Since all of you were so keenly interested in the trip out to Washington, and since this trip will be much better, and since I can't visit and show you the maps of the trip before I leave, I have decided that the next best option is to paste a few maps from Google Maps (my most recent best friend) so that you can get an idea of where I'll be going. Also, since I will be camping the first two nights of this trip, I remind you that there won't be any posts until I get to Amarillo, TX. Plenty of pictures by then though, I promise!
I am so proud of being able to embed these maps that it doesn't even upset me that the route doesn't show up on the embedded map. Except on the last two. One of which you have to drag the map over to see the route. I am not a pro at this. I think it's just a matter of luck whether your route shows up or not. I went back and tried the others several times. If you click on the "VIEW LARGER MAP" link below the map, you'll be able to see our route highlighted. I've broken it down into individual days so I can talk about each day.
Day 1: Richland to Zion (14 hours)
We will be departing Richland, WA bright and early on Saturday, August 9. Heading east into Idaho, we will pass through Boise and Twin Falls, then head south toward Utah. We will be traveling nearly the entire length of the state, passing through Salt Lake City and Provo. We will stop for the night at Zion National Park, camping at the Watchman Campground. To get further into the park, you have to ride a shuttle. I don't know how much time we will have to actually see the park, but we'll try in the morning probably. Don't forget to click on the links to see highlighted route!
View Larger Map
Day 2: Zion to Grand Canyon (7.5 hours)
This is the day I am most looking forward to out of the trip. Except the part where I actually get home. We will be departing Zion on Sunday morning and heading southwest, passing briefly into Arizona before we continue into Nevada. We will be passing through Las Vegas, with our route taking us directly down the Las Vegas Strip and past the famed sign (pictures!). We will then turn east once more and go toward the Hoover Dam. After another brief pause to take pictures, we will continue east until we reach Williams, AZ. We will then turn North to the Grand Canyon. We are camping on the South Rim at the Mather Campground (yes, we have reservations already. yes, I've had them since May). Since this day will be half the length of the previous day, we will have time to dawdle in Vegas and at the Hoover Dam and still be able to see some of the Grand Canyon before dark.
View Larger Map
Day 3: Grand Canyon to Amarillo (10 hours)
On Monday morning, we will be enjoying the sunrise over the canyon, then heading out the East entrance of the park (so we can see more of the area before we leave). Once we are out of the park, we will be turning south toward Flagstaff. At Flagstaff, we turn due east on I-40 and head through Winslow, Albuquerque (the poor children who learn to spell in this town...), and on into Amarillo, TX. Dinner this night is scheduled for the Big Texan. Should be amazing. They serve fried okra. For those who don't know, I could probably kill for some fried okra right now.
View Larger Map
Day 4: Amarillo to Memphis (11 hours)
On Tuesday, we continue East. We will travel (STILL on I-40) through Oklahoma City and Little Rock and a whole bunch of little towns that don't have much chance of being interesting. Luckily for them, Dusty Bobblehead will be there to make their towns seem more interesting. We will be stopping in Memphis, Collierville really, for the night. We have a friend from school (Jessica! yay!) who has graciously offered to let us stay with her.
View Larger Map
Day 5: Memphis to Greenville (9 hours)
Yay! For those who know that the fastest way from Memphis to Greenville is through Knoxville and want me to stop and visit, let me go ahead and explain our route. Ben is from just outside of Atlanta. Since his car is still there, he can't go back to Clemson. So, we will be going through Birmingham and meeting up with some member of his family on the west side of town (at least, this is the plan right now) so that he can go with them to the lake. It also spares me some rather outrageous driving in Atlanta. Once I drop Ben off, it is a straight shot home to 120 Montverde Drive. I have to get there in time to kick mom's hiney at Wii Bowling. Yeha!
View Larger Map
I hope you've enjoyed this tour of my route home as much as I have. Stay tuned for tales from the road!
1 comment:
Gpa and I enjoyed looking at those maps and that route...thanks Laura. Many years ago when we went west with the family in our rambler station wagon, we stopped at the Big Texan. People got a huge steak free if they could eat it all.That impressed us...
Post a Comment