The Grand American Road Trip
In and around United States
I recently returned from my first quintessential travel experience in Ecuador. While there I came to the conclusion (on a bus in the Andes, 5 days into the trip) that another journey was in order. Where better to learn to explore alone than in my own country? I speak the language. The water is tasty. I've traveled with family here before. The geography and people and scope are all grand. This road trip dissects and collects a majority of the lower 48 in the classic tradition of driving. I want to see what I have not seen. Doing this alone must not handicap my experience but intensify it, so that I might get to know myself and the country simultaneously. Enjoy!
Route taken and entries written by little haxby
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1
A Splendid Winter Weekend
Winter finally settled into the north country, and I was lucky to spend it lazing and snacking or sledding with my dear family.We watched Harry Potter... Continue reading »
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2
The Send-Off Lunch
I met my brother for lunch in Cambridge. Although it was not his motive, I can't help but think that some of these goodbyes are the 'just in case yo... Continue reading »
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3
Savoring the Big Apple
I did the touristy thing and walked around Times Square for an hour or so until my friend (whom I met in Ecuador, seriously good people) got out of... Continue reading »
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4
Beautiful Beach Town
So I got into Rehoboth last night, and had the lady lead me to the Dogfish Head Pub and Distillery for dinner and excellent beers. I could have ordere... Continue reading »
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5
Ghost Strip
Sunday I drove down the Jersey Shore from an NYC suburb. About an hour or two into the drive, I saw a sign for Freehold. Now this is when I felt freed... Continue reading »
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6
Dogfish Head Brewery Private Tour!!
Ooh baby. And it didn't even start well.I was a little late because apparently the lady was born yesterday and had never heard of the cul-de-sac that... Continue reading »
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7
A Beautiful Day for a Drive along the Graveyard of the Atlantic
I don’t mind beginning this entry with my corrections for the previous entry, because today was that great of a day. Onancock is neither the birthplac... Continue reading »
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8
Not only Southern Immersion, but a real skinny dip!
I arrived in Hartsville during a gorgeous sunset, and found the school no problem thanks to the lady. Pleased that it was Valentine's Day, and Mariya... Continue reading »
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9
I am charmed, charmed to make your acquaintance
I arrived early afternoon and enlisted a local B&B expert to find me a room. This is after I attempted to stay at the Historical Charleston Hostel... Continue reading »
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10
There's a Musk in the Air and a Spring in my Step
Then I drove to Savannah. My mind was full and the sun hung low and I shouldn’t have been listening to NPR because I got turned around a couple time... Continue reading »
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11
Bleach White Sands and Zero Gators- a joyful detour
Those here to merely learn about this section of road, advance to under the stars. The boy scouts staying on my hall woke me up this morning with the... Continue reading »
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12
Driving Across the Gulf- Land side
Greetings from New Orleans!Today I drove from Pensacola, Florida, to New Orleans, Louisiana, along route 10. This is the major interstate, and it actu... Continue reading »
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13
Magical Lundi and Mardi Gras!
The energy and the frenzy are contagious. Although I had never been to New Orleans before, I wondered whether the determination to fill the streets,... Continue reading »
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14
Remember the Alamo?
After Mardi Gras I drove through Louisiana into Texas, and man is that state huge. The first sign I read upon entering is "El Paso 857 miles." I spent... Continue reading »
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15
Barack Obama Rally
I drove to Austin to see Barack Obama's rally. Now the city is on my shrinking to-do list. After a quick disappointment when the attendant at a garage... Continue reading »
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16
Spectacular Volcanic History Grows Gorgeous Vistas!
Wow. I think I'm the only person I know who has ventured this far to this spot, and oh am I the lucky one! Because I am so very behind, and because I... Continue reading »
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17
From Big Bend to White Sands to a Lodge in the Mountains
The drive itself is worth an entry, I skirted Mexico and then entered a new world in New Mexico, but I'm going to keep to the highlights. Through T... Continue reading »
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18
Not as Enchanted in New Mexico
The drive to Taos is worth more than the town. I knew it's reputation. Julia Roberts has a house there and it's an artists' colony, which means that i... Continue reading »
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19
Enchanted in New Mexico
This morning I woke with dawn in Bernalillo (yesterday is of little consequence for y’all, I needed to cover some miles and didn’t want to get to Sa... Continue reading »
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20
The Other Las Vegas
Fort Union is about forty miles from the town center of Las Vegas, and I had a nice ride in, at one time playing car pong with another vehicle and a c... Continue reading »
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21
Cowboy Country!
Considering the maps were not offering accurate paths for the roads I would be following- no road that covers the up, over, and down of a mountain doe... Continue reading »
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22
When I dream, on my own, I'm alone but I ain't lonely...
Driving into Santa Fe This marks my first American Hostel experience, and I felt some trepidation over whether we can do it like the foreigners... Continue reading »
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23
Dreams Come True, Yes They Do, In Santa Fe...
