Summer Road Trip Suggestions

[Syt]

Fly to Vienna or other locale and do a road trip through the balkans. 

Yeah, driving as foreigner with visibly different ethnic look and no local language skills through the Balkans sounds like a terrific idea.

[lustindarkness]

Talking about summer road trips, anyone here gonna be anywhere on I40 between Memphis and Albuquerque on July 10th and 11th?

[Admiral Yi]

? Planning a rest stop party?

[lustindarkness]

I'll be going to Moab UT and Ouray CO, on the way there not in a big hurry if anyone wants to meet up. I'll also take recommendations for good places to eat.

[alfred russel]

Fly to Vienna or other locale and do a road trip through the balkans. 

Yeah, driving as foreigner with visibly different ethnic look and no local language skills through the Balkans sounds like a terrific idea.

I know someone that did this. Its okay. That, along with a trip through Turkey, are the two big road trips I want to take.

[Josquius]

I know a very small Japanese girl who backpacked around the balkans alone.
Apparently they're not so bad these days.
Except for Albania.

[lustindarkness]

Any of you been to The Grand Canyon? I've been to Canyonlands in the Moab area, and may go there again this year.
Should I take a day away from Moab area to go see the Grand Canyon? North Rim or South? 

[MadImmortalMan]

I know a very small Japanese girl who backpacked around the balkans alone.
Apparently they're not so bad these days.
Except for Albania.

Bring a swimsuit.

[alfred russel]

I know a very small Japanese girl who backpacked around the balkans alone.
Apparently they're not so bad these days.
Except for Albania.

Bring a swimsuit.

A speedo if you want to fit in with the locals.

[Savonarola]

Go to Ann Arbor.  See the Big House.  Eat at Zingerman's and the Little Brown Jug (you'll see the actual LBJ in the Big House).  Then go west, hit Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and some of the little towns along the east shore of Lake Michigan.  Then Chicago.  Then home.  You'll get your karaoke, nudie bars, and nice restaurants along the way.

This would be a good road trip if you like beer; all the little cities along I-94 have some sort of brew pub.  The best are in Marshall (Dark Horse), Battle Creek (Arcadia) and Kalamazoo (Bells).  The St. Julian's winery in Paw Paw is nothing to write home about; the better wineries are much further north in the Old Mission and Lelenau peninsulas.

[Tonitrus]

Any of you been to The Grand Canyon? I've been to Canyonlands in the Moab area, and may go there again this year.
Should I take a day away from Moab area to go see the Grand Canyon? North Rim or South? 

Grand Canyon would make for an exhausting day trip from Moab.  A few days would be more practical.  South Rim is very touristy, and crowded, but awesome views of course.  Never did the regular North Rim (was still closed for the season when I went through in April 2008), but to give the FJ some exercise coming east in 2011, I drove down to a place called Toroweap on the far western North Rim.  Very remote (and good moderate, not too crazy FJ Cruiser exercise), very awesome, but not as post-card scenic as the more popular areas.  The campsite there is awesomely primitive and scenic.  I was there in June/July, and there was one other couple there camping.  The quiet and solitude was awesome.

If you're out at Moab/Canyonlands with the FJ, have you checked out the Needles district of Canyonlands?  I heard it's got lots of awesome off-road opportunites.

For another possible day-trip from Moab, I'd check out some of the off-roads in Capitol Reef, like Cathedral Valley (didn't get a chance to check it out when I was there, and regret it), or the Burr Trail Road.

Also heard good things about Dinosaur National Monument.

[lustindarkness]

Thanks Toni, I'm leaning towards more Moab exploring, the trails are just too much fun, and very technical stuff.

It just feels like I am cheating myself of a "Must See" and I will be close enough to it, but I am so short on time. I need to do some more homework.

[Admiral Yi]

Last week of May, first two weeks of June.

You can venture farther south then. I'll grill some burgers, buy you a beer and take my shirt off.

Nyah, nyah,  nyah.

[alfred russel]

Thanks Toni, I'm leaning towards more Moab exploring, the trails are just too much fun, and very technical stuff.

Technical from a driving point of view?

[lustindarkness]

Last week of May, first two weeks of June.

You can venture farther south then. I'll grill some burgers, buy you a beer and take my shirt off.

Nyah, nyah,  nyah.

Thanks Toni, I'm leaning towards more Moab exploring, the trails are just too much fun, and very technical stuff.

Technical from a driving point of view?

Yes.