Stellarossa: advice sought for USA trip
 

As some of you may know, I will embarking on a 3 month tour of the States early next year. My itinerary is constantly changing depending on who I will be meeting up with and what places of interest I wish to visit. Thus, has anyone got any good, bad or indifferent comments of any aspects of the following places: <BR> <BR>Alcatraz, San Francisco <BR>Des Moines, Iowa <BR>Andersonville, Georgia <BR>Vicksburg, Mississippi <BR>Payson, Arizona <BR>Cape Flattery, Washington <BR>Cape Fear, North? Carolina <BR>Sturgis, South Dakota <BR>Harrisburg, Penn <BR>Poughkeepsie, New York <BR>Ogunquit, Maine <BR>Paris, Texas <BR>Medicine Hat, Utah <BR>Colorado City, Arizona <BR>Texarkana, Texas <BR>Durango, Colorado <BR>Eldorado, Arkansas <BR>Port Angeles, Washington <BR>Roswell, New Mexico <BR>Winterset, Iowa <BR>Council Bluffs, Iowa <BR>Lima, Ohio <BR>Truth or Consequences, New Mexico <BR> <BR>Thanks in anticipation <BR> <BR>Tony

Tony-Why Lima, Ohio? There is nothing there. I would suggest either Columbus, Ohio, Cleveland or Cinncinati.

Is this a joke? I personally would have trouble with recommending Poughkeepsie as a tourist destination. Is there some underlying theme to the collection that isn't obvious to the casual onlooker? I'd like to be helpful, but perhaps could be more so if I had some idea of what you are looking for. It sure is an eclectic list.

Well, it certainly is an unusual list of places. The best thing about it is if you post back here afterwards with all the exciting things that happened to you on that trip, I bet it won't be more than one short paragraph. I guess you are purposely looking for the most boring places in America? Lima, Ohio deserves at least a week and a half, though.

I'm not a tourist for a start. <BR> <BR>I didnt think there would be much in Seligman, Arizona or Sneedville, Tennessee but I had a great time in both places. <BR> <BR>Chacque a son gout !

Tony, <BR> <BR>Give yourself plenty of time in Durango Colorado. There is so much to do and see in the area, Mesa Verde, Pagosa Springs, Ouray, Silverton. On the way to or from Durango, I hope you can visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison or the Great Sand Dunes. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip. <BR>

You asked for comments good, bad or indifferent and then seem to talk down to those who offer "bad" comments about some of your chosen destinations. <BR>Please, try not to be so pompous. Only your groupies enjoy you that way!

Of the places on your list, Tony, I can see reasons for wanting to visit the following places: <BR>San Francisco, but Alcatraz is ugly and gruesome (those kind of places attract you???) <BR>Cape Flattery and Port Angles(on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington) nice because of the ocean, <BR>Vickburg because of the ante bellum homes still there and open to view <BR>Wilmington N. C (Cape Fear) because of the light house, museum and sea scape <BR>Durango, mostly because it is close to other scenic attractions -- Durango itself is a tourist trap <BR>Lima, Ohio, because it is the birth town of Neil Armstrong and the former residence of Mr. Gorsky, the first man to be addressed by name from the moon. <BR>(Gorsky was Armstrong's neighbor.) <BR>I lived near Lima in Dayton, and my grandson lives in Findlay, so I know that part of Ohio a little bit. I can tell you that until Neil became famous, there was little reason to go there. <BR> <BR>Poughkeepsie New York is a starting point for trips to many historical sites and events of the Hudson River Valley. Besides, it is scenic. <BR>Sturgis, that one escapes me, unless you intend to be there for the motorcycle gang convention, which just about has ruined the town. (I spent the night in a "hotel" there many years ago. I was tired, it was 2 AM, no place could be found because of the Black Hills Passion Play, so I ended up in this establishment out of sheer fatigue -- like falling asleep at the wheel.) <BR>Texarkana, been there many times and haven't seen anything yet. <BR>Des Moines, Iowa, industrial town on the Mississippi. Attractions, guess there are some, but I don't know what they area. <BR>Truth or Consequences: a tourist town named after a radio/TV game show. <BR>Payson, Arizona ?? perhaps for the scenery and a view of the Mogollon Rim. <BR>Harrisburg PA -- well it is the capital city of the state. Lots of state history there, and some nice areas along the Susquehanna River. <BR>Ogunquit Maine? Artistic community, coastal resort, hard wood toys made there. I think it will be vacated in the winter, however. It is a summer tourist season haven. <BR>I guess the big one left is Roswell, NM&gt; <BR>Perhaps you will see the flying saucers when you go through. Just be careful, don't get apprehended as one of the aliens from outer space. That might be dangerous territory for you. <BR> <BR>Medicine Hat Utah? There is a MEXICAN Hat, Utah, named for an eroded piece of Sandstone that looks like a hat sitting on a pedestal. There is a Medicine Hat, but the one I know of is in Alberta. <BR> <BR>As for the rest of them, I guess you must know something I don't. <BR> <BR>My final comment is derived from what an investment account salesman said to me once when I was going to move my account away from him because I had a better offer. The man was a real salesman of the "lay guilt on them" type. He knew full well that if I moved my money out of his company, it cost him commissions. To to get me to stay, he laid the full guilt trip scenario on me like I was ruining my family. His concluding line: <BR>"It's your money." Well, it is your trip, and as for the the expense part of it, it is your money!! (And I did not ruin my family!! And I take it you don't have any family to be concerned about.)

