Road trip thread...

[tvp2003]

The summer is approaching, so I wanted to canvass CP for any tips, stories, photos, and ideas for taking a road trip. I've done a few shorter trips to places around Alberta, BC and Montana, but only one long one -- down to San Diego along the US west cost (WA, OR, and CA), and then back up I-15 through NV, UT, ID and MT).

These are just my opinions; feel free to share your own:

Best drive: Highway 1 through Big Sur
Honorable Mention: I-15 from the Vegas desert to the snowy mountains of Utah

Coolest sight: Picnic at the Grand Canyon (North rim)
Honorable Mention: A "floating" layer of fog on the way to Sacramento, after crossing the OR/CA border

Also, anyone planning a road trip this year or next? Where are you headed?

[Northendzone]

the wife, kinds and myself took a road trip to seattle for spring break - i had imagined two days of driving in the mountains - i was not prepared for it being so flat thru washington.

we are going on a summer vacay to san diego - we are flying so i guess that does not count as a roadie.

our only roadies will likely be to red deer so my son can attend hockey school

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Driving to Seattle this summer.

I have done the PCH from north to south twice. I want to do it again. That is a great road trip!

[Ruttiger]

Best road trip I ever took was from Edmonton up through northern BC, the Yukon, and Alaska. Highlights - Liard Hot Springs, Skagway, Whitehorse, Keno City, Dawson, Dempster Highway all the way to Inuvik, Tombstone Mountain Lookout. Link to pics here:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/554235408wBXjao

[STeeLy]

My buddy is coming from Ontario to visit and has never been west of Sault Sainte Marie in Canada.

So my plan is to just take a giant road trip in BC, AB and SK (Not that there is much to see in SK, but he liked Corner Gas, so I'll take him to the town where they filmed it).

Starting out in Calgary. Head south to Vulcan before swinging back North through Drumheller and through Saskatoon and down into Regina.

From Regina, head south and see Rouleau (Where Corner Gas was filmed), before swinging back through Moose Jaw, then head to Lethbridge, Waterton and then Cranbrook.

From Cranbrook, we hit Kelowna, likely a stop in Vancouver for a few of the Olympic landmarks (he wants to see the curling venue especially) then a stop in Richmond.

From Richmond, we go hit Victoria, through Nanaimo and then Tofino and then back out to Nanaimo (Maybe squeeze in Comox before getting back to Nanaimo if time permits).

From Nanaimo, we go through North Vancouver, Whistler (for more olympic venues) and a stop in Kamploops

From Kamloops, through Columbia Icefield, Jasper and into Edmonton.

From Edmonton... to Calgary.

[Mass_nerder]

I'm doing my first serious road trip in August:
Calgary to Halifax

[Yasa]

Heading out to Vancouver this summer. I've done that trip before, but I really enjoy it. Might drive down to Seattle but we'll see.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

I'm doing my first serious road trip in August:
Calgary to Halifax

Go drive the Cabot Trail in NS.

I haven't been yet, but I've seen pictures and heard stories.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

Go drive the Cabot Trail in NS.

I haven't been yet, but I've seen pictures and heard stories.

I'm moving there, and have a solid month of doing nothing once I'm there, so i'll probably doing a lot of driving around exploring...
This will definitely be on my list.

[tvp2003]

I would love to drive across the country (just to be able to do it once), although I would probably detour through the US on the way back

Steely: that is one heck of a trip you've got planned -- sounds like it'll be a blast!

Awesome info... keep it coming

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

I would love to drive across the country (just to be able to do it once), although I would probably detour through the US on the way back

Going coast to coast is something every Canadian should do atleast once. Don't puss out like Terry Fox.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Going coast to coast is something every Canadian should do atleast once. Don't puss out like Terry Fox.

I agree,

however as a warning to those that do, driving from Calgary to Winnipeg is possibly the most painfully boring drive in the history of motor vehicles....I have done it too many times. The stretch from say...Bassano to Virden is terrible.

When the highlight of a stretch of road is Regina, you're in for it.

[macker]

[QUOTE=tvp2003;3142112]The summer is approaching, so I wanted to canvass CP for any tips, stories, photos, and ideas for taking a road trip. I've done a few shorter trips to places around Alberta, BC and Montana, but only one long one -- down to San Diego along the US west cost (WA, OR, and CA), and then back up I-15 through NV, UT, ID and MT).

