2018 USA Trip # 4, 2018 (67c=1USD) Red Line 7000km
Seattle WA to Minneapolis MN to San Francisco CA to Los Angeles CA
This epic journey began from the Gold Coast and after three flights we landed in Seattle, Washington State a total of 19 hours in transit with Delta Airlines.
Seattle WA
After the mandatory Seattle Space needle selfies we then drove 250km East on the I90 till we could no longer stay awake, we ended up in Moses lakes WA for the night. Next day we drove 550km on the I90 via Spokane WA through part of Idaho to Missoula MT.
Spokane WA
Idaho and Montana
After Missoula MT we decided to drive Clockwise North West to Glacier National Park via Flathead Lake to see the coloured stones in the water, then further North East to Lake McDonald and then back south east and ended up in Great Falls ID, a total of 500km for the day. Its worth getting an annual ALL National Parks Pass for $80USD or you can pay $35USD for every national park as you go through. This trip we did Grand Teton SD, Yosemite CA, Glacier NP MT. We decided to not do death valley CA or Yellowstone SD as they looked boring to us.
Flathead Lake MT
Glacier NP MT and Lake McDonald
North Dakota
The drive from Great Falls MT to Dickinson ND was very uneventful, but its was 600 km that needed to be driven to continue on our planned itinerary. North Dakota has lots of giant animal statues for some reason so we checked a few out. The “World’s Largest Buffalo Monument” is a sculpture of an American Bison located in Jamestown, North Dakota at the Frontier Village. It is visible from Interstate 94, overlooking the city from above the James River valley. Salem Sue (or The World’s Largest Holstein Cow) is a large fibreglass Holstein cow sculpture located in New Salem, North Dakota, United States. Salem Sue was built in 1974 for $40,000. The project was sponsored by the New Salem Lions Club in honour of the local dairy farming industry.
Bismark ND
Bismarck is the capital city of North Dakota. The tall, art deco North Dakota State Capitol is set on landscaped grounds. Nearby, the North Dakota Heritage Centre & State Museum traces the state’s natural and cultural history. The restored Former Governors’ Mansion dates back to the late 19th century. By the Missouri River, the Dakota Zoo is home to grizzly bears and endangered Bengal tigers.
Fargo ND
Fargo is a city in North Dakota. The Plains Art Museum exhibits regional, contemporary and Native American works in a revamped old warehouse. Modern and vintage airplanes are on display at the Fargo Air Museum, spread over 2 hangars. The nearby Fargodome is an indoor stadium hosting college football games, concerts and theatrical shows. Red River Zoo shelters cold climate species such as red pandas and grey wolves. Check out Sickies 50 burgers and 50 beers at http://sickiesburgers.com/
Minneapolis MN
Minneapolis is a major city in Minnesota that forms “Twin Cities” with the neighbouring state capital of St. Paul. Bisected by the Mississippi River, it’s known for its parks and lakes. Minneapolis is also home to many cultural landmarks like the Walker Art Centre, a contemporary art museum, and the adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, famed for Claes Oldenburg’s “Spoonbridge and Cherry” sculpture. We enjoyed Minnehaha gardens and the mall of America as well as the Basilica of St Mary.
Mall of America The one stop entertainment shop. Mall of America® is more than a shopping mall near the Twin Cities. It’s over 520 shops full of tax-free shopping and 50 restaurants full of delicious food. It’s Nickelodeon Universe®, SEA LIFE® Minnesota Aquarium, FlyOver America, Crayola Experience, and more – all under one roof. The blue Lego figure is made of 1.2 million lego.
Minnehaha Park is a city park in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, and home to Minnehaha Falls and the lower reaches of Minnehaha Creek.
Basilica of St Mary The Basilica of Saint Mary is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located on its own city block along Hennepin Avenue between 16th & 17th Streets in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was the first basilica established in the United States.
Stone Arched Bridge is a former railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the only arched bridge made of stone on the entire length of the Mississippi River.
Des Moines IA
Des Moines is the capital city of Iowa. The gold-domed Iowa State Capitol building is among the 19th- and early-20th-century landmarks of the East Village area. The Des Moines Art Center is noted for its contemporary collections and Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Local produce and live music are draws at the Downtown Farmers’ Market. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden has outdoor plant displays and a geodesic dome.
Omaha NE
Omaha is a city in the U.S. state of Nebraska, on the Missouri River close to the Iowa border. The Old Market is a neighbourhood located in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, United States, and is bordered by South 10th Street to the east, 13th Street to the west, Farnam Street to the north and Jackson Street to the South. The neighbourhood has many restaurants, art galleries and upscale shopping. heartland of America Park and Pioneer Courage park are also worth seeing. If you like beer the Omaha Patio Ride is a mobile bar pedalled by the drinkers.
Sioux Falls SD
Sioux Falls is a city in South Dakota. The Big Sioux River tumbles over a series of rock faces in Falls Park, which includes an observation tower and the ruins of the 19th-century Queen Bee Mill. South Dakota was our 50th state to see, to complete our bucket-list. St. Joseph Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral and parish church located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States.
Rapid City SD Mount Rushmore
500 km west of Souix City along I90 is the city of rapid falls. Rapid City lies east of Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota. It’s known as a gateway to Mt. Rushmore, the massive iconic sculpture of 4 U.S. presidents. “City of Presidents,” a series of life-size statues, spans several blocks downtown. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Completed in 1941 under the direction of Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, the sculpture’s roughly 60-ft.-high granite faces depict U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Firehouse brewing company is also worth a visit to sample beer https://www.firehousebrewing.com/
Grand Teton/Yellowstone NP SD
Idaho Falls ID
Idaho Falls is a city in Idaho. Hugging the Snake River, the Greenbelt is a system of trails with parks and a waterfall. The riverside Art Museum of Eastern Idaho showcases eclectic works. Downtown’s Museum of Idaho has local-history exhibits, including items linked to the Lewis and Clark expedition and a re-created 1800s town. Idaho Falls in the city of the same name is created by a man-made diversion dam used for hydroelectric power. Before the dam was created, this was just a bunch of small rapids. Now, the Snake River makes a drop of about 20 ft. or so over a width of 1200 ft. It is an interesting location, and there is a beautiful walkway along the river here, so one can stroll along the whole length of the falls.
Elko NV
Elko is the largest city and county seat of Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. The city straddles the Humboldt River.
Lake Tahoe CA
This was our second visit to Lake Tahoe we were here in 2016 also but only for a few hours. This time we overnighted in lake Ridge ,4120 Manzanita Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States of America for $70 as it was the off season. Go have breakfast at Heidi’s pancake house; Since 1964, Tahoe has started its day with breakfast at Heidi’s. The distinctive yellow Swiss chalet building in South Lake Tahoe has been the home of quality ingredients and plentiful portions for as long as most of us can remember.
