Playing in Traffic

[ColdWizard]

A general purpose traffic/other drivers/self reflection/all things automotive venting/discussion/observation thread. Thread title is what I call driving now-a-days.

It's cute that people think they can turn on red when opposing left turn is green. And by cute I mostly mean baffling.

[ColdWizard]

I miss the days when I would enjoy going for a drive, with no destination. But there were fewer people then and way fewer cell phones. And I don't enjoy driving enough anymore to spend any free time that way.

[Rusty Edge]

I had a fun drive on Thursday in Pennsylvania.
The destination was the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Creek_Gorge

Not as dramatic as western landscapes, but more alive. The sky doesn't kiss the Earth, but at the same time, barren spots are few. There is an incredible variety of tree species, hardwoods, softwoods, and conifers. The canyon is a sort of tree-filled stadium- you can see so many of them at once. Also, with the different exposures of the tributary hollows, you can also see trees of the same species in different stages of fall foliage. 

Anyway, about the drive. I got my brakes replaced last week, and I had fun crossing the Appalachians on a back road, complete with hairpins and slaloms. Then I was cruising the four lane highways along  the river. After that the main part of the drive was winding through the Allegheny hollows on two lane blacktop, with little or no traffic. Drove home the same way.

It was a beautiful drive. One moment I'd be flanked by hemlocks, the next I'd round a turn and see a mountainside covered in hardwood in full fall display.

[ColdWizard]

Looks like a great place and sounds like a fun drive. I've only ever done I-81 and I always forget how far east it is until I look at a map.

[Unorthodox]

There are still areas I can get to that are enjoyable to drive, but general day to day driving sucks in the cities. 

I live just off, perhaps, the greatest road in America, Highway 89.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_89

Sometimes called the National Park Highway, U.S. 89 links seven national parks across the Mountain West. In addition, fourteen other national park areas, mostly national monuments are also reachable from this backbone of the Rockies.

I've traveled most of the length of this highway at least once, and always manage to find new sights.  Adore the southern Utah portion of this highway. 

To perhaps illustrate Rusty's point, an arizona stretch:

[vonbach]

My parents would take me down to that area in Pennsylvania when I was a child.
Those trips bored me to death then but I treasure the memory now.

[Rusty Edge]

Anyway, it was the most fun driving I'd had in years.

My Mrs. wants to drive Route 66 next year. I'm supposed to be in charge of planning that one.
Neither of us are keen to go all of the way into LA. What's fun about driving there?

I guess there's the option of going to Disney Land or visiting relatives in Oakland before following the Lincoln highway home. If we get sick of driving we can always hop on I-80 to make better time.

I think I'll plan a Route 89 / I- 15 return option.

Which month would you suggest for that kind of a trip, Uno?

[Unorthodox]

Anyway, it was the most fun driving I'd had in years.

My Mrs. wants to drive Route 66 next year. I'm supposed to be in charge of planning that one.
Neither of us are keen to go all of the way into LA. What's fun about driving there?

I guess there's the option of going to Disney Land or visiting relatives in Oakland before following the Lincoln highway home. If we get sick of driving we can always hop on I-80 to make better time.

I think I'll plan a Route 89 / I- 15 return option.

Which month would you suggest for that kind of a trip, Uno?

So, what, 66 to Flagstaff, then 89 to I-15, then home? 

Depends on what you're wanting to see along 89, really.  As with any national parks, you're going to want spring or fall months.  Preferably while kids are still in school just to avoid crowds.  So, May and September are probably your target dates. 

Grand Canyon is likely not going to matter either way, just avoid the summer heat.  The Southern Rim outside Flagstaff or...I think Cameron if you want to hit it from the east, is what's on the post cards you've seen.  The Northern rim is just as pretty but far fewer accomidations.  (except I think that glass bridge is on the north side if it's been built...) 

