Friday OT - Stealing the Show

[Angie]

Thanks so much to @VeloClone for today’s topic! I am just going to paste his exact phrasing:

“We took the family on a driving trip to Arizona for spring break a few years ago. While driving through southern Utah I saw a pickup truck driving through the scrub a half mile away and a wooden sign at the bottom of a quarter mile dirt access road. On a whim I turned down it and learned I had stumbled on Valley of the Gods which I had never heard of before. We spent a few hours exploring this miniature primitive monument valley and it was my favorite part of the whole trip.

What's your favorite unexpected gem that turned out to be the best part of your trip?“

 

[RLD4ISU]

1997. Drove to Chicago suburb to attend a Special Olympics fundraiser. They had players from the Chicago Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox there for fans to meet and get autographs from, plus Dale Earnhardt was also there. At the time, we were big NASCAR fans and seeing Dale was our priority. We went through the line a couple of times and I got up the nerve to ask if I could have my picture taken with him. My favorite part of the day and one of my most cherished photographs.

We try to find something "off the beaten path" when we travel. Go on a drive down a gravel road. Things like that. We've seen some beautiful country doing that.

 

[madguy30]

More recently I was in the UP last summer and had some general destinations to go to and check out. Ended up randomly down a fire road and going fairly deep into the forest and stream for a few hours. It was much needed vulnerable isolation.

Not 'trips' but at family reunions my favorite times have been when all of the chaos of people being around subsides and I have a chance to sit on the porch with one or two people and reminisce and catch up over beers about all sorts of great stuff.

 

[Isualum13]

Went on a road trip with mother years ago to see the siblings when they still lived across the country. Stopped in Utah for a day and golfed. Little 9 hole course in the Utah desert. It was an amazing course. We had plans to golf at the red rocks a few days later but that got rained out. I still think about that Utah course but can't for the life of me remember where it is exactly or what it's called.

 

[Al_4_State]

We stopped in the Black Hills on the way home from Yellowstone/Grand Teton in 2020. We only had 2 nights and 1 day scheduled there, but we enjoyed it so much that we went back in 2021 for a week. Plan to go back this summer too. We've biked on the Mickelson trail, and did a bunch of hikes in the Black Elk Wilderness (have climbed Black Elk Peak twice - once on the regular route from Sylvan Lake and another route where you come in from the north. It's much longer, twice the elevation, and you have the trail to yourself).

From north Iowa, it's only a 7-8 hour drive and you're in legitimate mountain terrain. It's such an easy drive, reasonably priced, and you get a very Midwestern vibe yet. I love it.

 

[MeanDean]

A couple from our once in a lifetime trip to Australia/New Zealand.

I was sick (cold/flu) on the multi-leg flight over through StL, LA, Sidney and finally Perth. Third day in Western Australia spent most of the day on a fairly deserted beach on Geography Bay. Beautiful, relaxing, feeling better finally when that sun was heating my body through.

Same trip on the East Coast stopped at an Crocodile Farm to take the tour. Ended up we were the only two people on our walking tour. So cool to see everything up close and the guide was spectacular showing us how crocodiles behave. Then afterwards having lunch and sharing it with some curious (hungry) kangaroos that hopped over to beg.

 

[jcyclonee]

Two places

About 25 years ago* during Spring Break, my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I went to Playa Del Carmen and decided to spend a couple of days in Merida (a colonial city on the western side of the Yucatan) to see some authentic Mexican culture. While in Merida, we decided to visit the nearest beach at Puerto Progresso. The beach was deep and wide, had gorgeous white sand, and we had the entire beach to ourselves.

On a work training trip to New Orleans, the convention was being help at a hotel on the edge of the French Quarter. You turn right coming out of the hotel and you are there. Being that I only had my nights free and it was really only two nights I figured that I would just spend my nights in the French Quarter. One night I decided to take a left and go into the Warehouse District. I ended up at a place called Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar. I had a blast. Maybe it was the people I met there but the place just seemed to have a terrific laid-back vibe.

*Now that I think about it, it was almost exactly 25 years from today.

 

[Al_4_State]

Two places

About 25 years ago* during Spring Break, my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I went to Playa Del Carmen and decided to spend a couple of days in Merida (a colonial city on the western side of the Yucatan) to see some authentic Mexican culture. While in Merida, we decided to visit the nearest beach at Puerto Progresso. The beach was deep and wide, had gorgeous white sand, and we had the entire beach to ourselves.

