Going West-What shouldn't we miss!

Hello All! The new wife and I will be leaving on our honeymoon this coming Tuesday and are heading west with no plans. What shouldn't we miss! We like farm museums, antique shops, old implement yards, great views, and ??? We are probably heading to the Dakotas and then where who knows. So lets hear it, where are all those little hot spots we shouldn't miss. Thanks for your help

Not tractor related but Wall Drug , Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore are must sees.

Jerry

I"ll second that list and add Custer"s Battlefield and Yellowstone if you get that far. I"d also swing up into Canada if the chance came up. Some of our best times was getting on a road away from the busy highways and just go. Didn"t know and didn"t care where we would end up. Met a lot o nice people. I regret I never got into taking pictures.

I"ll second that list and add Custer"s Battlefield and Yellowstone if you get that far. I"d also swing up into Canada if the chance came up. Some of our best times was getting on a road away from the busy highways and just go. Didn"t know and didn"t care where we would end up. Met a lot o nice people. I regret I never got into taking pictures.

If you're headed thru North Dakota, I'd recommend the Dale and Martha Hawk Museum near Mylo, ND. Has several large buildings full of tractors and machinery, as well as several other buildings reflecting life in a small prairie town. Then as you head west, you might get a kick out of Pete's Tractor Salvage south of Anamoose, ND. I went there once and my first thought was "Oh, my God!". 20 years ago it was 80 acres covered with old tractors and combines. My wife and I also really enjoyed the Paul Broste Rock Museum just outside Parshall, ND. We're both kind of rockhounds, and Paul Broste managed to collect an incredible collection of minerals of all types. Not worth the trip if you aren't a rockhound, though. Other attractions in ND would be the International Peace Gardens north of Dunseith, but you'll probably need a passport to get back into the US from there, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a great place to visit, if for nothing else but to watch wildlife. Moving west, a stop at Custer Battlefield is kind of neat if you're a history buff. I'd also second the vote for a trip to the Black Hills. That's among the most beautiful part of the country. You can see the usual, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc, but the little things interest me, like the Black Hills Institute, where they have dinosaur fossils on display, or the many caves in the area, or the Needles Highway. From the Black Hills it's <s>a short trip</s> not too far to Devils Tower in Wyoming.

I tell people they havent lived until they see Bryce Canyon National Park (Arches and Zion close by),,,,,,,,Monument Valley,,,,,,,,,The Grand Canyon but thats Utah and Arizona area in the Southwest. Of course the direction youre talkin, its more Mt Rushmore and Devils Tower and the Badlands and Yellowstone

On our honeymoon 39 years ago we went to Brown County State Park and Pokagon State Park right here near home in Indiana, but its a different world now, our kids n nephews etc go to Bahamas etc but its NOT where yo go that really matters, its a precious once in a lifetime experience akin to the birth of your kids etc so make the best of it..........

Take lots of pictures and recall the song Paul Anka wrote for Polaroid I believe it was, (Oh do you remember) "THE TIMES OF YOUR LIFE"

"Memories are moments you borrow to spend when you get to tomorrow"

Best Wishes and congrats

John T

Second-grader comes home and announces that 'Miss Phobe' is getting married tomorrow and he'll have a substitute teacher for 3 weeks. She's going to Florida for her honeymoon. After 3 weeks, he comes home and announces that 'Miss Phoebe' is back; his mother......."Did she have a good time on her honeymoon?" "She said she did, but I doubt it; I don't think she ever left her room; she wasn't a bit tanned."

If you'd happen to swing through Nebraska, Harold Warp's Pioneer Village at Minden, NE is worth seeing. Lots of antique tractors, cars, trucks, machinery, buildings hauled in, etc. We're going there ourselves next month.

If you're into aviation, the Strategic Air Command museum at Ashland, NE is worth the time. Exit 432 on I-80. Lots of old warbirds, bombers, etc. all indoors. The centerpiece as you walk in is an SR-71 Blackbird.

If you get to NW Colo on US be sure to stop at the Wyman museum about 4 miles east of Craig,it is full of old stuff used to settle the area.

Warp"s Pioneer Village is great! Been there twice.

Come to California our state needs the money. If you do get that far west there is a farm equipment show in Vista ca. This is about 40 miles north of san Diego. Stan

Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park are close together. Devils tower is not too far. If you make it to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, you have Several things around Jackson Hole. Cody has the Buffalo Bill Museum and Cody Nite Rodeo. It would take a year to see it all.

If you're going to California, also make a stop at the Heidrick Ag History Museum in Woodland, just north of Sacramento. They got tractors there you won't find in other parts of the country. Lots of Holt and Best crawlers.

