Call for road trip ideas

Next month my brother and his girlfriend are moving from Montreal to Seattle, and they'll by road-tripping to get there. I'm planning out most of their route—because Matt is happy to relinquish the chore and I've been to several of the places along the way. Luckily Michele will be with him to navigate, because if he was trying to do that he'd probably end up in Texas or something. (He's finally admitted that he has no sense of direction.)

Anyway, the route will take them through Ontario, upper Michigan, northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. I have a pretty good idea of some of the things they can see along the way, but I would love more ideas, as well as options for places to stay (do you live in those areas? know someone there? remember a great hotel, campground, etc.?), places to eat and anything else you want to add.

Comments

[Mo]

You could call Grandpa for names of family on the way. :)

[Leah]

they should visit small town North Dakota. I stayed with family friends in Grandin, ND, and it was so lovely there. Little tiny town on the vast plains. And definitely TR Roosevelt Nat'l Park.

Are you directing them through Lewis and Clark Caves?

[April]

No caves, Leah; they'll be swinging down through Wyoming instead. But they'll be spending a little time in rural North Dakota, exploring the tiny towns where our grandparents grew up. I went there on my road trip and had a great time with the sunflowers and the red dirt roads.

[Katie]

Glad you're sending them through the UP! It is always beautiful, but the leaves are SPECTACULAR in early to mid-October. Tell them they need to get a pastie somewhere (Yoopers make them even better than the English who gave them the idea!). Taquamenon Falls State Park is fun, even for someone like me who isn't super into waterfalls. Plus it is close to the Mouth of the Little Two-Heart that Hemingway wrote about. My grandpa used to work at Taquamenon Falls. The Brew Pub (in the park!) has yummy beer and cheddar soup. Of course they should go to a lighthouse, since MI has the most in the US. My favorite is Crisp Point, which was recently saved from washing into the "sea." It is hard to get to, but that's part of the fun. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is lovely, and most likely on their way. Copper Country is fascinating (you would love it), but would take a little sidetracking up into the upper "thumb." Course if they really have time they should go to the Porcupine Mountains and Isle Royal. Too bad they won't be down by the Mackinac Bridge.

Whelp, there's my thoughts on UP MI. If I think of anything for the other states, I'll let you know. I like Duluth and the Badlands. Hate Mt. Rushmore.