BootsnAll Travel Community

Hey Everyone,
In mid-April I'm going to pack my bags, fill my car, and travel across the US. My general route will take me down the east coast to Georgia, than west where I plan on staying until September. My only finalized plan is that I need to be in Black Rock Nevada for Burning Man at the end of August. I'd like your suggestions on any amazing roads to travel, places to see, places to stay, mountains to hike, anything you think is interesting in the western states.

I'm planning on camping, exploring the backcountry, hiking, mountain biking (I'm bringing a bike), discovering small towns, riding a horse, and watching the sun set over the Pacific - to name a few. I'm up for doing anything, my only criteria is that it not cost a lot of money. My main interests are not in big cities, shopping, or dining out. On the flip side, I will be visiting or passing some cities like Vegas, I will want soveneirs and gifts to send home, and I would like to sample the local cuisine.

My route is fairly open-ended. I want to travel through the southwest during spring/ early summer and zig-zag to the northwest by mid summer. I may pass through some states and spend a month in another. This is my state-by-state plan so far.

Early Summer: Texas - New Mexico - California - Nevada - Utah - Colorado

Late Summer: Wyoming - Montana - Washington - Oregon - California

Send me a message if you are interested in meeting up for any part of the trip - my passanger seat is very comfortable. Also let me know if you would like to show me around your town or let me crash on your couch for a night.
Happy Travels!

quote:

Originally posted by JerseyFreshness:
I'd like your suggestions on any amazing roads to travel, places to see, places to stay, mountains to hike, anything you think is interesting in the western states.

Wow, now THAT's an open-ended request! The southwestern U.S. is an astounding place and there are tons of incredible things to see and experience. You didn't say much about the route you are taking or what you like, so here are just some random things that appeal to me.

Since you're going to be in Georgia, stay to the south and visit New Orleans, at least for a day. It's a great little city, and they need the support. The downtown area is open for business. Check out Mama's on Louisiana St. (I think they are open now) for good cheap local food, and the Blacksmith Bar is where locals go on Bourbon St.

Superstition Mountains in Arizona are awesome, and less full of tourists than most pictureque places. I like Lost Dutchman State Park for camping, and there are a couple of interesting climbs in the area.

Tahoe is a real scenic place, no matter what the season.

I enjoy travelling on old Route 66 - check out the the "California to Texas" post for some thoughts on that.

If you end up in Nevada early, the Overland Hotel in Fallon is an inexpensive stay and kind of an historic kick.

This doesn't even scratch the surface of what there is to see and do. The Rockies, the Grand Canyon, Hwy 1 on the California coast, Pueblo, Santa Fe, Sabino Canyon....I'm sure others have some opinions and favorites.

La

quote:

I'd like your suggestions on any amazing roads to travel

Certainly, you will need one of these.

I agree with La; give us a better idea of what you might like and we can make better suggestions.

Do you like hiking? Find great delight in the cheesy roadside attraction? Wish to see ghost towns? Looking for the best place to buy silver jewelry? On the hunt for the best green corn tamale? Hoping to sit in a hot spring under the stars?

Sounds like this has the potential to be a great road trip!

I love hiking, I get a huge kick out of cheesy road-side attractions and the carnies that run them, I hate shopping, and I dream of soaking in a steaming pool while watching the stars. I'm an outdoorsy type who likes to stay away from the crowds, but I have to be around people every once in a while to keep my sanity. I feel the call of the wild, unknown and untame. I look for the path untravelled and the nirvana that arrises from it's tranquility.

You definitely want to hug the coast as much as possible as you make your way up through California, Oregon and Washington. A combination of Hwy 1 and 101. Stay OFF I-5.

Man, with your plan, you can't go wrong! There are many great areas here in the West...The North Rim of the Grand Canyon has almost none of the tackiness of the South Rim's commercial enterprises, but has a great campground within walking distance of the Rim, and the hiking trails that start there. Zion NP also has a fabulous campground, right next to a major stream. And so it goes with many of the NP's in the west..depending on your interests, the one's you camp at will certainly be worth your while. The one unmissable scenic drive would be the coast route all the way from Los Angeles to Portland, basically. Especially between LA and SF, but since I am from cali, I am biased. But why zip from Las Vegas to SF when you can visit a cool cali coastal town like San Diego or Laguna Beach and then take a leasurely, long drive up the coast with the sun behind you! I am from San Francisco, and live there at the moment and would be happy to answer questions or give more info. Hope to hear from you!

