Looking for vacation advise.

[BigLenny]

Hey Folks,

 

I'm looking to pick y'alls brains on some ideas of what to schedule on our vacation we are going to be taking in June.

 

My wife and I are going to take a two week trip in our cage with my mother riding with us, while my aunt and uncle follow us in their vehicle. From our home here in Arkansas, we will head north to Omaha, then on up into South Dakota to Rapid City area. I am looking for suggestions of must see's in this area, such as Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Sturgis, and any other little neat things we ought to check out.

 

Then, we will be heading to Helena, Mt by way of Bozeman to see relatives. Then down through Yellowstone (definitely need some must see's for Yellowstone), Teton's, Salt Lake City.

 

After Salt Lake City, I need to put together an interesting route across Utah, Colorado, and probably New Mexico to eventually hit I-40 to make our way back to Arkansas.

 

Give me all your wisdom on these areas. Places we must check out as we travel.

 

The whole group is relying on me to make the schedule, so, I could think of no better source than to reach out to my Venture Rider family for help.

 

I'm all ears,

 

Lynn

[bj66]

Black Hills Area,

1 Mnt Rushmore

2 Iron Mnt Road

3 Needles Highway

4 Spearfish Canyon

5 Crazy Horse Monument

6 Sylvan Lake

7 Hill City--1880s train. You can take ride

8 Deadwood

9 Sturgis----wont be that busy in June

 

Close to the Black Hills

1 Wall Drug--big tourist trap

2 The Badlands

3 Devils Tower

 

All these are pretty cool. Try looking them up on you tube to see what they are like.

[bj66]

Just another note. Alot of those things in the hills are relatively close together. You can see alot in one day as far as driving to see the sites. Wall Drug is a little ways to the east, and Devils Tower is a bit to the west.

[abusive throttle cranker]

I would suggest US Rt 160 from Durango over the continental divide to I 25 then US 87 to meet I 40 in Amarillo. Rt 160 is really beautiful and u cross the Divide at >10,000 ft altitude. When I went thru there there was snow under the trees- in June! It is mostly 2 lanes with the occasional passing lane. I'm not familiar with the route south of SLC (US6>US191>US491>US160) to Durango. Nor am I familiar with Rt 87 thru Texas. But by then ur into the wide open spaces.

 

P.S. Durango of course has the Colorado Narrow Gauge Museum and trains....if ur into that kinda thing.

[Phoneman1981]

Hello Lynn: BJ hit on most of the well known tourist attractions. If you like pie and ice cream? Check out the Purple Pie Place in Custer SD. Keep us posted on your itinerary. Maybe we can meet up?

[midnightventure]

Hitting the best sights in Yellowstone is pretty easy. The main paved roads form a figure 8. Do one loop one day and the other loop the next day. All the big attractions are close and have signs. I have spent a lot of time looking for waterfalls around the country. Finally made it to Yellowstone last August. Every waterfall was better than any I had ever seen before. We were driving my wife's Mustang but at the first one I stopped at somebody was riding a RSV. I went over to talk to him and turned out it was somebody that used to frequent this forum (First Tenor) and he just lived 30 miles from me. Drove 1500 miles to run into him.

[Wade 2000]

From MT into Yellowstone definitely go over Beartooth Pass. You do know that you will have to do this trip again on the bike

[BigLenny]

From MT into Yellowstone definitely go over Beartooth Pass. You do know that you will have to do this trip again on the bike

 

Absolutely, we will do this trip again on the bike. We are doing it this year in the cage because my mom will turn 70yrs young while we're on the trip, and she wanted to get up to Montana to see relatives she hasn't seen in 20 years.

[BigLenny]

I guess I should've noted in my original post that back in September of last year, my wife and I did a two week ride out west to northern NM, southern Colorado, AZ (4 corners, Monument Valley, Page, Grand Canyon, Sedon), and back home. So, that area we kinda know already, it's the other areas that I mentioned that I need help with.

 

Thanks,

 

Lynn

[midnightventure]

Here is a picture of my GPS while on Beartooth Hwy.

http://i932.photobucket.com/albums/ad166/midnightventure/Yellowstone/SANY0295.jpg

[BigLenny]

Here is a picture of my GPS while on Beartooth Hwy.

http://i932.photobucket.com/albums/ad166/midnightventure/Yellowstone/SANY0295.jpg

 

That's cool! Can't wait!

 

I'm sure i will experience numerous moments that I wished that I was on the bike.

[Miles]

Here is a picture of my GPS while on Beartooth Hwy.

http://i932.photobucket.com/albums/ad166/midnightventure/Yellowstone/SANY0295.jpg

 

 

If you rode on Beartooth Pass, which I do believe you, then why have you not colored in Montana on your US map ?????

[GolfVenture]

If near Colorado Springs, visit the United Air Force Academy (Class of 77). Breath taking open campus. At the visiting area near the Chaple you should ask any cadet, if there are any around, if he or she would give you a personal tour of the campus. Most would love to for most are away from home and would like to talk to civilians.

 

http://www.usafa.af.mil/information/visitors/index.asp

 

Travel over the Royal Gorge, highest suspension bridges in the world.

 

http://royalgorgebridge.com/NewsEvents/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=10

 

Just be prepared for the daily afternoon summer thunder storms.

[Miles]

BigLenny...Lynn, while bj66 has touched on most of the usual suspects, I will add a couple more here.

 

Little Bighorn Battlefield. If you are going to Custer, MT. for pie and icer cream, go a couple miles more down the road to the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Not a lot to see there, as they have hauled away all the dead bodies, but it is a national monument, and a place in American history.

