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We took an epic household roundtrip highway journey throughout the USA from the West Coast to the East, and again once more! See all the main points you’ll want to plan your personal bucket listing cross-country drive.
Why we took this highway journey.
Since the women have been little (Maddie and Ashley that’s, I nonetheless consider Emmy as little at 11 despite the fact that she is as tall as me), Pete and I’ve needed to take a cross-country highway journey.
For years we have now mentioned “this is the year”, however then life would get in the way in which, or alternatives in Europe would name our names.
Fast ahead to 2021 and borders are nonetheless closed, we had enterprise to take care of on the East Coast and Emmy remains to be not eligible for a vaccine… so, we resolve to drive there as a substitute of fly (we’re avoiding air journey till we’re all vaccinated) and FINALLY make that grand highway 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 resort or our rental automotive, however not within the regular means that we journey and not using a price 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 resort nights (28 nights- 2 rooms for every evening) and the cashback I earned to pay for our rental automotive.
I’m not a “travel hacker” who’s chasing each final level and we keep in largely upscale resorts and resorts.
Plus, these have been lazy earned factors which means I used to be strategic the place I might be, (like utilizing a card that earns further factors for meals) however I made no further effort past ensuring I used to be utilizing the right 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 highway journey:
- 4 out of 5 of us are totally vaccinated.
- We bought high-quality masks for all of us to put on every time we have been inside; exterior after we couldn’t preserve satisfactory area from others, and we modified them after each use.
- We prioritized resorts 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 resort.
- 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 in opposition to the widespread chilly and flu. The last item I needed was for any sickness to derail our journey.
- We solely ate exterior with patio eating or in our resort room.
- When we stopped for lavatory breaks alongside the way in which, we made positive to get Emmy again exterior as rapidly as possible- once more to restrict publicity.
- We stayed versatile on the journey. When spots alongside our route began to emerge as “hot spots” we did some last-minute modifications to mitigate the danger 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 palms at each alternative!
Did all this make our journey with out threat? No, in no way… however we felt prefer it didn’t take away from our enjoyment and hopefully decreased the danger. We have now been again house for over 21 days with none difficulty.
Here is the route we took on our cross-country highway 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 listing of our cross-country highway journey!
- Started in Newport Beach
- Flagstaff, AZ: 2 nights (spent a day on the Grand Canyon)
- Albuquerque: NM: 1 evening
- Oklahoma City: OK: 1 evening
- Memphis, TN: 2 nights
- Knoxville, TN: 1 evening
- Asheville, NC: 2 nights
- Charlotte, NC: 2 nights
- Chapel Hill, NC: 3 nights
- Nags Head, NC: 1 evening (want we had stayed right here for longer!)
- Ocean City, MD: 2 nights
- Washington DC: 2 nights
- Williamsburg VA: 2 nights
- Charlottesville VA: 1 evening
- Nashville TN: 2 nights
- Kansas City MO: 1 evening (last-minute change- deliberate St. Louis 1 evening after which 2 nights right here)
- Beaver Creek, CO: 2 nights
- Flagstaff, AZ: 1 evening (last-minute change- deliberate 1 evening in St. George UT + 1 evening Las Vegas)
- Newport Beach, CA
All that apart, I spent months engaged on this journey and it was a extremely good distraction.
I really 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, generally, are continually altering proper now, having a number of choices saved the day a number of instances.
Our rode-trip journey.
We had deliberate to take one in every of our SUVs on this highway journey however rapidly determined {that a} mini-van could be a greater possibility. Pete and I’ve bigger SUVs however they’d have been past full of our baggage and the 5 of us and having a mini-van on highway journeys has at all times labored finest for us.
Of course, there was an enormous rental automotive debacle happening after 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 car in any respect. We had a bit difficulty as a result of the primary mini-van we got had a mechanical difficulty, but it surely was rapidly changed and we have been good to go.
First cease: Flagstaff, Arizona
We made fairly good time driving from Newport Beach to Flagstaff and I took a few fast cellular phone footage as soon as we arrived to share with you all. This resort utterly exceeded our expectations and was the proper entry again out into the world. I beloved the view into the woods from our rooms!
We stayed at The Little America Hotel.
