Post by Matte on Nov 14, 2022 14:23:05 GMT -5
Cole
Overview
• Begins in mid-June in Aspen, Colorado and lasts 28 days until the final stop at Mt. Rainer National Park
• Total miles = 3,852
• Average miles per day of trip = 138
• Average miles per designated driving day = 275 (~ 4 hr average)
• Longest drive is San Francisco to Mt Rainer which is ~12 hours
• Only 4 other drives are over 400 (and all less than 500, ~7 hours)
1. Food & Wine Classic in Aspen Colorado (Special Event): Spend 3 days in scenic Aspen, Colorado at this event that brings the world’s best chefs and winemakers together for cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and panel discussions.
2. Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Visit the beautiful natural hot springs in Steamboat Springs. Will enjoy an afternoon session after the drive and then come back for the Adults Only nighttime experience after dinner
3. See a Concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado: This open-air venue cut into the Colorado Rockies is flat out one of the best venues to watch any concert. In 1999 Pollstar awarded Red Rocks the title of best small outdoor venue for the ELEVENTH TIME. They then renamed the award the Red Rocks Award and took the venue out of the competition.
4. Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado (Free Admission): This natural landmark is located at the foot of Pike’s Peak and is famous for it’s massive red rock formations.
5. Purple Pie Place in Custer, South Dakota: On the drive from Colorado Springs to Deadwood we make a stop at this cozy little restaurant just outside Rushmore that serves up some of the tastiest pie I’ve ever eaten. I’ll order the Cherry but they have some other exotic flavors like Raspberry Rhubarb Jalapeno.
6. Deadwood, South Dakota: We will spend 2 days in Deadwood. They have historical recreations of Wild Bill Hickok’s murder while holding Aces & Eights. Other actors portray Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock, and Al Swearengen to bring the legacy of Deadwood to life. Oh, and did I mention you can gamble in the casinos?
7. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming: We will spend 3 nights in Yellowstone National Park. The park is known for wildlife and other geothermal features including the famous Old Faithful geyser. Other must dos include Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Mammoth Hot Springs
8. Lagoon Amusement Park near Salt Lake City, Utah: This privately owned “hidden gem” is 136 years old and expertly blends classic amusement park with new age thrills. Take a ride on the ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) Landmark wooden coaster that is the fourth oldest in the United States. And ride the imposing Cannibal, the tallest BEYOND VERTICAL drop in the world. Cannibal has been ranked in the top 50 steel coasters worldwide every year since it opened.
9. Arches National Park near Moab, Utah: We spend 2 days in this park that includes over 2,000 natural sandstone arches including the famous Delicate Arch and other famous landmarks such as Balanced Rock.
10. The Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada: We spend 4 days on the Vegas Strip. Casinos, shows, and resorts that are attractions.
11. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California: We go 3 days to Walt’s original family destination. We will do one day at Disneyland, one at California Adventure, and another to spend in the resorts and Downtown Disney area.
12. Watch a ballgame at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California: We travel up to San Francisco to one of the most scenic ballparks in MLB. We will watch some sluggers pound the ball into McCovey Cove. I just hope it isn’t Aaron Judge unless he is still in a Yankees uniform.
13. Muir Woods National Monument just outside San Francisco, California: Less than 20 miles over Golden Gate Bridge from San Fran sits this national monument full of the world famous redwoods of California. We will stop here on the longest drive of the trip from San Francisco to Washington
14. Mt. Rainer National Park in Washington: We end the trip with 2 days in this national park which is home to the 14,410 ft Mount Rainer as well as other volcanoes including Mount Adams.
Matte
Chicago Architecture River Cruise in Chicago, Illinois
See the iconic buildings and learn the stories and history behind them and the Windy City's growth and development, while cruising through the heart of downtown Chicago on the Chicago River.