Zions and Bryce have areas that are highly weather dependent if you're going to be hiking.  So, more risk of a hike or trail being closed in spring to rain, but more likely to have miserable heat in fall.  If there is rain in the forecast DO NOT GO ON A CANYON HIKE PERIOD.  Rain miles away makes washes down those slot canyons several stories high.  Just don't mess with desert rain in canyons.  Stick to the other trails. 

I personally prefer 89A through the Navajo nation to 89 up past Lake Powell as far as the drive goes, but if you have time to stop at lake Powell, it can be quite a sight. 

Just North of Kanab is Moquai Cave, a little museum and interesting tidbit if you guys like to stop at those quaint little roadside attractions. 

From there, it's Mt Caramel, and you need to decide if you go through Zion's or not.  9 through Zions can be pretty, but it's a park fee, and most of Zions is more hiking oriented to driving.  Good chance to see some mountain goats and other wildlife and several worthy roadside photo/scenic overlooks as well.  This would drop you into St George, the biggest Southern Utah City.  Big Outlet shopping center if your wife's into that kind of thing, and an outdoor playhouse if you decide to make a night of it there. 

If you stick north on 89 instead:

Orderville is full of rock/fossil/mineral shops that are also fun if you're into that kind of thing. 

(If this hadn't smelled of sulphur so bad I had no idea how to get it home I would have bought it...)


Highway 14 into Cedar City and I-15 from 89 bears consideration, but it's a steep, narrow, winding canyon road that, while pretty, can take some time.  Still, Cedar City is a fairly substantial city more likely to have chain establishments if that's what your after. 

(From Cedar City to Provo is one stoplight towns, no matter if you're on I-15 or US 89. You MIGHT see a McDonalds or Subway in their Gas station, but otherwise out of luck, plan accordingly as it's a 4+ hour stretch)

Just north of Panguitch is highway 20, I'd recommend that as your route to I-15, it's a pretty mountain drive in and of itself, and will cut several hours off sticking to 89, which from that point goes through a lot of little towns, so you're always dropped to 35MPH, and the view is actually just as good along I-15. 

Further north, 153 from 89 into Beaver, I was forced to take this due to forest fires one time.  I strongly advise avoiding.  Pretty, but fairly gruelling drive. 
 
Be advised if you're driving on Sunday, many gas stations from Provo south to about Fillmore are closed Sundays. 

[Rusty Edge]

Anyway, it was the most fun driving I'd had in years.

My Mrs. wants to drive Route 66 next year. I'm supposed to be in charge of planning that one.
Neither of us are keen to go all of the way into LA. What's fun about driving there?

I guess there's the option of going to Disney Land or visiting relatives in Oakland before following the Lincoln highway home. If we get sick of driving we can always hop on I-80 to make better time.

I think I'll plan a Route 89 / I- 15 return option.

Which month would you suggest for that kind of a trip, Uno?

So, what, 66 to Flagstaff, then 89 to I-15, then home? 

Depends on what you're wanting to see along 89, really.  As with any national parks, you're going to want spring or fall months.  Preferably while kids are still in school just to avoid crowds.  So, May and September are probably your target dates. 

Grand Canyon is likely not going to matter either way, just avoid the summer heat.  The Southern Rim outside Flagstaff or...I think Cameron if you want to hit it from the east, is what's on the post cards you've seen.  The Northern rim is just as pretty but far fewer accomidations.  (except I think that glass bridge is on the north side if it's been built...) 

Zions and Bryce have areas that are highly weather dependent if you're going to be hiking.  So, more risk of a hike or trail being closed in spring to rain, but more likely to have miserable heat in fall.  If there is rain in the forecast DO NOT GO ON A CANYON HIKE PERIOD.  Rain miles away makes washes down those slot canyons several stories high.  Just don't mess with desert rain in canyons.  Stick to the other trails. 

I personally prefer 89A through the Navajo nation to 89 up past Lake Powell as far as the drive goes, but if you have time to stop at lake Powell, it can be quite a sight. 

Just North of Kanab is Moquai Cave, a little museum and interesting tidbit if you guys like to stop at those quaint little roadside attractions. 

