Dream Trip of a Lifetime in America (1 Viewer)

[NorvilleBarnes]

well, it is a worst day than getting wet.

Reading this hurt more than a helicopter crash.

 

[Frostillicus]

About 5 years ago my brother and I took my dad on a baseball trip.  Fly into Logan, hit a game at Fenway, drive to Cooperstown and spend a day there, then drive to NYC and go to ta game at Yankee Stadium.  Was pretty awesome except for when Jon Rauch ####ed everything up.

 

[Chadstroma]

Reading this hurt more than a helicopter crash.

What wrong with my grammar? You think you can do it bester?

 

[Yogibear]

You're in St. Louis so you already have the Bowling Hall of Fame.  What more could you want, Hall-of-famewise?

Actually, they moved the Bowling Hall of Fame out of St. Louis and moved it to Texas, maybe somewhere around Austin.

 

[worrierking]

Actually, they moved the Bowling Hall of Fame out of St. Louis and moved it to Texas, maybe somewhere around Austin.

Well I moved away from St. Louis 30 years ago, so I'm a little out of date.  Now your dream trip should include Texas, maybe somewhere around Austin !

 

[Drunken knight]

i think this depends entirely on one's interests....

you like baseball?  do a stadium tour

you like nature?  so many choices.... east or west coast, national parks, mountains, dessert, lakes of the midwest, country of tennessee or west virginia.

you like wine and food?  northern california, new york, la, new orleans

 

[Tom Servo]

I've already promised my wife I'd take her to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam after I retire. She's a big Van Gogh fan and I want her to see some of his paintings up close.

(Yes, I'm aware some of his prints are here in the US.)

 

[Jayrod]

Washington DC and NYC.  Probably in springtime.

 

[wikkidpissah]

I've already promised my wife I'd take her to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. She's a big Van Gogh fan and I want her to see some of his paintings up close.

(Yes, I'm aware some of his prints are here in the US.)

Viewing a Van Gogh up close is a truly dizziing experience. That such rough thicknesses of unnaturally-colored paint can spackle themselves, in perspective, into images so complex, fragile & powerful almost gave me flashbacks and made me see what artists see for the first time.

 

[glock]

The Optimal U.S. National Parks Centennial Road Trip

In total, this road trip spans 14,498 miles (23,333 km) of road and will take roughly 2 months if you’re traveling at a breakneck pace. I’ve designed this road trip to form a circle around the U.S., so you can hop on at any point and proceed whatever direction you like. Just make sure to follow the agenda from that point on if you want to follow the optimal route!

Here’s the full list of national parks (all 47 in the contiguous US) in order:

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Everglades National Park, Florida

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Biscayne National Park, Florida

Congaree National Park, South Carolina

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Acadia National Park, Maine

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Arches National Park, Utah

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Glacier National Park, Montana

North Cascades National Park, Washington

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park, Washington

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Redwood National and State Parks, California

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Yosemite National Park, California

Kings Canyon National Park, California

Sequoia National Park, California

Pinnacles National Park, California

Channel Islands National Park, California

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Death Valley National Park, California

Come retirement, mrs glock and I are doing this.

 

[wikkidpissah]

happy to say i've seen all but four (Mammoth, Congaree, Isle Royale, Wind Cave) on glock's list

 

[Jayrod]

Viewing a Van Gogh up close is a truly dizziing experience. That such rough thicknesses of unnaturally-colored paint can spackle themselves, in perspective, into images so complex, fragile & powerful almost gave me flashbacks and made me see what artists see for the first time.

I actually touched a Van Gogh once when I was a teenager at the Art Institute of Chicago.  I think it was one of his versions of The Bedroom.

That museum trip was one of my favorite memories as a teen.  Getting to see so many of the paintings that I had studied in my art classes was as exciting as watching my favorite athletes in person.

 

[Jayrod]

I've already promised my wife I'd take her to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam after I retire. She's a big Van Gogh fan and I want her to see some of his paintings up close.

(Yes, I'm aware some of his prints are here in the US.)

Beside the Bedroom I mentioned above, I got to see Starry Night in NYC not too long ago.  His paintings are truly fascinating to see in person.

 

[Koya]

Been fortunate to have been to a lot of places in the continental U.S. and Hawaii - most of the national parks out west, all but 4 states in some capacity, most of the major cities.  When I was going to backback europe with my gf the summer after college, we instead decided it was our only chance to see the country so we spent 6 weeks camping (mostly car camping, some hike in, a little backcountry). 

We only drove through the smokey mountains though, which are high on my list.  Never got to Mt. Rushmore nor the Dakotas, but as much as I'd like to go there, can't say it's the "top" thing I want to do.  From my trip, Montana and Glacier National Park were my favorite, just amazingly stunning. 

Today? I'd have to say Savannah Georgia / Charleston, S.C. as I've somehow not been to either, and would LOVE to spend a few days in each. 

