AIRBNB ROAD TRIP ACROSS THE US

As we came to the end of our travels in Asia, we weren’t ready to go home yet.  We booked a rental car for 4 weeks, which we ultimately extended to 6 weeks to drive from Seattle back to Boston.  Our route changed multiple times along the way.  We planned to take a northern route through Montana, Yellowstone National Park, and Minnesota.  But thanks to cold temperatures and a southeast Asian wardrobe, we took our route further south. 

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Stories

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Amish Country, USA
The Amish Way
Amish Country, USA

We stayed with an ex-Amish family in Amish Country.  We couldn't have had more fun spending time with them and the Amish family they introduced us to.  

Amish Country, USA
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Detroit
Abandoned Buildings in Detroit
Detroit

We took a 2-person vote on the most interesting stop along our road trip and we both said Detroit.  The city was unlike anything we’d ever seen before.

Detroit
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Louisville
Louisville: Ali's Childhood Home
Louisville

Our host assured us that we lived on the right side of the tracks and that people in her neighborhood knew to avoid crossing them because of gang activity.  Annie said, “Wait- the tracks we just drove by?”  They were 6 houses down from the one that we were staying in. 

Louisville
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Memphis, US Roadtrip
Serenaded in Memphis
Memphis, US Roadtrip

Our expectations for Memphis were high and the city didn’t disappoint.  We were there for a grand total of 24 hours, but we packed a lot of action into our short window of time. 

Memphis, US Roadtrip
Hot Springs
Hot Springs: Old School Bath Houses
Hot Springs

Driving through Hot Springs is a little bizarre.  It holds an air of good times passed, but you know after being there, that those heydays are gone.  This place is known for 1) being Bill Clinton's boyhood home and 2) having a bunch of old school bathhouses.

Hot Springs
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Kansas City
Kansas City: NASCAR at the Kansas Speedway
Kansas City

On our eastward journey, we drove 6 hours out of our way for one reason: NASCAR!  The Kansas Speedway was hosting one of the 24 NASCAR events held each year.

Kansas City
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Oklahoma City
Pounding Iron in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City

We took a wrong turn as we entered Oklahoma City because Adam failed to listen to Annie’s directions.  Google recalculated and brought us through the hood of OKC.

Oklahoma City
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Amarillo, US Roadtrip
Everything is Bigger in Amarillo
Amarillo, US Roadtrip

This place is apparently a “hard-nosed cattle town,” but it seemed like a trucker stop to us.  It’s home to the largest canyon in the state of Texas, the Palo Duro Canyon, which is 2nd in size only to the Grand Canyon.  We’re glad we stopped here, but we were happy to keep on going.

Amarillo, US Roadtrip
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Santa Fe, US Roadtrip
A Feminism Skeptic in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, US Roadtrip

We spent two days here and really enjoyed exploring downtown and the Plaza.  It was Adam’s first time to Santa Fe, and while Annie had been there prior to visit her brother James, she really hadn’t gotten a chance to do much exploring.

Santa Fe, US Roadtrip
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Mighty 5, USA
Utah: Mighty 5 National Parks
Mighty 5, USA

We visited all 5 of Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks. Originally, Utah wasn’t even on our itinerary, but after bumping into a friend by chance, we redirected our driving route to bring us through this beautiful state.

Mighty 5, USA
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Salt Lake City
Mormonism in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City

One of the primary missions of our cross-country trip was to experience places unlike home.  For this reason, we were really looking forward to our stay in Salt Lake City.  We were excited to see some incredible landscapes and learn more about the Mormon lifestyle.  

Salt Lake City
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Boise
The Beauty of Boise
Boise

Middle America, here we come.  After driving 8 hours along the Oregon Trail, we arrived in Boise.  The city feels like an oversized suburb centered around Boise State University, which, to Annie’s surprise, has a blue football field.

Boise
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Seattle
Keep Portland Weird!
Seattle

We’ve heard a lot about Portland so we were excited to visit.  It seems like a millennial hotspot. It’s liberal, forward-looking, a bit hippy, and definitely weird.  

Seattle
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Seattle
Winding Through the Cascades
Seattle

The Cascades have loads of great driving routes. We snaked through the mountains to the little town of Leavenworth before sleeping in Yakima for the evening. 

Seattle
Seattle
Sights of Seattle
Seattle

We’ve loved the last 2 months in Asia, but it feels good to be back on U.S. soil.  We originally planned for 3 days in Seattle, but we quickly extended it to 6 as we got our feet back on the ground.

Seattle

Itineraries

Favorites in Bold

 

cascades, washington

  • Scenic drives along I-90 and Route 2

  • Afternoon in Leavenworth

  • Yakama Nation Indian Reservation

  • See our post from the Cascades

Seattle, washington

  • Gas Works Park

  • Run around Green Lake

  • Ferry Ride to Bainbridge - with the car!

  • Wine Tasting in Bainbridge

  • Chihuly Glass Garden

  • Kerry Park

  • Poulsbo and Waterside Walk

  • Washington University

  • Exploring Fremont

  • Troll Under the Bridge

  • See our post from Seattle

 

portland, oregon

  • Powell's City of Books - for 6 hours!

  • Visit to McMenamin's The Baghdad Theatre for Disney's "Made in China"

  • Curious Comedy Theatre for local amateur comedy show

  • International Rose Test Garden

  • Pearl District

  • Wine Hangout and Story-Time Reading with our Airbnb Hosts and their kids

  • World's Smallest Park

  • "Keep Portland Weird" Sign

  • See our post from Portland

boise, idaho

  • Biking along the Boise River Greenbelt

  • Boise State University

  • Julia Davis Park

  • Hike around Military Ridge

  • Dinner downtown

  • Working out in the backyard

  • See our post from Boise

 

 

Utah National Parks

  • Tower Arch

  • Navajo Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon

  • Angel's Landing in Zion

  • East Rim Trail to Observation Point in Zion

  • Short hike in Canyonlands National Park

  • Drive through Capital Reef National Park

  • See our post from the Mighty 5 National Parks

Salt Lake City, utah

 

Amarillo, texas

Santa Fe, new mexico

  • Downtown and Plaza

  • Santa Fe History Museum

  • Loretta Chapel Miraculous Stairs

  • Wheelwright Museum of American Indian

  • Palace of Governors

  • Georgia O'Keefe Museum

  • See our post from Santa Fe

 

Kansas City, kansas

  • NASCAR Race at Kansas Speedway

  • Repeat lunch at the Mixx (the yummiest salad shop in the world!)

  • Run through Loose Park

  • See our post from Kansas City

Oklahoma City, oklahoma

 

Memphis, tennessee

  • World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest and Ms. Piggy Idol

  • Live music at Blues Hall Juke Jointd

  • Beale Street

  • National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel

  • Evening stroll along the Mississippi River at Tom Lee Park

  • See our post from Memphis

Hot Springs, arkansas

 

Detroit, michigan

  • Driving to Abandoned Buildings

  • Packard Plant

  • Herman Kiefer Hospital

  • Michigan Opera Theatre for “Cyrano”

  • Brunch with Airbnb Hosts' church choir

  • See our post from Detroit

Louisville, kentucky

 

Amish Country, pennsylvania

  • Morning chores with our Airbnb Host. Including goats, chickens, pigs, etc

  • Buggy ride through Narvon streets

  • Dinner at Tomato Pie Cafe

  • Shopping in Intercourse

  • American Military Edged Weaponry Museum

  • See our post from Amish Country

 

Gallery

Our US Road Trip was our last stop on our journey. Where did we start?

JAPAN

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