I picked this resort as a result of it was proper off the freeway and I’ve had household that stayed right here previously they usually beloved it. The higher-end choices within the space felt missing once I was looking for them and though I’m undecided I’d actually name this a high-end resort, it was means higher than I anticipated. The location was good 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 evening, a strolling/mountain climbing/working path, a restaurant, good web, and nearly the whole lot else you might need from a highway journey resort. It is also hooked up to a journey heart 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’d get all enthusiastic about easy accessibility to laundry services, however right here we’re.
We stayed for 2 nights in Flagstaff and the primary evening we ate at The Cornish Pasty Co..
Flagstaff has a stunning variety of eating places with vegan (and gluten-free) choices. We beloved the patio arrange and the meals was fairly good!
We additionally went to the native Whole Foods that day and picked up some resort 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 Beach, 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” sort of factor. If you haven’t had Dutch Bros, attempt their glowing flavored waters and occasional. You received’t remorse it!
The subsequent morning was Grand Canyon day!
Can you imagine we had by no means been? As I mentioned, this was undoubtedly a bucket listing 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 inform you how a lot we loved the meals right here. The service was tremendous fast they usually actually 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 bit city and there’s a place for fuel earlier than you head in.
There are two predominant 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 doable. Both confirmed at about the identical distance and time (1 h 24 min).
Quick Tip: Use Google Maps. Not simply right here, however in your full highway journey. I created our maps earlier than we left on my laptop computer with Google Maps after which texted them on to my cellphone. Multiple instances Google Maps would reroute us to assist prevented accidents and main slowdowns. This saved us hours upon hours over our entire highway journey.
When visiting, your timing is fairly necessary throughout peak season. We have been simply stepping into the busy season after we have been there at first of June. The absolute prime time to reach is earlier than the crowds, early within the morning (test for present opening instances).
We are usually not these folks 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 properly 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.
Once we have been into the gates we adopted the map we got to the Grand Canyon Village within the South Rim.
The Grand Canyon Visitor Center Building remains to be closed, however they’ve an Information desk arrange exterior the guests heart constructing staffed by park rangers who keep bodily distanced from you whereas answering your whole questions.
There have been a few choices for meals and drinks right here too and the Grand Canyon Conservancy Park Store was additionally open. We break 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 very popular, in a short time so costume in layers if you’re coming early and staying for any period of time.
During our precise time taking within the Grand Canyon, we walked the Rim Trail.
You can catch this proper off the Grand Canyon Visitors Center space. There are indicators for it, or you may simply comply with the group. This is a very simple stroll and an effective way to see the Grand Canyon with out having to drive wherever or exert your self. With as heat because it obtained, it was a extremely good go to. Pete would have beloved to really hike into the canyon, however there isn’t a means I’d even try any form of hike within the warmth.
Here is what we noticed simply from the Rim Trail of the Grand Canyon:
The Grand Canyon was much more stunning than we thought it could be.
There have been some severe purple hues being thrown after we have been there!
I nonetheless can’t imagine 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 evening we went to Pizza Patio for some vegan pizza.
They have common pizza too and in addition gluten-free so all of us had an excellent dinner. The Pizza Patio employees was a bit frazzled on the evening we visited, however the meals was good. As the world is opening up, we have now been being further affected person to permit restaurant and journey corporations to ramp again up. Be positive to mood your expectations. Most are actually making an attempt as laborious as they will in these getting-better instances.
We had a reasonably early begin the following morning for the following leg of our journey so we needed to get as a lot sleep as doable so we ate and went proper again to the Little America Flagstaff.
Early the following morning Pete, Ashley, and I obtained up further early to go for a stroll on their nature path earlier than we obtained again on the highway. Driving all day is a number of sitting so we needed to maneuver as a lot as doable. We have been nonetheless capable of get on the highway very first thing within the morning.
On this leg of the journey we went from Newport Beach, Ca. —> Flagstaff, Az. (Grand Canyon) —> Albequerque, Nm. —> Oklahoma City, Ok.
Because I’ve a factor for stopping at anywhere talked about in a music that I like, we needed to cease in Winslow, Az. It was such a tremendous sight to see! (wink, wink)
Our stops in Albequerque and Oklahoma have been simply deliberate as locations to sleep at evening so we didn’t see a lot of something there.
Next stop- Memphis Tennesee!
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