The New Travel Thread: Now with write ups in the OP

Good thing we're early risers and coming from the (b)east coast

 

Chicago? Seattle/Vancouver?

 

It was insanity there first week of June. Can’t imagine July.

 

I will research these foreign lands. I'm at a loss with such a huge coverage area.

 

Santa Cruz if you want to fly into SJC

 

I went the first week of June a few years ago and heard how crowded it would be. Well apparently I went the opposite direction of everyone else on one of the loops and was like wow this isn’t busy at all. Then I turned a corner to go to the grand prismatic spring and there were so many damn people. Had to park like a mile and a half away. That and old faithful were slammed

 

What major airport is closest to you?

 

We can do dfw or love field. Hoping for a nonstop from one of those if we can swing it

 

Two good options near Minneapolis:
https://www.canoebay.com/
https://www.grandviewlodge.com/

 

10-4. Gardiner or West Yellowstone will probably be your most reasonably priced hotel options outside the parks. Anything in the park is going to be pricey and most won't offer TV or A/C, possibly not wifi either. Gardiner is very scenic, lots of mountains and rolling hills nearby and has a nice small downtown. Never been to West Yellowstone. I think you could find some decent Airbnb's on the Idaho side of the Tetons, too. Those will be pricey, too

I'd suggest getting early starts if you want to enjoy the main attractions and find something off the beaten path during the day. Roads could be clogged by tourists stopping to see bisons or letting them cross.

 

Because it's going to be so busy, I think my biggest hope is seeing some dumbass get mauled by a bison or elk because they were trying to take a selfie with it.

 

There's this meadow near coulter bay campground where two grizzly always feed around sunset every day. Lots of crowds form and people get way too comfortable... Might be your best grizzly bet

There are usually park rangers there that set up cones along the road so it's hard to miss

 

dfw does a non stop to FCA which is Glacier National Park

 

That sounds like a winner

DFW should have a ton of options for Portland, Maine, too. I'd pay a bit extra to fly united instead of American if I were Ned's head

 

Holy hell that place looks absurd.

Maine was floated as well. Oregon looks like it has some good flight options too

 

Hard to get a place right on the water in Santa Cruz. Dream Inn is pricey

Wilder Ranch is great for hiking and Cowell Redwoods isn't far

You can get more coastal rentals a few miles down the coast in Capitola or Aptos but June is peak marine layer time in those areas

 

Anyone got any advice on what are must see/do things in Upper Michigan?

I am going to the area around Gaylord, MI, for a golf trip in August. I know nothing at all about Northern Michigan but I have always heard it is beautiful. I will probably never be in the area again and wanted to take about 3-4 days to explore, but have no idea where to start. If I know what areas are the best to see, it will help me a lot with planning where to stay etc. Seems like a large geographic area so anything to help narrow it down by knowing what I really need to do if it's my first and probably last visit there. Probably will fly back home out of Traverse City if that helps at all. Doesn't have the specially be the UP but anywhere in Northern Michigan.

#Michigan Wolverines #Michigan State Spartans

 

It's been years, but Tahquamenon Falls is almost due north from the Bridge, and lovely. The Locks are up that way as well.

Heading west, there's Picture Rocks along Superior... the whole drive thru Marquette, L"Anse to the Keewenaw is great. Go all the way to Copper Harbor if you want the full tour. It's as unspoiled and remote as you can get in the US.

 

Wife and I are looking at a week long Switzerland/Northern Italy trip this summer. Zermatt, Lucerne, and Como is what we are thinking but open to any and all suggestions and input.

 

I did a very similar trip two years ago. I really like Zermatt but it is out of the way and I would suggest doing somewhere in the Interlaken area (such as Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen- forgive my spelling) over Zermatt. Logistically it is much easier to get to from Northern Italy and one of the most beautiful places in the world. In fact, if I could pick one place in the world to tell someone to see... that's an incredibly hard decision but for me it would probably be there.

 

Yeah, Zermatt is spectacular but out of the way. Wengen is also a great place between Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen

 

Probably the 10th time I’ve said it in this thread but look into Lugano. We spent 3 and a half days there and absolutely loved it.

We did Interlaken to Lugano to Zurich.

 

Was refreshing the French Laundry for a trip in March. I had a 7pm lined up but it was gone as I entered my info. Honestly didn’t feel too bummed about missing the cost for that meal and instead will have to opt for Bouchon

 

My understanding is that you'd only have it from a departure airport, not on arrival.

 

There are a lot of Switzerland posts in this thread if you run a search. Agree, as I always do, to use Interlaken as a point to stay while hitting Lauterbrunnen (obligatory pic):

 

Zermatt was awesome, but I don't know if I would go back any time soon. Would probably seek out a less touristy mountain town. The train ride in is incredible, though. There are boulders the size of two story houses laying in river beds. I don't know the people who live in the valley sleep at night knowing one of those could break off and end them.

Also wish I would've spent more time train hopping. Taking in the landscape was what I remember most about Switzerland and the trains are fairly easy to figure out using their app.

 

traverse city area. Wineries. Dune climb. Go to Leland fishtown. . Up the coast thru charlesvoix harbor springs to mackinaw island. I’ll be doing that in July.

 

When I did that trip I went through Logan, UT to a do really cool short hike to a place called Wind Cave. It's just outside of Logan. Then you take HWY 89 up to Bear Lake which is a great scenic drive through the mountains. Bear Lake itself is nice area, and then you continue North up 89 to Jackson. It will take a little longer but is very scenic.

 

Travel Insurance? what was the bill?

 

thank god for insurers

 

I got on a 3 hour flight and then realized I forgot my headphones in my other backpack. Lord help me.

Luckily I have NCAA Football 06 loaded up on my steam deck so I just play my dynasty

 

It goes way further than that. It's a fully updated copy called NCAANext which has completely updated rosters, working transfer portal, playoff, teams that moved up to FBS, conferences, ~20 updated uniform combos per team, updated stadiums, etc.

 

We did boutique hotel hopping on the Oregon coast as a reprive from last Texas summer and it was 10/10.

 

Me IRL

 

In my experience you can go to the front desk and they can credit your Bonvoy acct for the night but you will not get the points

Edit: whether the clerk is familiar with how to do this is hit or miss, but they can and will do it for you per policy

 

Been going a few weeks and go again next week. Sun King is a good local brewery. There's a Yardhouse downtown if you like that chain. I'm hitting St Elmo next week for the first time. There is a very cool cocktail/jazz/cigar bar called Nicky Blaine's right at the monument. There's a nice strip of bars and restaurants over by the speedway. Also for Bourbon there is a place called Wiseguy Lounge that is right inside a GoodFellas Pizza place on Mass Ave. Tons of Bourbon and good pizza.

 

silver elite too, its hit or miss and more often than not it misses. Sometimes. But yea, like if I book through hotels.com I shoot my shot.

 

construxboy

Spoiler

These are a little dated so I'd double check but some good starting points