Summer Vacation Route

Bill from Scotland · Jun 9, 2010

Hi Guys
Sitting here with the laptop planning our route, we have 17 days in which we can be on the road. Flying into Seattle staying there the first day then thinking about travelling to Spokane, Butte, Bozeman, Billings, Cody, Idaho Falls, Boise, Bend then taking in the tractor show at Brooks Oregon before setting back for 3 days in Seattle. This makes a round trip of about 2150 miles. What do you think? Have we got it about right or has anyone got better suggestions? Does anyone know of any interesting tractor sites to see on this route or are we way too far west?
Thanks
Bill

Dblair · Jun 9, 2010

I've never been there Bill, I bet it's an interesting journey . Hope someone chimes in here and gives you some direction. On this site we don't hear much from the west coast . beautiful place according to my brother who spent a month out that way in Apr. May. I'm all the way on the Atlantic side.

Tony S. · Jun 9, 2010

Saw a cool tractor museum in Great Falls, Mont. couple of years ago. Big steamers and small stuff, too. Had some wood sided combines. I live near Idaho Falls.

rad · Jun 9, 2010

Suggest you look at going down the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. From Bend drive north on highway 97 to Biggs and then go west on Intersate 84. The drive us very pretty and takes you from high the high desert in central Oregon to the Willamette Valley. You can stop at the Dalles dam and or the Bonneville dams which span the Columbia River.

Alternatively you can cut across from Hwy 97 to Hwy 26 and then to Hwy 35 which skirts Mount Hood and ends in Hood River where you will take Interstate 84 west. This route will take you through the Warm Springs Indian Reservation with the requisite casino.

In either case stop in Hood River to see old farming community meets high tech wind surfers. Then on to Multnomah Falls is very pretty and there are many trails to smaller falls in the area.

From Multnomah Falls area, it is a 2 hour drive to Brooks. I go to the Great Oregon Steamup every year and recommend you take in the show the first Saturday it opens.

Have fun on your trip!

Tom Railsback · Jun 9, 2010

That museum is now closed as the owner passed away.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 9, 2010

You'll enjoy Brooks I go both weekends it's a great show. Hope to see you there.

MSD · Jun 9, 2010

We are heading west to MT. next week. Will stay in Bozeman and then on to Kalispal (sp). Have to pick up a loader there and thought we would take in Glacier National Park while we are there. Here is a link to the 2010 road plowing photos and more. Really looks like beautiful country. You might want to head up that way if your that close.

http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

big fred · Jun 9, 2010

When you leave Seattle, I'd highly recommend you cross the Cascades at Chinook Pass instead of Snoqualmie Pass. You'll have to head south on Highway 167 to Highway 410, then east thru Mt Rainier Natl Park to Chinook Pass. It will put you in Yakima on the east side of the mountains. It's a very beautiful drive, but will add a couple hours to your trip to Spokane. Snoqualmie Pass is just a freeway thru the mountains. If you can work in a trip thru Glacier Natl Park, it's definitely worth the trip, too. I take it if you're going to Cody, you'll be heading thru Yellowstone Natl Park. The western US may not be real big on tractor sites, but we have some of the most beautiful mountain scenery you could ever want.

BTW, if you take Chinook Pass, give a wave to the south as you pass thru Buckley, and I'll wave back. I'm about 2 miles south of Highway 410.

Handyman · Jun 10, 2010

If you enter Idaho from West Yellowstone MT, points of interest would be Big Springs, Mesa Falls scenic route(takes you past upper and lower Mesa Falls),then you can hit the teton valley scenic route which follows the western side of the teton range, or head on into Ashton and on to Idaho Falls. From IF you can head south to Pocatello and turn west to Boise and take in things like City of Rocks state park, Shosone Falls (nicknamed the Niagra of the west) thousand Springs, The Hagerman fosill beds, the Perine bridge (850 feet to the river below, only place in the USA where B,A,S,E, jumping is allowed year around) or you can head west out of IF across the Big Desert (really thats what they named it) stop and check out EBR-1 then head on through Arco towards Craters of the Moon national monument, then on towards I-86 and Boise. there are other places you may want to stop and see but you seem to have a time limit so these are easy places to just hit as you go through the area. sorry but no tractor shows that I'm aware of at this time.

Bill from Scotland · Jun 10, 2010

Sounds like there are going to be some great places to see when visiting the west. I guess we need to visit the maps again and factor in as many of the suggestion as possible, sounds great so far.
Thanks
Bill

Sid · Jun 10, 2010

Been awhile since I've been there. I suggest you consider the Seattle World's Fair site as well as Expo '74 Site in Spokane, My opinion the drive alone worth the trip, a tractor show would be icing on the cake.
Heres a start for a little research

Summer Vacation Route

Bill from Scotland

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Dblair

Well-known Member

Tony S.

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rad

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Tom Railsback

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Anonymous-0

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MSD

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big fred

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Handyman

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Bill from Scotland

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Sid

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