Apparently I won a travel sweepstakes.

"PelicanHazard" (pelicanhazard)
09/12/2013 at 09:14 • Filed to: Road Trip, vacation, california

Paid-for airfare and hotel anywhere in the contiguous US. I'd be lying if I said my first thought wasn't to go to California and rent a car to drive the Pacific Coast Highway.

DISCUSSION (22)

505 - morphine not found > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 09:17

I don't know the US enough to give you any ideas, just came to say congratulations.

(maybe chose a car to buy in a far-off place, and make it a road trip back?)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 09:17

Rent a Prius: it will make everyone in California like you and your fuel expenses will be low.

/trollingjustateensybit

PelicanHazard > 505 - morphine not found
09/12/2013 at 09:32

Argh, don't tempt me. I have to save up money for a house.

PelicanHazard > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
09/12/2013 at 09:33

It's not really trolling if it's the sad truth. I wonder if I can rent a truck to roll coal in for a day...

Casper > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 09:33

The roads are more interesting once you get to Northern California or Oregon, but Oregon has some of the most absurd speed limits on earth. The real question is, where do you live now and do you want to see something different.

ncasolowork2 > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 09:35

Road trip? Denver -> Pikes Peak -> Grand Canyon -> Vegas -> Utah Salt Flats -> Denver.

Jagvar > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 09:37

Kinja'd!!!

Now's a wonderful time of year to visit beautiful Paramus, New Jersey.

timateo81 > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 09:43

If I could go anywhere today, I would spend a week at the Grand Canyon Lodge (north rim), and drink beers on the overlook outside the saloon. Seriously just sit there for a week without moving.

Kinja'd!!!

PelicanHazard > Casper
09/12/2013 at 09:43

I live in Pittsburgh. I've visited NYC, DC, Boston, Orlando, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. (I know, not a lot, but my family's always been a bit on the poorer side.)

The Pacific Coast Highway was my first thought because it's beautiful and I've never driven it; when I was in San Francisco I was too young to rent so I was a passenger the whole time. Truthfully, I'll probably go to Seattle instead; I've been interested in that area for a while, I've never visited, and it's clear across the country where I can't easily visit on my own.

PelicanHazard > ncasolowork2
09/12/2013 at 09:45

My girlfriend is coming with me and she's not much for deserts, gambling, road trips, or gearhead meccas. I'm not much for heat and money pits, either.

Good thought, though. Might spend a day in a car just exploring whatever area I go to.

Chteelers > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 09:45

Free trip? Pick a place you want to see, but never pay to actually go. I'd hit the Northeast coast, Maine, Nova Scotia, lobsters, whale-watching, etc.

Driving the PCH is awesome, but thats the kind of place I'd go on future vacations where I pay my own way. I'd probably never pay for a vacation up the NE coast.

PelicanHazard > Jagvar
09/12/2013 at 09:46

Hahaha!

PelicanHazard > Chteelers
09/12/2013 at 09:46

Now that's an interesting thought, I never thought about it that way...

Chteelers > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 09:47

also, see ninja edit addon

ncasolowork2 > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 10:00

I've traveled to ~40 of the 50 states. In the continuous US these are my favorite places and why.

Colorado - Rocky Mtn national park, hiking, beautiful countryside, Denver (my favorite big city), Telluride, and basically everything it has to offer. If you have to pick a place to stay stay in Telluride.

Grand Canyon - Pictures do not do it justice. It is epic. Amazing. There's not much else though. Even if she's not much for deserts or road trips I'm confident the Grand Canyon is something she would be for.

Seattle - Again the whole area is beautiful and there's a lot to do. Bring a passport. Vancouver is extremely close.

San Diego - LA is only 2 hours away, but San Diego is perfect. San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and more. Actually I need to put San Diego above Seattle because of the weather.

There are a ton of other great places I've been, but none of them stand above the rest like those 4.

Pixel > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 10:25

Just so it gets said, did you enter a sweepstakes and win, or just get a call out of nowhere?

I ask because "You won an all expenses paid trip" is a common scam. If they tell you you need to send them any money(for fees, taxes, etc.) or give them any bank account info they are almost certainly scamming you.

Casper > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 10:37

It all depends on what the trip is for. Seattle is nice, but I live close enough it's one of those things that I like in small doses. For me it's Vegas, I'm far enough away that I only get reasonably small doses anyway. If you are feeling adventurous you could do a small part of the trip we did on our motorcycles and do Vegas to Lake Havasu. It's interesting driving through the desert and playing around out there when you are use to cold and rain most of the fall.

If you go to Seattle, I would say to just plan on staying around there. There isn't a whole lot within driving distance that's really worth seeing unless you want to go hiking or something. If you are going to stay in the city you may also just save the money and not rent a car, it's easy enough to just take cabs or trains around. I would also try to do it in the late spring or summer... the weather isn't great a lot of the year unless you plan to be indoors. The northwest is a rain forest after all.

PelicanHazard > Pixel
09/12/2013 at 10:42

Nope, I entered a drawing when I attended a local Irish festival. I have a meeting with them tomorrow night at their location, and nothing is due until I book the trip.

PelicanHazard > Casper
09/12/2013 at 10:44

Good tips, thank you.

Pixel > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 11:33

Ah, very cool. Congratulations!

liquid_popcorn > Chteelers
09/12/2013 at 12:06

I love the NE coast; especially Maine.

Suuuubaru > PelicanHazard
09/12/2013 at 21:50

You should totally go to North Dakota

Kinja'd!!!