I'm not sure when you expect to visit Ogunquit, Maine, but it is much more pleasant and enjoyable when the weather is nicer, at the end of May or later (when the weather is not frigid, there are leaves on the trees, and the flowers are in bloom). While the coast of Maine is spectacular, it can be quite dreary during winter. And, most places are "seasonal", particularly restaurants, so won't be open. Definitely not recommended as a winter destination. You may want to consider the White Mountains in NH or the Green Mountains in Vermont in the alternative. Or, a year-round seacoast town, such as Portsmouth, NH.

There isn't much to Port Angeles. I'd prefer to stay in Sequim if only to be closer to Dungeness Spit, or in one of the Victorian houses in Port Townsend. <BR> <BR>Will you be driving along the Oregon coast from San Francisco?

Tony...I'm a former Texan and for the life of me, can't think of a good reason to visit either Paris or Texarkana! If I were to go someplace unusual in Texas it'd be either Big Bend area, Palo Duro Canyon, or the Hill Country. <BR> <BR>Payson is beautiful...or the mountains surrounding it are, at any rate. Drive up into them...watch for herds of elk while driving! <BR> <BR>Ogunquit is nice but I'd opt to go a bit further north along the Maine coast where it becomes more rugged and "Maine-like". <BR> <BR>You obviously like "the road less traveled". Have a great trip and enjoy your explorations.

Tony, <BR> <BR>The question mark after the North in your Cape Fear listing was, of course, merely a typo.... <BR> <BR>Wilmington is an interesting and very pleasant small coastal city with more history than many would expect _and_ a blooming film industry. But if you are interested in the nature, lighthouses, and shore of that part of the country, I'd strongly recommend getting out onto the islands, esp. Ocracoke (there's a cemetary where Brit. soldiers from the Revolutionary era are buried, and a charming town and small lighthouse) -- and consider driving (no other way to do it) the full 6 hrs. up along the spine of the Outer Banks, through the National Seashore. At least consider going out as far as Hatteras to see the recently-relocated Hatteras Lighthouse and the life of those who live there year-round. <BR> <BR>By the time you get to Nags Head, you've gotten into overdeveloped Tourist Land, where few North Carolinians go -- it's mostly Washingtonians, etc. in season (end of May to beginning of Sept.). <BR> <BR>The weather down here, however, will be considerably more clement than what you will find in Maine before April. We have long, unpopulated, sandy beaches with lovely sea-oats and wonderful colors in sea and sky. They have dramatic rocky promontories with wonderful crashing surf that will freeze on the rocks in lovely patterns. You are risky a serious blizzard even as late as early April, however. <BR> <BR>A general comment on your destinations: looks exactly as if you were "traveling the address book," -- i.e., going from friend/contact to friend/contact. Nothing at all wrong with that, and it's likely to afford you a view of the US that is much more based in reality than the NY-Washington-DisneyWorld corridor traversed by most Europeans. If nothing else, it might help you to understand the insanity now being visited on us called the Election. <BR> <BR>Good travels.

