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What to see/where to race along the way?

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Old 04-14-2010, 05:31 PM
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Default What to see/where to race along the way?

My roomate and I are doing a roadtrip from Canada, to Texas in early September. We're trying to get everything planned out now so we can start saving up. We're wondering what's interesting to see along the way? We'll be leaving from BC, Canada, and hitting Washington, Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico along the way, and Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington (again) on the way back.

Looking for any suggestions for sightseeing, and if anyone with an F-body wants to meet up for a beer, we're game (even though Canadian beer is way better...)

Also, where are some good tracks, I fully intend on racing while we're down there!

Cheers,

Amanda
Old 04-14-2010, 07:08 PM
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How much time (don't want to ask about money, but consider that too on a trip this big) do you have to spend on the trip? Here's what I know from experiences...

Washington:
Deception Pass in Washington has a huge bridge, cliffs, great views, and decent hiking in the surrounding area.

Oregon:
Portland is a cool city with an interesting waterfront.
Oregon Dunes is a pretty cool place to explore on foot for a day. Giant sand dunes bordering the ocean.
Heard that Crater Lake is nice

Idaho:
Coeur d' Alene looked really beautiful but I didn't have time to stop and look around.

California:
San Francisco and the surrounding area has a lot of places to explore.
Yosemite/Kings Canyon/Sequoia Natl. Forest is very scenic.
Highway 1 from Monterey to Morro Bay has great twisty driving, cliffs, and ocean views.
Solvang is an "Authentic Danish Village with European Architecture"
Burbank/Hollywood deserves a visit, just for the whole Hollywood thing.
Joshua Tree National Park has great rock climbing and desert landscapes.
Highway 2 winds up into the mountains for over 45 miles of twisting roads and high altitude mountain scenery
Highway 18 to/from Big Bear is similar to Highway 2, but has good stopping points if you need a break (Big Bear Lake/Lake Arrowhead).
Palm Springs area - a lot of snowbirds go there (Canadians hiding from winter)

There is skydiving in the Lake Perris area and the Lake Elsinore area
There is a 1/4 mile drag strip in Sacramento, not sure on their schedule.
There is a 1/4 mile drag strip in Fontana (Auto Club Speedway), sometimes open on weekends (LA Invasion is coming up).
There is a 1/8 mile drag strip in Irwindale, open on Thursdays from 4PM to 10PM

Arizona:
Quartzite has geology-oriented flea markets across the entire town if you're interested in collecting fossils/gems
THE GRAND CANYON!
Meteor Crater is worth a visit (they charge an entrance fee)
The Petrified Forest is interesting, if boring
Camp Verde has Montezumas Castle
Canyon de Chelly
Monument Valley is in Northern AZ/Southern Utah
Firebird raceway is the 1/4 mile

New Mexico:
Albuquerque
Santa Fe
Bandelier Natl. Monument
White Sands Natl. Monument
Los Alamos (where else can you sit down at a restaurant and overhear scientists discussing explosives, or see a giant comm/security tower?)
Taos if you're into buying Native American stuff and up for a road trip (there's a cool bridge/canyon out that way too)

Utah:
St. George - out of all the trips, this is the place that I wish I had time to explore
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon
Park City (major winter ski resort)
The Great Salt Lake

There are many other places that I forgot about, haven't been to, can't recommend, or just don't know about... Hope that helps! Let us know when you will be in the Los Angeles area - we might have some GM/F-body events going on.

