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We took an epic household roundtrip street journey throughout the USA from the West Coast to the East, and again once more! See all the main points you must plan your individual bucket checklist cross-country drive.
Why we took this street journey.
For the reason that women have been little (Maddie and Ashley that’s, I nonetheless consider Emmy as little at 11 though she is as tall as me), Pete and I’ve needed to take a cross-country street journey.
For years we have now stated “that is the 12 months”, however then life would get in the way in which, or alternatives in Europe would name our names.
Quick ahead to 2021 and borders are nonetheless closed, we had enterprise to take care of on the East Coast and Emmy continues to be not eligible for a vaccine… so, we resolve to drive there as an alternative of fly (we’re avoiding air journey till we’re all vaccinated) and FINALLY make that grand street journey throughout the nation a actuality!
How we paid for this journey:
I used to be beginning to really feel very caught this previous spring, so I made a decision to problem myself to not pay for a single lodge or our rental automobile, however not within the regular manner that we journey with no value working with journey companions. This time, I used bank card factors (you may e mail me for hyperlinks to the playing cards we used) to pay for 56 lodge nights (28 nights- 2 rooms for every night time) and the cashback I earned to pay for our rental automobile.
I’m not a “journey hacker” who’s chasing each final level and we keep in largely upscale lodges and resorts.
Plus, these have been lazy earned factors that means I used to be strategic the place I could possibly be, (like utilizing a card that earns additional factors for meals) however I made no additional effort past ensuring I used to be utilizing the proper card for our totally different purchases. We additionally earned factors from sign-up bonuses.
A couple of issues we took into consideration when planning this epic street journey:
- 4 out of 5 of us are absolutely vaccinated.
- We bought high-quality masks for all of us to put on each time we have been inside; exterior once we couldn’t hold ample area from others, and we modified them after each use.
- We prioritized lodges with balconies and home windows that opened in order that we might air out the rooms earlier than we eliminated our masks.
- We additionally traveled with a high-quality air air purifier and let it run for the required time to scrub the room air upon arrival, and we had it on the entire time we have been staying at every lodge.
- We wiped down the rooms with Clorox Wipes after which sprayed them with Lysol. It took simply a few minutes and was largely a precaution towards the widespread chilly and flu. The very last thing I needed was for any sickness to derail our journey.
- We solely ate exterior with patio eating or in our lodge room.
- Once we stopped for toilet breaks alongside the way in which, we made certain to get Emmy again exterior as shortly as possible- once more to restrict publicity.
- We stayed versatile on the journey. When spots alongside our route began to emerge as “scorching spots” we did some last-minute modifications to mitigate the chance together with leaving a cease early and utterly skipping different ones.
- We by no means took an elevator with anybody else.
- We hand sanitized like loopy and washed our fingers at each alternative!
Did all this make our journey with out danger? No, in no way… however we felt prefer it didn’t take away from our enjoyment and hopefully decreased the chance. Now we have now been again residence for over 21 days with none situation.
Right here is the route we took on our cross-country street journey:
We initially deliberate to be gone for 31 days, but it surely ended up being 28 days and we traveled over 7,000 miles.
I’ll break the articles up by the totally different locations, however right here is the grasp checklist of our cross-country street journey!
- Began in Newport Seashore
- Flagstaff, AZ: 2 nights (spent a day on the Grand Canyon)
- Albuquerque: NM: 1 night time
- Oklahoma Metropolis: OK: 1 night time
- Memphis, TN: 2 nights
- Knoxville, TN: 1 night time
- Asheville, NC: 2 nights
- Charlotte, NC: 2 nights
- Chapel Hill, NC: 3 nights
- Nags Head, NC: 1 night time (want we had stayed right here for longer!)