From there, it's Mt Caramel, and you need to decide if you go through Zion's or not.  9 through Zions can be pretty, but it's a park fee, and most of Zions is more hiking oriented to driving.  Good chance to see some mountain goats and other wildlife and several worthy roadside photo/scenic overlooks as well.  This would drop you into St George, the biggest Southern Utah City.  Big Outlet shopping center if your wife's into that kind of thing, and an outdoor playhouse if you decide to make a night of it there. 

If you stick north on 89 instead:

Orderville is full of rock/fossil/mineral shops that are also fun if you're into that kind of thing. 

(If this hadn't smelled of sulphur so bad I had no idea how to get it home I would have bought it...)


Highway 14 into Cedar City and I-15 from 89 bears consideration, but it's a steep, narrow, winding canyon road that, while pretty, can take some time.  Still, Cedar City is a fairly substantial city more likely to have chain establishments if that's what your after. 

(From Cedar City to Provo is one stoplight towns, no matter if you're on I-15 or US 89. You MIGHT see a McDonalds or Subway in their Gas station, but otherwise out of luck, plan accordingly as it's a 4+ hour stretch)

Just north of Panguitch is highway 20, I'd recommend that as your route to I-15, it's a pretty mountain drive in and of itself, and will cut several hours off sticking to 89, which from that point goes through a lot of little towns, so you're always dropped to 35MPH, and the view is actually just as good along I-15. 

Further north, 153 from 89 into Beaver, I was forced to take this due to forest fires one time.  I strongly advise avoiding.  Pretty, but fairly gruelling drive. 
 
Be advised if you're driving on Sunday, many gas stations from Provo south to about Fillmore are closed Sundays.

Thanks for taking the time from your busiest month to provide all of that  information, Uno!

I'm still in the research phase. I haven't made any plans yet.

I don't know what we're going to do, or I would have answered sooner. I figure I ought to plan some options. I imagine by the time we've covered Chicago-California, we'll be ready for a change of scenery on the return trip. To my way of thinking, The Lincoln Highway must be the "Grandaddy Road" if 66 is "The Mother Road".

Mostly I've only seen the southwestern states east of California from Amtrak, and haven't set foot off of the train platforms. I like to look down on flyover, but because the mountains tend to get cloudy, I've seen more of The Great Basin doing that.  Before you brought up US-89,( which I don't remember hearing of before) I hadn't really thought about following the mountains north, and how that would tend to connect the national parks.

We've been to Las Vegas together, and she was to Albuquerque for a conference. I like to walk, but she has had both knees replaced and doesn't like to do more than necessary. A drive through Zion and some outlet malls sort of sounds like us.  No way she'd do the glass bridge.

[Unorthodox]

https://www.tuacahn.org/Online/default.asp

No idea what the play schedule is, but definitely worth a look if you're in the area.   

[Dio]

The great interstate highway system remains an attractive allure to many individuals in this society.

[Unorthodox]

Looks like we might be heading down 89 to do the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon ourselves this spring.  I've never been to Bryce, and the rest the family's never been to the Grand Canyon. 

Probably staying in Cameron to hit the Grand Canyon, and then Tropic, UT (which I'd never heard of before looking for hotels) of all places to hit Bryce from the east.  I was a little surprised to see the Orderville hotel I had in my head to stay at was themed room Bed and Breakfast style.  Tropic is a bigger town, and has more options for eating and whatnot, too, though. 

[Dio]

Looks like we might be heading down 89 to do the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon ourselves this spring.  I've never been to Bryce, and the rest the family's never been to the Grand Canyon. 

Probably staying in Cameron to hit the Grand Canyon, and then Tropic, UT (which I'd never heard of before looking for hotels) of all places to hit Bryce from the east.  I was a little surprised to see the Orderville hotel I had in my head to stay at was themed room Bed and Breakfast style.  Tropic is a bigger town, and has more options for eating and whatnot, too, though. 

That trips appears interesting, and certainly within reason, given the location of Unorthodox's Family. The only concern includes avoiding the extremely busy periods around spring break while dodging the snowfall that occurs at higher elevations.