Summer trip plans help.

For some reason I'm reminded of the movie "Michael" where John Travolta plays an angel who wants to see the biggest ball of string and a couple other things like that...

:)

Maggie: that’s so funny you should say that. I’m mistaken for John Travolta all the time!

Not sure what route you're planning on taking, but if you go through Missouri I have a friend that RAVES about how wonderful 2 different state park campgrounds in Missouri are
One is Pomme de Terre
http://www.mostateparks.com/pommedeterre.htm
The other is Meramec
http://www.mostateparks.com/meramec.htm

Meramec is closer to the St Louis area, Pomme de Terre is over in the Lakes/Ozark area.

I seriously recommend Zion National Park in southern Utah and and the Sedona/Prescot/Jerome area of Arizona.

Holly, those are excellent links and just the type of thing I’m looking for. I’ve never been to the Ozarks. Say, you don't by any chance like to travel and can drive a stick shift?!?! ;)

McCasky thanks for the ideas. I haven’t been to Zion in years. Also, I have a cousin in Prescott…free meal! Thanks again

LOL! I LOVE to travel, camp AND I can drive stick like a pro, but how would I explain it to my hubby? ;)

Oh him! All kidding aside, thanks again

LOL....no problem! Sounds like it's going to be an awesome trip/vacation! Hope it goes wonderfully!

Offshore - you could try this route

(please forgive the sarcasm)

:)

I still have months before my departure. What about inflation?!

I have been the northern and southern route. I found the northern route more fun but that's me.
Zion is beautiful. You can take (I think it's scenic route 89 or somthing like that it takes you all around the park...all the way through Utah. You jump back on to 15 right before salt lake city. I would also recomend Cedar Breaks monument (in Utah).

We stopped at the SPAM museum in Missiouri, St Louis, Hoover Dam, Mnt Rushmore, the Black Hills and a small little town called Shamrock, Texas that had no running water the morning we woke up...haha.

We got a national parks pass (it was $50 for family) and it also got us into a bunch od caves and nature hikes for free which normally you have to pay for

I think we also stayed in Cuba..Missouri that is. We were going to stop and stay over in the amish country in Indiana but we had a bad storm (remember all that rain in June 2006 that flooded all the streets..yea we were trying to outrun it on the way in) and decided to drive through the night go get home.

We got a bunch of state maps from AAA and just decided to try and not take major freeways and always take the scenic route. AAA travel books also have a bunch of random off the beaten path stuff too.

As to using it while your driving? The best was the oversized atlas' you can find at Barnes and Noble that's got all 50 states.

As to SoCal, (sniff) take a drive up to Malibu. Get there before 8am for the best parking and try Dante's Peak for a beautiful beach. Then stop by Malibu Yogart for the best darn yogart EVER!

Oliva's, in Sherman Oaks (the valley) best italian.

The Grove (outdoor mall in LA city) is where you rub elbows with famous people buying their wares.....

Don't get sucked into the "hollywood blvd walk of fame". it's fun but all the stores at Hollywood and highland are overpriced and it's really not a great neighborhood after dark if you venture too far in either direction.

Have fun!! :)

LA2Town
That’s great advice. I’ve taken the Northern routes many times so, your AAA advice is excellent. I’m going to Southern California to surf San Onofre, Dog Beach near Huntington and others then work my way up to the Bay Area so I will hit Malibu, Zuma etc. I love Neptune’s Net. I also want to see the Getty Museum. Please recommend any other points of interest.

Thank you

oo surfing? Hrmm I wasn't into that scene so forget what I said before about Malibu beach...hehe I think you'd prob know better.

Now of course the best surfing I've seen before was off the PCH on my way to Santa Barbara. Literally, I think a group of people just pulled off the road and started catchin some waves. No beach or anything.

Southern route we just kinda went from Toledo to St Louis, got on route 66 until we dove into Texas because we were going to Phoenix to visit my grandparents. We didn't do much that time except the St. Louis Arch.

If I did it over again I'd prob try to side trip to Austin, TX since I've never been there.

Huntington beach has a small dark hole in the wall mexican place on the "pier" there. it's on the rt hand side almost at the end if it's not the end.

KILLER margaritta's. Food was good too but I'm just sayin. Our local friends said that the townhouses at the end of the boardwalk on the right hand side (you kinda have to walk a ways to see them) are the townhouses featured in 90210. You seem like the type who prob wasn't into that (I wasn't) but just in case I thought I'd toss it out there!

Are you going to Santa Monica at all for sight seeing? (Do not surf there!! icky icky beaches) Third Street Promanade is really fun especially on Saturday's because it's the farmers market day. Fresh everything.

And if you are already in Santa Monica on a Sat, walk down the boardwalk to Venice beach. They do a sidewalk vendor day on Saturday's. You can get some cool art, or see random people get tattoo's. it's an electic bunch but it's fun to walk around the boardwalk.

We did make it up to San Fran while were were there. (DMB golden gate concert...woohoo) We decided to try every form of transportation instead of rent a car...(which by the way in San Fran ditch the car at the campground or hotel there is no parking). We had a great time. We went to Neptunes' on Pier 39. Great romantic little place glass windows overlook the bay. very cool.

One tip is if you decide to sight see in San Fran get a "day pass" ticket. You can hop on and off the trolley's, buses and rail all day for like $9 (cira 2004) or something. That way if you miss your stop...and have to get back on...it won't coast you more.

As to camping, we didn't do much BUT off the PCH there are small road pull offs that you can attempt to set up shop. I only say attempt because your door would be on the water and people stake out spots early. I don't know if you're tenting, pop up, or RV but the spots are more RV-ish but I have seen people set up the tents on the pavement before too.

I tend to stay away from Santa Monica and crowded Malibu, save for the bars/restaurants but I love drive around the LA area just out of curiosity.

When I’m in the area I spend most of my time south of LA, in Orange County. California has a great state park system with many beach campgrounds like Doheny, San Onofre etc. But, I have noticed a lot of RV types as you mentioned. Actually, after hiking, surfing, some fishing and drinking, I’m pooped and just want to sleep. So, the quieter the better. I take a mountain bike for local travel and like to find little hole-in the-wall type places with local color.

My wife may fly out to go fishing with me. You don’t happen to know any good charter captains do you?

As someone who has spent much time in the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, and Montana, I was warned about “Californication” and major jerks. I was in California last summer and have always found most Californians to be very pleasant and helpful.

I love the Central Coast areas like Cambria, Los Osos, Morrow Bay, and love, I repeat love Big Sur! I spend days up there hiking, fishing, and searching for jade and maybe seeing condors but the surf is erratic and cold!

Santa Cruz seems full of kooks and I’m not a big wave surfer so those breaks are scary.
I’m intrigued by the Del Monte Forest and the Monterey area too.

I have friends In the Bay Area so I’m covered there as far as accommodations and site seeing. But thanks for the tips.