Jackson Hole, WY shouldn't be missed. Near town there are several excellent single track opportunities. Nearby is the American Icon of Yellowstone and my personal favorite, Grand Teton National Park. Backcountry exploration opportunities abound. If you have the time, get off the beaten path into one of the surronding wilderness areas. An excellent 2 to 3 day backpack trip into the Teton wilderness will get you to two-ocean pass and the parting of the waters. A unique feature that only occurs two places on the continet, where a creek running down the continental divide splits, with one fork going to the Pacific Ocean and the other to the Atlantic. If you do take a trip like this though, get yourself up to snuff on how to travel in bear country. It is very likely you will encounter them in this environment.

Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by JerseyFreshness:
and I dream of soaking in a steaming pool while watching the stars.

Spencer Hot Springs near Austin Nevada. Soak in a hot pool and look out over the Toiyabe Range. Not very developed, and you may see naked locals.

La

I am a fan of Ojo Calientein New Mexico. Sure, if you are a hot springs purist (read: you must enjoy your hot springs out in the middle of nowhere, sans bathing suit) this is not going to be your cup of tea. But! If you enjoy a good soak in the middle of nowhere (or an hour from Taos or Santa Fe, New Mexico) without the views provided by other bathers, this is a great spot. You can camp on the premises for $25 per night, which includes access to the pools from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. There are a great variety of pools, in which one can sit at night, ears under water, enjoying the stars and the occasional bat flight.

There is also a restaurant on site, so you can decide if you are going to cook at your campsite or eat some fancy spa food.

If you happen to be in New Mexico, it is worth it to go to The 4 Corners and have your photo taken while you pose on 4 states at once. Is it a cheesy road side attraction for which you must pay $5? Yes...it is worth it both for the photo and the easy access to both Indian Fry Bread and Mutton Stew (capitalized because both are so delicious!)

Since you will be standing in Colorado, a trip to Mesa Verdeis in order. Plan to spend at least 2 days at this park (which has free showers with your paid park admission!) to see some spectacular ruins as well as enjoy the deer who are so friendly they will personally welcome you to the park by strolling through your campsite. Buy tickets to see the Cliff Palace as early as possible, since the tours sell out quickly...or if you really plan ahead, buy them on the first day for a tour on the second day that you are there. There is a lot to see in this park, and certainly one of the most interesting places in the Western States.

If you are interested in waterfalls, allow me to suggest a hike to Havasu Falls which are west of Flagstaff, Arizona. You can hike in (you need reservations, which can be made through the website) rent a mule, or helicopter in. Most people camp overnight in the parking lot at the trail head and hike down to the Falls in the morning. You could do this hike in a day, but it is best to spend 2 nights at the campground at the bottom. Hike to the campground the first day and spend some time at Havasu Falls so that on the second day, you can hike to Mooney Falls and even to the Colorado River. On the third day, hike back out.

Here
is a discussion about things to see in Arizona.

I agree 100 % with the suggestion to drive up Highway 1 in California. There is so much to see along this route that it is worth the extra time to drive it.

Happy Roadtrip!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned east-central Utah! I am in love w/ that part of the U.S. Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and definitely check out the Moab area (a fun town w/ lots of outfitters - rafting, mountain biking, canyoneering, etc). There are a few neat state parks, and also the BLM land has some fantastic trails. And the La Sal mountains nearby (they aren't the Rockies, but still, it's need to have lush green vegetation with the desert right at the doorstep). Sigh. I've posted on it before, so you can try to search for more info..otherwise you can pm me if you want to know a bit more!

If you're going to Zion National Park, hit Bryce NP too. One of my personal faves, plus it's fairly compact.

Thank you all for the great suggestions. It looks like I'll have no shortage of places to go on the trip. If anyone else is interested, these are some of the better sites I've come across while researching trails and desert locations.

GORP: Outdoor Activities

Utah Hiking and Backpacking

Desert USA

Natural Hot Springs

I kind of like Joshua Tree in Southern CA (it's in the middle of the desert by Twentynine Palms), but it's hot as F@$# during the summer. Maybe in September if you're in the area.