- Ocean Metropolis, MD: 2 nights
- Washington DC: 2 nights
- Williamsburg VA: 2 nights
- Charlottesville VA: 1 night time
- Nashville TN: 2 nights
- Kansas Metropolis MO: 1 night time (last-minute change- deliberate St. Louis 1 night time after which 2 nights right here)
- Beaver Creek, CO: 2 nights
- Flagstaff, AZ: 1 night time (last-minute change- deliberate 1 night time in St. George UT + 1 night time Las Vegas)
- Newport Seashore, CA
All that apart, I spent months engaged on this journey and it was a extremely good distraction.
I truly love the strategy planning stage of holidays and I at all times have a plan B and C. This time I had a plan D, E, and F too.
Some journeys we arrive and I’ve finished little or no analysis and we simply discover. This was not a kind of journeys. I had each single cease on our driving days famous and eating choices outlined earlier than we even left. This wasn’t foolproof by any means, but it surely actually helped. Since journey and the world, basically, are always altering proper now, having lots of choices saved the day a number of occasions.
Our rode-trip journey.
We had deliberate to take one in all our SUVs on this street journey however shortly determined {that a} mini-van can be a greater possibility. Pete and I’ve bigger SUVs however they’d have been past filled with our baggage and the 5 of us and having a mini-van on street journeys has at all times labored finest for us.
After all, there was an enormous rental automobile debacle occurring once we have been leaving and I used to be listening to tales from others that even with a reservation many weren’t getting their reserved automobiles or not getting a automobile in any respect. We had a little bit situation as a result of the primary mini-van we got had a mechanical situation, but it surely was shortly changed and we have been good to go.
First cease: Flagstaff, Arizona
We made fairly good time driving from Newport Seashore to Flagstaff and I took a few fast mobile phone footage as soon as we arrived to share with you all. This lodge utterly exceeded our expectations and was the proper entry again out into the world. I liked the view into the woods from our rooms!
We stayed at The Little America Lodge.
I picked this lodge as a result of it was proper off the freeway and I’ve had household that stayed right here up to now they usually liked it. The upper-end choices within the space felt missing once I was trying to find them and though I’m undecided I might actually name this a high-end lodge, it was manner higher than I anticipated. The placement was excellent to seek out eating choices and it made it straightforward to drive out to the Grand Canyon throughout our keep.
Little America Inn had a pool that the youngsters used every night time, a strolling/mountain climbing/operating path, a restaurant, good web, and nearly every thing else you can need from a street journey lodge. It is also hooked up to a journey middle for truckers so we have been capable of get a few a great deal of laundry finished earlier than we left. Who would have ever thought I might get all enthusiastic about easy accessibility to laundry amenities, however right here we’re.
We stayed for 2 nights in Flagstaff and the primary night time we ate at The Cornish Pasty Co..
Flagstaff has a stunning variety of eating places with vegan (and gluten-free) choices. We liked the patio arrange and the meals was fairly good!
We additionally went to the native Complete Meals that day and picked up some lodge snacks, bottled water, and extra drinks to assist keep hydrated.
Emmy and I have been feeling the elevation at this level and we have been undoubtedly dehydrated after our 8+ hour drive from Newport Seashore, Ca.
Oh, and we additionally stopped to get drinks at Dutch Bros.
We don’t have these in CA and though we attempt to not load up on sugar drinks, we think about this a “when in Rome” form of factor. For those who haven’t had Dutch Bros, attempt their glowing flavored waters and low. You received’t remorse it!
The following morning was Grand Canyon day!
Are you able to consider we had by no means been? As I stated, this was undoubtedly a bucket checklist journey for us. We noticed so many issues and locations we have now by no means skilled earlier than and kicking it off with the Grand Canyon was the way in which to do it!
We began the morning with breakfast at The Toasted Owl.
I can’t even let you know how a lot we loved the meals right here. The service was tremendous fast they usually really have one thing for everybody.
This was all vegan too! Yep, even vegan eggs and bacon!
After breakfast, we took a leisurely drive to the South Entrance of the Grand Canyon.
This passes you thru a little bit city and there’s a place for fuel earlier than you head in.
