| Author | Message | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
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Ok, so the bus should be good to go. But where? Southern Calif to Washington DC. Six or seven weeks. Gotta see the Smithsonian, and the Vietnam Vet Memorial. With so many things to see between here and there, what is the one place I can't possibly, absolutely, definetaly, without a doubt not miss? I'll go read the archives of where others have gone, but if you have any suggestions, let me know!!! | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Go to the Capital; see your money. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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this time of year,would say don't miss Colo. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
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Air Force museum in OHIO. Many old planes on display. | ||
| Tim Strommen (Tim_strommen)
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If you do the air force museum, check out the Air Force One Hangar Tour. Tim | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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If u are taking the I-70 route, be sure to visit the Harold Warp Museum and Pioneer Village near Kearney, NB. Museum is located in Minden, just s. of Kearney abt. 10 miles. A campground is located on the premises, abt. $12-14 day, and includes admission to the museum. Hookups included in fee. For a good look at the place, it is a 2 day affair, as it is hugh. I guarantee, you will enjoy and consider well worth the time and slight expense. I have stopped there 3 times. | ||
| DougR Rating: N/A |
Luis, I live near Alexandria, just outside of DC. First, get a motel, preferably near a Metro Stop and take the train in. I'm not sure if you want suggestions abolut here, but if you do here are a few: Mt. Vernon, Ford's Theater, Manassas Battlefields (only 40 minutes away from here), the two air and space museums are starters. You will see the new WWII Memorial while at the Vietnam Vet Memorial. They offer two really interesting contrasts. Both are moving, and peaceful in their own way. Me? My places of habit are less well known: Plenty of good eating in Old Town Alexandria, and Great Falls National Park to see the dramtic change between a vibrant river and tidal basin. It's nice to know there is still some wildness within the Metro area. Look me up when you get here. I live close to several good hotels (with bus parking) and the Metro system. Doug Roote | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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Zion NP,Bryce canyon,Escalante,Capitol Reef,Canyonlands,Arches NP,Mesa Verde,Western Colorado from Durango to Glennwood Springs,North rim of Grand Canyon,Sante Fe,Taos,Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels Tx(if you have kids),Nashville(a little partying),Mammoth Caves,Corvette Museum(bowling green Ky),Norfolk Va,Jamestown,Colonial Williamsburg This is a fairly direct route except the loop through Utah and western Colorado (and the optional spike down to New Braunfels) - if you can veer further off course there are mainy others You will not find parking for a bus in DC, It is best to plan ahead and decide what area large RV parks you can stay in that have shuttle service into DC as it will probably take you a few days to see it all - once there you can purchase day passes on the trams that circulate around the mall and the major attractions - In Nashville if you arrive on a Friday I have parked my bus on a side street just east of Broadway and boondocked till Monday morning with no hassles (very conveniently only a block or so away) P.S. - If you buy a Rand McNally Atlas it conveniently shows all the State Parks with camping enroute that are usually quite close very pretty and totally affordable HTH - Niles | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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BTW - I forgot - if your planning on visiting many National Parks, Monuments, etc. , buy a pass at the first one - will save you $$$$$ and I think will get you discounts in DC | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
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Great idea Niles, thanks. Luis | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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Doug R: "Motel" is a dirty word to people in Converted buses. Conveniently located, but pricey, is Cherry Hill RV Park, in Silver Springs Md. You can catch the metro subway nearby (they run a shuttle). A nice park. Also, in Fairfax, VA (if I remember correctly) is a county park with RV campground. Very nice and very affordable. I will look it up and report back. Metro station is close (a few miles down the freeway). | ||
| ned sanders (Uncle_ned)
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just completed a trip from one end of the blue ridge parkway to the end of the skyline drive. Most relaxing drive and beautiful senery. camp grounds are $7.oo bucks for us old people. ned "huggy bear den" 4104 with 6v92&730 also found that most of my heating problems was caused by my right foot. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
