My 5,000 mile trip accross America & a little bit of Canada

SubaruKid37 · Jun 21, 2008, 2:16 PM

Some members are aware of my plans already, others have been asked questions not knowing the reasons behind it, some will know nothing about it, and some will not care about it in the slightest i'm sure !!

So here is how it currently looks; late Feb 2009 I will embark on a 5,000 mile (approximately) journey accross America and Canada from Los Angeles in California to the town of Celebration, near Orlando in Florida. However, when you see the map below you will see I am not simply driving from 1 coast to the other, I am taking a route that I get to see many areas of America (and 1 area of Canada) that I want to see.
Key places along the route include Las Vegas (again), Colorado Springs (& Pikes Peak), Chicago, Toronto, Niagra Falls, New York & Myrtle Beach (South Carolina).
The nice thing about the route is, I have nearly 3 months to do it so I can zig-zag around to see other places roughly along the way. Date dependable I might be meeting with Bossesjoe and Ghalos, along with other friends I know in Las Vegas and Myrtle Beach (not from the internet).

I was going to release my plan at my birthday next month, but I need to get things underway and planning so I have started the topic now with a list of questions I have (at the end of the post), which, if anybody has some decent responses for i'd be really really interested

I will be purchasing a car to do the journey, someone of my age renting a car for that long with that many miles will cost more than the depreciation of most cars, so it is more beneficial that I buy. I am strongly considering a Jeep Cherokee - only because they are common out there and should anything go wrong I reckon nearly all mechanical shops etc will have a rough idea how to fix it! Plus I kinda like the Cherokee... i've got to like a car if i'm going to bond with it for 5k miles and 3 months... I am looking into getting insurance as I am not a US resident this presents a few minor issues, I just need to find the cures.

I am taking a trip to California this September where I will be making provisional plans and decisions on various things (along with a tour around Jay Leno's private car collection

)

So I think that covers most area's. Naturally I will be photographing all of my journey and it's something i've wanted to do ever since I was able to talk and knew there was a world out there that could be driven around!!

My aim is to enjoy myself with no time restraints, I will end up arriving in Florida leading up to the Celebration Exotic Car Festival 2009 which I attend each year and help organise, so I should be there earlier than usual and be of even more use hopefully!

As I mentioned earlier I have a few questions which I would really appreciate some sensible input for, thanks so far to Slezak, Bossesjoe and Ghalos for help with certain areas of my trip.

- If anyone has any knowledge about buying a car in California for a non-US resident and using the car without registering it to another state, would be great (DMV sites only seem to mention if i'm registering to another State)

- Anything between Las Vegas and Colorado Springs that is worth seeing / doing?

- Any place that is good between Colorado Springs and Chicago as that is a long way and i'll need to find places to stop along the way!

- Any good places around Chicago worth visiting?

- Anything along the east coast, south of NY and north of South Carolina that is worth looking at / stopping overnight etc etc

I am relying on friends and contacts where possible when it comes to information - i'm not asking any of them to go out of their way or to ask for bed & board etc, so ANY places that anyone knows are nice to stay at if its along my general routes I would really like to know, it cannot be expensive, but also got to be nicer than a cockroach infested barn in the middle of nowhere!!!

Of course I will be passing through many parts of America, and a small part of Canada briefly, seeing many places that SCF members refer too and talk about. A couple of places I have visited in the past but most of them are totally new to me, and hopefully I will see parts of the country I have often wondered about before.

Thanks in advance to any help or suggestions given, I will post pictures updates if, and when, I get internet opportunities along the way. It is still 6-7 months down the line, but as I said at the start, I have to start planning now, and I need to continue working until then for the money!!! I expect this topic will die between now and me going, I will only revive it if I have anything decent to add or any further questions I might have to anyone kind enough to answer them for me

- Tom
[Subkid37]

This is the provisional route I drew, the route has altered very slightly in a couple of places, but this is the basic route plan.