There are two important methods to get to the South Entrance of The Grand Canyon from Flagstaff. The freeway route or the scenic route. One has you taking the 40 to the 64 (freeway) or 180 to the 64 (scenic). We selected the scenic route and it was superior. This takes you thru the forest with wildlife sightings potential. Each confirmed at about the identical distance and time (1 h 24 min).
Fast Tip: Use Google Maps. Not simply right here, however in your full street journey. I created our maps earlier than we left on my laptop computer with Google Maps after which texted them on to my telephone. A number of occasions Google Maps would reroute us to assist averted accidents and main slowdowns. This saved us hours upon hours over our complete street journey.
When visiting, your timing is fairly necessary throughout peak season. We have been simply entering into the busy season once we have been there originally of June. Absolutely the prime time to reach is earlier than the crowds, early within the morning (examine for present opening occasions).
We’re not these individuals although. We have been nonetheless drained from the drive-in the day earlier than and determined for a later entry. We hit the timing fairly effectively with just a bit wait to get into The Grand Canyon. There are lots of people who drive in from Las Vegas and these outer areas too so they have an inclination to reach round 10 or so within the morning so additionally take that into consideration. We have been there about 11:15 am.
As soon as we have been into the gates we adopted the map we got to the Grand Canyon Village within the South Rim.
The Grand Canyon Customer Middle Constructing continues to be closed, however they’ve an Info desk arrange exterior the guests middle constructing staffed by park rangers who keep bodily distanced from you whereas answering all your questions.
There have been a few choices for meals and drinks right here too and the Grand Canyon Conservancy Park Retailer was additionally open. We cut up up on the finish of our go to and I purchased Emmy a magnet and Maddie and Ash memento shirts whereas Pete went to get us all a snack and one thing to drink.
It will get extremely popular, in a short time so costume in layers in case you are coming early and staying for any period of time.
Throughout our precise time taking within the Grand Canyon, we walked the Rim Path.
You’ll be able to catch this proper off the Grand Canyon Guests Middle space. There are indicators for it, or you may simply comply with the gang. It is a very straightforward stroll and an effective way to see the Grand Canyon with out having to drive anyplace or exert your self. With as heat because it received, it was a extremely good go to. Pete would have liked to really hike into the canyon, however there is no such thing as a manner I might even try any form of hike within the warmth.
Here’s what we noticed simply from the Rim Path of the Grand Canyon:
The Grand Canyon was much more lovely than we thought it could be.
There have been some severe purple hues being thrown once we have been there!
I nonetheless can’t consider that we noticed the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone earlier than THE Grand Canyon!
We stayed simply a few hours and we’d undoubtedly return. Scratch that- we will certainly be again!
That night time we went to Pizza Patio for some vegan pizza.
They’ve common pizza too and likewise gluten-free so all of us had a great dinner. The Pizza Patio employees was a bit frazzled on the night time we visited, however the meals was good. Because the world is opening up, we have now been being additional affected person to permit restaurant and journey firms to ramp again up. Be sure you mood your expectations. Most are really making an attempt as onerous as they will in these getting-better occasions.
We had a fairly early begin the subsequent morning for the subsequent leg of our journey so we needed to get as a lot sleep as potential so we ate and went proper again to the Little America Flagstaff.
Early the subsequent morning Pete, Ashley, and I received up additional early to go for a stroll on their nature path earlier than we received again on the street. Driving all day is lots of sitting so we needed to maneuver as a lot as potential. We have been nonetheless capable of get on the street very first thing within the morning.
On this leg of the journey we went from Newport Seashore, Ca. —> Flagstaff, Az. (Grand Canyon) —> Albequerque, Nm. —> Oklahoma Metropolis, Okay.
As a result of I’ve a factor for stopping at anyplace talked about in a music that I like, we needed to cease in Winslow, Az. It was such a high-quality sight to see! (wink, wink)
Our stops in Albequerque and Oklahoma have been simply deliberate as locations to sleep at night time so we didn’t see a lot of something there.
Subsequent stop- Memphis Tennesee!
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