Sturgis, SD? Are you really sure you know what you're getting yourself in for? Don't know what there is in Sturgis, other than the annual biker rally during the summer. Even the locals leave town. <BR> <BR>Tony, I think it would help to know the reasoning behind the off-beat locales you've chosen. If you've got 3 months to go to all these places, I would suggest plotting out your trip based on location. i.e., meander your way across the U.S. If you do that, there may be a whole host of things to check out across our country - not things that you'd spend a long time at, but neat to stop and see on your way past <BR> <BR>Where are you from? We hosted a MLS soccer coach from England this summer. He was amazed at the distances between the places he went. If you're traveling during the summer, look for festivals across the USA. For that kind of info, I'd probably check with each state's tourism department.

Paris, Texas? <BR>Do you want to take a tour of the Campbell's Soup factory? Or perhaps the Kimberly-Clark factory? Other than those plants, there's really not much there at all. The name is quite misleading... <BR> <BR>Texarkana, Texas? <BR>Well, there is that building on State Line Avenue that is half in Arkansas and half in Texas, I guess. Other than that, it's pretty much just a big truckstop... <BR> <BR>Eldorado, Arkansas? <BR>I have some cousins that live there and they tell me there is absolutely nothing to see or do in town. <BR> <BR>If you want to see the "real" Texas that most Europeans think of, go out to west Texas. San Angelo is a cute city with some neat museums and an amazing old cavalry fort. www.texaswest.com <BR> <BR>

Agree with the mms re Durango the area is well worth a visit to see the Mesa Verde (one of the highlights of our trip to Colorado this summer),and if you have time do ride the Durango-Silverton train . It is a bit touristy but most enjoyable. We got a great deal at the Best Western Mountain Shadows off the BW web site, might be worth checking out. BTW I think we have mutual friends who live in Scottsdale!

"San Francisco, but Alcatraz is ugly and gruesome (those kind of places attract you???)" <BR> <BR>Apparently "those kind of places" attract a whole bunch of people, given the crowds I experienced on Alcatraz! "Gruesome"? Well it was a prison! But ugly? Eye of the beholder, I guess. I thought it was quite beautiful in that dramatic, black and white photo kind of way. I was there in the summer and the wildflowers were blooming everywhere, the views are incredible, and the whole place has a very poetic, isolated feel, quite a contrast to SF, standing in stark relief to it. The history is fascinating and the audio tour was excellent. Everyone I know who has been to it excluding Bob, above)has really enjoyed it! <BR>

Hello Tony: <BR>Poughkeepsie, NY???? Please go 10 miles north to Hyde Park or Rhinebeck and 20 miles south to Cold Spring. <BR>Poughkeepsie is a few malls and alot of commuters. One highlight is Vassar College. Hyde Park and Rhinebeck are wonderful. Cold Spring has a wonderful Main Street with antiques and restaurants. Both are historic areas. Hope this helps. <BR>

You must have read Blue Highways (by William Least Heat Moon). If not, make sure you do before taking this trip. <BR> Well, it sounds like you got some good feedback here. But if you go back home saying, "The U.S. is completely overrated, there is nothing there!" --don't say we didn't warn you about your itinerary.

My oh my, dont so many people dislike me? <BR> <BR>alcatraz - read about it as a boy and always wanted to go <BR>Des moines - cant pronounce it, want to see what all the rural fuss is about <BR>andersonville - biggest Civil war pow camp, want to see it <BR>Vicksburg - siege during civil war, on the mississippi <BR>Payson - drove through it quickly, maybe there's more? <BR>Cape flattery - the end of the road <BR>Cape fear - the movie, also weatherman kept talking about it during my first ever trip to USA <BR>Sturgis - the roadkill diner (guess that mess, from your gril to ours) <BR>Harrisburg - staying there a few days, worth a look? <BR>Poughkeepsie - mum used to talk about it <BR>Ogunquit - near the rest of NE and on the coast. Enough said. <BR>Paris - I never did like Harry Dean Stanton (except in Alien) but its near the edge of Texas and I cant afford to stay there too long. <BR>Medicine Hat - yes, bob, you got it right, its mexican hat. A cool name near four corners. <BR>Colorado City - home to many polygamous families, I dont want to miss a trick! <BR>Texarkana - much like town in comic i used to read as a child (except that was scotland and england) <BR>Durango - nearish to state line and heard good reports about it <BR>Eldorado - name of failed british soap opera set in spain, enough said. <BR>Port angeles - car ferry to Victoria where we can spend a few days r&r at aunt bettys <BR>roswell- i want to believe <BR>winterset - although a redneck and racist, i want to see where Marion M was born <BR>Council bluffs - near state line. <BR>Lima - Lost In Middle America. Sounds fun <BR>truth or consequences - we dont have town names like that in scotland. <BR> <BR>April - yes along oregon coast, passing cape foulweather <BR> <BR>Christie, your decriptions sounds great. Europeans think of ten gallon hats, tumbleweed, oil etc when Texas is mentioned. I dont want to see the Alamo. <BR> <BR>Annie - are you from that area? <BR> <BR>Vanessa - read the book when it's done and see! <BR> <BR>thanks <BR> <BR>Tony

