Some takeaways from 1760 mile drive cross country
- Thread starter gamecockcat
- Start date
I love travelling to the New England area. The landscape and houses are so pretty. I've never been out past the midwest. I picture it being nothing, drab colors, dust. But a lot of people live out that way
I live in Washington state, was raised in NY. One thing that surprised me is how sparsely populated the west is once you get past Minnesota.
What the hell? Name somewhere you think is scenic? Eastern Colorado is dogshit but the San Juans and Rockies are some of the most scenic places on Earth.
Southern Utah had some nice sights (loved Bryce Canyon) but the drive from Red Lodge Montana into Yellowstone on the Beartooth Highway was the highlight of my trip during our two week tour of the west in 2018. My other favorite spots were western South Dakota starting at The Badlands going into the Mount Rushmore area, Devils Tower in eastern Wyoming, Battle of Little Bighorn Battlefield and the Grand Tetons. By the time we hit the Grand Canyon everyone was pissed at each other and ready to go home. Ha ha! Plan on going back out to Montana in the next month or two to see Glacier National Park.
Been to every place you listed except the battlefield. Yes, Beartooth Highway is magnificent. Up there (literally too) with the Going to the Sun road in Glacier, Yosemite Valley Road, Zion East Entrance Road. I think the entirety of Utah south of I-70 ought to be a national park. Glacier will be pretty chilly by October. Son's friend has a cabin at Red Lodge & he's gone out there 2-3X it ski/board locally & snow mobile.
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Well, that tells me a lot about your taste for natural beauty. Glenwood Canyon on I-70 west of Beaver Creek is gorgeous. So is anywhere at the top of a ski lift. Maroon Bells at Aspen come to mind. Back bowls of Vail too. Ever been to Mesa Verde NP? Rocky Mountain NP? On my own, I'd have picked CO or UT to live.
Hear me out. I'm not saying there aren't extremely beautiful areas of Colorado. Beaver Creek, in September when you see the golden Aspen leaves, is next level beautiful. (Avon, the town, is ugly though). The huge evergreen trees off some of the lifts of A-Basin is magical. The back bowls of Vail are out of this world. The entire area of Snowmass is pretty.
What I meant when I said Colorado is low key ugly is this: a HUGE part of the state - even in the mountains - are a dirty, rocky, brown, weedy, disgusting, ugly mess.
OK. But the areas you describe aren't where many people live or think about when they hear the word CO.
I think a lot of Colorado is beautiful. Unfortunately too many Cali's have migrated into the state and ruined it with their Cali thoughts and opinions.
Went to College WS in Omaha, and stayed in Lincoln. Also took a golf trip to The Prairie Club in northern part of the state a few years ago. Thought Omaha was fine as a big city host, very nice place for a weekend of ball games and beer, food, etc.
OTOH, Lincoln was about the most drab college town I have ever been to, and I have been to a hell of a lot of college towns. And then, after Lincoln, there is 400 miles of prairie to the state line. Literally hundreds of miles of mostly flat prairie, windy and hot in the summer, windy and colder than Mars in the winter. Dances with Wolves comes to mind. Living out there would probably send me into insanity in about six months.
OTOH, Lincoln was about the most drab college town I have ever been to, and I have been to a hell of a lot of college towns. And then, after Lincoln, there is 400 miles of prairie to the state line. Literally hundreds of miles of mostly flat prairie, windy and hot in the summer, windy and colder than Mars in the winter. Dances with Wolves comes to mind. Living out there would probably send me into insanity in about six months.
Ah yes, Californians - they certainly ruin everything, what with their not staying in one state like prisoners and such lol.
Yep, they do. Ruined Cali, OR, WA, CO, now they're trying their hand at TX. Wish they would just stay in Cali. They created that cesspool, swim in it. Maybe you should move there NW.
Cool. Always enjoy when someone takes the internet seriously and then follows it up with some silly thought about if you live in CA then you ruin life itself. I would say you're joking but I know your style and sadly you're 100% serious lol.
Accurate. I've got a lot of history in CO and visit often to see my wife's dad. I'm there right now. I could write a book about it.