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Blue Ridge Parkway has some very LOW underpasses. If you have A/C units on top, you stand a good chance of losing them. As I recall from an earlier experience, the center clearance was about 12' for some of the tunnels. I know I got off at the next exit after entering in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. I had to drive the center line of the highway, taking up both lanes, to make it thru a couple of blind tunnels. Talk about sweat and lots of horn blowing and lights flashing! Richard | ||
| ned sanders (Uncle_ned)
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Richard I guess that is the reason "fred" and i drive the sports car of buses. Never worry about hitting things on low overpasses. When i started to daytona beach for motorcycle week a friend om mine with a 45ft "Prevo" wanted to follew me and camp togather. Left the big city of Lenoir nc and travled down to Hardyville SC on 321 ,a good back road.Stopped a camp Cracker Barrel in Palm Coast for the night. MY friend said that was the worst trip he had experenced. This thing won't start, then when it gets going it won't stop.When it is going it rolls from side to side. From now on i am staying on the Interstates. What a way to see America. Ned sanders | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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Uncle Ned: The Blue Ridge Parkway has to be one of the most useless, over-rated, and miserable "drives" in the country, and the bus I drove it in was just a few inches lower than your "sportscar". Nothing to see but a bunch of scrawny-ass trees and hills (which they call mountains). Want to see trees and mountains, go west and drive the Redwoods in California, inland or coastal. Richard was lucky to find an exit, since they only put 3 of them on it for the entire length. I have driven it from TN to SC. Natchez Trace is another over-rated drive. Both are pretty, but far from anything spectacular. Just off-hand, the Oregon Cascade range, Western Montana and Wyoming, and British Columbia (just abt. anywhere) are far more spectacular, splendid, and beautiful than anything East of Winnamuca, NV., with possibly the exception of Upstate NY and the Maine Coastline. But, that's just my opinion. | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
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Several things us old California boys never have to worry about is low bridges (for the most part) and toll roads. I'll have to keep that in mind on our trip. Cherry Hill RV Park sounds good. We'll be pulling a little Honda for exploration trips. Looks like first Las Vegas, St George, Denver, Chicago, Niagra Falls and all points in between. Then New York, DC, Nashville, New Orleans, Austin, San Antonio. Gotta do some fishing, and some golf. Its going to be great!! I'm really looking forward to the RV Parks and just relaxing and exploring. Luis | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
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In my previous post, I mentioned all the big cities. That is just as a reference. I'm also really interested in the small out of the way parks, attractions, and historic sites. I get a feeling we're going to have to do this more than once. So much to see, what a beautiful nation we have. Luis | ||
| Don/TX
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Having just driven the Blue Ridge Parkway, I would not recommend it in a bus, I never saw even one on the whole trip. If you are into Aviation exhibits, the new Uvar-Hazey air museum is a "don't miss it" for sure. Free admission too! | ||
| Don/TX
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Here is a link, I spelled it wrong last post: http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/ | ||
| ned sanders (Uncle_ned)
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to james maxwell if you drove on the blueridge from tenn to sc you must have been lost. the blue ridge parkway never touches either state. I know the mountains out west are higher but we enjoy camping and traveling without traveling 2 weeks to just see them. if the blueridge parkway is so over rated how come it is the most visited one in the usa. ned sanders | ||
| Don/TX
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As it heads South it goes by different names, but is for practical purposes starting in VA and goes down to Georgia. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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you would need to make reservations ,BUT, the train at Durango,Co. takes a day,up to Silverton & back...(you will never forget that train ride)take a camera,reservations at least two weeks in advance | ||
| Carroll
