Shelf
Dunn, NC
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We're taking an 8-10week trip. DH is retiring from the Air Force in March and we're going to celebrate by actually seeing America instead of just driving through without stopping like we did all those times Uncle Sam moved us around.
We have a basic plan, but would like help from seasoned travelers to make sure we don't miss anything fabulous because when DH starts his new career it may be a while before he has a chunk of vacation time to take another big trip.
What are the absolute can't miss places? In each area where are the best places to stay. We'd like to stop for 3-4 days each time so we don't spend a lot of our time setting up camp. We'll take day trips and want to fill every day with a new adventure.
We're starting our trip in NC and driving through to NM. We'll be stopping in Carlsbad to see the caverns and then on to Phoenix. We're going to spend a week there with friends, so I *think* we have AZ taken care of but we'll take suggestions for there as well.
We then will move into CA and have planned to spend about 2 weeks there. I have the CA visitors guide but I'm overwhelmed. We're going to start in San Diego and hopefully travel at least through San Fransisco, but maybe even to the Redwoods if we have time.
From there we're thinking of going through Tahoe and to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. We would have loved to have planned to head north to Yellowstone but we'll be traveling mid April and aren't sure about the weather. So we'll go from the Grand Canyon to Bryce and Zion.
That's pretty much as far as we've planned. We'd like to come home through Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri then into TN.
We thank you in advance for any and all information. Hopefully after this trip (our first trip over 2 weeks) we'll be able to give back to this site for all the good info we've gleaned here.
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goodcruisin
Greenwood, IN
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Look at this and this and this and this. Ok, I'll stop now. There are tons of resources out there. I just typed "best cross country trip" in Google.
John (USN Ret) and Debbie
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fireman93514
Bishop CA
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congrats on the retirement. No more deployments! My son has six years to his AF retirement. If you are interested in the old west Tombstone is an intersting place to visit. Tahoe is a good place to visit. There are several private campgrounds and state parks. If you travel down hwy 395 from carson city there is mono lake and the high country of Yosemite National Park within easy reach. Bodie state historic park is also not far. This is an old mining town held in a state of " arrested decay" I would avoid taking your rig across hwy 168 out of Big Pine or over 190. Both are very steep and winding.Have a great trip.
John & Judy
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RustyH
Simi Valley CA
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Congratulations on the retirement. I did the same thing while in the Military. Six trips across the country in less than a week each time. My wife and I purchased a small RV last week and plan to go East on a trip.
Stop by the BX/PX and pick up a Military camping Guide. There are quite a few resort areas with RV parking.
Grand Canyon is very nice. A large RV area.
Have a good trip
Rusty and Pam Hemenway
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Busskipper
Arnold,Md
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Shelf wrote:We're taking an 8-10week trip. DH is retiring from the Air Force in March and we're going to celebrate by actually seeing America instead of just driving through without stopping like we did all those times Uncle Sam moved us around.
We have a basic plan, but would like help from seasoned travelers to make sure we don't miss anything fabulous because when DH starts his new career it may be a while before he has a chunk of vacation time to take another big trip.
What are the absolute can't miss places? In each area where are the best places to stay. We'd like to stop for 3-4 days each time so we don't spend a lot of our time setting up camp. We'll take day trips and want to fill every day with a new adventure.
We're starting our trip in NC and driving through to NM. We'll be stopping in Carlsbad to see the caverns and then on to Phoenix. We're going to spend a week there with friends, so I *think* we have AZ taken care of but we'll take suggestions for there as well.
We then will move into CA and have planned to spend about 2 weeks there. I have the CA visitors guide but I'm overwhelmed. We're going to start in San Diego and hopefully travel at least through San Fransisco, but maybe even to the Redwoods if we have time.
From there we're thinking of going through Tahoe and to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. We would have loved to have planned to head north to Yellowstone but we'll be traveling mid April and aren't sure about the weather. So we'll go from the Grand Canyon to Bryce and Zion.
That's pretty much as far as we've planned. We'd like to come home through Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri then into TN.
We thank you in advance for any and all information. Hopefully after this trip (our first trip over 2 weeks) we'll be able to give back to this site for all the good info we've gleaned here.
Must have IMHO Good camera and lots of memory – bikes and GOOD hiking boots.
You are traveling during a great time to see the Southwest Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.
Do not miss – Canyon de Chelly – Monument Valley – Page/Lake Powell/Antelope Canyon – the Utah Loop of parks – southern Colorado shouldbe ine but keep an eye on the weather they usually will get one Major storm late – Sedona – Flagstaff just to mention a few.
I would also try to stop in San Antonio on the way out River Walk is great and so is the Hill Country (Kerrville)
California has a strip of NP’s you should not miss – on the way to LV ( Go up the coast then back down the interior on the way to Vegas.) (JMHO)
A couple of web sites;
http://www.gaidus.com/rvtrips/index.htm
http://www.pbase.com/sparker1/root%26view=tree
one is of a fast paced family –while not you it is a great summary of the country – he other is a photo journal By Stan Parker that will inspire you to go to spots you never thought of.
Hope this is of some help,
Busskipper
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Shelf
Dunn, NC
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thanks everyone. I appreciate the help. I ordered a few books from amazon last night plus I've got all the visitors guides for each state spread out across the kitchen table. lol
We hope to see CO, KS and MO but it will depend on the weather and when we're through there. If we have to come back further south, it'll just mean we'll have to figure out another trip down the road 
Busskipper we lived in San Antonio for a couple of years. We plan to stop there to see some old friends. If all our family wasn't in NC, I'd move back there. It was our favorite place to be stationed.
Thanks for the congrats too. I'm proud of him. 22 yrs is a long time. I'm looking forward to not having my phone ring in the middle of the night and having him home all the time. (if we survive this trip LOL )
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TomW2
Southwest Washington State USA
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While in southern Utah don't skip Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges.
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Busskipper
Arnold,Md
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Shelf wrote:thanks everyone. I appreciate the help. I ordered a few books from amazon last night plus I've got all the visitors guides for each state spread out across the kitchen table. lol
We hope to see CO, KS and MO but it will depend on the weather and when we're through there. If we have to come back further south, it'll just mean we'll have to figure out another trip down the road
Busskipper we lived in San Antonio for a couple of years. We plan to stop there to see some old friends. If all our family wasn't in NC, I'd move back there. It was our favorite place to be stationed.
After this trip you will likely have a few additional spots you could live in. If you time it right you might head back thru Utah and into the San Juan’s of Colorado – having been to every state with the exception of Alaska over the years, this is the one place I can never seem to get enough of. Not being close to a major Airport of an Major Interstate Highway it has managed to stay as wild and pristine as amost anywhere else in the country. If you go across I-70 at any time try to Catch Maroon Bells and Leadville – when you get in amonst the 14’ers the scenery is just really special.
Enjoy planning the trip and be sure to letus know what the plans are.
BOL,
Busskipper
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jwharris_95758
Sacramento, Ca
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Joined: 07/13/2004
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If you can detour over to Sacramento there are some nice things to see. The state Capital is nice. Just west of the Capitol is old Sacramento, its a state park/tourist trap with lots of unique shopping. Many of the Buildings have been there since the 1850's.Old Sac has the State Railroad Museum, one of the best Railroad museums in the country. Just some thoughts
* This post was
edited 01/24/08 01:23am by an administrator/moderator *
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