RE: Ok....what would you do?

[Trlrboy]

 Giffster
Key West.
 
 We just spent 10 days there and it was great.  Stayed at a fairly inexpensive condo that was right near downtown and never needed a car for 10 days.  Spent lots of time in bars and being a tourist.  Most relaxing vacation ever.  No campfires, no mosquitos.
 
 Go to the Schooner Wharf Bar.  Best bar in the Florida keys.

[Giffster]

 AustinBoston
Did you take a pet?  I have to double check alot of places to make sure pets are allowed.  I m sure I ll have to skip some places (sight seeing) because of the pup, but she d get really mad if I didn t take her with me.  
 
 Cheers

[Papaso]

 Giffster
Hey Doug good to hear from you. Back in 1984 my kid brother and I took off on our dream trip across the US, I was 30 he was 19. I was living in Jersey at the time and he lived in Miami, he flew into Jersey and we were on the road the same day. We drove thru to Chicago and stayed at a hotel for three days(checking out the sites and museums) and then headed west across I-90, from there on we were tent camping or just catching some ZZ s at a State rest stop. We did all the standard sites Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, Grand Tetons, Little Bighorn, Yellowstone, Manmouth hot springs you get the picture every scenic overlook we could stop at we would. One of the most impressive sites was comming into Yellowstone. Surrounding Yellowstone is the Shosone National Forest probably one of the most beautiful places I ve ever been to, it left a lasting impression on me and my brother. We continued West stopping to rest and camped for 1-3 days along the route wherever we felt like it, thru to Oregon and Crater Lake National Park (fantastic). Started our southern trek along Californias coast. California is an adventure by itself saw my first live bear up close in the wild. I m glad he was more frightened by me, because he ran the other way faster than I ever thought it could move. We headed to San Francisco, we got to a welcomed motel room and stayed 4 days. San Francisco is probably the most beautiful city I ve seen in any country I ve been to. Headed East to Kings Canyon Sequoia and South to Vegas, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam,Grand Canyon, Painted Desert on across
  I-40 to I-55 to New Orleans (great food) and on to I-10 across your neck of the woods on down to Miami, dropped my Brother off and headed back to Jersey alone.
 We were gone 27 days, spent most of our time driving, put 11,786 miles on my new Chevy S-10 pickup, we spent approx. $3,300.00 gas, food, hotels and any BS we brought along the way (not bad). The adventure is the trip, we had a blast and it brought my brother and I closer than ever (today he is my business partner and my best friend next to my DW and kids) I hope you just pack up and go, and enjoy your adventure. Our country is the most beautiful place on earth, I often think back on our trip and Thank God for letting me have the experience. AB s advice is right on the money
 Happy Camping

[iwantapopup]

 Giffster
Wow Doug! What an adventure you re going to have!!!!  Of course you should camp in MO! Everyone needs to go up the Arch and we could dog sit for you while you re up there!
 
 Yellowstone is beautiful and worth seeing!  I went there and alot of it was in and out of the car as far as driving around to see everything so if you had to leave your dog in the car, it would be for short hauls.
 
 Jackson Hole, WY was sooooooo beautiful, I d love to go back there, in fact anywhere in WY!!!!
 
 Mount Rushmore is pretty impressive but I didn t get to see Crazy Horse.  I saw the Mitchell Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.  That was pretty cool.
 

[texacokat]

 Giffster
AB s itinerary is great, but surprised Trailerboy didn t weigh in on this -- you must carve out lots of time just for the entire state of Texas alone.  From sandy beaches to mountains to plains -- it s too awesome for words.
 
 Bob, we ve been to that bar in KeyWest.  Friends of ours have kids who work in KeyWest and told us it s a real local place.  So it was our first stop off the cruise ship!
 
 Send us your postcards, Doug!  Happy Trails (I fondly remember Roy and Dale).

[Papaso]

 iwantapopup
Hi Linda,
 We also stopped by the Mitchell Corn Palace, quite a unique place to say the least. Thats one of the cool things you get from a cross country trip all the strange or weird places you get to see or maybe even taste[]

[Giffster]

 Giffster
Great suggestions so far all.  Thanks.  So far my possible route looks to be:  From PA across to South Dakota, then up to Glacier NP in MT.  Then either head south Yellowstone or across to Washington/Oregon.  I did invest in a National Park Pass (50$).  Gives me free entry into all the parks.  Maybe I can talk my Dad into going.  He can get a Golden Age Passport and get 1/2 off camping.  
 
 BTW........the a/c in the shop is finally working.  
 