On a work training trip to New Orleans, the convention was being help at a hotel on the edge of the French Quarter. You turn right coming out of the hotel and you are there. Being that I only had my nights free and it was really only two nights I figured that I would just spend my nights in the French Quarter. One night I decided to take a left and go into the Warehouse District. I ended up at a place called Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar. I had a blast. Maybe it was the people I met there but the place just seemed to have a terrific laid-back vibe.

*Now that I think about it, it was almost exactly 25 years from today.

New Orleans is fantastic. The only reason I don't go there more is it's expensive to get to and there isn't much for outdoor recreation in the vicinity.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

As a kid, our vacations were driving to see my older siblings. On one trip to see my brother in SC, we were driving through KY and my dad decided to detour through some country roads to see some of the countryside. We ended up driving past some of the large estates that raised race horses. My dad always made it a point to watch the Derby, the Belmont and the Preakness growing up.

We saw miles of pristine white fences, manicured pastures, and amazing facilities. At one point, my dad pulled into a driveway with a huge gate to turn around and the gates swung open as we pulled in. A guy in a pickup with a horse trailer had pulled in behind us and had triggered the gate.

He stopped and asked us if we needed any help. My dad, never shy about talking to anyone, told him that we were from Iowa and he was a big horse racing fan and he was just wanting to look around at the countryside. The guy was incredibly nice. He invited us in and showed us around their estate. The elegance and attention to detail was astonishing. After about 30 minutes, we thanked him and went on our way, but I've never forgotten that feeling of awe.

 

[jcyclonee]

New Orleans is fantastic. The only reason I don't go there more is it's expensive to get to and there isn't much for outdoor recreation in the vicinity.

I love New Orleans. The history and architecture is absolutely terrific. My problem is that I can't help myself and I will go to the bars at night and I can only handle 2-3 nights of that, I exhaust myself, and I need to get out of there. I miss being 20ish.

 

[carvers4math]

It has always been some surprise interest that the kids took in something with us.

Went to Disney with a four and two year old. Weren’t interested in parades or shows, vaguely interested in rides. Did repeatedly return to the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” playground based on a movie they still have never seen. Was sad to see they tore it down.

The highlights for a toddler on a work trip I took to DC were chasing pigeons on the Mall and sitting by the Einstein statue on a bench.

On a driving trip back from DC, decided we would make a brief stop at Gettysburg just to see the place. With ages ranging from nine to infant, didn’t think the boys would be very interested. Spent six hours there and got to hotel at 2:00 am.

Took a trip to Chicago, with Cubs games, all the museums, an amusement park, what was then still the Sears Tower. My Mom asked them what the best part of the trip was. The answers were riding the L and playing at the playground at a rest area off the interstate at night.

 

[pourcyne]

Once waited in line for a while to get the last hotel room in Tuba City, AZ, which was going for what I thought was an exorbitant price, so drove to Flagstaff where I got a room at the same exorbitant price...yes, this was before the Internet and smart phones and all that other enabling stuff...

Next morning, headed back north and came upon Sunset Crater which I had never heard of before (and had not seen the signage for) the night before.

Lots of great discoveries out west if you're not too busy going to the big, overcrowded draws like Grand Canyon and Yellowstone...sites like Craters of the Moon in Idaho, Canyon de Chelly (AZ) and some wonderful little Spanish Missions in Montana... like stunning (the interior, at least) St. Ignatius. Also picking up a six pack of "Polygamy Porter" at the gas station outside of Zion. Who knew? Cheers! (and take some home for the wives)

Also in Canada: surprised and delighted by the lush fruit orchards and wineries north of Niagara Falls (which I expected to be cheesy, but it was not) during a trip to Toronto; truly loved all of Nova Scotia. Topic makes me recall a September trip to northern Québec to explore Gaspé and the Surprise Coast. (our surprise was that it was too foggy to see anything, including the Rocher Percé (large off-shore rock with a hole in it). But the BEST one on that trip was driving back to Québec City in the rain, listening to the radio and...hearing Iowa State beat Iowa in football. Yeah, Baby!

Life is good. Savor.

 

[Al_4_State]

I love New Orleans. The history and architecture is absolutely terrific. My problem is that I can't help myself and I will go to the bars at night and I can only handle 2-3 nights of that, I exhaust myself, and I need to get out of there. I miss being 20ish.

Same. 2-3 days is enough, because NOLA's really just a food/booze/live music bender. I couldn't take a week of that.

