"New"5000 mile road trip,need suggestions

Hello Everyone!


I made this topic a week ago and since then we have revised our schedule and where we are going,here is the NEW route.

My girlfriend and I are about to embark on a three week roadtrip out west and would love to hear from some seasoned roadies on where to eat.

We will be heading west from Chicago towards St Louis,MO and Kansas City,MO with a stop over near by.
We will then be headed west on I-70 through Kansas towards Colorado with a stop near Colorado Springs,CO and Cripple Creek,CO. Then we'll be headed through Colorado with a stop in Gunnison,CO and then down the "million dollar highway"(550) stopping in Durango,CO.

From Durango we're headed west to Monument Valley,Kayenta,AZ(160) to Tuba City,AZ then up to the north rim of the Grand Canyon,AZ
Leaving there we will be headed towards Death Valley national park,CA on I-15 through Utah.
From Death Valley we will be headed North on 395 up to June Lake,CA near Yosemite national park,CA
Leaving Yosemite We'll be headed east to San Francisco,CA.

From SF we'll be headed down Highway 1 to Santa Cruz And Monterey,CA
and then back east towards Seqouia and Kings canyon national park,CA
From there we'll push southeast through the desert to Las Vegas,NV

From there we'll be heading north on I-15 to Bryce Canyon,UT and then take the scenic rout of Highway 12 through Utah with a stop in Capitol Reef national park,UT and then up northeast to Moab,UT and Arches national park.

THEN!!!! Whewwww! (wipes sweaty brow!)

We'll then be headed back through Colorado with a stop near Golden,CO(Coors brewery) and/or Estes,Rocky mountain national park,CO
Then on home on I-70 or I-80 (suggestions on which road to take)back to Chicago.

What a Loooooong trip.(Again)

PLEASE!, if you guys and gals have any other suggestions please let us know.
I will be doing research on this site and a few others to find some good places to eat and also visit on the road,but it seems so overwhleming.Thanks and happy travels!

Wiseguy.

Thanks Again!

I sorta got dizzy trying to keep up with your directions

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I'd take the Seattle/OR Coast route, being aware that lodging gets scarce on the OR coast this time of year. Search the forums, as Seattle, Portland and the OR Coast have all had extensive threads recently.

Eric

Here's my suggestion...take me!!!!

That's a lot of ground to cover in 3 weeks. I take it you won't be spending much time in any one place.

This calls for research. Try to plan your stops where you have researched and decided what you might be hungry for, say, Tuesday lunch in Reno and I want a burger.... then go back to the archives and look for a place and try it. Otherwise with all the choices, you'll go crazy. A little planning and research go a long way. But keep your eyes open, you may find someplace new and interesting.

Thanks for some of the research suggestions.
I guess I should have mentioned that we have done this trip before and we have been to some pretty good places,but are always looking for something new.
We travel a lot of ground on our trips but still manage to have a great time.Mainly we want to know any good places along our root that are hidden gems,if there are any.
Back to the research.

As you get ready to drive the Million Dollar Highway, steel yourself with "the cure" at the Durango Diner. That's a serious food coma inducer so be sure to drink lotsa coffee before you tackle those roads.

Wiseguy, it seems that oneiron339's post above has the answer for your upcoming trip: know where you'll be at various mealtimes and then search the Roadfood restaurant reviews and the various forums here, particularly this "where should I eat" one, and believe you 'll find more good ideas/suggestions than you'll ever be able to work into your schedule, unless you are eating nearly constantly. Or from your research of the reviews and posts, decide on some spots you'd most like to try, and then attempt to make your mealtimes coincide with the times of your being at those locations. You all enjoy the big trip.

Liketoeat is correct....for example in the 'Where Should I Eat' forum there is a thread about I-70 from Denver to KC..once you leave Colorado Springs [home of Conway's HUGE burgers..],it doesnt take much to hop up to Limon and I-70.

Well, I did a lot of research and found a ton of places in Las Vegas,San Francisco and such.
The Problem is trying to find some of the "local" places in the smaller towns along the route.
I guess we will try out some new places and if they are good,maybe I'll write a review(s)

The old "Roadfood" and "Eat Your Way Across the USA" have never failed us yet in that part of the country. I particularly remember the cinnamon rolls in West Yellowstone, "Helen's Hateful Hamburgers" just outside the northern Yellowstone entrance and all the huckleberry dishes on the southwest side of Glacier.
The "50's Grill" in Brooklyn Park just north of Minneapolis is another great roadfood place.

