Driving Accross the USA

Great advice pawpaw. The main thing we intend to do beginning in a few months is to load ourselves up in our 5th wheel to start seeing what a great 'backyard' we really have. Neither of us have ever had the opportunity to travel much. One of our dreams is to travel around just looking at what there is to see. I can hardly wait to see those spectacular sites out there. There's so many places I could list but I would surely miss hundreds of places - so the best way to put it is to say - I can hardly wait to start driving across the USA. I get chill bumps just thinking about it.

I think it depends on what one looks for in a vacation. America is a very big country. If I am not wrong, flying from the East Coast to the West Coast (or vice versa) takes around 8 hours or thereabouts, so on the ground that would equate to thousands of miles of traveling. Some people's idea of a vacation is seeing the big cities, shopping, gambling, or visiting the tourist attractions and theme parks, so flying may be the apt thing to do to get to their destination quickly. I guess those who enjoy spectacular sights and beautiful sceneries will much prefer a driving holiday instead. I have been on many driving holidays, in such countries as Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Thailand and Malaysia. I have enjoyed every one of them hopping from towns to towns, going off the beaten tracks to see the forests and waterfalls, up the mountains and down the valleys, across rolling hills, farmlands and vineyards, as well as driven through many National Parks. These experiences are unforgetful and very pleasurable indeed. I will embark on another driving holiday again when I have the chance.

I agree with you that driving allows you to see what that country is really made of - the countryside. You've got some very nice highways there and with GPS technology, it's now much easier to drive to a place you're not familiar with. I read somewhere that the view driving to Alaska is spectacular. I definitely prefer driving over flying. Unfortunately it takes time and stamina. It's for people who have the luxury of a long vacation. When you only have, like, a weekend, you'd still have to fly.

I agree with you totally. I love traveling by car, or better yet, the Harley. Stopping along the way to see things, the views, the landscape, it's amazing. When I moved to PA, I drove from Texas, it was amazing, and when I got up into Virginia and saw the mountains, and then the countryside in PA, it was awesome. I would rather drive over flying anyday.

I've driven from MA to CA more than once and think it was the best thing I've done. I enjoyed seeing so much of the country and stopping off in different states. I think everyone should try it at least once in their life.

So true. There is so much to see and do while driving. And most beautiful places you have to drive to. Unfortunately not everyone has the time to do that. Sometimes I can only get enough free time to hop on the plane to get to where I need to be. When I have time, I drive, but when I don't I fly. Well, I like flying too - it left quite an impression on me when I was young and first flew in a plane.

We live in Winnipeg, and first we drove through the rest of Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick to get to Prince Edward Island, then decided to go back through the States. We first entered Maine (missed seeing Stephen King, but I know where he lives.) then went down through Mass. to New York, West Virginia and went west, going gradually along the Interstate through Maryland, and going in a north westerly direction, and seeing all the States or at least what we could see from the Interstate. The scenery was wonderful, but my husband did not take any photos. We saw the beginning of the Mississippi and the people we met were wonderful. It is so beautiful down there. We plan to go to Florida sometime at the end of this year or the beginning of the next. We will probably fly, but then we might rent a car.

Planes are fast and it is easy to get from say Boston to Seattle in little time. However driving this, taking a bus or a train you can stop off in many different interesting places. There is accommodation along the way and shops where you can by food for self catering. You could even eat out every evening in a different restaurant. It could take one month or even two months to see the land between the East Coast and the West Coast. You would probably meet many friendly people on the way. I have traveled by train in California and seen some pretty places like San Diego, Santa Barbara and San Francisco. I really love to travel. I tend to fly out somewhere then travel overland to enjoy seeing the scenery.

It really all depends. Sometimes I like to fly if I'm only going to one place and depending of what. Sometimes I will drive. I do like to take in the scenery of places. But with having this back injury its only been flying as I can't handle long drives. Totally sucks wish I could travel more by driving.