 Cheers

[rednekrubbrduck]

 Papaso
I ve always wanted to see the Star Trek Casino (and not for the gambling..but for the experience) in Vegas, so that would be a stop.  My dad use to be a trail guide in Yellowstone the first couple of years after he retired...and he loved it..so would say there also.  And if you re coming this way..we ve got a slab of ribs to throw on the grill with your name on it Doug.  And hey..there s always Branson on father s day weekend.  []

[AustinBoston]

 Papaso
I want to add one more thing:  If you d like to visit a few things that are off the beaten path, get a copy of [link=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/]Roadside America[/link].  This book (and the website) feature strange and unusual sites that are open to the public.  Like the Stonehenge reproduction (made from old Cadilacs) or the Troll Under the Bridge.  There is an entire chapter on atomic and radioactive sites to see.  The current sight of the week is the Hippie Memorial in Arcola, Illinois.
 
 I just discovered one of their features is five minutes down the road from me...the shovel museum at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.  I drive by the college at least once a week, and never knew the museum was there.  Of course, people are just busting down the gates to see a shovel museum...
 
 Austin

[ShirleyT]

 Papaso
Well I have a suggestion.... TAKE ME! []

[sandykayak]

 Papaso
how come nobody mentioned Alaska?  (get the Mile Post).
 
 Doug, if you can swing it, try and not have a " Return by"  date.  Not sure how much you can afford, but I know someone who started out at $1,500 a month on his expenses list, but has since found cheaper places (ie COE or BLM primitive places).
 
 I know that on my last solo trip to N Carolina (in 1999 or 2000), I estimated it cost me $50 a day.  $20/day gas, average $20/night CG, and that left $10 a day for food and sightseeing (some days were more some less, so it balanced out).
 
 if your dad can t last that long (or if you can t stand each other for that long) you could always arrange for him to fly home if he/you ve had enough.
 
 Get William Least Heat Moon s Blue Highways also.
 
 There s a guy called Barry something who wrote a lovely narrative (with pix) on how he d never had a camper, bought a jeep and an A-frame and went to Alaska solo.  do a search on the A-liner/Chalet club...it s there.
 
 another option you might want to consider is if you have to return home to take care of business, leave your PU at a CG and the truck at the airport s park  n save and fly home.  you can return after a week or so and continue the trip.  ooops...nix that...you ll have the doggie with you and I believe she s too big for carry on.
 
 another idea is to check out the Lewis & Clark activities - it s the  centennial (?) this year and I believe there are some caravans.
 
 if you take too much stuff or finish reading some of the books, you can always ship  em home (i know you have a roommate now) via UPS.
 
 I find that I do enjoy watching a movie in the evening, so a portable TV/VCR is a very nice addition.  many CGs rent out videos and the KOA in Santa Fe (NM) loaned them out for free.  you might be able to trade/loan videos with other.
 campers.
 
 
 

[Rocky Mountain Sue]

 Giffster
Happy trails to you! I too remember Roy and Dale, and don t forget Trigger. Their place in CA is closing, may already be closed.........Moving to Branson, MO.
 
 Always a fun thing to do is camp at Pismo Beach, CA and then head up to Yosemite for another week. Northern coast of California is beautiful, then head up the Oregon coasst and into Washington. Pugent Sound has a lot of islands, some with campgrounds, quite an experience.
 
 Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Rocky MOuntain NP are the most breathtaking to date for me and I have been camping since before I could walk.
 
 My dad was the ultimate Boy Scout ( did the administrator thing, and built and run their campgrounds too) and we camped more than anything else as a family, and been at it over 40 years now.

[Giffster]

 Rocky Mountain Sue
Hey Sue, I have a question for you.  I see you have about the same pu as me.  Seeing that you live in Colorado, do you have brakes on your pu?

[Rocky Mountain Sue]

 Papaso
No brakes on the PU. I don t know if I am just crazy, or the Good Lord watches out for children and fools, LOL! So far all has gone well, I just take it slow and easy.

[The Robinsons]

 Papaso
I ve seen it on here, and you ve said you were going that way, but I ll say it again - you cannot miss the Black Hills of South Dakota.  I spent my young childhood in that area and my older childhood in Wyoming and Colorado, and I am most excited that I m going to show my family the Black Hills when we take our road trip in a couple of weeks.  Apparently, when I was about four, I truly believed that the guys on Mount Rushmore were " my people" .  We d drive by fairly regularly and I always had my head hanging out the window yelling, " MY PEOPLE!  MY PEOPLE!"   My sister lives in Idaho, close to Jackson and Yellowstone, and she told me (just tonight, in fact) that Yellowstone just isn t what it used to be.  Doesn t change the fact that I want to see it (I grew up in Southeastern Wyoming), but she s talked me into going somewhere else on our road trip.  The bottom line is, I have truly wonderful memories of the Black Hills.  There are so many incredible things to see and do - such rich history!  
 
 Have a great trip and keep us posted!