Sunday 25 March 2018

Montana

So many people have recommended Glacier National Park but its just too far away from our route to visit so we're going to have to organise another trip!

Instead, we are going to be visiting Little Bighorn Battlefield. The history behind this National Monument, I remember learning as part of my History GCSE.

Another place I am looking forward to is the Ringing Rocks of Montana. On the face of it, this looks like a large pile of random boulders but when they are tapped lightly with a hammer, they ring. It is believed that the ringing is a combination of the composition of the rock and the way the joining patterns have developed as the rocks have eroded away, if a boulder is removed from the pile, it doesn't ring.


State:Montana
Towns of Interest: (FB) = FirebreakN/A
National Parks:Glacier National Park - not visiting
State Parks of Interest:N/A
Places of Interest: (N) = Night StayMissoula (Pretty town - old town district has some lovely old structures, is home to the largest Montana brewery. Greenough Park is a pretty hie through the conifers and cottonwoods lining the bank of Rattlesnake Creek)
Garnet (Maintained ghost town which gives a history to Montana)
Driving Route 1 (Skirts the lovely Georgetown Lake and enters Flint Creek Valley, where the surrounding mountains harbor garnets, sapphies and fossils. The drive passes through old mining towns, many of which are now ghost towns and ranches)
Georgetown Lake
(N)
Ringing Rocks of Montana (The rocks in this unique geologic area chime when tapped lightly with a hammer)

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (This area memorializes the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry and the Sioux and Cheyenne in one of the Indian's last armed efforts to preserve their way of life)
Hardin
(N) (Little town with a KOA to stop in)
Routes of Interest: Driving Route 1 (Drummond to Anaconda)
Useful Links: http://www.visitmt.com/things-to-do.html


Oregon

We are super excited to be visiting Oregon after watching a number of other people who have visited this state. It was a tough decision on whether to follow the coast road (up Route 101) or to come inland and visit some of the amazing National and State parks. We decided to take the coast road since we will be soon heading inland crossing West to East so this would be one of our last chances to take in some sea air until we hit Maine.

There is so much to see and do along highway 101, I think the items we have called out in our plan are probably just a few key ones to watch out for, I expect we will find a lot of hidden coves, amazing beaches, artistic rock formations and various other interesting things to do. We will try to capture it all as we go along!


State:Oregon
Towns of Interest: (FB) = FirebreakPortland
Newport
National Parks:Crater Lake National Park - not visiting
State Parks of Interest:N/a
Places of Interest: (N) = Night StayOregon Coast Highway (Route 101)Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor (scenic view of the offshore rocks)
Port Orford (Major fishing center and one of the oldest settlements on the Oregon coast. Among its attractions are the Sixes and Elk rivers, the Thousand Island Coats (a series of offshore rocks that are favored by harbor seals and sea lions) and Battle Rock City Park)
Bandon (Cranberry Capital of Oregon)
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
(N) (Best sight along the drive - 32,000 acres of Sand Dunes)
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park (Pretty lighthouse built in 1892. Oppose the lighthouse is a whale watching station, here you can get panoramic views of the dunes)
Sea Lion Caves (Popular attraction - From the top of the cliff, a high speed elevator takes visitors 208 feet to an observation deck that looks into the vast sea caves at water level. Inside the caves are hundreds of sea lions)
Thor's Well (natural hole that seems to be draining the sea)
Newport
(N) (Pictursque port is a good place to get out of the car and take a stroll. Amble along the old bay front to glimpse fishing fleets and admire fresh fish displays by some of the best seafood markets on the coast. Saunter along the sea shore in search of semiprecious agates washed by the waves. Or wander to the south end of town to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, the only one remaining in Oregan that combines a tower with keeper's quarters)
Three Capes Scenic Loop (Cape Kiwanda State Park for the red and yellow sandstone cliffs, Cape Lookout for the views of Tillamook Head which is 42 miles north and Cap Meares with a lighthouse over 100 years old, sea lions, rockeries and reefs. Check out the tree in the parking lots for the lighthouse, its nicknamed the Octopus Tree)
Canon Beach (Dazzling ocean view from lookout points on the road. Towering over the beach is the 235 foot tall Haystack Rocka bullet shapped monolith that is one of the most photographed sights on the coast and features in the Goonies) 