These are just my opinions; feel free to share your own:

Best drive: Highway 1 through Big Sur
Honorable Mention: I-15 from the Vegas desert to the snowy mountains of Utah






^
Doing both those this summer. In Vegas during NHL awards and then California up through Big Sur. I heard a stretch of Highway 1 fell into the ocean earlier this year so the drive will have a new dynamic vs other years Highway 1 is the perfect road trip IMO. You creep along slow enough so you can enjoy the views and you don't have that interstate frantic pace that you have for much of the drive to get to it. Santa Cruz is one of my favorite places to be in the Summer. Can't wait to drive!

[Captain_Obvious]

My favourite road trip is going from LA to Vegas and back. Usually try to do that once a year.

It's the classic Fear and Loathing route, and the scenery is great.

Bonus is that they're tons to do and see at both ends.

Usually rent a convertible and split the cost between a few friends.

Highly recommend the route if you ever get a chance to do it.

[zarrell]

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

Best road trip I ever took was from Edmonton up through northern BC, the Yukon, and Alaska. Highlights - Liard Hot Springs, Skagway, Whitehorse, Keno City, Dawson, Dempster Highway all the way to Inuvik, Tombstone Mountain Lookout. Link to pics here:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/554235408wBXjao

Did the same one myself, this time last year. Except I made it to Tuktoyaktuk by plane as well

I'd recommend this only if you have at least 4-6 weeks to not feel rushed. I did it in a month, but the way back I went to Prince Rupert and ferried to the island and then down to Seattle before making it home. Over 11,000km total. The only place I stayed for more than one day were Inuvik and Dawson.

[arloiginla]

Love the drive to Vancouver as well.

Starting in the fall I'll be making the trip from Kelowna to Calgary and back every month and I can't think of a better 600kms to drive that often. Just a wonderful drive.

[vtec260]

Originally Posted by sa226

I agree,

however as a warning to those that do, driving from Calgary to Winnipeg is possibly the most painfully boring drive in the history of motor vehicles....I have done it too many times. The stretch from say...Bassano to Virden is terrible.

When the highlight of a stretch of road is Regina, you're in for it.

Doing this trip at the end of this month. I am dreading the drive to there and hopefully my SUV doesn't get stolen or vandalized with out of province plate (attracts car thieves like mosquito to fresh blood).

My best road trip was when we lived in 'Peg. Peg to Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Niagara Falls, TO, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec city, Moncton, PEI, Maine, Boston, Buffalo, and back to Chicago, etc. Put close to 10 000km in 17 days. Priceline worked like a charm as we stayed in Chicago/Minneapolis/Boston for $35/night in Sheraton and Hilton.

Last year's trip was decent. Cgy to LV, Grand Canyon, San Diego, LA, SF, and back. Put 7500 km in 2 weeks. It was scorching in Arizona..hit 42C in early July, according to car thermometer.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by macker

^
Doing both those this summer. In Vegas during NHL awards and then California up through Big Sur. I heard a stretch of Highway 1 fell into the ocean earlier this year so the drive will have a new dynamic vs other years Highway 1 is the perfect road trip IMO. You creep along slow enough so you can enjoy the views and you don't have that interstate frantic pace that you have for much of the drive to get to it. Santa Cruz is one of my favorite places to be in the Summer. Can't wait to drive!

Wow! I just googled it and saw the photos... good thing nobody was hurt -- that's insane!

I forgot to mention, when we went, we stayed overnight and made a visit to Hearst Castle... simply amazing what people can do with unlimited cash

[fundmark19]

Road trips this year are small just out to vancouver and seattle end of june and then again to seattle end of july

[Mazrim]

For those doing the Calgary - Vancouver trip, I highly recommend you take the extra time for the scenic route and take Highway 3 all the way from Crowsnest Pass through to Hope instead of Highway 1 (Take 2 or 22 south, then East on 3). Less traffic, higher travel speeds, and way different sights then what you see on the Trans Canada. One of my favorite drives, mostly because going through all those mountain passes is pretty fun.

Driving through Rogers Pass is great the first 25 times, but the traffic has really gotten to me now.

Other great alternative routes I've taken through BC:
- Highway 93/95 to Highway 3
- Take the Kootenay Ferry instead of Salmo-Creston Pass
- Go south on Highway 23 from Revelstoke and go into the Okanagan through the Arrow Lakes and on Highway 6 to Vernon, then 97 to Kelowna and on to Vancouver. Very little traffic and absolutely beautiful. You get to take 2 free ferries on this route! Highway 6 looks like one of those twisty mountain roads they use in car commercials. Lots of low speed curves and hairpins to push your car on.