Last edited by ZexGX; 04-14-2010 at 07:16 PM.
Old 04-15-2010, 03:12 PM
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Holy **** man, you are actually amazing...
Old 04-15-2010, 04:37 PM
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I know if you come out west you have to go through Vegas, there is so much stuff to do here. What happens in vegas stays in vegas, except for herpes that **** comes back with ya...=) We got the grand canyons and the hoover damn, but get here soon or it will start getting fukin hot! oh and there are plenty fast cars here.
Old 04-15-2010, 04:41 PM
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The Grand Canyon and Vegas are definately on the list. The only problem is my roomate is 19, which is legal drinking age up here, but not in the States!
Old 04-15-2010, 04:41 PM
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Hmm... fake ID...
Old 04-15-2010, 04:46 PM
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pfft no one id's in the casinos... they just hand you the drinks and go on serving some one else. or you could just buy a few fortys and slam'em, then hit the strip up. im just sayin, there are ways =)Im sure canadians can pull it off.
Old 04-15-2010, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by b4dd4y
Im sure canadians can pull it off.
Oh you better believe it buddy!

And yeah, last time I was in Vegas I was 21 or 22 but looked like I was about 17, and no one ID'd me until I sat down at a bar in one of the casinos. Which I won't do again. $9 for a damn beer is bullshit when the carts outside sell it for a buck!
Old 04-15-2010, 05:52 PM
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I used Google Maps "Get Directions" feature to get quick estimates on mileage and travel times on my last two trips. Pretty good tool.
Old 04-15-2010, 05:53 PM
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Thanks, thats what I've been using as well. Its great!
Old 04-16-2010, 10:06 AM
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Zex - How did you forget Lake Havasu and VEGAS?! Definately worth the drive if already out in the Palm Springs area, what's another two hours of driving right? Oh, and MCAGCC of course!
Old 04-16-2010, 10:19 AM
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I forgot Lake Havasu and Vegas because Nevada wasn't on the list of states to visit. Red Rock, Mount Charleston, and Valley of Fire are other places in Nevada to visit if you're looking for scenery or a good drive. Most stuff north from there is just out of the way from anything and everything unless you're in the military.
Old 04-16-2010, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by mySStery_machine
Oh, and MCAGCC of course!
What's that?
Old 04-16-2010, 10:25 AM
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Remember I'll be there in a month. I'm considering two places to rent for about a year while looking for a home to buy. One is in Yucca and the other Joshua Tree. Both have lots of land and good sized garages to have a haven away from the hobby shop so we can still get stuff done. Unless of course, they have a kegerator at the hobby shop now... You did get my PM with number and everything right?
Old 04-16-2010, 10:34 AM
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MCAGCC is Marine Corps Air/Ground Combat Center. Basically a huge area to blow stuff up and train Marines. Nothing really to do there of interest except see and ride around in tanks, it's the only unit worth anything there...
Old 04-16-2010, 10:45 AM
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If you are heading through Washington twice I would definately suggest hitting the eastside of the state for some great microbrew places. Snipes, Ice Harbor Brewery, are some great ones. Plus there are about 100 wineries in Walla Walla alone and about 250 in just the eastside alone! Snake and Columbia rivers intersect here where I live and the hydro boat races are a hell of a party every July, INSANE!
Old 04-16-2010, 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by mySStery_machine
Remember I'll be there in a month. I'm considering two places to rent for about a year while looking for a home to buy. One is in Yucca and the other Joshua Tree. Both have lots of land and good sized garages to have a haven away from the hobby shop so we can still get stuff done. Unless of course, they have a kegerator at the hobby shop now... You did get my PM with number and everything right?
Yup, I remember. I'm not sure about the Kegerator but being able to park your car in pieces in a safe place without having to pay extra for it is nice. I got your PM, just waiting till you get here!

Originally Posted by mySStery_machine
MCAGCC is Marine Corps Air/Ground Combat Center. Basically a huge area to blow stuff up and train Marines. Nothing really to do there of interest except see and ride around in tanks, it's the only unit worth anything there...
Well, Joshua Tree National Park is right next to it - so I'd say there's something of interest in the area.
Old 04-16-2010, 01:30 PM
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I meant ON the base itself. I still do need to figure out someplace to crash once I get there for those two weeks. Although Memorial weekend I have a feeling I'll be in Fontana...



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