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The Blue Ridge Parkway starts just outside of Cherokee, NC at the intersection of US 441 and travels north into Virginia where it ends and then becomes Skyline Drive. BTW I wouldn't drive my bus on it in fact I wish no one would drive on it so I can have it all to myself as I cruise on the bike. The country is pretty out west, just a shame there's all them westerners out there to mess of the scenery. Carroll04 | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
Yeah, Carroll, it's shoulder to shoulder from Denver West! (Thanks for the chuckle. It's been a stressful day! I owe you a beer when we meet!)  | ||
| Jeff (Jeff)
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If you come to the coast of Virginia, Williamsburg will be a great tourist trap. Close by on either side of the Colonial Parkway is Yorktown Battlefield. To the south is Jamestown. For the kids, we have Bush Gardens and Water Country USA. I 64 through Hampton is a nightmare! Has been for years and I'm sorry I'm stuck with it. I live here. If you decide to go through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, you have to stop and show the tunnel rats you do not have propane tanks or that they are turned off. It is the law here. They will chase you down. When you get to the tunnel, DO NOT SLOW DOWN!! It is safe to do the speed limit & more. Tourist slow down because they cannot grasp the concept of driving 90+ feet underwater. Our water looks like your water on the left coast. Ours is a little warmer and we have Jelly fish. Our water here looks dirty because of the run off of the rivers leading to the bay and ocean. In Hampton we have a little science museum that came from NASA Langley. Fortress Monroe has a little casemate museum where the President of the Confederacy was held after the war. Gettysburg PA is much nicer for Civil War history. The 9th VA was the high water mark for the Confederacy. They came from here, Hampton Roads. The Monitor and the Virginia (Merrimac) fought here. http://www.civilwar-va.com/index.html Washington DC would be great! I want to see the WWII memorial. The Vietnam memorial is a must see, take something to wipe your eyes. It is moving!! I have several friend names on that wall. Smithsonian museums are also great. Manassas is nice, I agree. Charleston SC has a better living museum with ships than anything we have here. They also have Fort Sumter! Mile marker 100 on I 64 is Afton Mountain. Crossing north to south is the Blueridge Parkway everyone is talking about. I agree, might be a bit hairy in a bus or any RV of size. At Afton Mountain you are very close to Thomas Jefferson's home and the University he started. UVA in Charlottesville. Our mountains are not as big as yours but they are older. I 64 through West Virginia in Beckley has a coal mine that is good to see. My grandfather was a West Virginian coal miner. It meant something for me. Coming east from Beckley is a lot of fun. 7.5% down the mountain. Much like coming down Donner Pass. | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
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I think our mountains are as old as yours, they just haven't belonged to us as long as yours. The museum with ships in Charlston sounds really interesting, as well as that train ride in Durango. Looks like I'll need some money. Maybe I shouldn't stop in Vegas first. Luis | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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Nooooooooooooooo ..... remember what happened to the Griswald's ..... | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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pass vegas....a steam locomotive is waiting | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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You got it Niles. Whatever u do Luis, bypass Lost Wages. After u ride the train in Durango, go down to Chama, NM and ride the Combres-Toltec. If u go to all these places we are recommending, you will be gone at least 2 yrs. They are all worth seeing and going to, even the Smokey Mountains, just that some won't impress u like others, especially after u have seen a real mountain and a real tree that actually reaches up to God's back door (The Sierra's, Cascades, Rockies, and a Sequoia or Coastal Redwood). | ||
| Mike (Busone)
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If you want to do a shorter train ride you can ride the Georgetown loop. It is about an hour or two. Right off I-70. The train also stops and you can take a mine tour or stay on and go back to town. The train in Durango is a real treat though. If you take the mine tour bring a jacket, it is always 56+- degrees down there. http://www.georgetownlooprr.com/home.html | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
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In the last four and a half years I've put over 20,000 miles in 37 states on my 4905, seeing most of what was advised above. The only thing keeping me from continuing at that pace, is the $1.35 more per gallon, I pay for diesel now, than when I started. Niles is right about Zion, Brice etc. The most spectacular scenery in the U.S. Life's a trip...enjoy the ride. Cheers...JJ | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
