Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - TRIP REPORT - Vancouver, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Ariz., Calif., Oregon, Vancouver

Just a short report on a road trip taken July 31 through August 16, 2004 by husband and I in husbands Z06 Corvette. Yes, it WAS cramped.

ROSEBURG, OREGON
A convenient place for the first night after leaving Vancouver, BC. Stayed at Motel 6. Perfectly fine. Dinner at Applebee's - sat at the bar and right away met two very nice fellows (not together). Had a good meal and good travelling advice (e.g. roads to take, place not to stay, etc.).

RENO, NEVADA
Spent 3 nights here at The Sienna Hotel. Stayed here last year and it was basically the same this year. Rooms are nice, beds very comfortable. Restaurants - blah. Won $150 on a Wheel of Fortune in their casino though. We (husband, me, and another couple) were in Reno specifically for the "Hot August Nights" 50's and 60's car week long extravaganza. Surprisingly fun and what a lot of cool looking cars!! Had a good dinner at "Rapscallion". Also a good meal at the Hilton at "Asiana" off the casino floor. Also won $150 on the "Elvis" machine at the Hilton so was happy with them.

STATELINE, NEVADA
Husband and I (friends went their separate way) had to stay here as husband got new tires for the 'Vet. Sheesh. Although, won a $100+ on the Wheel of Fortune at The Horizon Hotel where we stayed. Dinner at some horribly loud place at Caesar's - just try eating to the sounds of Kid Rock at full volume. Yikes.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Had one night here at Bally's. There's something to be said for arriving in Vegas on a plane and taking a taxi to your chosen hotel. Arriving by car (to 107 degree heat) after driving all day from Lake Tahoe and having to find your way to the car park, from the car park (with bags in tow) to the registration desk (and at Bally's it ain't easy)leaves something to be desired. However, our room (north tower) was nice. Had an excellent dinner (again at the bar) at a relatively new restaurant in the Bellagio called "Fix". It is right off the casino floor (but aren't they all I guess). Very friendly young bar staff and good food to boot. Not cheap but ... heck its Vegas.

ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH
Up early and a couple of hours or so on the road and we were in Springdale, Utah. Lucked out and without having a reservation got a very nice, riverside room at The Desert Pearl. Truly a very nice place to stay. Took the Zion trolley bus through the park - pretty stupendous. Dinner at something or other "noodle place". Good pasta and pizza.

TORREY, UTAH
Phoned ahead from Springdale and lucked out again and booked a night at the Skyridge Bed and Breakfast in Torrey. What a NICE place. Arrived at 5:00 p.m. in time for wine and appetizers in the common room. Our room was great - king size bed, our own door to the outside, fabulous front porch to sit on and watch the sun set and listen to the crickets. Highly, highly recommend the Skyridge. Had dinner at Cafe Diablo. For a small town this is a pretty good restaurant although the entrees are a little "over-constructed" - "how do I eat this without toppling the whole thing".

MOAB, UTAH
Had two nights here. No reservations and lucked out at The Gonzo Inn. Nice place. Pleasant front desk and common room. Quiet (at least while we were there). Pool looked really nice and inviting however we didn't use it. We were too busy seeing Arches park and taking a jet boat on the Colorado. Highly recommend the jet boat excursion.

GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA
Stayed outside the park at the Holiday Inn Express. All the lodges in the park were "crazy" busy. We ate dinner at El Tovar and it was okay food-wise, nice atmosphere (although we missed sunset so there was really nothing to look at but darkness). Loved the Grand Canyon ... my god, takes your breath away. Used the bus system and it works great.

CAMBRIA, CALIFORNIA
Drove and drove and drove and ended up at Cambria. Lucked out (yet again) and got a lovely room at Moonstone Landing on Moonstone Beach. Had dinner at Moonstone Bar & Grill. Watched sun set - was very pleasant. The next night weren't so lucky with accommodations. Had to move on to San Simeon and stayed at a place which cost $40 more a night and was nowhere near as nice (sorry my memory fails now to recall the name). However, spent the day doing wineries in Paso Robles. Very nice - much calmer experience than the Napa Valley. Bought 5 bottles. Dinner the second night was at The Sow's Ear in Cambria - very cozy restaurant and good food. Fun shopping in the town too.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
Had actually booked two nights here in advance - what a mistake!! The Presidio Inn had relatively good reviews in the couple of places I found however once I got there - yuck. Very, very basic and very, very LOUD. I felt like I was sleeping with the man in the next room his snoring was so loud. The person upstairs watched TV ALL night and I did NOT get one wink of sleep. At 5:30 a.m. I said "we're outta here" and I don't care if we forfeit our money for the second night (actually, I do, but ... we'll see about that). Before the horrible night though we had taken a taxi to the Mark Hopkins and had drinks at the top. Very nice (coupla Cosmos for me, coupla beers for him).

PORTLAND, OREGON
Again, drove and drove and drove and made it to Portland. Stayed at Doubletree. Fine, quiet accommodation. Ate at a restaurant on the river (again, forget the name) - pleasant evening.

VANCOUVER, BC
Whew, we're back.

I know this wasn't very detailed so if you have any specific questions - ask away.