Portland (N)
Powell's Books (It's the largest independent chain of bookstores in the world, and when you visit the aptly named flagship shop, Powell's City of Books, you'll need a map to find your way around)
International Rose Test Garden (One of Portland's nicknames is the City of Roses, and this town has long been an incubator for the scented beauties. Nearly a century ago, a farsighted citizen convinced the local government to set up a rose test garden during World War I to preserve the species of European roses that might be decimated by the bombings. Thus, in 1917, the International Rose Test Garden was born)
Tom McCall Waterfront Park (30-acre park stretches alongside the Willamette River in downtown Portland and provides some of the best views of the city's skyline)
Smallest Park in the World (At the intersection of two streets in Southwest Portland, located in the center divide, you will find Mill Ends Park. At a whopping 452 square inches it is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the smallest park in the world)
Rose City Rollers (Roller derby - hard hits, fast feet and sometimes accented with alterations between the female players)
Japanese Garden (next to rose garden - 5.5 acre Japanese Garden is influenced by Shinto, Buddhist, and Taoist philosophies)
Glow in the Dark Mini Golf (Glowing Greens is a black light miniature golf adventure)
Voodoo Doughnut (Bacon doughnut!)
Routes of Interest: Highway 1
Useful Links: http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/oregon-usor.htm



Nevada

In a previous post we discussed our difficult decision not to visit Las Vegas but we couldn't exclude Nevada from the trip, a 47-state trip was not an option! So we looked at what else we could visit that is a bit different from what we have done before and we found Valley of Fire State Park.

Valley of Fire is located in the Mojave Desert about 58 miles Northeast of the Las Vegas Strip. It is named after the red sandstone formations which appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun. Besides from the landscape which I'm sure we will take in either hiking or from the comfort of our air conditioned car, you can see the history left by the prehistoric people who used to live here.

Anyone who has been to Vegas, knows how hot it is there but we're visiting in July and rather than staying in a comfortable hotel with a pool and frozen cocktail bar, we're camping.... yes camping in temperatures of over 40C! 

State:Nevada
Towns of Interest: (FB) = FirebreakN/A
National Parks:Great Basin National Park - not visiting
State Parks of Interest:Valley of Fire State Park
Places of Interest: (N) = Night StayValley of Fire State Park (N) (World-renowned for its 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone, Valley of Fire State Park contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years)

Desert View Point (View of Death Valley)
Routes of Interest: N/A
Useful Links: http://www.riverlakes.com/boulder_beach_campground.htm


Washington

Our plan for Washington is to loop around Olympic National Park before heading to Seattle for a slightly longer stay than most cities. We have both always wanted to visit Seattle but until now have never had the chance plus there is so much to do, even 3 nights is going to be tough!

We have a slight detour planned to visit Forks, the town featured in the Twilight series. Lee has not so fond memories of taking me to watch Twilight in the cinema and I think secretly, he is looking forward to seeing a few werewolves and vamps roaming about.


State:Washington
Towns of Interest: (FB) = FirebreakSeattle
Leavenworth
National Parks:Olympic National Park
North Cascades National Park - not visiting
Mount Rainier National Park - not visiting
State Parks of Interest:Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park
Dosewallips State Park
Potlatch State Park
Places of Interest: (N) = Night StaySpirit Lake Highway (South on Highway 12 to Randle along the White Pass scenic byway. Then take SR 131 which leads to Service Roads 25 and 99 where visitors can stop for brethtaking pictures of St Helen's creter from Windy ridge) 

