Top of Simmons Rest peak. Short ride up in Trinidad, CO.

[Grumpaw]

As much as we hate the heat and traveling in it, one big thumbs up I'll give to you people who live out west is the numerous national and state parks available, along with museums all over the place.
We have done 3 long trips out west, from Tx up to Montana, and have visited just about all the national parks, numerous museums and attractions.
Hoping to get out there at least one more time before it's time to quit traveling. High point, and what we consider to be one of the most beautiful parks is Grand Teton...would have to make that one a priority if we're able to go.

Sponsored

 

[Jhbryaniv]

As much as we hate the heat and traveling in it, one big thumbs up I'll give to you people who live out west is the numerous national and state parks available, along with museums all over the place.
We have done 3 long trips out west, from Tx up to Montana, and have visited just about all the national parks, numerous museums and attractions.
Hoping to get out there at least one more time before it's time to quit traveling. High point, and what we consider to be one of the most beautiful parks is Grand Teton...would have to make that one a priority if we're able to go.

all the public land is a HUGE reason we relocated from south florida.

The ability to toss stuff in the truck and head into the mountains to camp, explore and ski year round is amazing. There are tons of historical places and museums within an hour of us, and so many more within a days drive.

In florida I said we lived in paradise, but to enjoy it you had to have a boat (ocean) or kayak/airboat (everglades). Add to that it was miserable hot and humid year round (except for like 3 weeks in the 'winter') that made camping and being outdoors miserable.

ohh and if you wanted to enjoy the beach, ocean or everglades (giant freaking swamp) you had to literally be there. out here you walk out of the grocery store and the mountains are right there, you sit on the back porch from 20 miles away and you can enjoy the mountains. . . .

We will be happy here for ~10-12 years before we pack it into an RV for a few years, after that we will pack it into a retirement community somewhere (or sell everything and move to india, mexico (central parts) or europe). . .

 

[Grumpaw]

all the public land is a HUGE reason we relocated from south florida.

The ability to toss stuff in the truck and head into the mountains to camp, explore and ski year round is amazing. There are tons of historical places and museums within an hour of us, and so many more within a days drive.

In florida I said we lived in paradise, but to enjoy it you had to have a boat (ocean) or kayak/airboat (everglades). Add to that it was miserable hot and humid year round (except for like 3 weeks in the 'winter') that made camping and being outdoors miserable.

ohh and if you wanted to enjoy the beach, ocean or everglades (giant freaking swamp) you had to literally be there. out here you walk out of the grocery store and the mountains are right there, you sit on the back porch from 20 miles away and you can enjoy the mountains. . . .

We will be happy here for ~10-12 years before we pack it into an RV for a few years, after that we will pack it into a retirement community somewhere (or sell everything and move to india, mexico (central parts) or europe). . .

I grew up in Dade County, was a deputy for the county for 26 years. Rode motors...loved them, but riding in 9 months of the year was almost torture cause of the heat/humidity. Hated the heat, but the pay was outstanding as were the benefits and retirement. Retired in Feb 1996, and a week later we moved to North Carolina. In Va. mountains now.
No real scenery, everything is flat as a sheet of paper, and it would take us a full day just to get out of the state when on vacation.
Here in Va, plenty of areas to visit, we're 7 miles from the Blue Ridge Pkway, and we have a great view of the mountains from our back deck. Nice 4 seasons, no real "bad" weather.
But, yes, out west the scenery and views are gorgeous, especially the Rockies. National and State Parks are so numerous, as are the small towns to visit.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

I grew up in Dade County, was a deputy for the county for 26 years. Rode motors...loved them, but riding in 9 months of the year was almost torture cause of the heat/humidity. Hated the heat, but the pay was outstanding as were the benefits and retirement. Retired in Feb 1996, and a week later we moved to North Carolina. In Va. mountains now.
No real scenery, everything is flat as a sheet of paper, and it would take us a full day just to get out of the state when on vacation.

