Well, the stinkiest state thread didn't work out too good, so I'll try this one. I am hoping to have two weeks and maybe two or three days for vacation next year.

I won't be able to afford the trailer I want to buy by then, so for next year I plan to rent one if possible. I'll be checking that out over the next few months.

What I would like help with is planning which routes, towns, natural wonders, etc. to try to work into the overall plan.

There will be a stop in Tenesee, possibly one in Oklahoma City, another near Austin, TX, and the last in Boise, ID. Oh, we live near Buffalo, NY.

I want to see some of old Route 66, take a look at one of those ancient Indian trails, drive through as many small towns as possible, drive as few Interstate miles as possible, eat at as many NON-chain restaurants as possible, you know, just take a real "American" vacation.

I think we can do it in 15 days or so and enjoy ourselves as we go.

Any thoughts, recommendations, warnings?

I also thought I might keep an ongoing thread here as we travel. My ISP has 12,000 local phone numbers...why not try out as many as I can?

 

I can't make too many suggestions here, but you sir, have one heck of a good plan. I think you'll have more fun than any trip to a 'touristy' destination.

 

I'd check out the jack danials distillery

 

Quite a bit of old 66 exists in OK, NM and AZ. The official name of 66 is "The Will Rogers Memorial Highway"..it was changed to that name after Rogers death in 1935. 66 was originally named "The National Old Trails Highway."

Pick up one of the excellent Route 66 books off Amazon...then you'll know where to stop...also look on ebay for an original (pre 1940's) road map, as the route changed several times...you can compare the old map to the new...making the trip a bit more fun.

How you are going to do all that in a coupla weeks will be interesting, as there's a lot to see and do along the way.

Route 66 began at Wacker Drive in Chicago...and ended at Santa Monica Blvd. and Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, CA. When Caltrans started removing the old 66 signs in CA, someone...not saying who...removed the original "End Route 66" sign in Santa Monica.

Do not attempt to drive a rig over old 66 from Kingman to Oatman AZ..it's tough enough in a car...dangerous..with many switchbacks and grades.

 

I wish I could tell you some good places to stop but the furthest west I've been is Bloomington, IN. I took my girlfriend up to New York this past August (neither of us have ever been) and wow, we could not have had a better time. I think the key is to just take it all in, not to worry about anything else in life other then just having a good time. Also to visit things and places that interest you.

If I was going on a simliar trek as you, then there are a couple things I'd probably visit. On the stop in Oklahoma City I'd have to see the memorial for the bombing. Check out the Smokey Mountains down in Tennessee, hit Nashville and see the Grand Ol' Oprey and all the Elvis that you can handle. Then in Austin I'd have to see the Univeristy of Texas and I'd probably spend some time in a bar or two. If I was going to Boise, I'd have to try and make it in somehow to see the blue football field.

- Chris

 

I didn't mention museums in my first post here...but a can't miss is the Cowboy Hall of Fame, located in Tulsa, OK. Huge gun collection, western gear, and famous personalities are represented.

Voted consistantly as one of the finest museums of its type in the world. Others are the Autry Center in Los Angeles, and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, WY.

 

If you come through Memphis check out Graceland & the Gibson guitar factory.

 

Thanks already to those who have added their ideas.

To fill you in a bit, I plan to drive the Quigley/Ford and rent a travel trailer to tow along behind...nothing huge, but big enough for two adults.

I didn't intend to go west of the Rockies this time, but may do that on some later trip.

With all that said, here are some of your suggestions I plan to include in the trip:

1) The JD Distillery (I don't drink much but admire businesses, products, and crafts steeped in tradition.

2) Yeh, I saw that show on Travel/Discovery/History one of those, abt Rte 66 and thought it would make a good "leg" of a trip, especially since I want to cross OK, drive by the place we lived when our kids were little. (As young teens we (brothers and cousins) waited eagerly for the Rte 66 show each week to see what adventures the guys would find.)