Boston National Historical Park in Boston, Massachusetts
"The cradle of liberty" with key sites including but not limited to the Old State House, the Bunker Hill Monument and Museum, and the USS Constitution and USS Cassin Young at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
Central Park in New York City, New York
Spend two days experiencing everything that the most visited urban park in the United States has to offer. From simply taking in the sights and scenery to exploring attractions like the Central Park Zoo and the largest museum in the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"The birthplace of American democracy" with key sites including but not limited to the Benjamin Franklin Museum, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell.
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia
The largest aquarium in the United States and the only aquarium in the United States to feature whale sharks and manta rays.
Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Five days total - one day at each of the main parks (EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom) and one day at Disney Springs.
South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida (free)
Spend two days recovering from the hustle and bustle of the previous stop by relaxing at the beach and exploring the beautiful Art Deco Historic District.
The Super Bowl (special event)
Attend the biggest sporting event in the United States. Hopefully it's a good one. For the sake of placement along my route: statistically, this one goes either in Florida or Louisiana.
The San Antonio River Walk in San Antonio, Texas
The #1 attraction in Texas. River boats, taverns and breweries, bistros and restaurants, shopping districts, museums, Mission Reach, and more.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeastern New Mexico
Self-explore miles of natural caves and caverns and see the Big Room, the largest chamber in North America.
Top of the World in Las Vegas, Nevada (restaurant)
Ascend 844 feet to this fully-rotating bar and restaurant in the SkyPod of the STRAT that offers panoramic views of the Vegas Strip and the city and mountains that surround it. Not to mention, great food.
Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California
The only authentic working movie studio and theme park in the world. Movie-based rides, live shows and entertainment, and the world-famous Studio Tour.
Yosemite National Park in central California
Spend three full days camping in and hiking the trails of Yosemite. Witness the towering granite monoliths of Half Dome and El Capitan, the tallest waterfall in the continental United States, and giant sequoia trees native only to the mountains of California.
Denali National Park and Preserve in interior Alaska
Spend five days fully experiencing what Alaska has to offer, from lakes and forests to desert tundra to snow-capped mountains and glaciers and everything in between. And of course, take in the sight of the tallest mountain in North America.
Overview
• Begins in mid-June in Aspen, Colorado and lasts 28 days until the final stop at Mt. Rainer National Park
• Total miles = 3,852
• Average miles per day of trip = 138
• Average miles per designated driving day = 275 (~ 4 hr average)
• Longest drive is San Francisco to Mt Rainer which is ~12 hours
• Only 4 other drives are over 400 (and all less than 500, ~7 hours)
1. Food & Wine Classic in Aspen Colorado (Special Event): Spend 3 days in scenic Aspen, Colorado at this event that brings the world’s best chefs and winemakers together for cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and panel discussions.
2. Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Visit the beautiful natural hot springs in Steamboat Springs. Will enjoy an afternoon session after the drive and then come back for the Adults Only nighttime experience after dinner
3. See a Concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado: This open-air venue cut into the Colorado Rockies is flat out one of the best venues to watch any concert. In 1999 Pollstar awarded Red Rocks the title of best small outdoor venue for the ELEVENTH TIME. They then renamed the award the Red Rocks Award and took the venue out of the competition.
4. Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado (Free Admission): This natural landmark is located at the foot of Pike’s Peak and is famous for it’s massive red rock formations.
5. Purple Pie Place in Custer, South Dakota: On the drive from Colorado Springs to Deadwood we make a stop at this cozy little restaurant just outside Rushmore that serves up some of the tastiest pie I’ve ever eaten. I’ll order the Cherry but they have some other exotic flavors like Raspberry Rhubarb Jalapeno.
6. Deadwood, South Dakota: We will spend 2 days in Deadwood. They have historical recreations of Wild Bill Hickok’s murder while holding Aces & Eights. Other actors portray Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock, and Al Swearengen to bring the legacy of Deadwood to life. Oh, and did I mention you can gamble in the casinos?
7. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming: We will spend 3 nights in Yellowstone National Park. The park is known for wildlife and other geothermal features including the famous Old Faithful geyser. Other must dos include Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Mammoth Hot Springs
8. Lagoon Amusement Park near Salt Lake City, Utah: This privately owned “hidden gem” is 136 years old and expertly blends classic amusement park with new age thrills. Take a ride on the ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) Landmark wooden coaster that is the fourth oldest in the United States. And ride the imposing Cannibal, the tallest BEYOND VERTICAL drop in the world. Cannibal has been ranked in the top 50 steel coasters worldwide every year since it opened.
9. Arches National Park near Moab, Utah: We spend 2 days in this park that includes over 2,000 natural sandstone arches including the famous Delicate Arch and other famous landmarks such as Balanced Rock.
10. The Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada: We spend 4 days on the Vegas Strip. Casinos, shows, and resorts that are attractions.
11. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California: We go 3 days to Walt’s original family destination. We will do one day at Disneyland, one at California Adventure, and another to spend in the resorts and Downtown Disney area.
12. Watch a ballgame at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California: We travel up to San Francisco to one of the most scenic ballparks in MLB. We will watch some sluggers pound the ball into McCovey Cove. I just hope it isn’t Aaron Judge unless he is still in a Yankees uniform.
13. Muir Woods National Monument just outside San Francisco, California: Less than 20 miles over Golden Gate Bridge from San Fran sits this national monument full of the world famous redwoods of California. We will stop here on the longest drive of the trip from San Francisco to Washington
14. Mt. Rainer National Park in Washington: We end the trip with 2 days in this national park which is home to the 14,410 ft Mount Rainer as well as other volcanoes including Mount Adams.
Matte
Chicago Architecture River Cruise in Chicago, Illinois
See the iconic buildings and learn the stories and history behind them and the Windy City's growth and development, while cruising through the heart of downtown Chicago on the Chicago River.
Boston National Historical Park in Boston, Massachusetts
"The cradle of liberty" with key sites including but not limited to the Old State House, the Bunker Hill Monument and Museum, and the USS Constitution and USS Cassin Young at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
Central Park in New York City, New York
Spend two days experiencing everything that the most visited urban park in the United States has to offer. From simply taking in the sights and scenery to exploring attractions like the Central Park Zoo and the largest museum in the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"The birthplace of American democracy" with key sites including but not limited to the Benjamin Franklin Museum, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell.
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia
The largest aquarium in the United States and the only aquarium in the United States to feature whale sharks and manta rays.
Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Five days total - one day at each of the main parks (EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom) and one day at Disney Springs.
South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida (free)
Spend two days recovering from the hustle and bustle of the previous stop by relaxing at the beach and exploring the beautiful Art Deco Historic District.
The Super Bowl (special event)
Attend the biggest sporting event in the United States. Hopefully it's a good one. For the sake of placement along my route: statistically, this one goes either in Florida or Louisiana.
The San Antonio River Walk in San Antonio, Texas
The #1 attraction in Texas. River boats, taverns and breweries, bistros and restaurants, shopping districts, museums, Mission Reach, and more.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeastern New Mexico
Self-explore miles of natural caves and caverns and see the Big Room, the largest chamber in North America.
Top of the World in Las Vegas, Nevada (restaurant)
Ascend 844 feet to this fully-rotating bar and restaurant in the SkyPod of the STRAT that offers panoramic views of the Vegas Strip and the city and mountains that surround it. Not to mention, great food.
Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California
The only authentic working movie studio and theme park in the world. Movie-based rides, live shows and entertainment, and the world-famous Studio Tour.
Yosemite National Park in central California
Spend three full days camping in and hiking the trails of Yosemite. Witness the towering granite monoliths of Half Dome and El Capitan, the tallest waterfall in the continental United States, and giant sequoia trees native only to the mountains of California.
Denali National Park and Preserve in interior Alaska
Spend five days fully experiencing what Alaska has to offer, from lakes and forests to desert tundra to snow-capped mountains and glaciers and everything in between. And of course, take in the sight of the tallest mountain in North America.
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