Thanks for the suggestions Hillbilly.I am archiving those for future trips
Unfortunately we have changed our route and are not headed up north as first planned.
There is a huge fire at Glacier national park in Montana and so we are not going there.
see my first post again for our new route.
Thanks again!

Wiseguy.

You have received some good advice about the timing of some of your stops. Since you are covering a lot of miles, and have done the route before the basic info seems to be based on how many miles you did 'yesterday' to help plan the day's stops etc etc. We have done several 5-6 week roadtrips doing roughly the same thing and it never ceases to amaze me how we modify the routes and stops as the trip progresses.
Some VERY BASIC hints to improve your enjoyment.

1. Visit the major scenic parks early in the morning...I am talking- sunrise to about 9 or 10 am for a Yellowstone drive-thru or Grand Canyon (South Rim) or even the Tioga Pass Road near Yosemite. Otherwise this time of year it will be like being in morning commuter traffic in L A (or Chicago).

2. Time your Death Valley Visit for early morning also. As a former resident of the Mojave desert area, I know how uncomfortable (and dangereous) that location can be this time of year. Sunrise to 9 or 10am then be up and gone. The problem is that it will be 'beyond hot' for a considerable distance around ! Just plan ahead..DON'T take little side roads in that area and carry plenty of extra water. I am not being extra cautious here..If you haven't tried to walk a mile in 120 degree heat, you need to rethink your timing.
3. From Tuba City to North Rim is a good drive..From North Rim if you are going to go up 89 to Zion park and then across to Hurricane and St George be sure to plan for long delays as they escort Motor Homes thru the tunnel on Hiway 9. If you want to bypass the Park use Hiway 59 that passes to the South. If you do that, take a look at Colorado City--on the Utah-AZ border. It is an old 'Polyg Community' where the former practice of multiple wives is still thriving in a modernlocation.
After leaving Kings Canyon NP if you come down the 99 to Bakersfield before turning east on 58 to head for the desert and Las Vegas...in Bakersfield , on the north side of town (Olive Ave Exit) is Hodel's Buffet. Each of the 3 meals a day is a bargain. Look for the billboards on the 99 for directions.
Take a look at the Techacapi Loop beside the 58 as you climb out of the Central Valley to get to Mojave. It is location for a full-circle loop in the railroad...with trains crossing over themselves as they climb the long grade. Also notice the thousands of wind-generators that are active on the hillsides around Mojave.
At the Yermo exit of the I-15 just after you pass Barstow, is Peggy Sue's Retro-Diner. As good a mid-desert stop as you can find.
Another short stop is Manzanar CA on Rt 395 after you leave Death Valley, just north of Lone Pine. It is the site of one of the internment camps the government used to hold Japanese-Americans during WW II. Kind of an erie place to visit. But it is right beside the highway, and a good place to think about what happened there in the name of freedom.
Coming west from Gunnison CO be sure to check out the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
I'll just say..use the Stern's books and any other guides you can find for food advice, we do. If I have the choice between I-80 and I-70 and am in a hurry, I use I-70. If I am not in a rush, I do I-80 and US 30 on and off to leap frog in Nebraska and Iowa. (Variety!!)
OK, I've rambled enough. Post a log when you get back.

Thanks AL for the tips and suggestions.
We'll try to get a hold of the Stern's books,unfortunately the only one they had available at the library was from 1980,just a 'little" out of date

I hear ya about the heat in Death valley,we'll be sure to bring lots of water and gatorade.I really like traveling in that area but it's so damn hot in the summer.I really wish Nevada wasn't in the way

Have you ever taken highway 50 across Nevada? It looks like it's a "killer" route,as in HOT
But I am tempted to because it seems more direct.
I would like to take it going back east.

I'll be sure to let you guys know how the trip went and where the best food and sites that we came across.

Be Good
Wiseguy.