 

[shuke]

@shuke Reality Tour

We’d start by visiting the place where it all started - no, not shuke parents bedroom you sickos but the hospital! Next we would head to the baseball field where little shuke fielded ground balls and spit sunflower seeds. From there it is on to college to check out all the coeds- like the ones shuke used to bang.  After that we’d stop off at Skyline for some chili.  Finally we’d take in a Red’s game with the man himself - head to a bar afterwards and do shot videos for the FFA.

I’d pay top dollar for this! 

I will give you this tour for $300. Includes transportation, drinks at college bars, Skyline, and Reds ticket.  

 

[On The Rocks]

happy to say i've seen all but four (Mammoth, Congaree, Isle Royale, Wind Cave) on glock's list

I know they weren't included but have you been to Alaska?  For people that attempt to see all the parks, Katmai National Park is probably the most memorable one I had the good fortune to visit two summers ago. 

 

[On The Rocks]

There are many, but if I had to narrow it down to one, it would be Yosemite. 

 

[Gally]

Get to every MLB park in one summer for at least a game in each.  Also fit in a couple games in Omaha for the College World Series if possible.  That would be the dream.

 

[Courtjester]

My wife and I want to go to Florida and do the Disney/Epcot/Universal experience. I am talking 10-14 days of just seeing it all. We took our honeymoon at DW and we haven't been back since. Our 25th anniversary is coming up this summer and we looked into it, but with one daughter in her first year of college bankrupting us with all her demands and our other daughter just entering high school, we just can't swing something this expensive at this point. 

The sad part of it all is exactly when we get the first one out of college and all her student loans hit us, the second one will be going in and accruing loans, so by the time we can actually get to DW, we will be too old to really enjoy it. 

 

[Osaurus]

Mrs. O and I finally got to Hawaii over Christmas last year.  We did 4 days on the Big Island and 4 days at a resort on Kauai.  That was way up there on our list, but I think these days we would like to spend a lot more time hiking in the Southwest between Arizona and New Mexico.  At least 2 weeks traveling from place to place would be ideal.  

 

[nirad3]

did a cross-country trip by car after college for almost 3 months. soooo much to see in this great land of ours. 4 corners area, rockies up and down, hwy 1... or yeah, cleveland.

No kiddin'.  A college buddy and I spent 42 days criss-crossing the country.  LA area straight across to Atlanta, up the eastern seaboard to Boston and then back down to LA diagonally through Chicago, Denver, etc.  Went to a ton of baseball stadiums (was during the summer).

Funny thing, though, was we initially planned it with a few other buddies who ended up going to EVERY SINGLE baseball stadium in about the same amount of time.  Annnnd they ended up getting sponsored by Jay Leno's Tonight Show.  They carried around this huge jar that they had baseball players spit chew and gum into and carried it onstage when they got to appear on the show.

We didn't want to have to wake up at 3-4am some days and be on a rigorous schedule so we declined.  This was before the Tonight Show was in play. 

 

[Beef Ravioli]

A road trip question.

I am making a trip for work and I am making a one day diversion to go see a friend. The trip is taking me from Indianapolis to Mattoon, IL. Wife and I want to make the 3 hour trip avoiding interstates.  Is there an app or website that directs you to points of interest in small towns? 

 

[tonydead]

Hands down, Hwy 101/1 top to bottom, or vice versa.. The Olympic range, fog-shrouded Cape Disappointment (terminus of the Lewis/Clark journey), Bandon, the Irishness of Bodega Bay, Muir Woods, perhaps our nation's greatest city, Monterrey, Sur, St Barbara, LA, San Diego. Hell, take the 1 all the way down to Cabo if you want. Even without sidetrips to SeaTac, Portland, Shasta, my li'l jewel, Yosemite, Joshua Tree etc  it's a soulifying thing.

Following even the remains of one great American highway is a blast. Drove what was left of Rte 50 from Jersey to Oregon on purpose once. Took our time, too. Chatting up the citizens along the way and feeling the noise & quiet of America was a pure deelite.

Yeah, take a left and do some of route 66 too. Do another left somewhere before Oklahoma and head to wherever our retirement home is going to be. Just hope I get my airstream done in time. 

 

[shuke]

A road trip question.

I am making a trip for work and I am making a one day diversion to go see a friend. The trip is taking me from Indianapolis to Mattoon, IL. Wife and I want to make the 3 hour trip avoiding interstates.  Is there an app or website that directs you to points of interest in small towns? 

Roadsideamerica.com

 

[PIK95]

Beside the Bedroom I mentioned above, I got to see Starry Night in NYC not too long ago.  His paintings are truly fascinating to see in person.

I could stare at that painting for hours.  It's at MOMA in NYC like he said and very much worth it.

 

[In The Zone]

happy to say i've seen all but four (Mammoth, Congaree, Isle Royale, Wind Cave) on glock's list

A great time to visit Congaree is when the fireflies are there.

Coming Soon

 

[kOOk]

I'm going to ask everyone one simple question: If you go to any particular museum or landmark in America, where would it be?

