So we’re going on this road trip. Sarah told you about it a few weeks ago. We took all your advice about where to go, along with the advice of everyone who’d let us bend their ear in the last month, mixed it a big pot, let it simmer for a few days, and came up with this:
Chicago
→ Iowa City
→ Mississipi River
→ Minneapolis
→ Apostle Islands/Lake Superior
→ Upper Peninsula
→ Mackinac Island
→ Sault Ste Marie
→ Sudbury, Ontario
→ Montreal
→ Quebec City
→ Lake Champlain, Vermont
→ Adirondack Mountains
→ Niagara Falls
→ Pittsburgh
→ Ypsilanti, Michigan
→ Chicago
All in 17 days. Sound insane? It may be.
In actuality, the trip will likely pan out in a way substantially different from how we’ve mapped it. Plans, mice, men, and all that. These are rough touchstones of the areas of the country we’d like to see. We’re going into this with a heavy dose of flexibility, completely willing to change direction and duration as it comes to us, as long as we get back home before a certain somebody’s vacation days run out.
The destination most likely to go is Quebec City. It’s five hours out of the way, round-trip. On the other hand, we hear it’s gorgeous, and it’s only five hours out of the way, round-trip. Similarly high up for elimination is Niagara Falls, which is only on the list because it’s a easy spot between the Adirondacks and Pittsburgh, and apparently Superman visits there. But neither of us are the touristy, faux-romantic (fauxmantic?) types.
Nailing down this path was tough. My thought was it’d be the toughest decision of the trip, but now, of course, we’re facing hundreds of more decisions about where to stay, what to see, where to eat, etc. It’s enough to make a guy’s circuits go haywire.
So, help us out? Ever been to any of the above places, or traveled the routes between? Got any recommendations about where to go? The travel books are thick, and we don’t care to sort through them all, so we’re likely to give high priority to a trusted recommendation. Particular categories we’re interested in:
— Hotels/motels/guest rooms
— Restaurants
— Ice cream shoppes
— Parks/campgrounds
— Swimming holes
— Offbeat museums
— Mini-golf courses
One more thing: we’re going to have to take interstates (and interprovinces) if we want to finish this trip before October, but it doesn’t mean we have to like it. If you’ve got a particular stretch of two-lane highway you think is worth taking, point it out. The fewer semi-trucks and Cracker Barrels, the better.
COMMENTS
When I went on my camping/biking trips I always camped in Trempeleau, Wis., and loved it. I had a great dinner at the Trempeleau Hotel, and I imagine you could get a nice room there, too. Sunset is amazing, and there’s a train that goes along the river. Just don’t forget the bug spray.
Highway 61 to Minneapolis is a pretty drive. Lots of diners along the way with fresh rhubarb pie.
Minneapolis: You of course know about Al’s. That is all you need to know about Minneapolis. Go, or prepare a good excuse for why you didn’t.
Funny you mention it — Trempealeau is already in the plan. We read about it in a book and it sounded great. Glad to hear it seconded.
And yes, there will be Al’s.
Well, I’m only familiar with the Adirondacks southeast of where you’ll be, but I’m sure it’s all beautiful. I do know that Lake Placid is gorgeous. And if you want hiking suggestions, I can get them from my dad. Also, you aren’t insane. I did 34 days across the entire country and back, and it was a good pace. Have a blast!
Hmm, I had a comment here that included a list of things to do in Pittsburgh, where I lived for about 18 months in 1997-99, but it seems to have disappeared. I can only assume that Sandy deleted it because the suggestions were so good that he didn’t want the places I mentioned to be overrun by blog readers.
Or maybe I just forgot to hit “submit” after “preview.”
fallingwater is outside pittsburgh, and i think, probably worth a trip.
and, i’m still advocating for picking up a copy of roadside america as part of your planning too.
Only 7 days remain, yet we’ve just decided to saw off that entire northeast segment of our trip, giving us 5 more days to breath throughout the rest of the trip. Route-wise, this means going from Toronto straight to Niagra Falls, or heading east around Lake Erie.
Like we didn’t have enough to research already…
I was looking at my google map of random places to check out and ID’d Moore’s Rootbeer Stand about two hours out of Chicago near I-80. Might be a good stop for lunch.
Wonder if you can overlay my map with your Google Route? Your route doesn’t intersect much I’ve known about although I have noted a couple of spots in Pittsburgh.
I also realize now that my map is sorely lacking in swimming holes, offbeat museums, and mini-golf courses.
I did get the two maps overlaid, but not so that I could “send a link to this map.” Anyway, I see you’re taking I-88 so Moore’s is maybe not going to work.
You could scrap Pittsburgh (or add an extra overnight) and go to Cedar Point (‘America’s Roller Coast’) in Sandusky. It really is one of the best amusement parks ever, and not just because it’s my “hometown” park. There are lots of inexpensive motels near CP or you can stay on the grounds for more money and get into the park before the unwashed masses…
We’re definitely going to Cedar Point. Too many people suggested it for us to pass it by.
I’ve already overlaid your map, and I have saved to my maps and to my Google Earth, so we have it at the ready from now on. I’ve gotten some good ideas, though mostly in places we’re no longer going. Good to have anyway.
I realize now that we went about this the wrong way — we should have used your map as a starting point, and gone from delicious place to delicious place, driving and sleeping in between.