Route 101 
Lake Quinault (Surrounded by dark, dence rain forest, this lake is a falcier-fed lake that is four miles long. Take the short walk from the lodge to th Quinault Loop trail which leads to one of the largest known stands of Douglas firs in America)
Queens River Road (Unpaved 14 mile road along the queens river connects one watery wonderland with another. Every square inch is green with moss, ferns and sorrell)
Kalaloch
(N) (The larest coastal beach camp ground in the Olympic area, has dramatic views of the ocean and at low tide, you can explore the tide pools)
Ruby Beach (Garnet crystals give this beach a pinkish hue)
La Push (15 mile detour from route 101 takes you to this old Indian Fishing village. With charcoal grey beaches and a large collection of driftwood and views of offshore whales and sea stacks)
Forks (Home to Twilight Books)
Lake Crescent (Created by glaciers during the Ice Age, a sparkling, deep-blue gem whose fresh water mirrors the surrounding wooded hillside. Short trail near the visitors center leads across a single-log bridge to a 90 foot high waterfall called the Marymere )
Elwha River Valley (A paved road heads south along the Elwha River. Lots of scenic turn outs and plently of opportunities for pictures.)
Port Angeles (largest city in the Olympic Area and the gateway to the Olympic National Park)


Olympic National Park (N) 
Main Visitor Center (Located on St Angeles Road - learn about the history of the park and find out about camping and hiking)
Hurrican Ridge Road (Just beyond the parks enterance, a 17 mile road leads south to Hurrican Ridge. As it climbs to an elevation of 1 mile, the road slices through a dense forest. Lots of turn outs with amazing views are along this road)
Hurricane Ridge (Either hike along the Meadow Natural Trail or take the Obstruction Point Road, an 8 mile stretch of unpaved road to Obstruction point)


Route 101
Port Townsend (Quaint coastal town is very picturesque)
Mt. Walker Viewpoint (A stepp gravel road takes you up to the summit of Mt. Walker where the view takes in more than 5 million acres)
Dosewallips State Park (Here the fresh water of the Dosewallips River meets the salk water of the Hood Canal making it the idea habitat for clams and oysters. Best time to visit is low tide)
Potlatch State Park (Nice place to stop for a picnic and watch people digging for clams and picking oysters)


Seattle (Nx3)
Pike Place Market (this is Seattle’s most iconic attraction - market place selling everything plus there are some fantastic eateries)
Pioneer Square ( richly historic place known for its Renaissance Revival architecture, night life, lunch spots, and quirky boutiques)
Kerry Park (For a view of the Seattle skyline that simply cannot be beat, head up the south side of Queen Anne Hill to the city’s most well-known lookout, Kerry Park. A photo from here is postcard-perfect with ferries crossing Elliott Bay, the city skyline with the Space Needle in the forefront and, if weather conditions are favorable, a fantastic view of Mt. Rainier)
Smith Tower (Once the tallest building west of the Mississippi, the Smith Tower has offered Seattle’s best views to the public for over 100 years. Elevator operators whisk visitors in an old-fashioned copper and brass elevator car to the 35th floor where you’ll step into the past as you enter the historic Observatory)
Seattle Waterfront (A unique area of the city located along Alaskan Way, the Seattle Waterfront is active year-round. With dozens of paths, piers and public spaces, it’s always a great place to relax and enjoy a little people-watching as you absorb the local scene. Check out the stores in Miner’s Landing for gifts and souvenirs and grab a table at one of the well-known seafood joints for a Seattle-style dinner)
Washington State Ferries (travel to and from Bremerton on the Olympic Peninsula (60 minutes one way) and Bainbridge Island (35 minutes one way). Both routes offer panoramic views of the Seattle skyline and harbor and visitors often jump aboard for quick cross-sound sightseeing trips)
Lake Union (beautiful lake smack-dab in the middle of the city – and there’s no better way to discover the sights and sounds of Lake Union than by getting on the water. Rent a kayak or paddleboard from Moss Bay, set sail from the Center for Wooden Boats, or hop on a quiet, clean vessel from The Electric Boat Company)
Seattle Center Monorail (A Seattle icon since its futuristic debut at the 1962 World’s Fair, our Monorail carries roughly 2 million passengers between Westlake Center and Seattle Center each year. A great option for shuttling between the downtown shopping core and the many attractions at Seattle Center)
Space Needle (t a height of 605 feet, the Space Needle boasts fabulous 360 degree views that include Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, the beautiful city of Seattle and beyond)
The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour (Boeing Company’s commercial jet interpretive center located at the west edge of the Paine Field airstrip, directly across from Boeing’s largest jet assembly plant. The center features an aviation gallery with interactive exhibits on commercial aviation, a theater and a roof-top observation deck to view the airport’s take-offs and landings. Exhibits include a flight simulator, cut-aways from fuselages of several Boeing airplane models and an airplane design program where guests can design an aircraft and have its airworthiness tested by computer. Tours of the nearby Boeing plant, which begin and end at the center, feature a 90-minute guided exploration of the largest building in the world by volume where Boeing’s 747, 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner are built)


