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Convince me to go to visit your state

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mikewithaprius, May 3, 2011.

  1. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    Ah, NJ or CA. Do you know why California has all the lawyers and New Jersey has all the toxic waste dumps?

    New Jersey got the first pick.
     
  2. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    I like the joke, but NJ has more lawyers on a per capita basis.
    Highest Per Capita Lawyers - AveryIndex

    I guess they win both ways.:eek:
     
  3. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    Wow, so many responses...I literally just looked into every single one of them haha, so thanks everybody. Fotomoto, great idea about the loop, so it's not just an out-and-back.

    This insanely long url shows a nice possibility, though I might be stretched for time (I don't have a full three weeks, and two may be more realistic). Sagebrush - your part sounds amazing (spicy is good, btw), but it's the real stretch timewise.

    Rhode Island to Rhode Island - Google Maps
     
  4. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    That is a *lot* of driving. Forget about moderate speeds, even over 3 weeks.
    I noticed you seem to be staying above the mason-dixon line. I admit to negligible interest in the South myself, with one exception: I would *love* to visit a Toyota or Honda car factory.
     
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The speed limit on rural highways in many Western states is 75 mph. If the OP is determined to proceed at 50 mph he will not get very far over a three-week period.

    My idea of a fun vacation does not include watching the scenery pass by at a slow pace, but that's just me. I'd rather consume more fuel and get there faster. :cool:

    The best national parks and monuments can be found in the western half of the country including California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.
     
  6. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    It's less the lack of interest, and more the heat that time of year.

    Also, for everyone suggesting Maine, that sounds wonderful - I'm in Vermont in the summers already, so a weekend trip is quite possible then, or even from RI during the year next year (I will give myself Saturdays off!).

    Yeah, Sagebrush, the route shown is sort of my "why don't I get 6 weeks off like in Europe" dream route. If I can get a friend to go with me, and split the driving, we could jampack the driving into a couple days, say out to Colorado, then back via Chicago, which I've never seen. I'm still in my 20s, I think excessively long team driving might be feasible, that way we'd have several days to hang out in both CO and Chicago, with a little stop in DC to say hey to friends and family. Of course, I'd have to teach him about IGN 14 TPS 18 before he gets behind the wheel :D

    Here's that CO route, almost a thousand miles less this way.

    Rhode Island to Rhode Island - Google Maps
     
  7. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    Do your long trips now - they aren't as easy as you get older. OK, so I'm only 29, but when I was in my late teens and early-mid 20s, I could easily pull 13-15 hour days in the car by myself. Now, I get sick of it around 8 or 9 hours in the car.

    I drove across the country & back in 10 days in a Geo Metro when I was 18. Why? Because I was a little crazy and wanted to say that I'd done it. Now, if it's not within a days drive, I take the big aluminum bus in the sky. It's easier on the body and gives more time once you get where you are going. Besides, vacation should be about enjoying the time you have as opposed to spending most of it in the car.

    My recommendation, is find an area that you can find several things you want to see/do and then fly in & stay at a central point. You can rent a vehicle and always have a "home base" to work from.
     
  8. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    Not to get too OT, but NJ is the 2nd largest producer of blueberries, 3rd for spinach and cranberries, 4th for bell peppers and peaches. Most agricultural production is in the southern part of the state.
     
  9. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    ^^ So the black discolorations I see sometimes on my bell peppers is soot ?

    (just kidding)
     
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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  11. Maine Pilot

    Maine Pilot Senior Member

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    Still another vote for Maine. What, me biased?

    Having lived in Riverside, (East Providence), RI for a short time, I can tell you Maine offers so much more. Yes, we have a rocky coast, but some nice sandy beaches in Old Orchard Beach and Popham too. We have hundreds of lakes with all sorts of nicely-paved rural roads. Normally, in the summer, we have cool nights, but in the day, temps in the mid 70's to mid 80' without much humidity. (It can change though.)

    Best part of all, depending on traffic, it's only about a 2-2.5 hr ride up from Providence.
     
  12. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    wick1ert, you expressed very succinctly what I wasn't able to. I love travel, and I love driving the Prius for mileage. I've never had my own car before. I've also never really seen the country, and with more and more work coming my way, I have such little time for vacation, and in future years that may become more of a problem. It's just something I want to do, not because it seems like a logical plan of action, but just because.

    So yes, driving 55 mph across the country is not a smart idea - and that's the point!