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I've seen the Redwoods, been to Kings Canyon and all up and down the coast of California. Big Sur, Carmel, Cambria, Hearst Castle. Been caught in a snow storm in Sioux Falls South Dakota, and talked with God watching Old Faithfall. Loved all of it. Time to see the Rockies and Smokies and ride some trains. Thanks for all the input. Come on September. Luis | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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google ..."durango train"....115.00 if you have another day to see things...don't miss the cliff dwellings at Mesa verde 30 miles to the west of Durango | ||
| phil9tx Rating: N/A |
Don't forget Camp Luke in New Berlin, NJ. We drove to DC from there. | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
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Googled Durango, and that is a must. Will also look up Cherry Hill and Camp Luke for an extanded stay in the DC area. Luis | ||
| Jim OH MC9 Rating: N/A |
See Gettysburg Hop a Tour Bus let them do the driving. Then go back(in your toad or rental car) and see more of what the tour didn't have time for. Thats what we did and it worked out great.We stayed at the KOA and the bus came to the camp ground along with other stops at motels and other campgrounds.Gettysburg was a all day drive with the self guided tapr tour A-1 | ||
| Jim OH MC9 Rating: N/A |
See Gettysburg Hop a Tour Bus let them do the driving. Then go back(in your toad or rental car) and see more of what the tour didn't have time for. Thats what we did and it worked out great.We stayed at the KOA and the bus came to the camp ground along with other stops at motels and other campgrounds.Gettysburg was a all day drive with the self guided tape tour A-1 | ||
| RJL Rating: N/A |
Luis - You won't find Camp Luke using Google, but you will find Luke at US Coach in Berlin, NJ. Have your coach serviced by THE GURU while you're there. . . Call 1-888-262-2434 to make an appointment. RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
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Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia is a nice stop. Old logging railroad. Hoover Dam, Mount Rushmore.Also out west, somewhere is the largest ball of string...watch VACATION for the exact location.Oh, and Golden Gate Brid...uuh..... never mind.  | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
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I have been fortunate enough to have viewed everything described in posts above, and if I had it to do over again, this is what I would do. My recommendation, stay west of the Mississippi if you only have a couple of months at a time. The trip you are talking about requires several months to see it right. The most spectacular mountains are from the Rockies north thru Canada and west. The mountains (hills) in the east are all wore down from age and are nothing like that seen in the west. I would suggest seeing the scenic wonders described by others first and then think about seeing the cemeteries or battlefields, which are full of dead people, last. Richard | ||
| RJL Rating: N/A |
Richard said: ". . . and then think about seeing the cemeteries or battlefields, which are full of dead people, last." Hmmmmm, does this mean folk are dying to go there? RJ | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
That's why they got fences around 'em, RJ! | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
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You don't want to miss the mountains in central Ohio! | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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I hear Ohio has runaway ramps on anything over a .06% grade | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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The ramps on the elevated sections of freeways qualify as steep grades. | ||
| WEC4104 Rating: N/A |
I have stayed at Cherry Hill campground several times. Near the front gate there is a bus stop. A short bus ride drops you at a place where you can pick up Washington's wonderful Metro system. That gets you close to just about anywhere you want to go. Also, folks from out west are often surprised to find out how close Wash/Baltimore/Phila/NY are together. | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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You mean Philbawashny ? | ||
| Doug R Rating: N/A |
I just realized the Franconia/Springfield Metro has Bus/RV parking for day use. (Assuming you don't have a TOAD) Gonna check the Huntington as well as a few others too. Stay outside the Beltway..anyway you can. There is a real mess at the "Mixing Bowl" where 95 enters the Beltway from the south as well as the Wilson Bridge crossing the Potomac here on the East end. Good luck. Doug Roote | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
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Thanks Doug, I will have a toad and I do intend to stay out of the beltway, with the bus anyway!! Luis |