Things to see on my USA (almost) round trip?
 

Hi all,

I've posted some of this on the 'travellers seeking travellers' forum as well, so please excuse me that I've done a bit of copy and pasting!!

Anyway, I'm starting a 12 week trip around the USA in May!!
I'm flying my Honda ST from Munich to Phoenix, AZ in about a week and I'll join it at the beginning of May.

I have a sort of route planned, but I'm not in to day by day planning. What I have is as follows:

Start: Phoenix, then up to route 66 westbound to CA/NV border, then up through Nevada to Reno, across to California and then do a loop so that I end up back at the top!! Then over in to Oregon, Washington State, Idaho, Montana, Wyomind then down to the 'South' for a bit before pickin up Route 66 again and back to Phoenix.

Can anyone suggest 'stuff' that I shouldn't miss in any of the areas I'm visiting?? I'm looking forward to the 'Twin Peaks' stuff up in Washington and the Black Hills territory... Montana is supposed to be fantastic as is the 'South', which I can't wait to experiance!!

Any suggestions from CA onwards would be greatly received!!

Cheers from sunny Munich
Jason
:scooter:

I keep a running list of places I want to visit or have been to. This should give you tons of ideas. If you want any clarification on certain items let me know

Google Maps - Travel Destinations

Oh and I live in Phoenix. So if you need any help before you shove off, let me know!

Since you are starting out in Phoenix and heading north, go to Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley, loop around westward and see the Grand Canyon (you will feel a little letdown after seeing Canyon de Chelly, IMO) and then back to Route 66. I could tell you a few more places to visit up in northern Arizona, as well as more of southern Utah, but it would/could take you about 5 days just to get out of this relatively small area, and you have plenty more to see!

AtlasRider, I'm in Yuma if you ever get this way (I can't find too many reasons, LOL)

Not unless I'm heading to San Diego :P

Don't be in a hurry to leave Arizona
 

Just a suggestion here.........if you really want to experience the Wild West I would suggest you spend a little more time exploring southern Arizona. When you leave Phoenix, go East to Apache Springs and do a circle tour through Tuscon and be sure you visit Tombstone! Spend a few days there and tour local areas like Bisbee and then maybe plan a tour over to Yuma. That is quite a ride through desert and you'll get a good feel for the heat, and what a desert is all about. Traffic is light and I guarantee you'll feel like a cowboy by he time you hit Yuma. From there you can head either over to Cali and San Diego, or head North East to Las Vegas and the resume your trip to the Central and North West USA. Arizona is the best! Don't miss a minute of it!

I'm not seeing mention of the Four Corners region, or the canyon and arch country of southern Utah. If I were heading from Phoenix towards Reno I'd be sure to miss most of Nevada in favor of this area, and May is probably a good time to be there---not too hot, with snow mostly absent at higher elevations.

The California coast is world class, as are Yosemite and the various redwood and Sequoia parks. And I'm in favor of the Washington and Oregon Cascades (assuming some of the high country roads have been plowed out) in preference to most of the inland ranges--you get glaciers, ridiculously scenic mountains, true wilderness and volcanoes all mixed together. The Rockies are at their most scenic way up in BC and Alberta, not Montana, Wyoming or Colorado (*ducks for cover*). Yellowstone is pretty special, though incredibly crowded in summer.

You're probably aware that whatever the quality of riding thru the south during July or so, it'll probably be hot, humid, insect-ridden and potentially tornado-ish. If you're ok with this, I sure don't mind on your behalf....but IMO that time of year is best spend elsewhere.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Hi there,

Perhaps you get some insperation/idee's from our holidaymovies on Life Is Joy - Home. (2007 motor California, and before that 2x coast-to-coast with camper)

Montana Wyoming
 

Depending when you hit this area most of the snow should be off the good roads. Cruise thru Yellowstone and be sure to ride beartooth pass on the east end of yellowstone. There are indian pow wows almost every weekend in the sumer in montana, check one out if you get the chance.

Thanks to everyone for your replies/suggestions.

I'll certainly be swinging by Bisbee whilst I am down at Tombstone but I think Yuma is just a little too far west, as I want to head back to Phx and pick up the 66 west bound.

Good tips for avoiding NV in favour of southern Utah... will definately check that out. (thanks to Kkrusty and markharf) and yes, I know the South will be hot and humid, but I really want to see it... it it gets unbearable, then I'll just drive north again ;-)


AtlasRider - I love your map and will definately pick up some ideas from it.

Thanks for the Montana tips as well... I do want to see this region, not only for Yellowstone, but also the Deadwood area... sorry guys, but I was a big fan of the TV show :biggrin3: so it's on my list... as is Dollywood, but don't ask me why!!

Anyway keep 'em coming and if anyone's free to meet up at some point as I drive around, then please feel free to drop me a note.

I will attempt to write a blog, which will be at My USA Blog whether it's interesting or not, remains to be seen :laugh:

Jase

You won't miss much if you don't pass through Yuma. I live here, and there is very little to see, although the sand dunes where they filmed Star Wars (or one of the original 3 movies) are nearby. Plus, the desert, and it is hot, and will be hot.

Markoff mentioned the 4 corners, and this is near Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. Plus, southern Utah and the parks there are worthwhile. Route 66, the bits still in use, are west of Flagstaff, and would be worth a ride that way towards California.

A sort of route is visualized; start in Phoenix, head up through the Arizona mountains through Holbrook, and north into the Navajo Reservation to the Four Corners, west to either Canyon de Chelly or Monument Valley, but do both, whichever seems the quicker to get to, and into southern Utah, back down to see the Grand Canyon, and through Flagstaff (a Route 66 town) westward on Route 66, and some of the little towns on R 66 such as Williams, Seligman, etc.

Then into California, either on Interstate 40 to gain some time as there is not much to see from Kingman to Barstow, although Lake Havasu might be a quick diversion/break between them. I don't know which way you desire to head once into California, but Barstow is a good crossroads to either head straight south to San Diego, not so south to Los Angeles, or continue west to the Central Coast of California.

Keep in mind, from Phoenix to Barstow can be done in 3 to 5 days, or stretched to a week, so you still have another 11 weeks to get more places in, and others will give more recommendations from there. I wish to join you on the northern Arizona route, but I don't think my work schedule will allow it. I used to live near the 4 corners area, so do know it fairly well. Either that, or when you loop back through Arizona later on.