We laughed when we would call my parents in Maryland when we were driving up for holidays and tell them we are halfway there, and stopping for the night in georgia. lol

The first time we went to see my parents our daughter actually got car sick once we left florida and got into a part of the country that wasn't flat and straight. It was humorous, until I had to clean the puke from the backseat of my car, the carseat, the kids clothes and the ceiling . . . don't ask.

I lived in Lynchburg for a number of years, the climate in that part of the country is awesome. I wish I had been more into off-road and truck camping back than - we would drive to Seneca Rocks WV to camp and rock climb. Growing up in Maryland VA was a happy stepping stone to florida, with a brief stop in georgia.

 

[Grumpaw]

We laughed when we would call my parents in Maryland when we were driving up for holidays and tell them we are halfway there, and stopping for the night in georgia. lol

The first time we went to see my parents our daughter actually got car sick once we left florida and got into a part of the country that wasn't flat and straight. It was humorous, until I had to clean the puke from the backseat of my car, the carseat, the kids clothes and the ceiling . . . don't ask.

I lived in Lynchburg for a number of years, the climate in that part of the country is awesome. I wish I had been more into off-road and truck camping back than - we would drive to Seneca Rocks WV to camp and rock climb. Growing up in Maryland VA was a happy stepping stone to florida, with a brief stop in georgia.

Yeah, 450 miles to our first stop in Brunswick, Ga just to "start" our vacation....didn't consider it started till we were out of Fla.
We're just outside of Staunton now, been here for last 20 years. Do most of our "local" camping in Md, No Carolina, West Va, Pa, areas we can get to in an easy days drive.....6-8 of those a year and 2-3 longer trips a year.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

I just did some quick math - you were a deputy in dade during the cocaine cowboy days, back when florida was the real deal. not now where it is wall to wall morons and with continued out of control growth.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Yeah, 450 miles to our first stop in Brunswick, Ga just to "start" our vacation....didn't consider it started till we were out of Fla.
We're just outside of Staunton now, been here for last 20 years. Do most of our "local" camping in Md, No Carolina, West Va, Pa, areas we can get to in an easy days drive.....6-8 of those a year and 2-3 longer trips a year.

It was crazy out here when folk are like we are going to wyoming for the day, and I am like WHAT?!?!?! but it is just a couple hours away. feels strange being so close to other states.

We drove out to Dinosaur National Monument a couple weekends ago and it was only 4 hours to cross the state. lol 6 hours and we were at our destination.

Where in Md do you go? My folks and Sisters still live near Westminster, Md (ironically I moved to Westminster, Co) As a kid we would camp along the Appalachian trail in WV, Md and Pa. There was a campground we would frequent Pine Grove Furnace in PA, it was the coolest campground as a kid, I am sure it is not what I thought it was.

Every summer we would spend ~a week camping in Gettysburg. and that was less than an hour from our house.

 

[Davidjc]

I grew up in Dade County, was a deputy for the county for 26 years. Rode motors...loved them, but riding in 9 months of the year was almost torture cause of the heat/humidity. Hated the heat, but the pay was outstanding as were the benefits and retirement. Retired in Feb 1996, and a week later we moved to North Carolina. In Va. mountains now.
No real scenery, everything is flat as a sheet of paper, and it would take us a full day just to get out of the state when on vacation.
Here in Va, plenty of areas to visit, we're 7 miles from the Blue Ridge Pkway, and we have a great view of the mountains from our back deck. Nice 4 seasons, no real "bad" weather.
But, yes, out west the scenery and views are gorgeous, especially the Rockies. National and State Parks are so numerous, as are the small towns to visit.

Appreciate your service. 34 years here. Retired 2012.

 

[Grumpaw]

I just did some quick math - you were a deputy in dade during the cocaine cowboy days, back when florida was the real deal. not now where it is wall to wall morons and with continued out of control growth.

