Trip from Florida to Anecortes

[knotflying]

We paln on towing ILLUSIONS from Placida, Florida to Anacortes, WA early to mid June. We would like to do a little sightseeing along the way, taking our time to get there. Anyone who has suggestions for a route, places to stop along the way or any other advice will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike Rizzo

 

[DBBRanger]

Don't know where you have been before and assuming you are looking for sight seeing in your boat, I'd suggest these:

Lake Powell - north and south of Hall's Crossing is the most scenic. It's a beautiful place to boat in the canyons although it's getting pretty hot there in June.

Flaming Gorge - put in at Lucerne and go south. Temps are more reasonable there.

Jackson Lake - Scenery is absolutely gorgeous being at the base of the Grand Tetons. Temps are perfect here as well as:

Yellowstone Lake - Nice boating to remote areas but be careful of the weather forecast. Marina there is cheap and excellent. View all of Yellowstone with your base being the boat and travel around the park in your vehicle.

That's my 2 cents! Enjoy!

 

[Crewdog]

Hi Mike:

When I did the Atl to Anacortes trip, I went I-75, I-24, I-57, I-64, I-255/I-270, I-70, I-29, I-90; very easy route.

If I had had more time, I would have liked to stop at the Truman Library in Independence, the AF SAC base in Omaha, the main Cabelas store in Sidney, NE (would have required a route change onto I-80), camp in Badlands NP in SD (it's cool if the buffalo graze past your campsite), the Minuteman Missile Silo National Monument in SD.

If y'all really want a neat adventure, there's outfitters that retrace part of the Lewis and Clark route on the Upper Missouri River National Wild/Scenic River in canoes with a historical interpreter; an easy 3 day downriver paddle that leaves from Great Falls, MT.

Plenty of Western Dude ranches on that route; PM me for recommendation and pix.

Also, plenty of horse outfitters that offer trips through Yellowstone backcountry; load the old Marlboro music on your iPhone and gallop through a high alpine meadow with Grand Tetons in the background........

Bill

 

[NewMoon]

Hi Mike,

If you haven't yet been to the red rock country of southern Utah, you might get a kick out of it. Not boating, but national parks Arches and Canyonlands and state park Dead Horse Point, all near Moab, are spectacular. There's also Zion NP, and Bryce Canyon NP. Grand Canyon is another great option. Great overlooks, great hiking. All unlike just about anywhere else.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Mike:

I don't think there is a bad route but one consideration is to take a north route one way and more southern route the other. Places we've enjoyed Boaterhoming have been Glacier National Park in West Glacier Montana, Zion National Park in Southwest Utah, Teddy Roosevelt National Park in Medora, North Dakota and Mt Rushmore in the Bad Lands of South Dakota too name a few places.

Jim

 

[JamesTXSD]

Jim's suggestion of different routes allows you to visit so many great places. Along the way on either route, you will find lakes that are local treasures. In South Dakota, there is Lewis & Clark Lake (reservoir) at Yankton; in the western part of the state is Angostura Lake in the southern Black Hills.

Two spectacularly beautiful National Parks with great lakes are in Wyoming: Yellowstone Lake, of course in Yellowstone, and Jackson Lake in the Grand Teton National Park. Going further west in Idaho: Lake Pend Orielle and Coeur d'Alene Lake.

Heading south on your return, Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Lake Powell on the Utah/Arizona border is one of our favorites. Use the boat as a camping conveyance to see the wonderful National Parks in Utah, and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Going east, Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma/Texas border. Further east to Kentucky Lake and the Tom/Tenn waterway.

Having a trailerable boat opens up all kinds of great places to explore. Instead of making it a "sprint" to get from FL to WA, enjoy some of the water along the way.

Have fun!

 

[jcarrdive]

mike- Do you want to use your boat on the way, or are you just looking for the best sights on land?
by boat, you can do a lot of sight seeing if you hit the Great Lakes. From Southern Lake Huron up to the meeting point between Huron and Michigan (Mackinac) and then on to the south coast of Lake Superior. Whitefish bay, Munising, Marquette, Keweenaw Peninsula and Duluth. From Duluth, you are only about 35 hours from Anacortes.
Good boating that way. The earlier posts have some great ideas for alternative routes.
jeff and Ela
Bobolink R27

 

[knotflying]

I am actually looking at land sightseeing more that by water. We plan on staying in the PNW for the summer so I am allowing about two two weeks to get to Anecortes. I should have been more specific about that.

 

[Scuffy]

We liked the ride north of route 80 in Wyoming going up from Rock Springs up Rte. 191 on to Rte.189 to Jackson past the Grand Teton park and right into Yellowstone. Using your Golden National park pass go thru the south entrance and right out the northern park entrance. Some decent grades with some switch backs but we drug our C-Dory this route. I'm sure you will appreciate your electric over hydraulic brakes. Then I would see Glacier National Park.
On your way back to break up the trip a little I would vote for a stop in Bayfield, Wisconsin and check out the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. Decent ramp there and a nice place to take one day cruises around the area. Also try the white fish livers at Maggie's restaurant. They were a lot better then they sound. Then you can run along the bottom of Wisconsin and go down past Mackinaw Island and check out Leland, Michigan and Traverse City. Not too far from there is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. Then down route 75 to Toledo and pick up Rte. 80 and head back east.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Mike:

If you do go to Glacier National Park check out the current rules on trailering thru the park. When Lisa and I went a few years ago it was not allowed. If this is still the case I would not let it stop you from visiting the park, it is well worth a visit. Simply park your boat/trailer somewhere convenient for your trip west or east, tour the park then retrieve your boat and continue on....they had plenty of places for parking.

Jim

 

[Cruzerboy]

Two more "thumbs" up for Yellowstone Lake. It's awesome water. Great scenery. Great fishing. And sleeping aboard, you don't even have to think about bears!

Tom
Life Savor
Seattle

 

[Nellie Too]

Hi Mike,
Nita and I live in Anacortes so if you need any help or information you can call us at (360)293-0003. We might be able to find you moorage and trailer storage.

Bob

 

[jcarrdive]

Hi Mike- the company I work for has a sawmill only 10 miles from Anacortes, and I am up there often. Let me know your contact info if you want a tour of the plant. it is a cool place.
Jeff
jeff.carr@northwesthardwoods.com

 

[knotflying]

Thanks for all the info everyone. Keep it coming. Once I sit down and figure some things out I will contact those of you who have made some great offers!