For your new route, another "don't miss" from the Stern's old books is the "Tuba City Truck Stop" in Tuba City, AZ for a Navajo Taco. In Kansas City, Arthur Bryant's is a real experience for BBQ and the Hereford House for great steaks.
Just a few more gems (and there are many) we never would have enjoyed except for guidance from the Stern's.
We also found a very good roadfood type place across the street from the beautifully restored Columbian theater in Wamego, Kansas (16 miles north of I-70 and about 30 miles west of Topeka, but a nice little farm village respite).

I second Hillbilly's recommendation of Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City. We stopped there this past Friday and it was as good as ever. Someone had posted a notice some time back that said it had 'gone downhill recently'. It sure didn't seem that way to us.
AL

Thanks guys.

I have the Tuba city truck stop in our log of places to eat and I love frybread.
We have also been to Arthur Bryants so that's alway a great stop,along with Gates BBQ in KC.We wanted to check out Stroud's too.

In San Francisco there are SO MANY choices.
I think I definately want to check out Swan's Oyster Depot and Dottie's True Blue diner.
I also found some other places on the net that aren't exactly "roadfood" but good food.
Hunan Home's chinese seems to be one of the best in SF
and there's this place called Tommy's Joynt that looks like a real kitchy SF local hangout.
In Vegas,there are the buffets of course and Luv it custard.

The thing is that there are so many places to see and eat and so little time.No matter what though, we will have a great time wherever we go.
Thanks for all the suggestions,I really appreciate them.

Be Good
Wiseguy.

I have to agree with VibrationGuy's earlier post: it is so unfortunate that instead of heading south out of SF, you were not heading north. The section of Rt 1 up to Mendocino is without a doubt, the best drive in this country, at least where I have driven, and that takes in quite a bit of territory. Best town: Ferndale, California, an old Victorian Village, on the cliffs in the Redwood forest, population 1400, "The Majestic" with Jim Carrey was filmed there. Not one chain restuarant (not allowed) and a bevy of mom-and-pop cafes and restaurants, not to mention brew pubs (Eel Brewery especially) to choose from. Too bad you don't have an extra 5 days.

quote:

Originally posted by tamandmik

I have to agree with VibrationGuy's earlier post: it is so unfortunate that instead of heading south out of SF, you were not heading north. The section of Rt 1 up to Mendocino is without a doubt, the best drive in this country, at least where I have driven, and that takes in quite a bit of territory. Best town: Ferndale, California, an old Victorian Village, on the cliffs in the Redwood forest, population 1400, "The Majestic" with Jim Carrey was filmed there. Not one chain restuarant (not allowed) and a bevy of mom-and-pop cafes and restaurants, not to mention brew pubs (Eel Brewery especially) to choose from. Too bad you don't have an extra 5 days.

Yeah, we probably would have went down the coast on highway 1/101 from Washington state if we were going north up to Glacier national park in Montana.

But because of the huge fire there,we decided to concentrate on going south.We'll probably go that way the next time we head out west.The last time we were in that area we didn't drive down the whole coast,that's a whole trip in itself.
The road that goes through Redwood national forest is
one of the best roads I have been on in my opinion.

I also thought that highway 12 in southcentral Utah was very beautiful and somewhat strange and also highway 160 in northeastern Arizona was very strange and scenic.You should check em out.