 

If anyone in the group likes...GUNS...then a must stop is the William F. Cody Gun/Firearms museum in Cody, WY. It is the largest collection of firearms I have ever seen in the world. The buildings are filled, and it takes two days to see it all, if you take your time. Your entry ticket is good for two days. It is located in the western half of Cody, very easy to find, and to get to. It is about this far...___________...from the Eastern Gate at Yellowstone.

 

Thermopolis, WY. is also kind of cool...er...not. It is hot there, as it is a natural hot springs and hot pools. It has lodging, very large natural pools of hot water, and a good place to relax.

 

If staying anywhere around Yellowstone...stay in West Yellowstone. Lodging is slightly cheaper there, and more abundant. You could stay in Cody, WY, and visit Yellowstone for a couple days, but it is a drive of this far...____________...to Yellowstone from Cody.

 

I want to echo bj66 on the idea of Devils Tower. If you have never seen it, you must. Think of...Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This was used in that movie.

 

I will come up with more, in time.

 

BTW, WHEN are you and your bride taking the cruise from Seattle up to Alaska???

[bj66]

Here is a cell phone pic of Devils Tower from 2 years ago while at Sturgis.

[utadventure]

When you're in Salt Lake City, stop by and say hello!!

 

From SLC I would suggest going south to Zions National Park, then east to Bryce Canyon (only a couple of hours visit) then further west to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park. This leaves you in great position to go to the four corners area and then on to the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado etc.

 

Dave

[BigLenny]

BigLenny...Lynn, while bj66 has touched on most of the usual suspects, I will add a couple more here.

 

Little Bighorn Battlefield. If you are going to Custer, MT. for pie and icer cream, go a couple miles more down the road to the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Not a lot to see there, as they have hauled away all the dead bodies, but it is a national monument, and a place in American history.

 

If anyone in the group likes...GUNS...then a must stop is the William F. Cody Gun/Firearms museum in Cody, WY. It is the largest collection of firearms I have ever seen in the world. The buildings are filled, and it takes two days to see it all, if you take your time. Your entry ticket is good for two days. It is located in the western half of Cody, very easy to find, and to get to. It is about this far...___________...from the Eastern Gate at Yellowstone.

 

Thermopolis, WY. is also kind of cool...er...not. It is hot there, as it is a natural hot springs and hot pools. It has lodging, very large natural pools of hot water, and a good place to relax.

 

If staying anywhere around Yellowstone...stay in West Yellowstone. Lodging is slightly cheaper there, and more abundant. You could stay in Cody, WY, and visit Yellowstone for a couple days, but it is a drive of this far...____________...to Yellowstone from Cody.

 

I want to echo bj66 on the idea of Devils Tower. If you have never seen it, you must. Think of...Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This was used in that movie.

 

I will come up with more, in time.

 

BTW, WHEN are you and your bride taking the cruise from Seattle up to Alaska???

 

Miles, Thanks for the ideas. We will certainly consider the gun museum, and we do have planned to slide by Little Bighorn.

 

Since this trip has materialized due to my mom's 70th, we are putting the Seattle, Alaska trip off until next year. I'm going to be filling all of my vacation days calendar at work this year. I get 4 weeks, 2 for this trip, I just used a couple days 2 weeks ago for a surprise trip to Vegas my wife gave me for my 50th birthday, and we'll probably take a week ride to the Smoky's later this year.

[BigLenny]

When you're in Salt Lake City, stop by and say hello!!

 

From SLC I would suggest going south to Zions National Park, then east to Bryce Canyon (only a couple of hours visit) then further west to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park. This leaves you in great position to go to the four corners area and then on to the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado etc.

 

Dave

 

Hi Dave,

 

I might just give you a call when we're out there.

 

BTW, In the SLC area specifically, what are some of the must see's. We are of course thinking the Great Salt Lake, Mormon Tabernacle, Bonneville Salt Flats, but are there other spots that we need to check out?

[Condor]

When entering Yellowstone ask for the Senior pass for anyone who is over 62. It's $10 bucks and good forever. It's also good at any national park. Otherwise they'll ding you $25.00 even if you're just passing thru....

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/images/2011Senior-2.jpg

[utadventure]

Hi Dave,

 

I might just give you a call when we're out there.

 

BTW, In the SLC area specifically, what are some of the must see's. We are of course thinking the Great Salt Lake, Mormon Tabernacle, Bonneville Salt Flats, but are there other spots that we need to check out?

 

 

The Kennecott Copper Mine (open pit mine visible from space), Tab Choir has practice on Thursday evening that are free and open to the public and Temple Square is wonderful to visit also, lots of beautiful mountains to drive/ride through. If you go to the Salt Flats, go the extra 15 minutes to Wendover, NV and enjoy the casino buffets.

 

Depending on when you come through, there are rodeos you can attend.

 

Dave

[utadventure]

If you like trains, you can hit Promontory Point where the transcontinental railroad met in 1869. They have replica trains and reinact the driving of the golden spike. About 95 miles.

 

South of SLC in the Timpanogos Cave. It's a fun hike and beautiful canyon.

 

Dave

[midnightventure]

If you rode on Beartooth Pass, which I do believe you, then why have you not colored in Montana on your US map ?????

If you look back at my post above this one you will see that I state that we are in my wife's Mustang on this trip. Just as much fun and a lot more comfortable for my wife.

[Wade 2000]

As mentioned by Miles the Buffalo Bill Cody museum in Cody WY is awesome but it is actually 5 museums under one roof. As he mentioned the Firearms, but there is also a Natural History part with some of the finest taxidermy I've seen, the Wild West Show has a section, Plains Indians, Western Art museum. Now each of these sections are full size museums, that's why the pass is good for two days.