Cross Country Drive
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() So I am "productively procrastinating" tonight. I do not want to get on the treadmill so I started working on my cross country drive and stop locations. So far I am looking at: Fairbanks, AK; via the AlCan to Seattle, WA; Spokane, WA; Yellowstone National Park; Salt Lake City, UT; Mt Zion National Park; Las Vega, NV; Flagstaff, AZ; Albuquerque, NM; Oklahoma City, OK; Dallas, TX; Birmingham, AL; finally Cleveland, TN. Anyone have any other suggestions or places to visit on that drive or live along those routes? I would love to make some stops and enjoy some of the local favorites. I am going to have my road bike, mt bike, running gear, tri wetsuit, climbing gear, and camping gear. Any suggestions to break up the monotony is welcome. This drive will be between May 25 to June 10 or so. |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham is pretty nice at least for the area. Did both the Exterra trail half marathon and the Powerman long duathlon there and enjoyed it both times. The heat that time of year should make it even nicer http://www.alapark.com/oakmountain/ Edited by csikes 2013-01-22 1:47 AM |
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Queen BTich ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() If you're going to Flagstaff, I highly suggest a day in Sedona. Some great hiking, Devils Bridge is one of my favorites. Bring your Camelback! There's TONS of others. In the 'downtown' area, there is a welcome center with park rangers. They have maps and suggest where to go based on your time, activity level, etc. Very helpful. We did a helicopter tour there with an old Army pilot, a doors off "adventure" tour and it was well worth it! There are also cliff dwellings to hike to.
If you want to go farther south than ABQ, Carlsbad Caverns is a nice stop. It's out the way from OK, but if you go south after ABQ , then you can hit I-20 and go to Dallas. http://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm
Just north of Santa Fe/ABQ, is Pecos National Monument. AMAZING views and old settlements. Also, just a short exit (maybe 15-20min?) off the highway, you won't be wasting all day to get there. You can walk through some of them & go in the underground areas
Have fun! We did several SW road trips, last one being last summer. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'm confused on how the AlCan gets you to Seattle??? Don't you really need to take the Cassier and then go right at the split on that other hwy? (seriously can't remember the name |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() geauxtri - 2013-01-22 5:42 AM I'm confused on how the AlCan gets you to Seattle??? Don't you really need to take the Cassier and then go right at the split on that other hwy? (seriously can't remember the name I am starting out right now via the AlCan. I am also looking at taking the ferry and weighing options now. This is going to be late May, starting around May 24, and be about 2 week trip. I want to visit Seattle because I have some college friends who live out there that I have not seen for about 8 years. Some of my other stops are more for breaks in the drive and also to visit other friends. Since, you live in SLC is there any good routes that I should do well I am passing through? Stopping to stay long term on this drive will not happen since I have work waiting on the other end, Uncle Sam says I have someplace to be on the other end. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() After looking at the map... I suppose it's 6's (maybe slightly in favor of the Cassiar) to go to Dawson or not. I'm sure it's changed a lot inthe 15 yrs since I've been there (and quite frankly, after Fort St John we were in whiteout conditions all the way to Whitehorse.) I remember the Cassiar being muddy (was the week after Labor Day) but fairly desolate and beautiful. Either way, carry an extra 5 ro 10gal can of fuel, just in case |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() So, you have a 15-16 day trip and 12+ destinations listed. If all you plan to do is drive through these places that's fine, but if you want to see ANYTHING you will need a MUCH longer trip. Yeah, some of the legs like OKC to DFW are short...a few hours. But most of them are a full day of driving MINIMUM. So...day to drive...1-2 days to see something, day to drive to the next...etc. etc. etc. You'd better be gone a long longer than 15 days....or pick a lot fewer destinations. |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'm not sure what the AlCan is. Does it go through BC? Vancouver is pretty nice, but similar to Seattle. |