Crater Lake's spectacular this time of year http://www.craterlakelodges.com/cratercam.htm . Had to get in a plug for our local national park. and it's not crowded! Now , in KC consider Stephenson's apple Farm. great food and atmosphere. Hwy 40 in Independence http://www.stephensons.bigstep.com/ . Stroud's is always wonderful at both locations. Current BBQ buzz has LC's pegged as the best in town (2 locations) http://www.gasbbq.net/ For blues and good food there's the Grand
Emporium http://www.grandemporium.com/. If you head west to lawrence,Free State Brewing has GOOD beer and Food.
http://www.freestatebrewing.com/. Lindsborg is a really neat swedish town in the center of Kansas. http://www.lindsborg.org/
http://www.swedishcountryinn.com/dining.htm . But, at some point you shuld head down towards either US 50 or US 56, the santa fe trail. Much more scenic and historic + on 56 there's NO TRUCKS! great stuff. When you get to garden City, there's a fairly large Vietnamese community courtesy of the IBP packing plant. Good food there.you can keep on going to Pueblo and onwards to Gunnison by staying on Hwy 50. Monarch Pass. Crested Butte. Yeow!jave a safe journey and come up to Oregon sometime. Missouri mixed with California gets you Oregon. Almost forgot the whoa nellie deli at the east end of the Tioga pass road at it's junction with 395. If you've never taken the high road at Yosemite, it's pretty neat. the deli is much accalaimed with gourmet food, but I've never eaten there, just read glowing reports. http://www.thesierraweb.com/tiogagasmart/ &
http://www.thesierraweb.com/tiogagasmart/deli.html I just noticed your query about Hwy 50 in Nevada-the lonliest road in America-and my answer would be NO! don't take it. Nevada is plenty desolate enough on I-80. you need gas stations every once in a while and there ain't nuthin' on Hwy 50. But! one of the best places I've ever eaten is in Winnemucca, real Basque food served family style at the Martin Hotel. There are several basque places in the muc, but I love the Martin. Jugs of red wine, all kinds of goodies and you sit at big long tables and eat til you're stuffed. Also, I don't know about Tommy's, in SF. There's so many places, so little stomach capacity. I'd go find Clement Street in the avenues and walk up and down it. It's the real SF where the locals eat and shop. an ethnic stew. If you have time, check out College Ave., Shattuck, and Telegraph in Berkeley. There's lot's more to the Bay Area than SF. Do swan's and Tadich though.Must do's, along with North Beach. yum!

quote:

Originally posted by bill voss

Crater Lake's spectacular this time of year http://www.craterlakelodges.com/cratercam.htm . Had to get in a plug for our local national park. and it's not crowded! Now , in KC consider Stephenson's apple Farm. great food and atmosphere. Hwy 40 in Independence http://www.stephensons.bigstep.com/ . Stroud's is always wonderful at both locations. Current BBQ buzz has LC's pegged as the best in town (2 locations) http://www.gasbbq.net/ For blues and good food there's the Grand
Emporium http://www.grandemporium.com/. If you head west to lawrence,Free State Brewing has GOOD beer and Food.
http://www.freestatebrewing.com/. Lindsborg is a really neat swedish town in the center of Kansas. http://www.lindsborg.org/
http://www.swedishcountryinn.com/dining.htm . But, at some point you shuld head down towards either US 50 or US 56, the santa fe trail. Much more scenic and historic + on 56 there's NO TRUCKS! great stuff. When you get to garden City, there's a fairly large Vietnamese community courtesy of the IBP packing plant. Good food there.you can keep on going to Pueblo and onwards to Gunnison by staying on Hwy 50. Monarch Pass. Crested Butte. Yeow!jave a safe journey and come up to Oregon sometime. Missouri mixed with California gets you Oregon. Almost forgot the whoa nellie deli at the east end of the Tioga pass road at it's junction with 395. If you've never taken the high road at Yosemite, it's pretty neat. the deli is much accalaimed with gourmet food, but I've never eaten there, just read glowing reports. http://www.thesierraweb.com/tiogagasmart/

Hey Bill thanks for the tips.
Where do you think a good place to cut down to highway 50 is?,remember we want to go to Colorado Springs.maybe at Wichita,KS.
First time we were at Tioga pass we did stop to eat at the gas mart,it was pretty good if just a little pricey.We'll try to fit all these places everybody suggested in,boy are we going to be stuffed!

Be Good
Wiseguy.

I thought highway 50 in Nevada looked desolate,HaHa
you probably have to have gas cans and your own store with you when you do that stretch.
I kinda wish they would get rid of Nevada so we wouldn't have to drive back and forth through it to get to the good places
Sorry if that offends any Nevadans.but it's just so damn HOT in the summer that there are not many weather friendly side trips in Nevada this time of the year.
We should try to go out that way in the late fall or early spring.

I would either go west on I 70 to Ks 177, then down to Council Grove, home of the Hays House, http://www.flinthills.com/~finkbull/hayshouse.htm , and hit US 56,
or go down I 35 till emporia and head west from there on hwy 50. remember to avoid Dodge City, or at least keep on truckin' to garden, home of the clutter family and a few brick streets. (at least the last time I was there) If you're coming back on I 80 please stop at Ole's big game lounge in western Nebraska. I've never been, but it looks too absurd! http://www.olesbiggame.com/ have fun! Nevada deserves to exist if only for basque food. Gambling you can find anywhere now, but a good basque eatery is hard to find