The Perfect Family Trip: West Coast Edition
We're back! If anyone has followed our other "Perfect Family Trip" installments, you will know that although we don't have years of full timing under our belts, we have done 5 other major summer road...
Forum Discussion
[COLOR=]1. Great news about making better time. I don't have enough experience yet to know myself, but I suspected. You are also right about Walmart. Driving until you're ready to sleep helps tremendously.
2. Our toad options are: currently have a 2011 Honda Fit (#2600, can tow 4 down). However, we want to sell my truck and get a Wrangler. We weren't anticipating this trip though. I'm thinking that the Honda is a better option for this particular trip? We enjoy off-roading, but that's on trips that are slower and allow that depth of exploration. I assume you would suggest to use the Honda on this trip? What's the extra expense in having two towed options? Only the base plate?
This will be a great Toad for your Rig - I'd spend a little time researching the choice on the 4x4 :) Base Plate - Blue Ox would be my choice as it is so easy.
3. Two years ago we did a trip that included Glacier, Black Hills, Badlands, Jewel and Wind Caves...we were passing right by this time, so I thought a return visit would be fun. Our plan for Badlands was to try boondocking on the rim. However, the longer I think, the more I feel we should use those days in BC? Sounds like you agree?
My Honest opinion would be to just focus on Oregon - Washington and Canada on this trip with maybe a one day stop halfway on the way home - maybe just a Pool and a rest Day as You have been there already - save it for a USA/Rocky Mountain return trip.
4. Route around Atlanta? Haha.... Been through it 100 times and can't find any particularly good route. However, we try to leave very early AM and get through Atlanta about 5 am. Much better.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waze&hl=en_USHave you used Waze? Kids turned me onto it and IMHO it is GREAT - helps steer you around a lot of issues - might just take a look. Locals have to have a side way around Atlanta!!!!
Thanks for your input. Please keep it coming!
Maybe we take out everything in California and save for another year? As I said earlier, that won't save much on miles, but it would free up a week of time. The chances of us doing California in the future are higher than getting into BC again.
This just might be your answer - IMHO Cali is a Complete Summer - Not easy - But it deserves more time if you have never Been. Need Boots and a Good Hikers Map - The NP's in Cali are second to None - Plus there is just so much to see and experience you will need more than just one summer :)
http://www.cross-country-trips.com/
Might just look into irv2 for more info and advice, Lot's of Experience there. - http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/
So - In a sort of Summation - Focus on a smaller Bite - Learn more about where you are going - Drive out and Back - Hard long days to get to the Mission Area - then Find what YOU will ENJOY - Then Enjoy it. Just way TOO Much to see and do to not See and Do it?
Identify the Places/Destinations and Then Enjoy what you have decided on.
IMHO this is the Trip of a LifeTime - Yes YOU CAN DO IT!
Best of Luck,
2. Our toad options are: currently have a 2011 Honda Fit (#2600, can tow 4 down). However, we want to sell my truck and get a Wrangler. We weren't anticipating this trip though. I'm thinking that the Honda is a better option for this particular trip? We enjoy off-roading, but that's on trips that are slower and allow that depth of exploration. I assume you would suggest to use the Honda on this trip? What's the extra expense in having two towed options? Only the base plate?
This will be a great Toad for your Rig - I'd spend a little time researching the choice on the 4x4 :) Base Plate - Blue Ox would be my choice as it is so easy.
3. Two years ago we did a trip that included Glacier, Black Hills, Badlands, Jewel and Wind Caves...we were passing right by this time, so I thought a return visit would be fun. Our plan for Badlands was to try boondocking on the rim. However, the longer I think, the more I feel we should use those days in BC? Sounds like you agree?
My Honest opinion would be to just focus on Oregon - Washington and Canada on this trip with maybe a one day stop halfway on the way home - maybe just a Pool and a rest Day as You have been there already - save it for a USA/Rocky Mountain return trip.
4. Route around Atlanta? Haha.... Been through it 100 times and can't find any particularly good route. However, we try to leave very early AM and get through Atlanta about 5 am. Much better.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waze&hl=en_USHave you used Waze? Kids turned me onto it and IMHO it is GREAT - helps steer you around a lot of issues - might just take a look. Locals have to have a side way around Atlanta!!!!
Thanks for your input. Please keep it coming!
Maybe we take out everything in California and save for another year? As I said earlier, that won't save much on miles, but it would free up a week of time. The chances of us doing California in the future are higher than getting into BC again.
This just might be your answer - IMHO Cali is a Complete Summer - Not easy - But it deserves more time if you have never Been. Need Boots and a Good Hikers Map - The NP's in Cali are second to None - Plus there is just so much to see and experience you will need more than just one summer :)
Orion wrote:
I would change the route once getting to Jasper.
Except for the first hour or so after leaving Jasper, the route to way past Kamloops, is very 'ho-hum' . The best idea, and the one suggested all the time on the Trip Advisor site, is to head back down the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise. It looks very different from the other direction, you have two chances to hit good weather and views, and finally, it is one of the world's most spectacular drives.
After Lake Louise , you head east through the Kicking Horse pass to Golden, then through the spectacular Rogers Pass to Revelstoke, after which you have some choices.
This one takes you down through the very scenic Okanagan Valley with its lakes, orchards and vineyards. link
A second alternative is to carry on past Kamloops and take the back road into Vancouver via Whistler. This is very scenic, especially through the mountains and along the fjord after Whistler. Depending on the size of your rig, it may be an exciting drive too! Link
Finally, you can stay on Highway 1 after Kamloops and head down to Vancouver through the again scenic, Thompson and Fraser Canyons. Link
There are other routes as well, just make sure you do the Icefields Parkway between Banff & Jasper in BOTH directions!
http://www.cross-country-trips.com/
Might just look into irv2 for more info and advice, Lot's of Experience there. - http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/
So - In a sort of Summation - Focus on a smaller Bite - Learn more about where you are going - Drive out and Back - Hard long days to get to the Mission Area - then Find what YOU will ENJOY - Then Enjoy it. Just way TOO Much to see and do to not See and Do it?
Identify the Places/Destinations and Then Enjoy what you have decided on.
IMHO this is the Trip of a LifeTime - Yes YOU CAN DO IT!
Best of Luck,