 

[somecyguy]

A few years ago I took the family on a wandering tour of Arizona, Utah and Las Vegas. We had hiked the Grand Canyon and were headed to Page the next day to boat down the Colorado to the famous Horseshoe. Lodging in Page is notoriously expensive. Like $350 a room at a Days Inn expensive.

Most everyone knows the south rim of the Grand Canyon. That's where all the outlooks are located. But there is a much lessor known north rim. That's where the hard core hikers go. There is a small village near Marble Canyon for those to sleep, prep and take off on their adventures.

When I say village, I mean a store/restaurant, a collection of spartan sleeping units and a gravel airplane runway. There is just enough cell service to text. But it's absolutely beautiful. The kids and I spent the afternoon and evening climbing around the rocks and staring up at the brightest stars we've ever seen. No electronics, no light pollution, no distractions. My kids loved the adventures we had, but that simple night in the middle of no where was the best part of that trip.

 

[mj4cy]

Was out in Park City for a ski trip a few years ago. Hit up High West distillery and did some bar hopping. Buddy wanted to go see some live music. I was reluctant as he was pretty far into his booze that night. He said its only $40. I didn't want to see some random band for that amount so I pushed back. I guess the bouncers told him its $20 for locals and they'd hook us up so he offered to pay my fee.

Turns out the "local" band was John freaking Popper (lead singer of Blues Traveler) and he crushed it with all the favorites. Not to mention how up and close we were to it all. Was the most fun concert I've been to in years. I paid my buddy back even saying well done.

 

[jcyclonee]

It has always been some surprise interest that the kids took in something with us.

​

Went to Disney with a four and two year old. Weren’t interested in parades or shows, vaguely interested in rides. Did repeatedly return to the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” playground based on a movie they still have never seen. Was sad to see they tore it down.

​

The highlights for a toddler on a work trip I took to DC were chasing pigeons on the Mall and sitting by the Einstein statue on a bench.

On a driving trip back from DC, decided we would make a brief stop at Gettysburg just to see the place. With ages ranging from nine to infant, didn’t think the boys would be very interested. Spent six hours there and got to hotel at 2:00 am.

Took a trip to Chicago, with Cubs games, all the museums, an amusement park, what was then still the Sears Tower. My Mom asked them what the best part of the trip was. The answers were riding the L and playing at the playground at a rest area off the interstate at night.

That Einstein statue is one of the cool, lesser-known things to see in DC. And it is really in a convenient location.

 

[dafarmer]

At the Peach Bowl (70’s) and wondered what to do after game. Saw they had a party at the Omni and went. Charley Daniels, Wet Willie, Marshall Tucker and others. Super Ball concert, peach daiquiris, southern women, and good country music!

 

[NWICY]

Was on the honeymoon with the ex and we were out in eastern Pennsylvania went to a old mansion/winery, got there before the tour and was wandering around the grounds found a bunch of harvesting equipment etc... a guy came over and asked what we were doing I said trying to figure out how all this works he explains all the equipment then gives us a tour of the actual winery, we ended up catching the mansion tour and tasting later. It was a great tour.

A couple of years ago I was out near La Junta Co. and saw a mile long train of sand, took the side road to get there and was driving along and came across the biggest sand pit I've ever seen there was a guy coming out of there so I flagged him down to learn about it they had a 3(?)mile conveyor that ran to the rail line, he said go ahead and drive around follow the signs that say Trucks and you'll be fine got back in there and saw some of the biggest payloaders I have ever seen .

Some of the neatest experiences are off the beaten path and ask as few questions, most folks are willing to teach you and share what they know. The worst that happens is they tell you to leave.

 

[JP4CY]

Meandered the PNW years ago with no plans in place and stumbled upon the town of Hood River, OR. I could easily live there. Beautiful area.

 

[Entropy]

Spouse and I were road tripping from New Mexico back to Iowa a few years ago and other than hitting RMNP, it was a pretty wide open schedule.
I was looking for a way to kill time and so we ended up stopping at Chimney Rock National Monument in Southern Colorado. This is not the famous Chimney Rock from Oregon Trail in Nebraska, but an old Pueblo Indian settlement with a large number of ruins to explore. The interpreter was fantastic! She walked us through how the buildings were placed specifically to the constellations and other important astronomical observations.
It was just a random stop and it ended up being our favorite from the trip. Would encourage anyone to stop.