Leavenworth (N) (Bavarian-themed German village)
Waterfront Park (Just downhill from Commercial Street, you will find one of the best-kept Leavenworth secrets - Waterfront Park. Follow the path that trails along the cool Wenatchee River, shaded by the quiet, dense forest. You can just sit on one of the many benches ad enjoy the peaceful views)
Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum (contains more than 6,000 tools invented solely for cracking nuts, dating back to the Roman times all the way to today)
Icicle Brewing Co (taste some really good local brews while seeing how they're made)

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park (freshwater shoreline at the foot of Dry Falls. Dry Falls is one of the great geological wonders of North America. Carved by Ice Age floods that long ago disappeared, the former waterfall is now a stark cliff, 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide)
Routes of Interest: Spirit Lake Highway (to Mt. St. Helens)
Route 101 (The Olympic Route - goes in nearly a circle around the Olympic National Park area)
Useful Links: http://www.experiencewa.com/things-to-do


Missouri

Our original plan for Missouri was to stop by the St.Louis Cardinals home ground, Lee's favourite Baseball team. But as we started to research Missouri, we realised there is a lot to do and we only have 2 days to squeeze it all in!

We couldn't resist planning in Hermann, the German Village. It was on our route anyway but even if it wasn't, nothing comes between Lee and a German sausage!

During our research, we also came across the Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project Disposal Cell. This site contains 1.48 million cubic yards of PCBs, mercury, asbestos, TNT, radioactive uranium and radium, and contaminated sludge and rubble which has been entombed in a massive man made concrete mountain (which apparently also looks like a spaceship). We are planning on exploring the site on the Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail.


State:Missouri
Towns of Interest: (FB) = FirebreakSt Louis
Kansas City
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:N/A
Places of Interest: (N) = Night StaySt Louis (N)
Ballpark Village (new sports-anchored entertainment district)
Gateway Arch (630-foot ride to the top of this world-famous stainless steel monument)

Riverboard Cruise 
St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium 


Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail (Old nuclear site that has been encased in an tomb and is now a tourit attraction - walk the tomb and visit the museum) 


Hermann (German Village)
Wine Tours
Sausage shop


Kansas City (N)
Westport (shopping, dining and a night out)
Boulevard Brewing Company (guided tour and tasting session)
Power & Light District (more than 50 shops, restaurants and nightlife venues)
Harley-Davidson Factory Tour (visitors can take a Factory Tour and explore the operations of the facility, from welding and frame bending to polishing and assembly)
Arabia Steamboat Museum (home to the largest collection of pre-Civil War artifacts in the world and is one of Kansas City’s most popular attractions)
Various Fountains all around the city
Routes of Interest: Route 66 ( I-44)
Route 94 (St Louis to Jefferson City)
Where to Stay:St. Louis (downtown preferred)
St. Louis Union Station Hotel ($170) - by Hilton - awe-inspiring Grand Hall Lobby with a 3D Light Show
Moonrise Hotel ($150) - Outer-space themed
Americas Best Value Inn - St. Louis / Downtown ($80)
Holiday Inn St. Louis - Downtown Conv Ctr ($89)
Americas Best Value Inn - St. Louis / Downtown ($72)
The Westin St. Louis ($168)
Kanas CityHoliday Inn Kansas City Downtown - Aladdin ($137) - Power and Light District
Kansas City Marriott Downtown ($178) - Power and Light District
Admiral Motel ($68)
Comfort Inn & Suites Kansas City Downtown ($94)
Useful Links: https://www.visitmo.com/trip-ideas-in-missouri.aspx


Saturday 3 March 2018

65 Days to Go!

I can't believe the counter says only 65 days to go until we're off on this epic journey!