I work with lots of Europeans, and they do tend to stereotype us Texas. Of course, since I do own a horse, drive a truck and occasionally wear a cowboy hat, I do nothing to disprove the stereotype... <BR> <BR>Honestly, if you want to see the "real" Texas, SKIP Paris and Texarkana and spend a couple of days in Fort Worth and San Angelo. Be sure to see the Miss Hattie's Bordello museum in San Angelo. (No, I'm not kidding!) Email me privately and I can even recommend nice places to stay and eat in both towns. :-)

Now, Tony, I don't think anybody here hates you; we all just think you're a little crazy, that's all. I suppose if you have traveled all of the US extensively and seen the great things our country offers, then go for this itinerary. I have to give credit to anyone whose reason for visiting Council Bluffs is that it is near a state line!!! I wonder if I could come up with such an exciting itinerary for Scotland.

Patrick <BR>Keep in mind that this is the same Tony who doesn't understand why people enjoy Edinburgh, he just sees the litter and dog poo (rather than the castle, the beauty of the old town, etc etc!) I don't know his method behind the madness of the itinerary, but hopefully the interesting places/people will outnumber the boring ones. We had a great time driving through Kentucky on the backroads this summer and that was far from what most would consider "exciting". <BR>Thanks for all the helpful responses.

Tony, <BR>I certainly don't hate you (or even dislike you), I just found your choice of places to visit somewhat difficult to understand. Now that I understand why, what sort of info are you looking for? I'd be happy to fill in on the (few) places I'm familiar with if you let me know what sort of experiences you're looking for.

OK, you've chosen places that have caught your fancy for one reason or another. That's as rational of an excuse as any other I've heard of. With 3 months, you should be able to do this. <BR> <BR>Seriously, I'd get a good atlas and foldout maps of the eastern U.S. and the western U.S. If you're starting in the winter, I'd consider starting from a southern locale - the weather is less iffy. Meander your way across the U.S. Check with the tourism departments of each state to find the attractions and the happenings. You might be surprised what you'll find. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center just down the street beats the Smithsonian hands down. (you might even try Space Camp) Sadly tho, Miss Baker (the spider monkey) is no longer alive and still living there. While you're in the "Hotlanta" area on the topic of the Civil War, check out the Cyclorama. If you want to be bored out of your mind, try the Chicamauga Battlefield in the Chattanooga area - graveyard after statute after field after graveyard... You might want to walk a bit on the Appalachian Trail. Further west is the Nachez Trace, now a scenic 2-lane limited access road. <BR> <BR>Think about it Fodorites, this guy may wind up seeing more of our great nation than we will. Tony, definitely include some of the "must see's" as you tour. The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Shuttle Launch (if possible), etc. It will make an interesting balance to the more off-beat sites. Have Fun!

Tony, what is it about state lines that engages you? I admit that it has struck me, on occasion, that there is often a real change in topography/vegetation within a few miles of a state line -- when there isn't something definitive like a river or a bay to separate the states. But the state lines you've zeroed in on aren't particularly impressive. Council Bluffs is a lovely little town, whose history is a microcosm of the frontier part of American history. But if you approach it from the east on the Interstate, you will encounter a series of signs saying "Scenic Overlook, X miles" -- repeatedly through hundreds of miles of rolling corn fields. When you get to that "Scenic Overlook," you will find it a mump allowing you to see some bluffs along the river. They're acceptable river banks, but that's all they are -- this is a "scene" that would be utterly ignored anywhere in the East or West as about as inspiring as a chewing gum wrapper. <BR> <BR>While you're at it in the midwest, however, you might seriously consider a detour to take in Wall Drug, an institution bannered on signs all over the midwest ("450 mi. to Wall Drug"). A search on this forum will yield a long thread on the subject, or I will defer to denizens of the upper midwest to clue you in. <BR> <BR>Although mildly mystified by your choices, I applaud the spirit of your itinerary -- guessing that the best experiences will take place betwixt and between.