I know what my dream trip is going to be: The plans are already in the making with my girlfriend and I going to Cleveland and see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cedar Point, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame all at the same time.  From there, it's on to Boston to make the drive of less than 100 miles to see the Basketball Hall of Fame, and then back home to St. Louis.  But I want to wait until all 100 names from the DVD NFL Top 100: Greatest Players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame first.  So far, 94 are in, 5 are waiting to get in, and 1 (Tom Brady) is still actively playing.  Now, if Ray Lewis and Randy Moss get in, that'll bring the total to 96.  Who knows when Tom Brady is going to retire?  But, this trip definitely be worth the wait!

Good for you, I guess, but your heroes are mostly a bunch of ignorant, self-absorbed ##### nozzles.

This country has much more for you to see or honor than that group.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Yeah, take a left and do some of route 66 too. Do another left somewhere before Oklahoma and head to wherever our retirement home is going to be. Just hope I get my airstream done in time. 

I lived on Rte 66 in Albq for 15 yrs. Of course, much of it is gone now - superceded by I-40 thru much of the desert. We used to go for picnics in old, abandoned 66 roadbeds and had quite a collection of pavement chunks

A great time to visit Congaree is when the fireflies are there.

Coming Soon

Alas, spinal arthritis has put an end to my NP days. My favorite flying insect experience was on my 2nd favorite island (after Ireland) Rhodes, off the coast of Turkey. It also happened just after my favorite vacation experience ever, the payoff to, surprising for me i know, a weird story:

Me Ma, Da & Sis took me to Greece as their way to help me get over the death of my wife 20 years ago. I'd been several times (my Mary loved it & Turkey, too) the first time in the 70s, when i went island-hopping on the wonderful ferries throughout the Dodecanese. On that first visit, i ended up on an island named Kalimnos, winter home of the sponge-harvesting fleet. But this was summer, the fleet was over in Morocco & tourism had yet to discover many of the Greek islands, so i was essentially the economy of Kalimnos for a week and almost literally treated like their King. I thought reclaiming my crown would give me a little spark, so i made a deal with my fam that i'd have five days island-hopping on my own and we'd meet in Rhodes on such&such day.

Well, nothing stays the same and the taverna which had proclaimed me their ruler and where i'd passed out every night with a belly full of squid & baklava & retsina & ouzo twenty years before was streaming w German tourists & like, "oh, yes Yanqui Hippie, opa, go away" so so much for that.

I hopped a couple more islands then, saw the cave where St John wrote Revelations, but ended up in Rhodes a couple days ahead of schedule, rented a scooter, tooled down to the south of the island where there once was a lively British hippie scene, but was disappointed there, too. Took in Lindos, then went to a beautiful beach i had seen from the acropolis. Went down to the clothing-optional portion, dodged the clothed German horndogs who come down to look at naked girls, threw down to my altogether and threw myself into the Aegean. When i came up, i heard someone clapping. I looked over and saw a beautiful naked girl applauding my own spirit of nakedidity. Of course, she hadn't seen my bad side yet.

Went to this girl's towel to show her an ovation of my own, but found she spoke as little English as i spoke German. I said to her, "Only Deutsche i sprecken is Brahm's Lullaby",  which my grandmother (who took German seriously in school, had translated Hitler's speeches on the shortwave to the family backinaday) taught me as a child. She waved me a "g'ahead" so i tenored up my Irish baritone and sung it best i could remember (only made 3 mistakes). In the middle, i said to myself "I'm singing a lullaby to a naked German girl on a Greek beach - i'm on vaCATION!!!!". We spent the rest of my time on Rhodes together - where i learned that verbal communication is the most over-rated part of any relationship.

OK, on to the flying bugs. Rhodes rises up from beach to mountain like a volcanic island - though i dont know if it is or not - but, if it is one it's very old, because the caldera at the top is very lazy & rolling. We descended into it on lovely tree-lined lanes astride a cascading river and then vroomp the road opened into this huge valley of sunflower fields. Little did we know that this area was famous as the Valley of the Petaloudes (butterlies) and the namesakes were in season. Thousands & thousands & thousands of black & vanilla winged butterflies, flitted & swarmed & fluttered about us like an army of fancy darts as we scooted along. We took an inn there and the rooms had netting like we were in Cambodia or sumn, but the butterflies were that relentless. One of  the most amazing things i ever experienced.

 

[Gally]

I lived on Rte 66 in Albq for 15 yrs. Of course, much of it is gone now - superceded by I-40 thru much of the desert. We used to go for picnics in old, abandoned 66 roadbeds and had quite a collection of pavement chunks

Radiator Springs?  Say hi to Mater.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Radiator Springs?  Say hi to Mater.

Honk Honk. No, Central Ave, the main East/West street in Albuquerque, where the Runaway Bride turned herself in & native son Neil Patrick Harris's theater stands, and bicycle whores still regularly ply their trade, is actually Rte 66. Come, get your kicks or vice versa.