Towards the end of last year, we agreed there were key milestones we needed to tick off that would countdown to this trip - Christmas, Lee's Birthday, Skiing Trip, Sam's Birthday, Wedding, then MERTA!

We're ticked nearly all of them off, just 4 weeks to go until the wedding and then all it is the home straight to finally kicking off this trip which has been 4 years in the planning (at least! probably longer for Lee!).

Minnesota and Wisconsin

Voyageurs National Park will have to be part of another road trip (we're already planning our second and we haven't even completed this one!) but we are going to stop off in Minneapolis for a couple of nights to check out a few sights in the city. First on my list is the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in America. I'm sure there will be an opportunity to buy one or two pairs of shoes!

Plan for Minnesota:

State:Minnesota
Towns of Interest: (FB) = FirebreakMinneapolis
National Parks:Voyageurs National Park - Not Visiting
State Parks of Interest:N/A
Places of Interest: (N) = Night StayMinnesota River Valley Scenic Byway

Minneapolis
(Nx2)
Mall of America (Largest shopping Mall in America)
Minnehaha Park (This city treasure is home to the 55 ft high Minnehaha Falls, as well as statues of Hiawatha and Minnehaha, the chief characters in Longfellow's "Song of Hiawatha". The 193 acre park is one of the oldest and most popular in the city.)
Mill City Museum (The Mill was built in 1880 and was the largest of its kind at that time. A devastating fire in 1991 left the structure in ruins. The present day museum has been built on the ruins and features an 8 story glass facade, giving the building a contrasting historic and modern look)
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (displays sculptures of the Walker Art Center in a lovely 11 acre urban green space. One of the most famous pieces is Claes Oldenburg's "Spoonbridge and Cherry".)
Nicollet Mall (a beautifully laid out precinct running along Nicollet Avenue. This mainly pedestrian zone has a large concentration of shops, restaurants, galleries and other attractions.)
Nicollet Mall is City Hall / Municipal Building (a National Historic Landmark)
Routes of Interest: Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway (A 287-mile drive through south-central Minnesota takes you through river towns and by orchards and vineyards.)
Where to Stay:MinneapolisDays Inn St. Paul-Minneapolis-Midway ($69)
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Minneapolis St. Paul/Roseville ($92)
Motel 6 ($51)
Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown ($100)
Days Hotel University Ave SE ($88)




We plan to stay in Devil's Lake State Park Wisconsin to break up the journey from Minneapolis to Chicago. We did consider staying in Milwaukee instead of camping but decided that we would prefer to camp to save money but also enjoy more of the outdoors. We're still planning a visit to Milwaukee but it might be a flying one with just enough time for some food and drinks in Lakefront.


Plan for Wisconsin:


State:Wisconsin
Towns of Interest: (FB) = FirebreakMilwaukee
National Parks:N/A
State Parks of Interest:Devils' Lake State Park
Places of Interest: (N) = Night StayWisconsin Great River Road (Historical markers, museums and visitor centers tell the story of the Wisconsin Great River Road and the people who live and work along the Mississippi River. Scenic overlooks along the Wisconsin Great River Road are some of the best places in North America to see bald eagles. )

Devils' Lake State Park
 (N)


Milwaukee
Lakefront (Pleasant walking trails, parks, restaurants and bars)
Routes of Interest: Wisconsin Great River Road (Wisconsin’s only designated National Scenic Byway. The Wisconsin Great River Road parallels the Mississippi River for 250 miles from Prescott in the north to Kieler in the south)
Where to Stay:Devils' Lake State ParkState Park Campsite ($10)