Roadtrip From San Francisco to Boston with our Precious Dog

[bjanani]

Hi,

My husband and I are moving from San Francisco to Boston and planning to leave San Francisco around August 11 and reach Boston on August 22. We will be travelling with our dog. We need advice on planning our itenary and also tips on dog friendly places and hotels. We are not moving with our stuff and thus we have the flexibility of stopping at different places. This will be our first ever roadtrip. The places of interest and a tentative route is:

Day 1 : San Franciso to Idaho(Boise) or Salt Lake City
Please advice on what we should see (places of Interest) in Idaho or Salt Lake City, and also whether we should make a stop between San Franciso to Idaho or Salt Lake City. If so where and what places should we see.

Day 2 or 3: Idaho or Salt Lake City to Yellow Stone National Park

Day 3/4: Yellow Stone to Devils Tower (E. Wyoming)

Day 4/5: Devils Tower to Deadwood to Mt. Rushmore

Day 5/6: Mt. Rushmore to Badlands National Park

Day 6/7: Badlands Natioanl Park to Chicago along Missisippi River

Day 7/8 : Chicago to Dayton (to see a friend)

Day 7/8: Dayton to Niagara Falls

Day 8/9 : Niagara Falls to Boston

Please advice on any other places of interest along this route or tips on dog friendly places. Further if there are suggestion on places we should spend more time, etc. please let me know.

Any help, advice, suggestions or tips would be great.

We are very excited and looking forward to this fun adventure with our precious dog!

Thanks
Bindy

[staceykozak]

When you go to Niagara Falls, make sure you go to the Canadian Side. American side has a walkway that will take you close to the bottom of the American falls which is pretty cool but there really isn't much else there. The Canadian side has a much better viewpoint for the horseshoe falls, paved walkway along the river, great places for pics, stand next to where the water drops over, etc.

On the Canadian side is the journey behind the falls (takes you into some tunnels behind the falls, and you can see the water rush down pas the end of the tunnel). Personally, I'd skip this attraction since you don't really have alot of time.

A walk up Clifton hill is also an interesting thing to do. One entire street going straight up this steep steep hill. Lined with wax museums, haunted houses, incredibly tacky touristy stores. Sooooo out of place next to a natural wonder. But, none the less, an interesting walk.

Maid of the mist boat ride is a must. www.maidofthemist.com The boat goes right up to the bottom of the Big Horseshoe falls, and you come out pretty wet (despite the rain poncho) but with some amazing pics. Great ride---something you MUST do! If you have time the IMAX movie also gives you a cool history of the falls & the stunts people have attempted. www.imaxniagara.com

All of the above are just on the other side of the border (Rainbow bridge I think), so it isn't far to go at all.

[bjanani]

Thanks for the info on Niagara Falls. To go to the Canadian side, due need a candian visa since I am not a US citizen.

Please let me know.

Bindy

[staceykozak]

No Visa Needed! If you're an American citizen you don't even need a passport (as of now....you might in the future). Government issued photo id, birth certificate, and about $4-5 to cross the bridge. You only pay one way (can't remember which). It's dead simple. I've crossed a ton of times, several of which I haven't even been asked for ID.

[staceykozak]

Sorry, just read your post again.....NOT an american citizen. Hmmmmm....I'd contact Canadian Border Services a call or check out their website, it might say it on there. http://www.asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html. I dont think you do, but it might depend on which country you come from, and your status in the USA.

[Mass Tim]

If you have never been in Yellowstone before, you may be shocked at just how much time you can spend there and only see a fraction of its beauty.

It looks like you will spend a fair amount of your days travelling, covering miles, but you list 9 days and you say you have 11, so you should be able to cut some of the mileage covered on some of the days and explore (the Badlands to Chicago, I estimate, is 870 miles). In fact, looking at it, you're going to have to do just that to be able to see the sites.

I found this list referring to which countries require a visa when visiting Canada.

And, for when you get to Boston - welcome to Massachusetts!

[Mark Sedenquist]

My husband and I are moving from San Francisco to Boston and planning to leave San Francisco around August 11 and reach Boston on August 22.

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! Wow, a first ever road trip that crosses the continent -- that is quite an adventure.

We will be travelling with our dog. We need advice on planning our itenary and also tips on dog friendly places and hotels

Be sure to read this article about roadtripping with a dog.

Day 1 : San Franciso to Idaho(Boise) or Salt Lake City
Please advice on what we should see (places of Interest) in Idaho or Salt Lake City, and also whether we should make a stop between San Franciso to Idaho or Salt Lake City.

735 miles is too far for your first day on the road -- it would require a minimum of thirteen hours and with the appropriate stops for your canine friend, it would be closer to a 15-16 hour day. Since you want to sightsee as you go, I am going to suggest that you use US-50 instead of I-80 and you can stop and walk along the shore at Lake Tahoe and stay that first night in Carson City (a reasonable distance of only 215 miles). If you would prefer to go further, Ely has some nice places and that would be a long first day at 536 miles or about ten hours on the road (with stops for your dog and you).

Day 2

Follow US-50 over to I-70 and take the time to check out the viewpoints as discussed in this field report. Oops, you said Yellowstone -- so when you reach I-15 go north -- Idaho Falls is a nice place to stop overnight, but you could make it all the way to Ashton, ID -- 504 miles.

Day 4/5: Devils Tower to Deadwood to Mt. Rushmore
Day 5/6: Mt. Rushmore to Badlands National Park

You might find this field report from another roadtrippers adventure in South Dakota helpful.

Happy Planning!

Mark