3) Smokey Mtns, OKC Memorial, wife already did Nashville w/ relatives, I don't know about a blue footfall field. Will you tell me or should I wait till we get there to ask? (Chris [Tomcat 7742], did you go to NYC or Upstate? Huge difference, y'know.) Graceland will be on the list.

4) Cowboy Hall of Fame is good, Will Rodgers something or other in OKC (never went there during 18 months or so living there but I remember the signs for it), Cody Museum in Wy. Also would like to peek at the Powder River Basin coal area.

5) Now the Gibson guitar factory would be something to see. Although I sold my Kay FlatTop Country guitar over 30 years ago, I am still interested in the instrument and the making of a quality piece.

This is going and growing, as time goes on we'll narrow things down even more.

Oops, I almost forgot...when driving truck OTR and returning from Montana via Nebraska, I remember seeing signs for the...and folks don't believe me when I tell 'em about this...the "Corn Museum"!! Gotta get by and see what THAT'S all about!

Enough for now, more later. Thanks!

I have also thought it might be interesting to have a picture based website that we update each day with where we've been...to take those interested along with us.

Did I hear someone mention "dash-cam"? That might be going a bit too far...unless there was a $$ paying sponser...now THAT I might consider.

Later

 

We went to New York City, stayed in the upper Bronx with my best friend.

Boise State University's football team plays at Bronco Stadium which has blue turf instead of green. It's pretty neat looking, I've only seen it on tv but I can imagine it's really impressive in person.

Check it out on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronco_Stadium

- Chris

 

I'm not familiar with a Corn Museum, but the world famous Corn Palace is in Mitchell, SD.

Most beautiful and scenic drive in the US = Blue Ridge Parkway...starts in Front Royal, VA ends in Cherokee NC....can't beat it for scenery. There are also several CW battlefields in the area.

 

I did a roadtrip in the USA this Summer
The Gibson guitar factory in Memphis was great

If your heading south from Nashville I would recommend travelling the Natchez Trace Parkway, beautiful scenery and lots of interesting sites to see

 

That's one I couldn't remember. Isn't there also a Trail of Tears or something like that?

US = Blue Ridge Parkway...that might work in too.

I checked the link...unusual beautiful blue football field. It ain't bluegrass though, huh?

 

I was about to suggest the same. It is a good tour.
These are not in any kind of order:
The St. Louis Arch (MO) is very cool. Be sure to watch the movie about how it was built.
I know it is the wrong brand, but they build Corvettes in Bowling Green KY, just south of Louisville.
If you swing through Louisville, and are a horse racing fan, check out Churchill Downs race track. I don't know if Ford still has a Louisville assembly plant for Rangers and Mazda pickups or not, but I've been there and it was OK.
UPS has a hub in Louisville. Toured that and thought it was fascinating.
If you drive down through VA, Skyline Drive is a wonderfully scenic route. You don't have to take it the whole way to get a sense of it, though. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is in southern VA also. Very impressive, IMO.
The Natural Arch is in southern VA. Pretty cool. had been vandalized by George Washington when he was a young surveyor. Our first president was our "first" vandal?!?!
Also, in Nashville TN is the Country Music Hall of Fame, if you are into that.

I posted before I read the whole thread, so I'll see if anyone else mentions these places. There are probably some others that I've been to but forget. If I think of them, I'll let you know.
This is a great country. You'll wish you had 2 months off to see only a fraction of the interesting things we have here.

Edit: Emphasis on Skyline Drive (Blue Ridge Parkway) especially on a clear day. Been to Cowboy Hall of Fame, too. Been quite a few years, but that was cool as i remember it. I think John Waynes colt .45 Peacemaker and lever action rifle are there.

 

Why not take in this tour ?

http://www.bigthings.ca/bigobject.html

 

When the Cherokee Indian tribe was forced from their original home in GA, TN and NC...they were escorted by US Army troops to OK on foot...that's the definition of the Trail of Tears.