Haven't found a better way for a holiday: road trips in the USA. Working over time, saving every nickle and dime was needed now the US$ is so expensive. Found a very nice 72 Electra in Iowa. Plan is to first travel west (starting this weekend) and south once at the left coast: The route above is just more or less what we have in mind (Badlands / Yellowstone / Grand Teton / Mt Rushmore / Highway 1). Finish will be at our good friend Len's (Benderbrew) house 4 weeks later. Any tips and places of interest (car shows/junkyards/museums etc etc) along this route are very welcome :TU:
Make sure the cooling system in working, It's going to be a scorcher this weekend on that route! I would drive 101 down the Oregon coast it's incredibly beautiful and a little cooler than I-5 There is an awesome auto museum in Tacoma but it looks like you will be a little south of there
Hi Rob There is a car museum in Murdo, South Dakota that's worth a look. It is called the Pioneer Auto Show Museum. Lots of stuff to look at. Have a safe and stress free vacation!
Cool, Rob! Will you be spending any time at Ft. Leonard Wood this year? I have been working there periodically on a new hotel that is getting built at Nebraska Ave and Replacement.
Sturgis 75th Anniversary Motorcycle rally, August 3-9 would be a must see event. http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/ How far North into WA are you coming?
That's quite a haul, makes my trip look like a drive down the block. At least you'll be paying less for fuel than I will, all told, our trips will probably end up costing the same in fuel and yours is double the length and you're in a heavier car. Have a great trip!
Rob, cool to see you are going again on the loooong trip :grin: Sturgis is quite a sight - just remember the estimatet amount of people should be close to 400.000:eek2: Take care, enjoy your trip and say hi to Nicole from us :beer
101 is high on our wish list. Museum in Tacoma is now added on the 'if-we're-close-Do-it' list; Since Mt Rainier NP is on the 'might-do' list, Tacoma is just a small detour. Thanks :TU: Thanks. Will add pics etc in this thread. Thanks David. Thanks to you we made an earlier trip that got us hooked. Murdo, is on the 'list' :TU: Adam, probably be there in October again. Will definately check it out...although I haven't been there for 3 years I think I know where that location is. Chris, Sturgis crossed our mind of course (famous all over the world)...still having a little debate here; might be too crowdy (we rather spent 3 days in the middle of nowhere in Iowa than 1 hour in a crowded city :laugh: ) On the other hand: it's a once in a lifetime opportunity not attending we probably regret once home. We haven't decided yet where to enter WA; it all depends on what we will find on our way there. Marc, it sounds like you will be traveling in The Netherlands :grin: Frank, the Electra will be in CA during next winter, so hopefully we can use it again in 2016 for a trip heading east (shipping the car from the east coast to Europe(??)) Austin was a great city (with an almost European city center; we loved it there). Hope to meet you then. You made our last trips possible. Can't thank you enough for that :TU::TU: Jan, as stated before: Sturgis might be too crowdy for us; on the other hand coming in early and leaving early just to wander the outskirts of Sturgis might do it for us :laugh: Hi to Mariann
Awesome route! You are experiencing one of the best privileges we Americans have yet so few take advantage of. Many will be in envy of your trip. And you will be doing it in an great road car. California has a tremendous amount of major sights to see spread out all over the state but one right along your route is http://hearstcastle.org/ along California Pacific Coast Highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. I'm not into museums much and drive by most of them but a guy told us it was a must see when we were out there so we did and we were blown away. We couldn't believe we had never heard of it and would have enjoyed it even if the entry fee was double the $25 or whatever is was. Yellowstone is phenomenal. It takes a couple days or more to see the park and that's just driving the main roads. Depending how busy it is there can be traffic problems and delays so be aware of that. Get up early and get out in the park as that's when you see the most wildlife. Depending what gate you go in there may be a wait line. Again very early is better. You will see things that most others who sleep till 8:00am will not see. If you have limited time most people want to see the geyser basins and Old Faithful but to me the Upper and Lower falls as well as the great buffalo herds in the Hayden Valley are must sees also. If time you may want to see Glacier National Park in Montana. Its north from your listed route about same as Yellowstone is south of your route. everything in the west is spread out so it takes hours of driving. GNP is another park with phenomenal scenery. "Going To The Sun Road" will provide many spectacular and breathtaking pictures with the Buick. You always want to fill up with gas just before entering national parks. They have gas but it is very expensive and understandably so. Have a great trip and please update us!
