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Convince me to go to visit your state

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mikewithaprius, May 3, 2011.

  1. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    Thnx I saved the linky! too bad you could not see them from I-70, otherwise we'd make detour.

    Hooray! something to see in Kansas besides Wizard of Oz museum!
     
  2. Maine Pilot

    Maine Pilot Senior Member

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    Mike:

    Here's just one suggestion, the Owl's Head Transportation Museum in Rockland. A relatively inexpensive admission to see a first-class collection of old cars, aircraft, bicycles, engines, etc. that are in working (flying) order. About a 2-hr drive up from Portland (I 295 and U.S. Rt. 1). http://www.ohtm.org/

    Not knowing what your interests are, (e.g., light houses, beaches, museums, restaurants, antiques, etc.), you can always PM me and I'll be glad to give you some options.

    Bob
     
  3. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    If you decide not to come west we did a long northeast tour a few years ago in my 4runner. We basically went from OKC to Nova Scotia and back. I know there are many locals on the site that can direct you better, but starting from your home we basically went to Boston (3 days) then on to Portland, then Bar Harbor, ME. Bar Harbor is the only place I know of on the East coast that looks like the Oregon coastline. We were there in May so it wasn't crowded yet. From Bar Harbor we went to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward island. From there we headed to Mt Katahdin in ME. We were in my 4Runner and went offroading in the area but much of it is Prius suitable. We then worked back to Bangor, ME and then through the White mountain area in NH on US 302 and then into Vermont, Lake Placid, Tupper lake, Oswegatchie, etc. This is a very high level point to point leaving out a ton of stuff along the way. It's all gorgeous country.
     
  4. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

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    Oddly enough, the Owl's Head Transportation Museum is in Owl's Head, not Rockland. :)

    Also recommended in my area: Pemaquid Lighthouse (see the Maine Quarter), Maine Botanical Gardens.

    Someday, I would like to start in Freeport and play right-hand-on-the-wall (basically follow the shoreline), until I got to Canada. That is probably 2000 miles.
     
  5. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Mike, you might want to look at a few threads here that discuss camping in your car. Here's one with some beautiful pictures and interesting commentary. If you do a search for 'camping', you'll find more information. Somewhere there was a thread on turning your Prius into a camper, with curtains and such, but I didn't see it on the first search.

    edit: Here it is: Hobbit's camper mods.
     
  6. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    Well too bad West Coast is out. there is a lot to see here.
     
  7. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    Route 1 along the Maine coast is max 55 and lots of it is slower as you pass through towns. Except for hypermiling commutes the best tank we got in our Civic was with coastal driving one summer.

    Plenty of good places to eat (as well as some nasty tourist traps). We go to Brunswick a lot and have eaten at good restaurants in Bath and Rockland too.

    For a loop you can drive up to Mt Desert Island (eat lobster in Trenton, head up Cadillac Mountain and do the loop including the Acadia National Park) then drive across Maine

    If you're more into mountains, lakes and forest you can drive inland and take Route 2 across to the Appalachians and head West through New Hampshire and Vermont.

    If you want variety (and to save money and the avoid a lot of the tourists) you can base yourself in Central Maine and then drive to where you want to go each day: East to the coast, North and West to the mountains and lakes.
     
  8. AStuke

    AStuke New Member

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    Not going to lie to you... unless you're an STL Cardinals fan and night club/casino scene person... There is NOT a lot to do here. :/
     
  9. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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  10. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    Michgal,

    I had just done some intense Colorado researching, but I have to say your suggestion loop is also convincing. Also freaky how you got dangerously close to where I live as the starting point...but then again, it's Rhode Island, the whole thing is dangerously close together.

    I'll be in Middlebury myself starting on June 23 or 24. Will there be a real-life PriusChat meetup?!?
     
  11. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi MWP,

    As you want to only go for 2 weeks, and its the end of the summer (last two weeks of July, first two weeks of August?) I would say stay north of 40 Deg N latitude. Otherwise your going to run the AC allot. And this is the best time of the year for many of the places I will list below:

    Maine - Canadian Maritimes - Quebec (spruce up on french) - Toronto - Thunder Bay, Ont - The North shore of the UP, especially the NW shore of the Keeweenaw (for raw primevil lanscapes, agate hunting on the Lake Superior Shore, wild thimble berry picking) - Sue Ste Marie - Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan (for all the blue berries and peaches in season from Grand Rapids to St. Joe!) - Chicago - Southern shorlines of Lake Ontario and Erie - Niagra Falls - Home.
     
  12. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    I've always wanted to drive Route 66

    I'm a fan of the Rockies, too. And Glacier Natl. Park.
     
  13. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    We have about 400 miles of intact Route 66. That's more than any other state and some of it is still the original 1932 cement. I can barely remember when you had to take Route 66 to California because I-40 did not yet exist.

    If you like the US Rockies, you have to go north of Glacier someday to Banff and Jasper. They're even better.
     
  14. redrockprius

    redrockprius redrockprius

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    Bragging about getting 70 mpg on a long vacation trip might be ego boosting but if you obsess about getting superb mileage you might rule out the most interesting sights (and sites).

    Just last week I decided to take the scenic route when returning from Salt Lake City to St. George, Utah. The route included some freeway driving and lots of two-lane state highway driving with speed limits ranging from 75 mph to 55 mph to 35 mph when passing through towns. And all of it was climbing steep mountain roads and coasting down the other side.

    Without making any particular attempts to maximize mileage, I averaged 55 mpg over the almost 500 mile drive. But the real payoff was getting to visit Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. In addition to the spectacular scenery, it's more fun driving on winding mountain roads than boring straight flat roads.
     
  15. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    Haha, I was in Newport last year, that's why I picked it as the starting point. I really recommend that you visit northern MI, it is really beautiful (including Mackinac island). We will be going there again this July.

    I will be in New England from June 3 - 13. Going to Maine for a conference and then the road trip with DH. I have never rented a car before, and not looking forward to driving a 'normal' car with these gas prices.
     
  16. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    We did that drive last year up through Michigan, the "U.P." and the Mackinac bridge and back down through Wisconsin. I nearly ate my weight in fresh picked cherries in northern MI. :blink::D
     
  17. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    snipped.

    Try and see if you can rent a Prius or some other Hybrid. There are many Prius rentals here on Oahu.


    Posted from my iPhone via the Tapatalk app.
     
  18. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    I checked, but none available at that airport/town.

    Hoping to visit the Big Island sometime, and is interested in renting a Prius in Kona. Can the Prius handle the rough terrain there? I went up Beartooth highway (near Yellowstone) with absolutely no problem though.
     
  19. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Why would I want you to come to Oregon? Better you tell me why you are worthy!

    To paraphrase the old "Welcome" sign at the border....."Welcome to Oregon, please turn around." :D

    It used to be "please go home!"

    We have never liked visitors.. And, while I drive a Prius, it is not exactly a blessed sort of vehicle here, unless you are driving in Ashland or Eugene.