Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond
If you decide to take a road trip of your own, I've jotted down our route, and a few details and highlights that might be helpful.
California
- I-5 N got us out of dodge ~ of course, it took us a couple of hours before we ever hit the border so don't hold your breath, sit back and take in the scenery which is kind of boring until you get to Lake Shasta and the magnificent Mt. Shasta.
- Hwy 97 NE ~ take the Weed exit (honestly, that is the name of a town) and steer your car past the most northern farm areas in the state, take the double zigzag that is Dorris and begin to soak in the essence of your journey.
- Hwy 97 N is an almost straight line to Bend ~ stop, do not pass go, stay and enjoy the town, Mt Bachelor and the Three Sisters Wildnerness. Spend the night at the Phoenix Inn downtown (it doesn't come cheap) or a bit out of town at the 7th Mountain Inn Resort (got a great deal on LivingSocial.com) You also might like Sun River Resort. Overall, a great place to hike, bike, shop, eat and pretend you're a local.
- Hwy 97 NE makes a diagonal out of town toward northeastern Oregon ~ more farm and cattle country, high desert, small towns. Speaking of which, stop at Moro and check out their antique/junk shops . The town is only about two blocks long so don't go flying by or you'll miss it. Check out the cool restored classic car and sit a spell with its owner (Bob ?). Don't miss the shop that specializes in "estate" sales 'cause it has the best prices and "newest" stuff.
- Hwy (interstate?) 84 E runs along the Columbia River that separates Oregon from Washington. ~ You are back on a major highway and heading east and eventually turn, cross that magnificent body of water and head north.
- Hwy 90 ~ can't say much, we just drove through Spokane and then crossed the border into Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where we spent the night at a Best Western. We like BW because the rooms are predicable, clean, fairly priced and we get a free breakfast in the morning (well, not really "free" because it's part of our room rate but we pretend it's free).
- Let's see if I can get this right ~ Hwy 90 to 135 to 200 to 28 to 93 past Flathead Lake.
- Hwy 2 E ~ took us right to the western entrance to Glacier National Park where lodging was hard to come by, not because it wasn't available but because we had no reservations. We ended up at the Vista Motel, owned by a couple from San Francisco who don't live there because god-forbid-why-would-you-live-in-a-place-this-remote-in-the-winter? Newly remodeled rooms with really comfy beds, and a swimming pool and two hammocks out back. The downer is it's right off the highway so get to sleep as soon as the traffic dies down because people get up early in these here parts.
- Going-to-the-Sun ~ goes directly through the park. It's the only way to get from one side to the other without going 'round the southern end, which you do if you are in a hurry or are entering some of the more remote roads into the park on the eastern side. Take our advice, do GTTS. It's so totally worth it.
- Hwy 89 SE ~ bye bye Glacier, through Indian reservation, do-not-stop-do-not-collect-$200-go-right-pass-Browning, along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, past Big Paw Ski Area (love that name) and stay at Stage Stop Inn, an oasis in the dark of the night.
- Hwy 15 to St. Helena ~ the state's capitol with a nifty downtown, a cool crepes place and a stunning cathedral on the hill.
- Hwy 15 E to 287 to 90 to Bozeman ~ college town with interesting main street worth the stop.
- Hwy 90 E to Livingston ~ and the Montana Rib & Steak House, the place to eat
- Hwy 287 S to Gardiner and the gateway to Yellowstone National Park
- Drive all around the park, stop at everything, take a zillion pictures, don't plan on staying unless you've made reservation like 100 years in advance.
- Take the southern hwy out of Yellowstone, stay over at Flagg Ranch ~ not cheap but no cell phones, no internet, no TV, no sound just log cabins and quiet
- Keep going south to around and through Teton National Park, go to the top of Sentinel Mt for a killer view and animal sitings, fish, hike, bike, take a boat ride.
- Hang out in Jackson, go to the people's market, stay in town or close to town 'cause it will cost you either way (Flat Creek Inn gives discounts to military personnel).
- Hwy 22 to 31 to 26 to Idaho Falls, Idaho ~ with heavy heart, get in your car and drive out the steep Sheeps Pass (not open in winter) but don't look back because you might turn to stone.
- The only state we passed through twice on our trip (if you don't count our home state).
- Hwy 26 W to I-15 W to 84 to 30 ~ stop in Pocatella at the Starbucks and say "hello" for us.
- Hwy 93 S to Wells, Nevada.
- I-80 W to Elko to Reno to California to home ~ stayed in Elko at the Hilton where they have the most amazing Herman Miller desk chairs. I was going to take one home but it wouldn't fit in my suitcase and housekeeping would definitely have noticed it missing. No recommendations for food in Nevada, except to say casinos, while cheap, were not on our list. Did do a stop over in Reno at Sierra Trading Post off Hwy 395 S to shop (yes, shop!)
On the other hand, you can be like us: have a general idea of where you're headed and how long you'll be gone, make no reservations because reservations are for sissies, be prepared with a tent and sleeping bags in case you encounter a "no vacancy" situation, take an ice chest with food (just make sure you don't leave it in the car in bear country), and know that this trip will most likely cost you more than you budgeted because freewheelin' ain't free! But oh the place you'll see, the people you'll meet, the stories you'll have to tell.
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