I need your suggestions for Prius Drive Thru

A few years back (wow..it's almost 10 years ago ...how time flies), I spent a wonderfully relaxing hour or so, just sitting by the shore line of Jenny Lake, taking in the Grand Teton Mountains on the opposite shore.

If you find some time while you are in Yellowstone, Grand Teton NP is, IMHO, highly recommended.:thumb:

 

In Sante Fe NM an excellent New Mexican style food restaurant is
La Choza Restaurant
905 Alarid St
Santa Fe, NM 87505

 

hey, check out The Cowgirl in Sante Fe. they have great food and BBQ.

really excited to follow your trip. thanks :rockon:

 

Trying to act as an ambassador for Oregon, I'd say Crater Lake is something to see. I know "Road Trip" is dictated by time. I wish you could see more of Oregon.

I love my home state, as most people do, but I do think Oregon is a special combination of unique and diverse environments.

Oh well, my advice? If you see bigfoot, let him ride in front.

 

Crater Lake to Ft Bragg is quite a long one day trip. 8 hours driving time via Grants Pass and Crescent City (that takes you through the Coastal Redwoods and great seacoast views). On the way you could stop and take a tour of the Oregon Caves (Off Hwy199). I would stop in Eureka for the night and have brunch or lunch in Mendocino on your way to the Napa Valley. Fort Bragg is not even worth a stop. Take Calif Hwy 1 south to 128 and follow the winding road back to US101.

Good Luck

 

Take the Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville and Staunton (pronounced Stanton here in VA). Near Asheville (in the Pisgah Forest) is a great stop "sliding rock" to cool off. Enjoy!

Mary L
Virginia

 

Only two days in Yellowstone and none in Grand Tetons, are you going to have the Prius in power mode for those two days to cover the park?

Wayne

 

Even a foreigner like me can vouch for Mendocino - the nearby beaches and forests are beautiful.

 

By the way, you'll be in San Diego on my birthday

I once visited San Diego's "Old Town" area... there are some beautiful old haciendas, etc. If you've ever heard of "[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramona"]Ramona[/ame]", a novel by Helen Hunt Jackson, which was turned into a play (performed outdoors in Hemet, CA, every year), there is a museum that claims to have been [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estudillo_House"]the site of Ramona and Alessandra's wedding[/ame]. It's worth a stop, if you have time.

I went to the Ramona play when I was in school, as part of a field trip. Part of my growing up years was in the Hemet area.

 

I totally agree with Mary about taking the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is 390 miles on the Parkway from Asheville to near Staunton. When you add in getting from Asheville to the parkway and from the Parkway to Staunton a bit more. The Parkway is 2 lanes and the speed limit is 45 the whole way (with a few short exceptions at a slower rate).

So, it will be a full day just driving from Asheville to Staunton via that route.

But not to worry there are hundreds of turnouts with spectacular views and parks of all kinds along the way. There are great towns to stop in along the way, but I would just fill the cooler with a few picnic meals and stop wherever the spirit moved me.

Be sure to add time for a hike or two in the middle of the journey, there are plenty of nice short ones so you can get back on the road.

I envy you your trip. Enjoy!

 

If you have some time when you're in San Diego, I would check out Seaport Village. You can walk along the boardwalk by the cruise ship terminals, the Star of India, and the USS Midway at dock. I do believe they do tours of the Midway still.

If you're in for a great dinner and some breathtaking views of the Pacific I recommend George's at the Cove. Appetizers are around $8-10 and dinner entrees are $12-$23 for the fish entrees.

Like was previously mentioned, Old Town is a good place to go as well as the Cabrillo National Monument with nice views of the ocean and from the Pt. Loma Lighthouse or Presidio Park off of the 8

Cabrillo National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

https://www.sandiegohistory.org/serra_museum.html

 

Mary again....you can always do the Blue Ridge Parkway until you get too tired of it....then scoot on over to 81. You probably would jump to 81 anyway at Roanoke to get to Staunton. There is one restaurant in Staunton that is considered a favorite by many....Rowe's. It is classic Southern Family fare.

Linville Falls in NC is a pretty stop on the parkway....I think Little Switzerland might be a fun place to grab a cup of coffee too.

Mary L.

 

:cheer2: Yosemite is in my area, so consider these:

The way there.... I'm assuming you will go the shortest route from San Francisco area winding up on SR 120 through Oakdale. Near Groveland, you will see a road marked "Priest Grade, or Old Priest Grade". Take this road as it will save you 15 minutes and grow hair on your chest! You will gain appreciation for what stagecoaches had to do in the old west. It is steep, but going uphill is a fun drive and on the hill-side of a cliff. Don't worry about Prius' ability or cooling, just put her in "Power" mode.

Other routes into the park offer other advantages, but a longer drive: SR 140 through Merced & Mariposa follows the Merced river right up to the Yosemite Valley and offers spectacular views of the river and it's geology. This way seems a shorter way to get to the main part of Yosemite Valley. Taking SR 49 (intersecting with 140 at Mariposa) southward, follows the famous gold route the 49ers took to the southern gold fields of California (not the football team!). Connect at Oakhurst (nice place to stay if it's late), then proceed up SR 41 to Yosemite. The advantage on this route in is that it (eventually) takes you via a tunnel into the Yosemite Valley; you will burst out into one of the most spectacular vistas imaginable. I prefer to take people who have never been there by this route.

The different falls, the above vista, lunch or dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel (they used to require a sport coat to be worn at dinner, don't know if they still do), and Glacier Point is a must. To a lesser extent, the "Big Trees" at Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows are sights to see if you have time.

Way Out: If you have some time, rather than exiting the park back to the central valley (via 41 to 99 and southwards to LA area) consider taking the Tioga Pass road (SR 120) eastward and over the Summit of the Sierras and down to Hwy. 395 southward and see the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountain range from the east side. This is truly more interesting than the dusty and smelly dairy farm and Diesel truck route from Fresno to Bakersfield (sorry if I offended anyone from that stretch). It is a longer route, but is majestic!

Good Luck!

 

How many Priuses involved in this trip??
Where are u staying in San Francisco?
I would like to join in on this caravan to
So Cal if I feel well ( having surgery )
just before u arrive in California.
Thanks...................................................

 

See the other thread for my recommendation to take northern section of 89A into or out of Sedona.

 

Welcome to Wisconsin! Where are you staying while you're with us?

You're really close to down town so if there's time, check out a restaurant called Restautant Muramoto @ 106 king street. 608-259-1040. Muramoto.biz • Restaurant Muramoto • Sushi Muramoto • Kushi Bar Muramoto
This place is outstanding. The food is Japanese/ French Fusion and tha atmoshere is very Madison Down-Town. The prices are moderate, assume $25/ person with a drink. The food is serves tapas style or small plates.

If you need a spot for a beer that's quite and extremely unique, check out "the bar next door." It's right across from the Aliant Energy Center, right next door to the Stadium or what-ever they're calling it these days. 232 E Olin Ave, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 256-9430‎

Take a drive when you can and check out the UW's Arboretum. There's a street that drives right through. Watch out for bikers and walkers...the speed limit is 25MPH so you're driving through slow and enjoying nature right in the middle of the city. Take some video there for your documentary.

Of course if there's time, stop in and see our new dealership. Toyota dropped of a kubuto samurai helmet last week, I'll let you try it on.

Jon Lancaster Toyota, 3501 Lancaster Dr. Madison, WI- 608-243-5551

Welcome to Madison!

Nate