N.B. While I am open to suggestions and idea's, the basic route plan is that as it covers the areas I want to see. I have 3 month but I do not need to use it all, I wish to spend at least 2 weeks in florida at the end, maybe 3 if time permits, so although my route is a little flexible, it isnt massively!

texlonghorn · Jun 21, 2008, 2:30 PM

So what is the plan for the east coast part? Do you plan on taking interstates or rural routes?

And this sounds awesome, I've always wanted to do something like this.

hyphon12 · Jun 21, 2008, 2:46 PM

damn, looks like your gonna have fun, lucky you, sounds like my plan to go from John O'Groats to Dover, but yours will be about 100x better

bossesjoe · Jun 21, 2008, 2:50 PM

It's really too bad that that it doesn't line up with my spring break, otherwise I'd met you near Toledo and we could end it at my other house in Virginia.

Shawn278 · Jun 21, 2008, 2:58 PM

The major attractions to visit in Chicago is: Navy Pier, Sears Tower, walking the magnificent mile, see the Buckingham Fountain(at night if you can) going to Millennium Park; the bean and some of the art around the park, The Hancock Observatory, and North beach. How long can you stay in Chicago?

texlonghorn · Jun 21, 2008, 3:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubaruKid37

- If anyone has any knowledge about buying a car in California for a non-US resident and using the car without registering it to another state, would be great (DMV sites only seem to mention if i'm registering to another State)

Shouldn't be too hard, Mexicans do it all the time.

*this was not meant to offend anyone, but you can point out my ignorance if necessary

Oh, and if you pass through Richmond I could offer up the floor of my dorm as a free room.

Car_buff · Jun 21, 2008, 3:14 PM

dude, your missing out on the entire pacific northwest, wtf?

SubaruKid37 · Jun 21, 2008, 3:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texlonghorn

So what is the plan for the east coast part? Do you plan on taking interstates or rural routes?

And this sounds awesome, I've always wanted to do something like this.

Rural where appropriate, but may use some highways if it seems the better option for that part of the route.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyphon12

damn, looks like your gonna have fun, lucky you, sounds like my plan to go from John O'Groats to Dover, but yours will be about 100x better

yeah, should be great... but I am also quite nervous about the whole thing, can't quite believe i've decided to finally do it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bossesjoe

It's really too bad that that it doesn't line up with my spring break, otherwise I'd met you near Toledo and we could end it at my other house in Virginia.

Yes, it is a shame, another time then!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn278

The major attractions to visit in Chicago is: Navy Pier, Sears Tower, walking the magnificent mile, see the Buckingham Fountain(at night if you can) going to Millennium Park; the bean and some of the art around the park, The Hancock Observatory, and North beach. How long can you stay in Chicago?

I can stay as long as I want really, depends how much I want to do there, could spend up to a week I suppose, but I don't want to spend any longer than that at any of the locations along the way.

Thanks for the info on the other places, they sound good

Quote:

Originally Posted by texlonghorn

Oh, and if you pass through Richmond I could offer up the floor of my dorm as a free room.

That is along the slightly altered route, I might take you up on the offer

thanks!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Car_buff

dude, your missing out on the entire pacific northwest, wtf?

Firstly, anything north of San Francisco is unknown geography to me, and secondly, being unknown I don't know of any places that I want to visit up there.
Plus also it doesnt work with the rest of my route

and I never said this would be my only long distance journey on this planet

Heretic · Jun 21, 2008, 3:31 PM

you are going to be a long ways south of me (Redding CA ).

what kind of car are you looking for, and what is the price range?
More importantly how much do you plan on spending on gas?

BTW......you are missing one of the nicest drives in America. Taking 101 (the Pacific Coast Highway) up the California coast is really a great ride. especially if you have a convertible. The scenery really is breathtaking, especially near the "trees of Mystery" park

reedcanova · Jun 21, 2008, 3:43 PM

If you want to see great coastline come down to Newport coast, Newport beach, and Laguna beach. It's about an hour south of LA. If you want to drive a great road take the 73(tollroad). It is west of newport and there are not many cops. If you dont come down you will be missing the best part of America.

