Utah to Anaheim

[rentayenta]

We will be driving from Utah to Anaheim this June and although we have made the drive many times, I feel like maybe we are missing some fun points of interests or stops. This time we won't be in a mad dash to get there as we won't be hitting the parks until the next day. We will be caravanning with our friends from PA and they love to sight-see and stop and check things out (much more than I do ). Just wondering for those of you that make that drive if there are things worth stopping for other than fuel, food, and potty breaks.

 

[skiingfast]

Hey have you heard of this place called Las Vegas? jk. But really it's almost the midpoint and a going to a Vegas Buffet in the giant cansinos might be something for them if not yourselves. The last few times I've always stopped at a nice rest area and had a picnic. I'm not sure were it is exactly somwhere around Beaver.


In Vegas if you could time it right so it's not a 4 hours stop you could eat, see the Pirate Show at TI and the fountain show at the Bellagio. If you could wait until dark the Freemont St. Experience woulf be worthwhile too.

You could take pictures by the giant thermometer in ?Baker? espectially if it is a real hot date. You could do likewise on El Cajon pass, I know there is a little town off the free way but it may be just gas stations.

Ride the log ride and roller coaster at Buffalo Bill's.

Stay in the car and enjoy the benefits of AC?

I stopped somewhere in Barstow for lunch a long time ago where you could see the trains going by. I think it was a Carl's Junior with outside seating.

 

[jacky b]

We have made side trips to Hoover Dam and Calico Ghost Town (near Barstow)

 

[rentayenta]

Hey have you heard of this place called Las Vegas? jk. But really it's almost the midpoint and a going to a Vegas Buffet in the giant cansinos might be something for them if not yourselves. The last few times I've always stopped at a nice rest area and had a picnic. I'm not sure were it is exactly somwhere around Beaver.

We have been to Vegas too many times to count.

In Vegas if you could time it right so it's not a 4 hours stop you could eat, see the Pirate Show at TI and the fountain show at the Bellagio. If you could wait until dark the Freemont St. Experience would be worthwhile too.

Freemont might be fun. Vegas is such a PITA to maneuver for just a few hours though.

You could take pictures by the giant thermometer in ?Baker? especially if it is a real hot date. You could do likewise on El Cajon pass, I know there is a little town off the free way but it may be just gas stations.

Like the thermometer idea.

Ride the log ride and roller coaster at Buffalo Bill's.

My kids would love that!!!

Stay in the car and enjoy the benefits of AC?

I the heat.

We have made side trips to Hoover Dam and Calico Ghost Town (near Barstow)

Calico Ghost Town? Is that off the I15?

 

[jacky b]

Yes, Calico Ghost Town is off the 15. You will see it on the north side of Barstow. You can see CALICO on the rocks above the ghost town. A little background: Walter Knotts (Knotts Berry Farm) wanted to re-create a mining town like from the days of the gold rush era so he created Calico Ghost Town. I first went there in the 70s and took my son there in 07, he was the same age as I was the last time I went there in the 70s. It is a great little place to learn a little about our history during the great gold rush times.

 

[Quilter007]

There's a bowling alley in Hurricane that hasn't been renovated since the early 80's and it's neon inside to boot! It's a good time. If you take the road just to the east of the 15 on the Southern end of Utah you will go through some very scenic stuff without adding a whole bunch of time to your drive including a ginormous tunnel -- adds about an hour to the drive. Recommend a Garmin for finding weird places to eat & just go explore.

We always stop at Buffalo Bill's on the drive home. The log ride is a good time -- has a water pistol component -- one last ride. Then you can either eat ribs @ Tony Roma's or get whatever you want at the food court.

 

[rentayenta]

Yes, Calico Ghost Town is off the 15. You will see it on the north side of Barstow. You can see CALICO on the rocks above the ghost town. A little background: Walter Knotts (Knotts Berry Farm) wanted to re-create a mining town like from the days of the gold rush era so he created Calico Ghost Town. I first went there in the 70s and took my son there in 07, he was the same age as I was the last time I went there in the 70s. It is a great little place to learn a little about our history during the great gold rush times.

Very neat- thank you. I used to love Knott's too. Our friends would really like something like this.

There's a bowling alley in Hurricane that hasn't been renovated since the early 80's and it's neon inside to boot! It's a good time. If you take the road just to the east of the 15 on the Southern end of Utah you will go through some very scenic stuff without adding a whole bunch of time to your drive including a ginormous tunnel -- adds about an hour to the drive. Recommend a Garmin for finding weird places to eat & just go explore.

What is a Garmin? The bowling sounds fun and a good way for them to stretch their legs. Hurricane is in between Cedar City and St. George right? I am always the passenger.

We always stop at Buffalo Bill's on the drive home. The log ride is a good time -- has a water pistol component -- one last ride. Then you can either eat ribs @ Tony Roma's or get whatever you want at the food court.

We will be stopping in Mesquite and staying the night on the way home. DH wants to throw some money away.

 

[HydroGuy]

Have you thought about detouring further south to Moab, Arches or the Four Corners area? And then on down through Grand Canyon country? Or maybe Zion?

If you start in Colorado rather than Utah then it is easier to get down to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We usually do the I-70 to I-15 thing on the way to SoCal because it is fastest and has the side benefit of being the most scenic. But we have cut cross country thru Colorado down to Four Corners when we want to visit GC or just do something different. It is a bit longer for us and adds an hour or two to the drive if weather is good.

I have never been to the Grand Canyon North Rim but that is of course more accessible from Utah. Maybe that would work for you and the other vistors?

 

[rentayenta]

Have you thought about detouring further south to Moab, Arches or the Four Corners area? And then on down through Grand Canyon country? Or maybe Zion?

If you start in Colorado rather than Utah then it is easier to get down to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We usually do the I-70 to I-15 thing on the way to SoCal because it is fastest and has the side benefit of being the most scenic. But we have cut cross country thru Colorado down to Four Corners when we want to visit GC or just do something different. It is a bit longer for us and adds an hour or two to the drive if weather is good.

I have never been to the Grand Canyon North Rim but that is of course more accessible from Utah. Maybe that would work for you and the other vistors?

We Moab. I am afraid if I let DH go anywhere near, we'd never make it to Disneyland. The hubby of our friends would also skip Disney for Moab.

The are driving from PA and will be coming up near Vernal and going to visit Dinosaur Park. Not sure their route on the way home but I know they've got some time. Moab might be a nice day trip for them on the way here. I know they are for sure doing Steamboat for a day.

DH and I were just talking about taking the kids river rafting in Moab this summer sometime in late July.




Any other fun ideas? I am really liking Calico the Ghost Town.

 

[Quilter007]

Garmin is a GPS thingy w/ a yellow pages function in it. So it know where you are, you can find interesting things & it will tell you how to get there.

 

[rentayenta]

Garmin is a GPS thingy w/ a yellow pages function in it. So it know where you are, you can find interesting things & it will tell you how to get there.

Cool, thanks! Sounds neat.