Well, just got back from our 5,400 mile trip out west...

[gulfportdawg]

We had a blast but, we need some rest. We dodged any bad weather so that was good. I encourage anyone who has not had the chance to go see this country. There is just so much to see. My wife took over 500 pictures. Hope everyone is ok. Braves suck and I don't much care for this Rashada kid. You guys know why.

[Milldawg]

Welcome back, sounds like a great trip, hope I can take a similar one one day. Although that driving sounds crappy

[RockmartDawg]

Awesome. Glad you guys had such a great time and got back safely. I agree in that the west is some kinda spectacularly beautiful. Also, to your comment re: 500 pictures... I'm glad we now have digital cameras. When my wife and I were on our out-west trip I was taking hundreds of photos and saying how I would have run out of film so many times already.

[E.CobbDawg]

Welcome home!

[hitdawg]

ANy areas that are must see.  retiring in June and looking at making that trip

[DawgDaddy]

I would love to do that gp but sadly my riding partner went home to be with the Lord 2.5 years ago. Great for her but sad for me. Please share some of your experiences and photos with us, and welcome back!

[McDonoughDawg]

Ride on, she would like it.

[RockmartDawg]

I'm sure there are lots more than my suggestions. But just based upon my past experiences, I would be sure to see:

1. The giant redwoods, specifically in the Humboldt National Forest. Go to the Avenue Of The Giants. You'll be about 200 miles north of San Francisco. The drive is worth it.

2. Go into the Sierra-Nevada mountains, along the California/Nevada border. It is phenomenally beautiful through there. This is where Lake Tahoe is located, which some argue as the most beautiful place on earth. 

3. Drive down U.S. 395 from Reno, heading south. A good day trip is to go this route from Reno to Las Vegas. All along U.S. 395 you are on the eastern side of the Sierras. Some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen is along that route. From U.S. 395 you can access several places, should you wish to do so. Mammoth Lake, Yosemite National Park, you can even drive out to Death Valley from U.S. 395. In one day of driving you'll go from some of the most beautiful mountain scenery to pure desert. We took 395 down to Barstow and then got on I-15 and drove over to Las Vegas. The route over to Vegas is even neat, because you are in the desert and you get that scenery.

4. Yellowstone is a definite must. We drove into Yellowstone by coming down from Montana, into Cody, Wyoming, and then west to Yellowstone. You'll drive through miles of what was once a gigantic lava field, which left mountains of lava behind. That is also a very pretty drive.

5. Flagstaff, Arizona is beautiful. You go through there to drive out to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. That is also a must.

6. Driving along I-40 from Flagstaff to Albuquerque, and then from Albuquerque into the panhandle of Texas is a scenic ride.

[GriffWoody]

This^^^

[gulfportdawg]

We left S. Mississippi on 9 May. We spent the night in Springfield, Mo. Then on to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Checked out their falls. Nice city and it's the largest (population) city in the state. We then went to Deadwood, SD and stayed 4 nights. We took in Rapid City and all it has to offer. We toured the Badlands by helicopter, then by car. It was breath taking. Needles Highway, Iron Mountain, Mt. Rushmore, Corn Palace (Mitchell, SD), Dignity of Earth and Sky, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Chapel in The Hills, and Deadwood itself was very nice. We then went to Devil's Tower. That's where they filmed the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Then, on to Casper, Wy. for a night. After that, we went to Jackson Hole, Wy. and spent 3 nights there. Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park were absolutely stunning! We saw Old Faithful, plenty of wildlife (including a momma bear and her baby) We then went to Salt Lake City, Utah and again, very clean and a beautiful city. Moab, Utah has the Arches National Park, and Canyon Lands Park. Both were stunning. The Colorado River offered some great pictures too. We stayed a night in Albuquerque, NM, Oklahoma City, Ok. then drove through Dallas, Tx. then a night in Shreveport, La. Drove from there home yesterday. I'm sure I'm missing some things but as you can all tell, it was a fun packed vacation.

Everywhere we went, it was CLEAN, and folks were very nice. 

And, we got some GO DAWGS comments from several folks!

[McDonoughDawg]

Nice report Gulf, sounds like a great trip.

[gulfportdawg]

It was but, I had to come home to rest. 

[RockmartDawg]

That's a great trip, Gulfport. I've not been to much of what you saw. I've passed through the eastern edge of South Dakota when driving to Fargo, North Dakota. I'd love to see all that you described. That helicopter ride had to be epic.

The west, just in general, is awesome. It is definitely very much different from the eastern side of the U.S., basically the entirety of all that is east of the Mississippi. My wife and I enjoyed just driving down the road and being in the midst of such a different environment, altogether. 

Glad you had such a memorable trip and you got back home safely!

[gulfportdawg]

I forgot, we also drove into Idaho too. 

[hitdawg]

ssounds like a blast. Going to start planning mine soon