A 4 week road trip from DC to Oregon and back.

[Angela Shelley]

We´ll soon be taking a four week road trip through the "good ole USA", making a round trip from DC to Oregon and back, taking two different southern routes.

Our last trip to the USA was in 2005, but according to DU, times have changed.

Here´s my question:

In cultural, economical, and political terms, what will we see along the way?

[lisa58]

1. Have a great time...

...since I am on the east coast as well I have no idea what you will see. We haven't done the cross-country thing since 2000 - I'm sure it will be very different than what I saw.

[jpak]

2. bitterness

lots and lots

:evilgrin:

[madrchsod]

3. not going through the midwest ?

[The Straight Story]

4. Depends on the route

I usually take the 40 to the 44 then the 70 (ca to oh).

You see a good cross section of everything from Indian reservations to the crappy side of east St. Louis :)

What you will see (and I came from OH to CA last may) is a lot of open space, sparse small towns where people tend to not trust people from outside it much (like Gallup, a town I love), and so on.

Will comment more in a bit :)

[Angela Shelley]

6. I lived in Gallup for a year about 20 years ago

and although it´s not pretty ... life was very good. :-)

[The Straight Story]

8. I have been driving through there for the last 13 years

It seems to rarely change :)

for some reason I really like it a lot there. Can't exactly say WHY though :)

[gateley]

5. Recommend --

I want to read the responses so I can vicariously make the journey.

Have a wonderful time, and know how many economies in the "good ole" USA you'll be helping along the way! :hi:

[williesgirl]

7. Did your loan come through for the gas! Have a fun and safe trip.

[Clovis Sangrail]

9. Have fun! I'm jealous /nt

[blue sky at night]

10. do yourself a favor...

take some of the old "US" routes and really see america. I would promise myself that when I see something good, I will PULL the f over and check it out. Have fun and don't worry.

[babylonsister]

11. Very high gas prices which will rise right before your very eyes.

But have a blast! :hi:

[Trajan]

12. While I wouldn't discount the value of culture ...

I would focus on the natural sights, like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, etc etc .... Dealey Plaza in Dallas, 'Tex Mex' food in the southwest should be a prize ... The beaches in Southern California: Nearly everyplace from Ocean Beach (San Diego) to Santa Barbara beaches (El Capitan and Refugio) has GREAT swimming and sunning beaches .... Farther north and the beaches are more rugged and starkly beautiful (but less inviting for swimmers) .... Napa Valley wineries are a must for those who like wine .... The Redwood Forest in Northern California is a great stop as well ...

The Oregon coast is superb .... The seafood extraordinary, again close to good wine areas ....

And dont forget: Portland IS Beervana! .... There are many DUers here, and maybe we can connect with you and hang out a couple of hours, if the timing is right ....

In any case: Have a GREAT time ....

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Why don't you go on up to Bellevue

hop a ferry and come visit Alaska? If you got dropped off in Haines, you could drive the rest of the way over here and get several more perspectives. Alaska's almost like a country to itself. The northwest is the best. :)

[ThomWV]

14. I have been preparing for a road trip all winter

Mine will be shorter than yours, probably just a couple of weeks. Mine will be by motorcycle too. In preparation I have been reading history, more history, and even more history. I want to know why every place on my route is there, how it got there, what happened to it since it got there, and what the major events in this nation had to do with the way it is now. I also am well into the process of looking up every town on my route to see what the age, income, and any other information I can find on them. There is a lot to be learned by just finding out what roads were the first to go where you want to go and then find out why those roads were built in the first place. Roads (not interstates) can tell you a lot.

[Nostradammit]

15. More and more reasonable people

By the time you reach Oregon you'll be surrounded by them.

:)