The needles highway and the custer state park jeep tours are well worth it. as is the Black hills railroad.
http://www.1880train.com/
In south dakota there is a museum in Michaell, you know, the corn palace town.
This museum in south dakote has a 460 powered hot rod manure spreader
http://pioneerautoshow.com/
If you get to nebraska, these museums tie for top spot in my book.
http://www.stuhrmuseum.org/
http://www.nebraskaprairie.org/
http://www.pioneervillage.org/
Pionervillage has good deals. arrive after noon and your admition ticket is good for the following day. Stay at their motel or campground and 1 admition is free.
enjoy.

If you get to the Custer State Park in South dakota be advised, wild burros in the park like to stand in the road, stop traffic, then walk down the line of cars, checking every open window for treats. for a burrow with a funny look on his face I recomend a sticky carmel candy like Hershies Riesn.

Having been to most all of them ,MY advice,, get off the main hiway,stay away from the tourist traps,their mostly too crowded to enjoy anyhow.find a series of quiet off the trail motels,have a fine time starting your adventure together,and see the true country.theres so many wonderful small places in this country that people miss in their rush to get to the crowds,that it would be impossible to list them.throw the map away,forget the destination,and simply enjoy the ride!what shouldn't you miss? the west! those tourist dumps aint it..when everyone you meet waves at you,your getting close!

Head straight to Yellowstone Nat'l
Park for at least a week then aim for Glacier Nat'l Park for a few days. This will take all of 2 weeks of your time. The Museums are OK and the roadside attractions are good for a few hours but a stay in the Grand Lodge at Yellowstone ,you'll remember the rest of your life. Glacier likewise.JH

Dont miss Devils tower on the way to Yellowstone and mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monument.

I enjoy going to Medora from time to time,,,,,,,,,,,,They have a good musical,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Nice scenery,,,,,,,,,,,,The rest are just stuffy tourist traps.

I am with CJ, go to see crazy horse, the black hills, maybe see a strip coal mine in Wyoming, maybe go to Jellystone park too. You may not have enough time.....being your honeymoon and all. You will both be too busy with each other.

You won't have enough time to see all you'll want to see. Plan on a second (or third) trip soon! Are you a Star Trek fan? You can visit Riverside Iowa, and see the "Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk." just south of I-80.

Nebraska features a bunch of museums; Gothenburg area has some. Chimney Rock is neat, and the Scotts Bluff area features "Windlass Hill" where you can walk up a short trail and stand in the channel worn through the rock by the iron rims of the covered wagons. Devils Tower is a short distance west into Wyoming.

If you're in the Dakotas, spend some time in the Badlands. If you're on I-90 the National Grassland that's on a loop between Cactus Flat and Wall is a beautiful drive. Southwest SD features not only Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument, but a really interesting
"Mammoth Dig" at Hot Springs.

Montana has a lot of Lewis & Clark trail areas, Pompey's Pillar next to I-94, and the Little Bighorn Battlefield close to Billings is definitely worth a stop. South of Billings on Hwy 212, you can go through Red Lodge and enter Yellowstone by the most scenic route into the park. That road usually opens around June 15 or so, when the snow has been cleared. CHECK to see if it's open before going this way!!

If you have time, work in a trip to Glacier National Park and see the glaciers before they totally disappear. You'll never be in a more beautiful place with fewer people. Drive the "Going to the Sun Road" and you won't forget it! You can stay in St. Mary on the east side of the park, or in several places west of the park; Kalispell is not far away. The drive from Helena to Butte on I-15 is one of the prettiest Interstate drives you'll find.

Yellowstone is magnificent - ALL of it. I've been there three times, and want to go back several more times. The Jackson Hole/Tetons area south of Yellowstone is neat. If you stay in West Yellowstone, satisfy your appetite at the Rustler's Roost on Firehole Ave. West of Yellowstone on US 20 in Idaho is Craters of the Moon National Monument with incredible lava fields from ancient volcanic eruptions.

South from there and into Utah, you can visit Salt Lake City. The Dinosaur National Monument where Utah and Colorado come together (east of Vernal) is an interesting place. Head east (or south) into Colorado, and you can find all sorts of neat places. Rocky Mt. National Park, a drive down Big Thompson Canyon, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs features the Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, and is within an hour or so of a bunch of neat historical sites, mining museums, etc.

Enjoy your trip, take a camera, and post some pictures for the rest of us!

Down Utah through "Canyon Lands" Almost worth going out of your way and it will get you to the Grand Canyon..

I'm surprised no one else asked...
Heading west from Where??
Big difference if you're heading west from New Jersey or heading west from Wisconsin.

Them name implys Illinois.

Surely not Medora, Kansas. Unincorporated city but at least they do have an antique shop.