Yeah....started in 1970, retired in 1996. There thru the Overtown Riots, Mariel Boatlift, cocaine wars, Jamaican drug and gang wars, Haitian boats coming daily, on and on and on.
Haven't been back since 96, and no plans to ever go back. To me, the only good thing about Fla is the state retirement system !!! I get a beautiful deposit every month, and a raise every year !!!

 

[Davidjc]

I've passed by that restaurant what seems a million times as a trucker. Never ate there but would have liked to have, I guess.
Amarillo always smelled like cow sh!t to me and couldn't ever wait to get away from there.
?

They have lots of truck parking in the rear.

 

[OrangeStreak]

That Raton Pass is a bitch - when we came up through there it looked like all the motorhomes/trailers were either about to die or doing 80 mph. . .

There are worse places to get "stuck" . . .

You're right about that. Was coming home one time in the winter from CO and got caught on it after it had iced over from a snow storm. Took hours to get through it...treacherous.

 

[LaBalbe]

The first time we went to see my parents our daughter actually got car sick once we left florida and got into a part of the country that wasn't flat and straight. It was humorous, until I had to clean the puke from the backseat of my car, the carseat, the kids clothes and the ceiling . . . don't ask.

Been there. We were crossing the border at Christmas one year when my kid got sick & threw up right at the border; we had crossed the Peace Bridge, and were in the area where it fans out to all of the passport control kiosks. Being Christmas, we were looking at a good two-hours wait time, with no place to pull over. Fortunately, I was able to flag down the guy directing traffic, and he pulled apart a couple of the traffic cones separating commercial & passenger traffic, so there we were between 18-wheelers and 1000 family vehicles trying to clean up both the kid & the backseat in late-December in Buffalo. Definitely my least favorite border-crossing ever, but hey, at least it didn't happen while we were on the bridge itself.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Been there. We were crossing the border at Christmas one year when my kid got sick & threw up right at the border; we had crossed the Peace Bridge, and were in the area where it fans out to all of the passport control kiosks. Being Christmas, we were looking at a good two-hours wait time, with no place to pull over. Fortunately, I was able to flag down the guy directing traffic, and he pulled apart a couple of the traffic cones separating commercial & passenger traffic, so there we were between 18-wheelers and 1000 family vehicles trying to clean up both the kid & the backseat in late-December in Buffalo. Definitely my least favorite border-crossing ever, but hey, at least it didn't happen while we were on the bridge itself.

You win.

My neighbor just had to cut his weekend camping trip to the mountains short when his daughter got sick in the back of his truck... Happy father's day to him.

I have to say, there were only a couple of vomit comot rides in the car... There was a memorable diaper blow out though... Let's just leave it at - silently finger painting - and move along...

Ahhh, kids.... ?


Edit - I just looked at that entry point. Dear lord, that sure looks like it would a nightmare anytime, and even worse during the holidays....

 

[Friday yet?]

You win.

My neighbor just had to cut his weekend camping trip to the mountains short when his daughter got sick in the back of his truck... Happy father's day to him.

I have to say, there were only a couple of vomit comot rides in the car... There was a memorable diaper blow out though... Let's just leave it at - silently finger painting - and move along...

Ahhh, kids.... ?


Edit - I just looked at that entry point. Dear lord, that sure looks like it would a nightmare anytime, and even worse during the holidays....

I am LOL at that way too damn hard!!!!

 

[LaBalbe]

You win.

My neighbor just had to cut his weekend camping trip to the mountains short when his daughter got sick in the back of his truck... Happy father's day to him.

I have to say, there were only a couple of vomit comot rides in the car... There was a memorable diaper blow out though... Let's just leave it at - silently finger painting - and move along...

Ahhh, kids.... ?


Edit - I just looked at that entry point. Dear lord, that sure looks like it would a nightmare anytime, and even worse during the holidays....

Yeah, it's a real PITA. It really depends on the day; I've been through there in 5 minutes, and I've been stuck for over three hours. It can be a real crap-shoot. These days we tend to cross at Queenston-Lewiston, a little further up the river. Much smaller, and generally a lot quicker.

Sponsored