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Started 2 years ago by Daz
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Daz
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I'm driving across the US (ending in Seattle) at the beginning of September.

I want to hit crazy and interesting places along the way.

Here is my map so far:

[url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=56+W+Patterson+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43202&daddr=Gateway+To+the+West,+Saint+Louis,+MO+to:12444+Old+Hill+City+Rd,+Hill+City,+SD+57745+(Holiday+Inn+Express+Hotel+%26+Suites+in+Hill+City-Mt.+Rushmore)+to:Yellowstone+National+Park,+Wyoming+82190,+United+States,+82190+(Yellowstone+National+Park)+to:4127+SW+Orchard+St,+Seattle,+WA+98136&hl=en&geocode=FcCCYgIdlVcN-ymF98PLo444iDGbC_-XgiDK9A%3BFcNfTQIdL9Sf-iEpNZ8YqOwhdQ%3BFRlhngIdw6fT-SGlszb39ucZHSnfkrwD57RihzG7wgggxZPFyg%3BFZ7bqAIdHQ5q-SFvGhyoAVyCAA%3BFU1h1QIdGI60-CmL5gxAFkGQVDFILccJ4cG1ig&mra=ls&sll=43.165123,-102.700195&sspn=20.626948,40.913086&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=5]Google map[/url]

Anybody have any ideas?

Posted 2 years ago #
drew

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In South Dakota, you have Wall Drug (Wall, SD), the Corn Palace (Mitchell, SD), the Black Hills, the Badlands (must see!), Deadwood (90% tourist trap), and Rapid City (which isn't half bad, actually).

Posted 2 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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If you are willing to detour a smidge, there is a really cool half-scale replica of Stonehenge in Rolla, MO. It was created using their high pressure water jets.

Cahokia, on the IL side of St L.

Have to look at my notes from previous road trips to see what else I got.

Posted 2 years ago #
Lakee911
Clintonville (South)
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Springfield Missouri has one of the best Bass Pro Shops around.

Posted 2 years ago #
jarsloth
west side
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Andrew Hall wrote >>
If you are willing to detour a smidge, there is a really cool half-scale replica of Stonehenge in Rolla, MO. It was created using their high pressure water jets.
Cahokia, on the IL side of St L.
Have to look at my notes from previous road trips to see what else I got.

There's another Stonehenge replica on the Columbia River Gorge in Washington State (http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/do.html#stonehenge), as well as the Maryhill Museum of Art, nearby. Not to mention wineries along the Columbia River.

Posted 2 years ago #
pez

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I'd go through Evansville/Louisville/Cincinnati, much more to look at and some interesting history along the river.
I'm a bit of an aviation buff, so I made sure to see the United 232 memorial in Sioux City.

Posted 2 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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How much stopping/detouring are you thinking? How many days total do you wish to spend?

Something like Cahokia is really cool and unique, but does require several hours. Something like Ted Drewes Frozen Custard (in STL) is a 15 min detour.

Are you planning dinner stops? Arthur Bryant's in KC is worth a lunch stop, but Blue Stem is KC is worth a serious dinner stop.

A.

A.

Posted 2 years ago #
Daz
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Andrew,

Not looking to spend a TON of cash, but no real aversion to spending a halfway decent amount on this trip. I'm planning on driving for 8 hours a day, so I'm thinking that I will probably get a good 7-8 hrs minimum of off time in between sleeping and driving. KC would probably be more of a lunch stop if I sleep in St. Louis, but I'm not sure if I will yet. I think that I am willing to drag out this whole thing for 7 days total.

Posted 2 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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At the risk of repeating myself, Cahokia is really worth the visit. Proximate enough to STL for an afternoon visit before staying o/n.

Another detour is MO wine country which is one of the older ones in the US.

Will think a bit further.

A.

Posted 2 years ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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i'm not following the directions, but just in case you decide to go a little more southern route through colorado, mesa verde is awesome. http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Posted 2 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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Andrew Hall wrote >>
If you are willing to detour a smidge, there is a really cool half-scale replica of Stonehenge in Rolla, MO. It was created using their high pressure water jets.
Cahokia, on the IL side of St L.
Have to look at my notes from previous road trips to see what else I got.

There's a cool Boat Henge installation in Columbia MO.
And the wacky City Museum (it's not about a city) in St. Louis: http://www.citymuseum.org/home.asp

Posted 2 years ago #
Motorist
The Trots
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I did this drive from Seattle to Columbus about a year and a half ago. I did most of the same route as you from Seattle to Sioux Falls but then continued into Chicago and down from Chicago. I did the drive in 5 days so I was a little more pressed for time. And we also ended up driving longer than expected every day because it turns out that my friend's speedometer was off by about 10+ miles an hour. So we would plan for an 8-10 hour drive and after 10 hours still be over a hundred miles from our destination. We couldn't figure it out until months later when my friend was following me on the highway and thought I was going way too fast by his speedometer.

We did stop in Wall, SD for a night but didn't really do anything there. The first night, we stayed in Missoula, Montana. That was a really cool small town just get there before 10 PM if you want to eat dinner there. The place we did eat dinner was certainly unique though. It was part greasy spoon, part neighborhood bar, and part casino. But despite all being in the same room, we had to order dinner at the counter and walk down to the other end of the room to order a beer from the same counter.

We got off at an exit for gas at one point (I think in SD) and there were signs all over for the Testicle Festival. I don't think it was happening that weekend but we didn't really investigate.

I thought the best part of the drive was the scenery through Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. It was late January when I drove through but it was still incredible.

Posted 2 years ago #
10sun
Columbus, OH
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I did that drive back in January of 2004.

I stayed south along 70 for the most part until I made it through the Eisenhower Pass in Colorado.

Up until that point it was fairly blah. Afterward it really picked up; stopped in Vale, Salt Lake City, drove through beautiful canyons, up mountains, all kinds of inclement weather (including my first freezing fog experience... yuck!).

I focused my energies mostly on finding the most beautiful scenery possible while making decent time (it took me about 10 days with a 3 day stop in Vale, CO for skiing). I don't have any particular suggestions other than to explore the small roads that lead away from the beaten path and keep your road atlas handy.

Posted 2 years ago #
Daz
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Updated Map so far: http://bit.ly/cLwy3I

Posted 2 years ago #