of fun.

[Titanium]

Last Summer,my wife and I drove to Milwaukee to visit family,then drove on to Yellowstone,stopping at the Badlands Nat.park (Great biking here!),Wall Drug (DO Not eat in this town if possible! Complete Clip joint.)The biking in Yellowstone is beautiful,but many of the roads do not have shoulders,which coupled with tourists gawking at animals while driving made my wife uncomfortable.It is also worth noting that most of the park is 5000 to 8000 feet above sea level,making that little climb ahead into a bit more than you were expecting.Still,l it was a fantastic trip and we did bike everyday,its just that is the park were laided our with bikes in mind,you could do the whole thing without using the car. Good Luck and hope you can do it.

[staggerwing]

A few years back we did a western car/camp tour with the kids.

Highlights included:

Badlands National Park-Most national parks, you are not permitted off trail, but not here. Quite hot and dry in the middle of summer. Are you car camping? If so, spend at least a night, and do an early morning and/or a late evening hike. Bring some binoculars for the brilliant night sky.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site-Fount this one by accident. Curious cold war remnant. Take the guided tour, if time permits. When we went, the elevator operator was a young Russian intern with an interest in cold war history. When we were there, operations were out of mobile trailer, but it looks like things are a little fancier now. Check out the launch room vault door artwork, and find some more info at the NPS Site. (http://www.nps.gov/mimi/index.htm)

Custer State Park-Wild buffalo and donkey herds, eroded granite spires, and beautiful drives. A very diverse and large park. Wish we had spent another day or two there hiking.

Jewel Cave National Park-Nice stop, if you like caves. We do. A bracing 49 deg F underground, which is quite a contrast from the summertime surface temperatures.

Devils Tower-About a mile and a half long trail around the base of the monument. Nice later afternoon hike.

Yellowstone-One of our greatest national parks, but completely overrun by people in the summer. Perhaps one of my least favorite camping experience of all time. Hundreds of campers, many making their first camping trip with their young families, all packed in as tightly as possible, in an unscenic location. Zero privacy. Woke up the next morning smelling like damp bacon, and we didn't even have a campfire. Of course, the rest of the park was worth it. Distances are large, a driving is slow, so plan accordingly.

Grand Teton-For sharing a boundary, it is a completely different experience than Yellowstone. Beautiful scenery and great hiking. Even splurged a bit, and took a 4 hour backcountry horseback trip. One evening, took the pass over to Driggs, ID and saw one of the Harry Potter flicks at the Spud Drive-in. A bit surreal as there was some rather intense thunderstorm and lightning activity off in the mountains behind.

Aircraft Boneyard, Greybull, Wyoming-I grew up around airplanes, so I did head swivel when passing by. Had no idea it was out there. Remnants of Hawkins & Powers Aviation, once specialists in aerial firefighting, using a mix of retrofitted WWII and cold war era aircraft. A couple of nasty accidents led the forest service to ban use of these older aircraft, which effectively shuttered the company. Interesting lunch at an old A & W rootbeer stand in town, while vigorous pre-storm winds were pushing tumbleweeds down the main drag.

Tons of driving. I seem to remember about 5500 miles over 3 weeks, but a fantastic adventure.

The Mickelson trail, a 109 mile, crushed stone bike trail looks like it would be a fun adventure too, but wasn't in the cards at the time do to young kids and lack of time.

[Ken Robb]

For a 2 week trip I think you would find lots of fun things to do without going very far beyond The Mississippi River. Once you get to Niagara Falls consider visiting Detroit for Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum. Then Mackinac Island. From there drive around Lake Superior or take a ferry across Lake Michigan. Duluth and/or Minneapolis are very worthwhile and Wisconsin has beautiful lakes and woods. Head south to Chicago for whatever time you have left before heading east for home. You may have to take interstates to get home on time. This would be fun for us in our MINI Cooper S too!:)

[oliver1850]

Vintage races at Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI) July 16-19 and Sept. 18-20. Just walking around the parking lot looking at what people drove in is fun. Not far from the ferry across Lake MI.

WI Pub Tour: see Dennis Boyer's "Great Wisconsin Taverns". Two of my favorites: Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern in Monroe, and Puempel's Olde Tavern in New Glarus.

Galena, IL: Lots of history, architecture, craft demonstrations, live music, vineyard, brewery, and distillery tours, etc. Great area for cycling.

Starved Rock State Park, IL: Area of sandstone buttes and canyons where bands of Ottawa and Potawatomi trapped and starved a group of Illini on a butte overlooking the IL River. Also the site of early French exploration and the first French settlement in northern IL (1682). Popular place for hiking the 13 miles of trails.

[verticaldoug]

That's a great trip, but too long for two weeks. Next weekend, we're leaving the Twin Cities for the Dakotas and Yellowstone, and we'll be taking two weeks for just that loop. We're taking our our oldest grandkid, who is 8, and stopping first at the Little House on the Prairie museum in SD, then onto the Badlands and then the Black Hills. There are many great hikes there and things to do--Jewel and Wind Caves, the Mammoth and dinosaur digs in Hot Springs, Rushmore and Crazy Horse, Spearfish Canyon, and then on to the Devil's Tower and Yellowstone.