    I think some landfills would beat East Providence :p

    So Old Orchard Beach and Popham - I will look into these. In fact, this sounds like perfect fodder for the couple days I have before going to Vermont, rather than part of a bigger trip. Any other particularly idyllic spots right around there in Maine you like and suggest?
     
  13. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Mike, you remind me a lot of myself. I love to drive and have done many such loop trips like you're planning. Right out of school, I went from OKC to CA hitting Yosemite and the red woods, etc., etc. and then up the coast to Vancouver and across to Jasper, Alberta, Canada and down to Banff, then to Glacier NP, Yellowstone, Colorado, back home. Of course I hit everything in between on the way but you get the idea. I did a wide loop first so I'd know what to go back and see in more detail later on. Jasper, AB is one of our favorite places in the world besides Ouray, CO.

    If you do plan to come west I'd suggest a few highlights to break up some of the "great plains" driving monotony. Assuming you stick to the Google Maps route you posted, once past Chicago, swing a bit more north and go see Mount Rushmore, near Rapid City, SD and also drive through the Black Hills while you're there. Then swing south to Loveland, CO and take highway 34 to Estes Park, up over the pass on trail ridge road (gorgeous) and down to Granby, south to Winter Park then take I-70 to Climax and then Leadville and head south to Santa Fe, Albuquerque, White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns (so you don't retrace the same route in NM)

    You do need to get off the Interstate in CO and really see the mountains. I-25 through CO just doesn't get it done if you've not been there.

    From there go to the Big Texan Steak house in Amarillo for a wonderful steak (a small 16oz one, not the 72 oz one;)) or if you're short on time heat straight to Wichita Falls, etc.

    Then consider staying on I-40 to Knoxville, TN where you can take a great drive through the Smokey's near Gatlinburg. If you have time there's a really cool little place called Cade's Cove. This area is beautiful but driving is slow. Get back on I-81 and head towards DC and home.

    This sounds like a long drive and it IS a lot of miles but it's very flexible and easily changeable. If you do get to Colorado, you have to get off the Interstate. If you wanted to go farther, I can tell you about a lot of places in Wyoming, Idaho, etc., but now you're talking a lot of time.

    There's a lot of other things to see on this route but I don't want to bog you down too much.:D
     
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  14. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Another thing New Mexico has going for it -- Good Fuel Economy:

    [​IMG]
     

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  15. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    Hey Sage, by any chance do you know which roads in NM they used in Wild Hogs? We crossed state on a way from Amarillo to Las Cruses; camped in Cloudcroft and went to White Sands NP. Very diverse and scenic state.
     
  16. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    Don't let work become your life, either. I spent a good few years in my 20s working 50-60+ hour weeks. Before you know it, you'll wonder what happened to your life and why you never got to see things you always wanted to. I switched positions almost 3 years ago, and rarely work over 40 hours. Believe me, it gets old and tiresome really fast working all the time. Take some time for YOU.

    Oh, and if you do drive cross country someday, definitely break it up and have someone else with you. There were several times going through AZ, NM, TX that I was hardly able to keep myself awake. It was such a boring drive on the interstate, that I literally would keep planning 30, 45, 60 mins in advance what I would be doing at that time just to keep my mind active so I wouldn't fall asleep. I even pulled into "picnic areas" in AZ/NM a few times and dozed for about 20 or 30 minutes before getting back on the road again.

    I'm sure you'll find somewhere to go and activities to do. Heck, why not fly down to the Gulf and just spend a few days relaxing and checking out the babes on the beach LOL. Or knock some things off your "bucket list". I've got a couple things left on mine, but without winning the lottery I don't think I'll ever scratch off learning to fly an airplane.
     
  17. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Sorry, nope.
     
  18. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  19. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Talimena is a pretty drive. We take it in the fall when the leaves are turning.
     
  20. landstander

    landstander darling no baka

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    [ame="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Monument+Rocks+National+Natural+Landmark,+Gove,+KS&aq=0&sll=38.962533,-94.6937&sspn=0.012814,0.015428&ie=UTF8&hq=Monument+Rocks+National+Natural+Landmark,+Gove,+KS&hnear=Monument+Rocks+National+Natural+Landmark,+Lewis,+Gove,+Kansas+67738&t=h&z=12"]Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark, Gove, KS - Google Maps[/ame]

    Monument Rocks, in western Kansas, would be well worth seeing IMO. Keyhole Arch during sunset is simply breathtaking.

    As usual, your mileage may vary (batteries not included, etc.).