Hi,
This is a lifetime dream which now becomes reality and we would like to hear any kind of suggestions.
We are leaving on a round trip for a year and are newbees, I was wondering if you guys would like to share some of your experiences, places to visit etc.
We are leaving in 2 weeks from Tallahassee FL, direction Atlanta, Blue Ridge Mountains towards New England. From there we plan to go west to Anchorage Alaska, were we have to be on August 18th. Today I got told I should go all the way through Canada instead of taking the northern states because it would be so much nicer. Any suggestions?
You'll get lots of suggestions, so here's a few. Consider breaking up your trip by at least overnighting at Drumheller a bit east of Calgary. Outstanding. By all means go through/see as much as time allows the Canadian Rockies west of Calgary (Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise). Stop overnight at Liard Hot Springs. Place/see sign forest at Watson Lake. Stay/eat at Mukluk Annies. Buy a Mile Post; it'll tell you what all's ahead. If you travel the Cassiar Highway, by all means go to Stewart/Hyder (that's a don't miss), especially if its mid-August or so. You'll want to see the bears and Salmon Glacier. Hyder is like Alaska was 50 years of more ago. Arrange to overnight at Sourdough Campground in Tok. Ken puts on a great free show nightly and his sourdough pancakes at b'fast are to die for. Been to Alaska the last three consecutive years and it's killing me to miss this year. Feel free to PM me if you want more particulars.
Hi! Can't offer much about Alaska for now - headed there ourselves in 3 weeks! But as for New England... A bit early for a lot of stuff - after Memorial Day things open up (I still have a patch or 2 of snow in my yard...). In NH, Rte 112 - Kancamagus Highway, Rte 3 - Franconia Notch, Rte 16 - Pinkham Notch - all worth seeing - they will give you a tour around the White Mountain National Forest. As for ME, Freeport (Recompense Shores CG) with LLBean, Camden Hills SP (nice CG), Rockport, Bar Harbor (Acadia Nat'l Park is a "must" - allow 3 or 4 days there..). Our trip to AK has us headeing to Canada 1st day, then tucking back to US on the upper Peninsula of MI, then back to Canada past Winnepeg. Fuel is pricier north of the border, so that is a bit of a consideration, at least for us. Hope this helps! ST
2003 Roadtrek 190P Chevy 3500, and a pair of Limmers...
klaussinn wrote: Hi,
Today I got told I should go all the way through Canada instead of taking the northern states because it would be so much nicer. Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Klaus and Rose
Might be marginally nicer scenery going over Lake Superior and once you get to the Rockies but the roads are rougher and gas will cost you over $5 per gallon. $1.30 a liter today in Montreal.
"Second star to the right, and straight on till morning."
Not much difference in the scenery on either side of the border, IMHO, for the most part. On our trip(16,369 miles) to Alaska,in 2006, we departed south Florida to the Boston area to visit our daughter, then west to Niagara Falls area. Spent a few days there and especially enjoyed the Canadian side around Niagara by the Lake. Then west crossing from Niagara to Port Huron Michigan, crossing southern Ontario. Then north to the UP of Michigan, somewhat a depressing area economically speaking. From the Duluth area we picked up US Hwy 2 and took it to Montana. Not as fast as the Interstate (I94) but a good route IMHO. After visiting family in Montana we headed north out of Missoula, crossing into Canada at Roosville, a 3 minute crossing due to lack of traffic. Then north to Radium Hot Springs and east to Banff, Yoho, Jasper and west to the Cassiar Highway (Hwy 37). The lower fuel prices in the US was a factor in staying south of the border crossing east to west. However the lower cost of campgrounds in Canada would just about make it an offset to the fuel prices. We had done the east-west in Canada before and the North American continent sure seemed larger when crossing the Prairie Provinces. When you stop your RV, it may be the tallest thing within 50 miles in some places. LOL The next trip we will probably stay on the Canadian side of the border, just for a different route.
Thanks for that info.
Today we got told not to take our Coach to Alaska because it would be damaged due to the bad roads in Canada and Alaska and rather park it in Vancouver and rent one. Now if we have to park it in Vancouver I would rather fly to Anchorage for the tour we booked there instead of renting a motorhome. Any suggestions?
klaussinn wrote: Thanks for that info.
Today we got told not to take our Coach to Alaska because it would be damaged due to the bad roads in Canada and Alaska and rather park it in Vancouver and rent one. Now if we have to park it in Vancouver I would rather fly to Anchorage for the tour we booked there instead of renting a motorhome. Any suggestions?
Hi, we have gone to Alaska twice and Northern BC and the Yukon several times and didn't damage the truck or 5th wheel, or the TC many years ago.
IMHO the #1 rule for driving the Northern roads is.....slow down.
It's the frost heaves which do 95% of the damage to vehicles when they don't slow down and hit the frost heaves at speed.
Most if not all of the time, those heaves are marked by red/orange flags on the shoulder of the road.
I see too many people seeing the posted speed limit and going that fast or faster....that = damage.
Paving the roads up North is an ongoing process as the frost heaves and minor earthquakes damage different parts every year, so, for example what was good last year will probably be rough or being repaved this year
The other 5% of the damage, especially paint chips and windshields is done by other drivers going too fast oncoming, or passing you.
I'm no expert on RV'ing up North but I've done my share and I'm sure more experienced people will have more to say.
If you have a toad, get a front cover or your own rear axle will kick up some rocks and maybe damage it.
I hope this helps.....
Peter
ps, not all of the highways are paved and in fact some of the gravel ones or sections are actually smoother than the paved ones.
Hi! Would second Joe B above. Follwed the same route to North Dakota then north to Winnipeg last year. Really enjoyed Highway 2 through the small towns etc. I'm not a city driver so Duluth etc were a challenge.
Al
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