If you want a really nice up north trip, do a Great Lakes trip. Go from Niagara and drive across Canada to St.Sault Marie and go through the UP to Bayfield WI and see Lake Superior (or go to Thunder Bay and down through the spectacular MN north shore to Duluth). Then go across to Green Bay and either go up to Door County or take the ferry across to Ludington MI and go up to see the Great Dunes on the Michigan West coast. Drop down to Chicago and then home.

Being Minnesota born, I agree with RPM. From Niagra, I'd head north and drive along the north shore of the great lakes. (on-17) It will give you an idea on just how big the great lakes really are. The north shore of Lake Superior is a great place. You should get your fill of Walleye and wild rice on the trip.

Once in Minnesota, you should go to Lake Itasca. It isn't much but that little stream turns into the mighty Mississippi, the source of one of the world's great rivers.

I'd also hit Soudan Underground Mine near Lake Vermillion. It gives you a healthy respect of how tough the old iron ore miners were in Mesabi.

The Dakotas are nice, but hot and humid in the summer.

[merlinmurph]

I might want to spend a summer doing your trip, but not two weeks. Sounds like a whole lotta driving and not much else. You could easily spend a week (and should spend at least a week) just doing Yellowstone/Grand Teton.

If you want to go out west, how about just flying out and renting a car, rather than wasting at least two days just getting there.

Nothing like a good road trip, though.

[veloduffer]

If you stay in Niagara, stay in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is on the Canadian side about 5 miles from the Falls. Lovely town with good food and summer theater.

You also might consider driving through the Finger Lakes region - really nice part of NY state.

[rpm]

Once in Minnesota, you should go to Lake Itasca. It isn't much but that little stream turns into the mighty Mississippi, the source of one of the world's great rivers.
.

I'll second the Headwaters. If you have your bike, Wilderness Drive there is like an amusement park ride for bikes. Up and down rollers and around sharp turns among redwood-sized pines. There are miles and miles of other great riding nearby including two long paved cross-country trails.

[Bruce K]

Great ideas/advice so far

Cycling will not be part if this and driving isn't a huge deal

The CO stop and the NV stop are sort of "musts" with maybe 2 or 3 days each

Trying to see as much as possible in between

We realize we may not get the whole experience at some stops but seeing stuff is better than flying over it

Please keep the ideas coming

BK

[don compton]

Check out "MTTS 2016". My wife and I did the western half of MTTS 2014 and had a blast. We drove from California, through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. We were on many country roads and driving with hundreds of MINIS was an incredible experience.

[Ken Robb]

So, my wife and I have done a bunch of "Adventure Trips" over the years

Hop in the car (usually our Mini Cooper S) and go as far as we can to spend a day on back roads and discovering small towns and neat shops. We try to avoid highways and stay on scenic back roads.

We also try to use no more than 1 to 1.5 tanks of gas and get it all done in just the one day

We are thinking of maybe trying something bigger and longer this summer. Maybe as much as 2 weeks. Throw a bag in the car and head west.

Thinking Niagra Falls, then over/around by Chicago, into the Dakotas (Rushmore, Wall Drug, Little Bighorn) over towards Yellowstone. Then maybe down to Las Vegas (Valley of Fire), then Grand Canyon, visit some relatives in Mesquite, NV, then up towards Denver/Boulder then east to Nashville and home.

Not sure we can make it happen, but if we do, does anyone have suggestions on "Must See" places to stop and check out.

Really looking for natural wonders, Americana, historical sites, etc

Has anyone done a trip like this either a cool one day or a long distance adventure? If so, share stories, please.

BK

If you plug this itinerary into Google or some other driving router/mileage-time estimator how many hours does it show? Chicago to Denver is two full days driving for me without any sightseeing stops. Denver-Las Vegas is a whole day. I assume you would go to the North Rim of The Grand Canyon and that may be a one-day adventure. I haven't driven the other legs you mentioned but they look looooong to me as well.

[Titanium]

We got from Milwaukee , which is almost like Chicago to Yellowstone in 2full days of driving including a nice morning bike ride in Badland N.P. the second day.

[BobbyJones]

I think I spent close to 8 weeks doing a trip like that one summer and even that wasn't long enough!

Started at Martha's Vineyard and did a straight shot to Chicago then from there (in no precise order): Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, Ft. Collins, Estes Park/RMNP, Denver, Mesa Verde, Four Corners, Moab/Arches and the Grand Canyon.

Crowds or no crowds, national parks or miles of nothing, my best memories were the seemingly small incidentals- the Wednesday night rodeo in some small town, driving endless secondary roads in the middle of nowhere, too many beers with a group of Native American laborers in AZ (which almost turned into a 3am rodeo!) and lightning storms at 12,000 feet.

What ever you do, take some time to stop and smell the roses and chat up people. That's when the good stuff happens.