VTEC_Dreams · Jun 21, 2008, 4:06 PM

I'd drive through VA at least a bit if you can. You won't see all the spectacular mountains and hills going by the coast, but if you are taking I-95 south is a nice drive nonetheless. You'll pass through Richmond if you do it that way!

PM me and I'll give you a great way to get to Currituck in NC through this half of VA that'll get you away from traffic and frustration.

RamboVs.Rocky · Jun 21, 2008, 4:26 PM

I hope you have fun.

clutch · Jun 21, 2008, 4:38 PM

Wow is what I have to say right off the bat, that is a really crazy idea and looks like a lot of fun. I would tell you to move your route north so that you come by me, but there is NOTHING to see here, especially in the dead of winter. (Unless you are a fan of Antarctica.)

Keep us up to date on your plans, and I hope gas won't be into the 5 dollar range by the time you travel.

SubaruKid37 · Jun 21, 2008, 4:39 PM

Heretic, I would like to do the Pacific Coast Hwy one day, but maybe not on this trip.
I am looking at a Jeep Grand Cherokee of the previous style, I guess I could raise about £5-6k, so about $10-12k. In the UK they start about £3k and after a quick ebay search they seem in my price range at the moment. As mentioned in my previous post, the idea being if the unfortunate happens and it has a problem then hopefully most people would be able to fix it! Gas prcing still isnt an issue for me as you are still 1/3rd less, so even with a V8 consuming copius amounts, i'm still not worried (i've worked it out using average consumptions)

reedcanova, sounds like something I could do in September instead, I have 5 days in L.A. and so far only 1 day booked to do something!

VTEC, I might well be taking a trip inland while in VA now to the mountains and such, subject to planning!

Edit: Clutch, I'd like to visit Antarctica some time, but not on this trip!!!

Ferrari308 · Jun 21, 2008, 5:03 PM

Lucky....I'll be sitting up here being bored out of my mind with school...

I've got a novel idea...
Why don't you drive a couple of hours (3) north of NYC, and visit myself, Firebird and Porscheboy (along with anyone else who lives up here)...

BTW, don't get a Cherokee...

Volvo 850 Turbo FTW!!!
You can pick one up for as little as 1-2000 quid....and they're more reliable than a Cherokee, better fuel mileage, and, the most important trait of all, they are SEXIER...

*pay no attention to the fact that I own a Volvo 850...