Dear Tony, I give you tons of credit for taking the approach you have. Keep a journal! Can't believe how many wonderful, thoughtful people on this forum still tend to reflect the coasts' <BR>mind sets and can't "see" a view if it isn't on a mountain or of an ocean. May the serendipity you might meet in the middle give you the meaty taste of America and Americans that few of us get to experience.

Tony, Des Moines, Iowa is not remotely "rural" if that is the reason that you chose it. It is a city and has no rural feeling to it. I've lived in Chicago for 11 years, but grew up in a real rural town of 6000. If you want to experience the "rural" Midwest, you'r not even close with Des Moines. Of course, if you want to be bored out of your skull in a small-size city, you're in luck.

the intention is to write about the trip and pubblish it when I get back to Scotland. thats the plan anyway. So the sub theme of the book is a trip around all 48 lower states in the 90 days I have in your country - not a race as we'll stay away from interstates if possible (except in the west where I think it makes sense and any other designated time I think is applicable). Also plan to take 6 days R&R at aunt bettys in Victoria, British Columbia, where I was back in september. <BR> <BR>Who knows what lies hidden away in Des Moines? While we're on the subject, is it Merle Hay Mall or Merle May Hall, I can never remember? <BR> <BR>I have seen the canyon at dawn, hiked the AT (ok so we walked to clingmans dome from the carpark), seen a shuttle launch (Gillian woke me up saying 'look, the shuttle's about to launch') but I've never seen the sun rise over a cornfield, never eaten grits, never pretended to be Cary Grant at Mount Rushmore and a whole host of other things. I might be able to in this trip.

With regard to the Civil War, you've listed Vicksburg & Andersonville. Someone else mentioned Chickamauga. Gettysburg in PA was where my (yankee) husband begin to understand the impact of that war. <BR>We had an English guy visiting with us in Tennessee a few years back and he really liked the Battles for Chattanooga Museum with regard to the Civil War stuff because it gave a good overview. (Cyclorama in Atlanta is similar.) <BR>(If you go to Andersonville, check out Plains, GA as well.) <BR> <BR>There's lots of interesting places in the four corners area - you've listed Durango & that's good. Also, Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon are excellent for their Anasazi ruins. Window Rock (just across the border in Arizona) is the headquarters of the Navajo Nation - but the rock itself is worth a bit of a detour. Drive highway 666 south into Gallup (before they eventually rename the road). Gallup is a fun town - trading posts, art gallerys, the outdoor market on Saturdays, rodeos in the summer and fall... <BR>There are also monthly rug auctions in Crownpoint. <BR>If you are interested in a book to read, you might try "The Great Taos Bank Robbery" by Tony Hillerman - it's a collection of short stories from the four corners. <BR> <BR>Truth or Consequences never did much for me but I did enjoy seeing the Very Large Array Telescope a bit west of Socorro. Personally, I liked White Sands Nat'l Mon much better than Roswell. <BR>(If you happen to find yourself in NM toward the end of April, don't miss the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque.) <BR> <BR>Since it sounds like you've visited Tennessee before, how did you manage to miss grits? <BR>Also, depending on how early next year your trip will be, the cornfields may not look like much. <BR> <BR>Well, I've got to go... <BR>If you have questions that you think I might could help with, feel free to email me. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip! <BR> <BR>

Charlotte, Thanks for the great suggestions, rest assured that Tony has been taking notes. We mail you for more info. About missing grits while in TN, we stayed with friends who weren't originally from the south, and we never got a chance to go out for breakfast. I was wondering though, what is "mush"?

Iowa is certainly break-basket country. I have driven through it, train-ed through it, and flown over it many times. When I was a child we used to take the Denver Zepher from Chicago to my grandparents' farm, just outside of Loomis, Nebraska. If you pass that way, Minden, Nebraska used to have a replica of a prairie family's sod house. Des Moines ("Dee Moyne" phonetically) is a small city. Council Bluffs is the last bit of craggy geography before you hit the long, flat plains. It will be an interesting trip. The Cape Fear River in NC is one of my favorite. We like to stay in Wilmington at a hotel where the main train station once was. It is neat because of the view right on the Cape Fear River. By visiting all these different parts of the country, you will notice the different speeds we live by. Most folks should be quite friendly and open.

Jeanette, I hope Serendipity will be with us for the whole journey, I dont think Emily wil mind. <BR> <BR>Heather - I'm never bored, nomatter where. Every day when I wake up I'm glad to be alive! <BR> <BR>Diane, I've never come across an 'unpleasant' American in my travels bar one time in a supermarket in Orlando. I'm sure there are some but I am sure the good will severely outweigh the bad.