Sad to say. all in park lodging in the U.S. is handled/ operated by a forien company called Xanterra inc. Prices are now quite high and you need a booking at least 6 months in advance. Their website recomends at least a year in advance. I LOVE MY RV. At least national forrests are are still american run. Last year I vistied Yellowstone and stayed 3 miles outside of the east gate for 18.00 per night.

In SD from east to west. Falls Park in Sioux Falls. Eat at Minervas. Salem SD one of the largest farm salvage yards in the country.
Mitchell SD the Corn Palace and a Indian Village Archalogical site dig. Grab a buffalo ribeye at "The Depot" To die for.
Catch an apple pie with cinammon ice cream at Al's Oasis in Chamberlain/Ocoma.
Pioneer Auto museum in Murdo. See the General Lee and lots of far equipment. Avoid their food!
Wall Drug. Free ice water (thible size paper cup) 5 cent coffee, ditto. Pictures on the stuffed horses are good for a keepsake.
Badlands
In the Black hills must see and do
1) Mt Rushmore, take the nature walk under it.
2) Any Cave
3)1880 Train from Hill City to Keystone.
4) Swim in natural warm water in Hot Springs (Evans Plunge)
5) Passion Play in Spearfish, Drive up Spearfish Canyon
6) Adams House in Deadwood
7) Go trail riding in Custer Park
8) Drive 16A (Needles Highway)
9) Window shop in Hill City and Rochford
10) Drive up to Deerfield Lake, take the old gravel road to top of Flag Mountain
11) Climb Harney Peak.
Are we there yet?

Gordo

NO no no,,,Medora ND,,,sw part of state,,,,Marces demores???spelling,,,,,,set up a meat packing plant there in the pre homestead days,,,,a lot a history down there,,,,,,,,,cowboy hall a fame and such,,,thet put on a good musical in the hills in what they call an amp-la theater,,,,,,,its a perty good show,,,,worth seeing IMHO

If you get west far enough you stop at Mt St Hellens. It is a most fascinating place.

Uh...um....well....maybe its just me....but....um....we didnt leave the hotel room much on our honeymoon......you do as you want......Im just sayin....

Triangle Ranch near Wall, SD. It is a bed and breakfast. Right near the Badlands and on the way to Black Hills. Search on line. Carriage house would be perfect.

Gotta see the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Casper, WY.

YELLOWSTONE

You don't say how much time you have to spend. One could easily spend two weeks or more in California alone. My suggestion is, rather than try to get "everything" in, that you pick a region to explore. There will always be another trip, and you don't want to spoil this one by spending all your time driving between places.

On the ND-MT border area near Williston: stop at the Confluence Center for the Yellowstone & Missouri rivers. (My sister works there)
Fort Union & Fort Buford have visitor centers & re-enactments also.
All 3 of these are less than 2 miles apart.
Fort Buford: http://www.nps.gov/fous
Confluence Center: https://www.state.nd.us/hist/lewisclark/attractions_mycic.html
Fort Union

Pioneer Village In Minden Nebraska. It is a must.

Good advice ,, got to see alot of that back in 93 with my wife and 4 kids on thwe way to yellowstone , jackson hole , grand tetons ,,there is somethin about billings montana , that we really liked . just felt homey,, deadwood sd is a good lunch stop ....you won't see all there is of the west ,, but you can try...

Alliance, Ne. (Car Henge)
Just across the border into S.D. ( Hot springs Fossil dig)
Then up to Wind Caves then Crazy horse and Rushmore.
Work your way across WY to Devils Tower then Cody for the Bill Cody Museums. then back up the hill to Yellostone. Then cross Montana lots of great places to see along the road.
After that cut though eastern Wash, after you go the 20 miles across Idaho.
Cut south to Oregon Drive down the Columbia to Portland and then south to McMinnville to the Evergreen Air Museum to see the Spruce goose and hundreds of other planes.
Now south down 99W to Monmouth an call 503 623 0460 either the wife or me will answer. We can then point out your trip down to CA and back home.
Great trip we made it in 89 back to the kids.
while in Alliance call Allen.
Walt

Along I80 in Nebraska is Strategic Air Command (SAC) museum near Omaha. Pioneer village in Minden. Stuhr museum in Grand Island. Scouts Rest Ranch (Buffalo Bills home) and the golden spike tower both in North Platte. The tower overlooks the largest railroad switching yard in the nation. Chimney rock and Scotts Bluff are not far from the interstate.

Try Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT

There's a small tractor museum along I-90 in South Dakota. Think it might be at White Lake. Small, but interesting. Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo SD and the 1880 Town(lots of history and antiques!) between Murdo and Kadoka on I-90.