Thanks Jason. I remember we were doubting to visit Hearst castle back in 2009; due to not really know what to expect, the foggy weather we thought it was better to continue our way to Monterey. After seeing the internet site now we will decide different. On Yellowstone: we're aware that in the time period we're travelling there it will be crowded (Alan (69GS400s) also warned me; thanks Alan). Hayden Valley is now definitely on our list: Buffaloes is a must see for my GF. :grin: GNP/ Going To The Sun Road is also high on her wish-list, but might be a little too far north. Great info, Thanks :TU::TU:
The late Mr. Harrah's car museum in Reno, Neveda is unforgettable. http://www.automuseum.org/plan-your-visit
There's a thread currently on the HAMB of a southern California couple and their 4 and 6 year old kids cruising around the country for 7 weeks in their '59 Chevy station wagon. A trip like that sounds like a lot of fun but unfortunately my wife doesn't like to travel and she especially doesn't like to travel in an old car (like my '56 Buick) so the best I can do is check out the pics of people like you who are lucky enough to be able to do it. I was wondering what you do as far as registering and insuring the car. Can you get a temporary registration in Iowa good for 30 days? What are you going to do after the trip-ship the car home to Europe? Wouldn't you be on the wrong coast for that? Have fun on the trip and good luck....
If miltary history is of interest, how about the Custer Battlefield in Montana? If aeroplanes are an interest, March Reserve Air Base has a great collection. Crevier Classic Cars & the Lyon Air Museum near Orange County Airport too. And the USS Hornet in Allameda, if ships float your boat.
Hi Rob, If you're planning on Yellowstone Park, how about taking the Beartooth highway, US 212 from Laurel, MT into the park from the east? It's almost 11,000 feet in elevation though. I drove it with my Explorer last summer, and now want to do it with my GT convert. :laugh: This route will virtually guarantee seeing plenty of bison, elk, and maybe a mountain sheep or two. Lots to see in Yellowstone, such as Old Faithful, but be sure to check out the old log lodge nearby. There should still be boardwalks allowing you to wander around as there's many other smaller geysers and hot water holes. I have plenty of photos from my trip there in the mid eighties. Should also be elk and bison wandering around that area too. Just don't try taking selfies with the bison. :laugh: The drive around Yellowstone Lake is beautiful as well. You can easily spend several days there. Leaving the park northbound, either US 89 or US 191 are great drives which follow river valleys back to I-90. Haven't been off the interstates much out that way, but the scenery is breathtaking along them at times too. Had a few beers at Stockman's in Missoula, MT way back, and have the hat to prove it. :laugh: :Brow: Not sure if crater's of the Moon National Monument would interest you. I found it nice, but not worthy of going miles out of the way. I checked off the Going to the Sun Road last summer, in a convertible too. :beer It's beautiful, but crowded. Hard to be sure, but your Washington route looks to follow US 12, which I have no knowledge of. One possible option might be Washington Hwy 14 along the Columbia River. I once drove this with a big rig. It was *interesting* to say the least. Don't think there be a second such trip. :idea2: Definitely check out Mount Rainier. :TU: I have yet to visit there. I will second the Hwy 101 suggestion along the Oregon/California coast. Try to add Seventeen Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. I think there's now a fee to drive it, plus perhaps time restrictions. I drove it in 1983, stopping at numerous places to take it all in. It passes several famous golf courses too, so watch for errant shots.
Update: Loooooong days, so not much time to do so Slow internet connections aren't helping either. Now in Boulder, MT Here goes: at the start we first changed the radiator and tires. Also put new points,rotor and cap in. The car drives like a dream; smooth. No leaking fluids at all (had to short cut the hoses to heater core; windshield became moist now and then). From the very first day, and although hundreds of miles from Sturgis it was obvious we would encounter lots of 2 wheeled traffic. Will upload photos with the highlights. Have met lots of very nice people in the last week. First visit was to Pella, IA. Town with lots of Dutch influences. Badlands: Even took the Buick into (madhouse) Sturgis: Devil's tower: Bikes everywhere (heard this 75th episode of Sturgis attracked over 2,000,000 people; in a 150 miles radius there were bikes, bikes and bikes): Further into WY: we did Highway (Sweet)16, Beartooth pass and Chief Joseph highway (Beautiful with a capital B!!): and even caught a Grizzly (on camera): Avoiding Interstates you'll find most beautiful spots; (coal-) mining area: Yesterday Yellowstone: amazing. While driving through the park we noticed quite some classic cars and hot rods; found out that in the town where we wanted to leave the park the was a classic car meet the next day; about 400 cars and only a disappointing 3 Buicks: Now in Boulder, MT... on our way to Mt Glacier NP.
