Friday, June 18, 2010

The Rest of the Itinerary....

As most of you know, the whole purpose for my cross-country adventure is to visit my dad, and meet & get to know his wonderful girlfriend. They live in Wasilla, AK-and no, not next-door to Sarah Palin, so don't ask me to get you her autograph-which is a bit north of Anchorage.

So those two weeks on my itinerary that say "in Alaska" are reserved to spend time with my dad. I'm not sure exactly what we'll be doing, but I'm sure I'll get to see Denali National Park, where my dad works, and maybe the Kenai Peninsula (hint, hint, Dad & Susanne:-).

Only about 13 days until my cruise, and 25 til I set off with Ruby on what I hope will be the trip of a lifetime.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

(Almost) Planned, (Mostly) Packed & (Totally) Ready To Go

So this school year is (basically) over. I will be doing a few weeks of summer school in the mornings but as of July 1, that's it. It's a busy month for me-my baby brother, who's not so baby anymore, is graduating from high school on June 25 and heading off to Johns Hopkins this fall; I'm going on an awesome Caribbean cruise with my mom and finally getting to see Puerto Rico (if only for a day); and, last but certainly NOT least, leaving on my amazing, 41-day, cross-country (and then some) adventure. 

I have pretty much everything, minus some clothes, packed and ready to go, and I can't wait to leave! It's funny how time always drags so slowly when you're anticipating something, but then speeds up so that long-awaited event is over too fast. I hope it doesn't seem that way for me-although it is entirely possible that 8 hours a day of driving will drag on a bit.

So, without further ado, here's a really general version of my itinerary. If you know of something along my route that's a must-see, leave me a comment to let me know.
Day 1: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Pomona, NY to Perrysburg, OH    

  • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Day 2: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Perrysburg, OH to Sun Prairie, WI

  • Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

  • Wisconsin Dells

Day 3: S Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sun Prairie, WI to Albert Lea, MN

  • Devil's Lake State Park

  • Effigy Mounds National Monument

  • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah, IL
Day 4: Friday, July 16, 2010
Albert Lea, MN to Belvidere, SD

  • Jolly Green Giant Statue

  • De Smet, SD: Laura Ingalls Wilder sites

  • South Dakota State Capitol
Day 5: Saturday, July 17, 2010
Belvidere, SD to Sheridan, WY

  • Badlands National Park

  • Mt. Rushmore

  • Jewel Cave National Monument
Day 6: Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sheridan, WY to West Yellowstone, MT

  • Bighorn National Forest

  • Cody, WY

  • Yellowstone National Park
Day 7: Monday, July 19, 2010
West Yellowstone, MT to Starbuck, WA

  • Missoula, MT

  • Northwest Passage Scenic Byway

  • Nez Perce National Historic Park
Day 8: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 
Starbuck, WA to Seattle, WA

  • Mt. Rainier National Park
Day 9: Wednesday, July 21, 201
Seattle, WA to Surrey, BC

  • Seattle Sites: Space Needel, Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle Public Library, Pike's Place, Pioneer Square
Day 10: Thursday, July 22, 2010
Surrey, BC to Clinton, BC

  • Vancouver: Stanley Park, English Bay

  • Hell's Gate
Day 11: Friday, July 23, 2010
Clinton, BC to Smithers, BC

  • Quesnel

  • Prince George
Day 12: Saturday, July 24, 201
Smithers, BC to Stewart, BC

  • Gitwangak & Gitanyow-First Nations Totems

  • Bear Glacier

  • Fish Creek Bear Viewing Platform

  • Salmon Glacier
Day 13: Sunday, July 25, 2010
Stewart, BC to Rancheria, YT

  • Dease Lake

  • Watson Lake: Northern Lights Centre
Day 14: Monday, July 26, 2010
Rancheria, YT to Beaver Creek, AK

  • Whitehorse: MacBride Museum, Beringia Interpretive Center

  • Kluane Lake
Day 15: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Beaver Creek, AK to Wasilla, AK

  • Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge

  • Tok

  • Glenn Highway
Days 16 to 27: Wednesday, July 28 to Monday, August 9

  • In Alaska
Day 29: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Wasilla, AK to Burwash Landing, YT

Day 30: Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Burwash Landing, YT to Skagway, AK

  • Haines Highway

  • Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

  • Haines: Fort Seward & Sheldon Museum

  • Alaska Marine Highway Ferry to Skagway
Day 31: Thursday, August 12, 2010
Skagway, AK to Watson Lake, YT

  • Teslin: George Johnston Museum, Teslin Tlingit Heritage Center
Day 32: Friday, August 13, 2010
Watson Lake, YT to Pink Mountain, BC

  • Liard Hot Springs

  • Muncho Lake Provincial Park
Day 33: Saturday, August 14, 2010
Pink Mountain, BC to Hinton, AB

  • Dawson Creek

  • Grand Prairie
Day 34: Sunday, August 15, 2010
Hinton, AB to Ca;gary, AB

  • Jasper National Park

  • Lake Louis

  • Banff National Park

Day 35: Calgary, AB to Regina, SK
Monday, August 16, 2010

  • Calgary: Canada Olympic Park, Calgary Tower

  • Medicine Hat

  • Moose Jaw

  • Regina: Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Government House, RCMP Heritage Center
Day 36: Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Regina, SK to Winnipeg, MB

  • Portage La Prairie: Fort La Reine Museum

  • Winnipeg: Forks National Historic Site, Royal Canadian Mint, Manitoba Museum, Riel House
Day 37: Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Winnipeg, MB to Duluth, MN

  • Grand Fork, ND: Myra Museum

  • Paul Bunyan Statue

  • Split Rock Lighthouse
Day 38: Thursday, August 19, 2010
Duluth, MN to Sault Ste. Marie, ON

  • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

  • Hiawatha National Forest

  • Sault Ste. Marie: Locks, Tower of History
Day 39: Friday, August 20, 2010
Sault Ste. Marie, ON to Toronto, ON

  • Sudbury: Dynamic Earth

  • Midland: 30,000 Island Cruiser, Ste. Marie-Among-the-Hurons
Day 40: Saturday, August 21, 2010
Toronto, ON

  • Toronto Sites: Bata Shoe Museum, Textile Museum of Canda, McMichael Collection

  • CN Tower, Casa Loma, Campbell House, Ontario Legislative Building, Fort York
Day 41: Sunday, August 22, 2010
Toronto, ON to Reading, PA

  • Hamilton: Royal Botanical Gardens

  • Niagra Falls: Skylon Tower, Maid of the Mist

  • Corning Museum of Glass