Jun 21, 2008, 2:16 PM	#1
SubaruKid37 grow old, never grow up Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Trapped on an island called UK Posts: 8,803	My 5,000 mile trip accross America & a little bit of Canada Some members are aware of my plans already, others have been asked questions not knowing the reasons behind it, some will know nothing about it, and some will not care about it in the slightest i'm sure !! So here is how it currently looks; late Feb 2009 I will embark on a 5,000 mile (approximately) journey accross America and Canada from Los Angeles in California to the town of Celebration, near Orlando in Florida. However, when you see the map below you will see I am not simply driving from 1 coast to the other, I am taking a route that I get to see many areas of America (and 1 area of Canada) that I want to see. Key places along the route include Las Vegas (again), Colorado Springs (& Pikes Peak), Chicago, Toronto, Niagra Falls, New York & Myrtle Beach (South Carolina). The nice thing about the route is, I have nearly 3 months to do it so I can zig-zag around to see other places roughly along the way. Date dependable I might be meeting with Bossesjoe and Ghalos, along with other friends I know in Las Vegas and Myrtle Beach (not from the internet). I was going to release my plan at my birthday next month, but I need to get things underway and planning so I have started the topic now with a list of questions I have (at the end of the post), which, if anybody has some decent responses for i'd be really really interested I will be purchasing a car to do the journey, someone of my age renting a car for that long with that many miles will cost more than the depreciation of most cars, so it is more beneficial that I buy. I am strongly considering a Jeep Cherokee - only because they are common out there and should anything go wrong I reckon nearly all mechanical shops etc will have a rough idea how to fix it! Plus I kinda like the Cherokee... i've got to like a car if i'm going to bond with it for 5k miles and 3 months... I am looking into getting insurance as I am not a US resident this presents a few minor issues, I just need to find the cures. I am taking a trip to California this September where I will be making provisional plans and decisions on various things (along with a tour around Jay Leno's private car collection ) So I think that covers most area's. Naturally I will be photographing all of my journey and it's something i've wanted to do ever since I was able to talk and knew there was a world out there that could be driven around!! My aim is to enjoy myself with no time restraints, I will end up arriving in Florida leading up to the Celebration Exotic Car Festival 2009 which I attend each year and help organise, so I should be there earlier than usual and be of even more use hopefully! As I mentioned earlier I have a few questions which I would really appreciate some sensible input for, thanks so far to Slezak, Bossesjoe and Ghalos for help with certain areas of my trip. - If anyone has any knowledge about buying a car in California for a non-US resident and using the car without registering it to another state, would be great (DMV sites only seem to mention if i'm registering to another State) - Anything between Las Vegas and Colorado Springs that is worth seeing / doing? - Any place that is good between Colorado Springs and Chicago as that is a long way and i'll need to find places to stop along the way! - Any good places around Chicago worth visiting? - Anything along the east coast, south of NY and north of South Carolina that is worth looking at / stopping overnight etc etc I am relying on friends and contacts where possible when it comes to information - i'm not asking any of them to go out of their way or to ask for bed & board etc, so ANY places that anyone knows are nice to stay at if its along my general routes I would really like to know, it cannot be expensive, but also got to be nicer than a cockroach infested barn in the middle of nowhere!!! Of course I will be passing through many parts of America, and a small part of Canada briefly, seeing many places that SCF members refer too and talk about. A couple of places I have visited in the past but most of them are totally new to me, and hopefully I will see parts of the country I have often wondered about before. Thanks in advance to any help or suggestions given, I will post pictures updates if, and when, I get internet opportunities along the way. It is still 6-7 months down the line, but as I said at the start, I have to start planning now, and I need to continue working until then for the money!!! I expect this topic will die between now and me going, I will only revive it if I have anything decent to add or any further questions I might have to anyone kind enough to answer them for me - Tom [Subkid37] This is the provisional route I drew, the route has altered very slightly in a couple of places, but this is the basic route plan. N.B. While I am open to suggestions and idea's, the basic route plan is that as it covers the areas I want to see. I have 3 month but I do not need to use it all, I wish to spend at least 2 weeks in florida at the end, maybe 3 if time permits, so although my route is a little flexible, it isnt massively! __________________ -Tom

Jun 21, 2008, 2:30 PM	#2
texlonghorn Wrench Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 5,981	So what is the plan for the east coast part? Do you plan on taking interstates or rural routes? And this sounds awesome, I've always wanted to do something like this. __________________ That was Coop you namby pamby muppet namblin' aussie stinkfinger. -VTEC

Jun 21, 2008, 2:46 PM	#3
hyphon12 Merc Grease monkey Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scottish Borders, UK Posts: 4,448	damn, looks like your gonna have fun, lucky you, sounds like my plan to go from John O'Groats to Dover, but yours will be about 100x better __________________ 2005 SEAT Leon Cupra R - 221bhp & 206lb/ft

Jun 21, 2008, 2:50 PM	#4
bossesjoe matlab hates me :( Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: OH/VA USA Posts: 7,905	It's really too bad that that it doesn't line up with my spring break, otherwise I'd met you near Toledo and we could end it at my other house in Virginia. __________________ 10mm and SBC for life! -Infernal Combustion

Jun 21, 2008, 3:31 PM	#9
Heretic Banned Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 10,233	you are going to be a long ways south of me (Redding CA ). what kind of car are you looking for, and what is the price range? More importantly how much do you plan on spending on gas? BTW......you are missing one of the nicest drives in America. Taking 101 (the Pacific Coast Highway) up the California coast is really a great ride. especially if you have a convertible. The scenery really is breathtaking, especially near the "trees of Mystery" park Last edited by Heretic : Jun 21, 2008 at 3:37 PM.