Friday, March 2I was second to pick chores, and they all had an additional scribbling ‘empty trash in area’ that seemed odd considering the manager r... Continue reading »
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24
A Real Diamond for a Night or Three
Saturday night, best time to go out as a solo traveler- because everyone’s out, and they will talk to you. Especially if they think you’re cute. I h... Continue reading »
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25
They Just Don't Build Cliff Dwellings Like They Used To
After breakfast in Durango was spent as many mugs of coffee while chatting with Michael the manager, I drove to Mesa Verde National Park. The views... Continue reading »
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26
Touristy Hightlights with commentary
The longest layover of my trip thus far has been spent idly in Denver. Visiting a friend who moved here almost two years ago, I’ve been surprised by... Continue reading »
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27
New Belgium Brewery!
New Belgium Brewery is one of those smaller-production breweries that stretch the definition of microbrewery. And I wouldn't call it a craft brewery b... Continue reading »
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28
Trendy Kids Between a Rock and a Hard Place
We drove here Sunday before some more extracurricular stuff for my friend's work. I explored there this previous Sunday afternoon, after a short hike... Continue reading »
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29
Awestruck in Moab
The sakura bloom here first. I wonder why Japanese donors chose this little town to bestow arguably the most beautiful rite of Spring: cherry blossom... Continue reading »
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30
National Park Overload, Part I
When I returned to the park on Sunday, I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. There are actually two parks in Canyonlands, one in the north: Is... Continue reading »
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31
National Park Overload, Part IA
The drive from Moab to Springdale, the tourist town at the base of Zion National Park, filled my day with pleasant roads and delightful Springy v... Continue reading »
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32
National Park Overload, Part II
I had arrived in Springdale the afternoon before I actually made my way into the park. Having just spent a couple of days in the wilderness, I enjoyed... Continue reading »
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33
National Park Overload, Part III
As we left Zion, I had the feeling we were leaving too soon. Springdale was such a sweet village with an idyllic setting, Bryce couldn't beat this!... Continue reading »
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34
I wanted to stay....
While perusing my travel companion (books) for good places to stay in Flagstaff, I erupted in glee and giggles when I read that the Historic Hotel M... Continue reading »
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35
National Park Overload, Part IV
The South Rim is my most recent National Park. This means it was the last of my overload. When my parents arrived in Utah, I had communicated some con... Continue reading »
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36
Spoiling Senses in Lush California- Includes Driving 1
I left Flagstaff and drove on Route 40 into California. I drove across the Mojave Desert without any water, and stopped just before Bakersfield to h... Continue reading »
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37
Wildlife Adventures at a State Park By the Sea
After my drive partway up the coast, I stopped at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, hoping my interagency pass would grant me a discount. It didn't. But t... Continue reading »
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38
Remote Camping
I had selected this state park because it's the oldest in California, founded in 1902. The drive there once I got off 1 onto 9 was quite fun. For twen... Continue reading »
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39
Bear Republic Brewery Private Tour!!
After camping at Big Basin Redwoods, I headed north up 1 past San Francisco, which I decided to cross off my to-explore list because I have visited... Continue reading »
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40
Divine Weekend in Napa Valley
After my fabulous brewery tour, I drove to Calistoga and circled around the small and friendly town center until I found the chamber of commerce. Th... Continue reading »
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41
An Oasis of Sin. It's a Terrible Place, & I love it
The biggest holiday weekend of Spring was celebrated, Vegas Style. Due to itinerary complications surrounding the hugeness of the state of California... Continue reading »
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42
Fun at the Country's Largest Mountain Lake!
The night my friend and I drove into South Lake Tahoe, some drunk resort employee jumped off the Tahoe Queen dinner cruise ship into the lake. He swam... Continue reading »
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43
Tasting Wine with a Friend on the River
Sonoma county carries a friendlier air than Napa, so I had been eager to explore the sister vineyards. The rumors were true, and so my dear friend fro... Continue reading »
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44
Driving North - On the Road Again
This is the story of the drive *to* Umpqua. It's the route I took on my way to Portland, where I visited a friend rather than explore like a good tr... Continue reading »
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45
Whirlwind Tour of Portland
When I explored Portland, I stayed within two focal points: The Waterfront Walk, and Powell's Books. Outside the city, we explored Larch Mountain an... Continue reading »
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46
Touristy Highlights from a Family Weekend
I spent a weekend when the shade-happy rhododendrons were in full bloom, along with much of the greenery and flowers popular on suburban frontages; b... Continue reading »
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47
The First National Park on the Planet!
This visit to the singular geologic wonderland of this National Park was unfortunately before the winter had cleared enough trail and road to open t... Continue reading »
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48
A Preseason Preview of the most Popular Park
The estimate I've been telling people is about four thousand miles in six days. This is the marathon week that I don't think deserves an entry so mu... Continue reading »
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49
Eking Out a Week For This Road
I started to drive the Parkway thinking that the sheer beauty and diminshed speed limit would require me to allot at least five days. This actually... Continue reading »
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50
Top Ten Things to Bring on a Road Trip
1. a car. Obviously the most explicit, and uncreative ‘thing.’ But I will linger at this selection for two reasons. 1, you must love your car, or tr... Continue reading »
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51
The Quintessential New York Spring Weekend
This was a friendly weekend, where a dear friend and I drove to visit a third dear friend we met during our previous travels. Intermixed with lazy a... Continue reading »
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52
Last Stop Back East
As I'm winding down, mostly just processing (that the trip is over), Carrie suggested I write up a top ten. Now, I have eight more entries to go as... Continue reading »
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