In June 2010 John and I went on our very first cross country road trip. We drove from Boston to Las Vegas visiting New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Memorable stops included the Baseball Hall of Fame, Ommegang Brewery, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Football Hall of Fame, Gateway Arch in St. Louis, City Museum, Pappy’s Smokehouse, Arthur Bryant BBQ, Anheuser Busch Headquarters Brewery, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Underground Salt Museum, Dodge City in Kansas, Great Sand Dunes Park, Rio Grande National Forest, Durango in Colorado, Ska Brewery, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Vegas.
Driving cross country definitely gets into your soul somehow – feet kicked up on the dash, pit stops in small towns, the endless hazy road ahead of you. There’s something romantic about it but also so practical. We live in a big beautiful country that begs to be seen. Many people have asked us why travel the US when you can go to Europe? My response is simple: there is so much to explore and learn from our own country, I need to see and understand that first and foremost. I need to experience my country and the freedom you feel when you get in a car and drive it end to end. The spirit of that kind of trip, no borders or boundaries as you go, was thrilling to me.
So, because we can’t shake it, we decided to plan a second cross country road trip to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary (can anyone else not believe that it’s been a year already?!). We’re leaving tomorrow so there will likely be nothing new on the blog for 2 weeks. I may try to update photo posts from the road, we’ll see. Definitely expect in depth trip reports when we get back though!
This trip is a more northern route than our last trip. We’ll be going through New York, Ontario in Canada, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, to Portland, Oregon where we honeymooned. Check out the route:
We’re really excited to get away. We both desperately need a vacation and some uninterruptedly time together. I can’t wait to share our trip when we get back!
Also, if you need any advice on trip planning, check out my Trip Planning 101 post.
Domestocrat 
We can’t wait to see you guys out here! :)
Same!!!!
Have SO MUCH FUN! I love road trips – I’ve done three, one south, one middle, and one northern. I did a similar route on my way from Seattle to law school in Nashville. Montana is amazing, and obviously I’m partial to Seattle. My husband has driving through South Dakota a few years ago, and he is obsessed with the Badlands now. Have a great trip!
Amazing! We love it too. Incidentally Montana, Seattle (which we love), and the Badlands are all on this trip. So excited!
Have fun! I have to say I’m not Brandon and I could do the road trip thing. Neither of us really loves being in the car that long, and he additionally can’t read in the car without getting motion sickness.
I can definitely understand it. I’m glad we are both good car travelers or it wouldn’t work at all.
Kim, I’m so jealous, even though I’m with K-Hal. Being in the car that much would make me lose my shit and be a total bitch. But it’s so great that you and Serp love it so much because you get to see everything!
Hahaha! Well, better to know it now and save your marriage :)
Kim have an amazing time!!! I have been wanting to do a road trip forever, so I want to hear everything! Are things really planned out ahead of time? Do you have places to stay? Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Yes, we plan it ALL ahead of time, find a hotel, and spend each day getting there and doing all of the sightseeing we can in between. I’ll fill you in when we get back!