Jun 21, 2008, 2:58 PM	#5
Shawn278 Junior Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 54	The major attractions to visit in Chicago is: Navy Pier, Sears Tower, walking the magnificent mile, see the Buckingham Fountain(at night if you can) going to Millennium Park; the bean and some of the art around the park, The Hancock Observatory, and North beach. How long can you stay in Chicago?

Jun 21, 2008, 3:14 PM	#7
Car_buff OIF/OEF/OND/FTS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chesepeake, va Posts: 9,301	dude, your missing out on the entire pacific northwest, wtf?

Jun 21, 2008, 3:43 PM	#10
reedcanova Starting Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13	If you want to see great coastline come down to Newport coast, Newport beach, and Laguna beach. It's about an hour south of LA. If you want to drive a great road take the 73(tollroad). It is west of newport and there are not many cops. If you dont come down you will be missing the best part of America. __________________ OC LIFE!!

Jun 21, 2008, 4:06 PM	#11
VTEC_Dreams Slow car enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 12,778	I'd drive through VA at least a bit if you can. You won't see all the spectacular mountains and hills going by the coast, but if you are taking I-95 south is a nice drive nonetheless. You'll pass through Richmond if you do it that way! PM me and I'll give you a great way to get to Currituck in NC through this half of VA that'll get you away from traffic and frustration. __________________ Anyhow...

Jun 21, 2008, 4:26 PM	#12
RamboVs.Rocky Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Still trying to figure out Posts: 563	I hope you have fun.

Jun 21, 2008, 4:38 PM	#13
clutch Exit, stage right. Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 17,766	Wow is what I have to say right off the bat, that is a really crazy idea and looks like a lot of fun. I would tell you to move your route north so that you come by me, but there is NOTHING to see here, especially in the dead of winter. (Unless you are a fan of Antarctica.) Keep us up to date on your plans, and I hope gas won't be into the 5 dollar range by the time you travel.

Jun 21, 2008, 4:39 PM	#14
SubaruKid37 grow old, never grow up Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Trapped on an island called UK Posts: 8,803	Heretic, I would like to do the Pacific Coast Hwy one day, but maybe not on this trip. I am looking at a Jeep Grand Cherokee of the previous style, I guess I could raise about £5-6k, so about $10-12k. In the UK they start about £3k and after a quick ebay search they seem in my price range at the moment. As mentioned in my previous post, the idea being if the unfortunate happens and it has a problem then hopefully most people would be able to fix it! Gas prcing still isnt an issue for me as you are still 1/3rd less, so even with a V8 consuming copius amounts, i'm still not worried (i've worked it out using average consumptions) reedcanova, sounds like something I could do in September instead, I have 5 days in L.A. and so far only 1 day booked to do something! VTEC, I might well be taking a trip inland while in VA now to the mountains and such, subject to planning! Edit: Clutch, I'd like to visit Antarctica some time, but not on this trip!!! __________________ -Tom

Jun 21, 2008, 5:03 PM	#15
Ferrari308 Needs an 850R in his life Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: hmm........... Posts: 2,861	Lucky....I'll be sitting up here being bored out of my mind with school... I've got a novel idea... Why don't you drive a couple of hours (3) north of NYC, and visit myself, Firebird and Porscheboy (along with anyone else who lives up here)... BTW, don't get a Cherokee... Volvo 850 Turbo FTW!!! You can pick one up for as little as 1-2000 quid....and they're more reliable than a Cherokee, better fuel mileage, and, the most important trait of all, they are SEXIER... *pay no attention to the fact that I own a Volvo 850... __________________ In short, you are all morons. - Rav RIP Randy

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