As far as I am concerned, Alcatraz is ugly! Unmitigated, and unameliorated by time. The fact that people go to see it does not make it less ugly. People also watch WWF, which to me is the epitome of ugly on TV. (The view from the island is nice, however, but the same view can be had from other vantage points.) Perhaps people who like to view prisons have something I don't have. Not that I am envious of that quality, or want it. <BR>I for one never got much more than a chill feeling of horror when I viewed Dachau. I saw nothing amusing about looking at a place where millions were tortued and killed. Some people seem to become infatuated with the details of how Jews were gassed or thrown in lime pits. I certainly was not. <BR>Perhaps if more people sought beauty in this world of ours we would have less hatred and killing. <BR>Or, are we still in a national state of denial over Columbine High School? <BR>(And there was a shooting at the school in Conyers, Ga. less than 60 miles from where I live.) <BR> <BR>And Tony, there was a poet who lived in Scotland who had a line we had to learn in high school English: <BR>O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us <BR>To see oursels as others see us! <BR>It wad frae mony a blunder free us, <BR> And foolish notion. <BR> <BR>A few get an idea; others never do. <BR>And some never care!

What some Americans think of as boring little towns can be quite fascinating to outsiders! It's not only the little towns always either, but the scenery around them.

Tony, If you want back roads and character, visit my town--Johnston, South Carolina. That is, of course, if you can find it on a map! We are the "Peach Capital of the World!" Woo hoo! If you've ever seen The Andy Griffith Show, this town is like Mayberry. Hope you enjoy your trip and good luck!

Tony: Not sure when you're traveling, but the Durango area - Red Mtn. Pass gets a lot of snow. We were backpacking the first week of September and encountered snow. Some of the mountain passes can be treacherous in a blizzard. The drive between Durango and Silverton is gorgeous though! b

Bly, how bad do you think it'll be in the end of March?

Bob, perhaps you misunderstood me - the fact that many go to Alcatraz was in no way a response to whether it is ugly or not - it was a response to “if that sort of thing attracts you”. I simply stated that it “attracts” a lot of people, most of whom are going for the history rather than for the scenery. However, I thought it was quite beautiful, so to each his own. <BR> <BR>Funny you should bring up Dachau. Again, I must respectfully disagree. I hardly think people go there looking for amusement! Why do you make it sound like if you go visit a prison there is something wrong with you? The chill feeling you had is what (hopefully) we all would get there, but do we have to only go to places that make us laugh and smile? Part of the reason many Americans go to Europe is for the history and education, how can you leave out wars and bloodshed? Is going to the Tower of London a no-no too? <BR> <BR>I really don’t understand the reference to Columbine and us being in a state of denial. I am all for seeking beauty in this world, but I think burying our collective heads in the sand and not learning from the atrocities of the past is just as bad. Nothing can bring to life the evilness that men are capable of like Dachau. I think making that real to people is at least, if not more, important to preventing hatred and killing than looking for physical beauty in the world.

Tony, Alcatraz is very interesting from a historical point of view and the views back to the city are lovely in good weather (you don't say when you will be here). However, know that the native Americans took over the island at one point in recent history and there was quite a bit of destruction while they occupied it. The audio tour is recommended and you should make reservations ahead. If you are planning to be here during the rainy season (until end of March) you might want to reconsider Alcatraz or play it by ear when you get here. This past weekend, both days were sold out so nobody could go without prior reservations. Knowing that you like to get off the beaten path, think you'd like Port Angeles and you should consider the northern coast of CA as in Mendocino and Sonoma if you haven't seen those already. The Orca Islands might also appeal to you. Channel Islands down near Sta. Barbara are another possibility as well as the more remote areas of CA. Enjoy.

Hi Tony, <BR> <BR>Well, as long as you'll be in the area, why not stop at Walnut Grove, Minnesota - you can frolic on the banks of Plum Creek where Ma, Pa, Mary, Laura and Carrie Ingles lived - you can still see the indentation where their sod house was. Seems to kind of fit your itinerary. Or if you're in the area during the two middle weekends of July, you can check out the Heritagefest in New Ulm, Minnesota. Small town of about 14,000 of primarily German heritage. The festival can be a blast but you may have trouble finding a room or camp site. Just thought I'd throw those in since they're off the beaten path a bit.