Swamp Travel Guide

[Giff]

Detailed analysis later but Yosemite is unsurprisingly rocketing up the standings. Good lord.

We had some friends who were there earlier this summer and their high-level analysis matches. Can't wait to hear more about it.

[sancarlos]

Detailed analysis later but Yosemite is unsurprisingly rocketing up the standings. Good lord.

Did you get in ok? I heard that Yosemite was so crowded that the parking lots were full by 8:30 in the morning.

[P.D.X.]

that's brunch time by RMNP standards

[Ryan]

Detailed analysis later but Yosemite is unsurprisingly rocketing up the standings. Good lord.

Did you get in ok? I heard that Yosemite was so crowded that the parking lots were full by 8:30 in the morning.

Stayed in one of the in-park lodges last night, had breakfast at 7, checked out at 8 and went right to one of the bus stops where we waited about 45 minutes for a shuttle. The line had to be 3 hours long behind us. I think there were only 2 buses making the loop. The inner village route is closed for construction.

It’s really the only thing keeping me from saying “best place ever”. Zion was maybe a little busier a few years ago but at least they had 100 shuttles because you weren’t allowed to drive in. This was chaos. People parking in the worst random places because everything was full. Not fair for anyone, really, and it’s something they need to figure out.

[P.D.X.]

Any Park City, UT recs for food/drinks?

(Also I"ll be set up at 4th & Main for the art festival there this weekend if anyone happens to be in those environs. I believe Friday is locals night @swampsteve)

[sancarlos]

I have personally been in Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah. Can any of y’all say that?

[wlu_lax6]

I have personally been in Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah. Can any of y’all say that?

Drivin every kind of rig that's ever been made?

[brian]

I have personally been in Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah. Can any of y’all say that?

I have FWIW

Any recs on what to do if you have one day in Seattle. Taking an Alaskan cruise from there and will have the evening before and the day of (until about 2 pm) to explore. I’ll have a car so can get anywhere-ish.

(Also if anyone knows a free place to park for 10 days haha)

[sancarlos]

If anyone had been to all those places I figured it would be you.

[Ryan]

I have personally been in Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah. Can any of y’all say that?

I have FWIW

Any recs on what to do if you have one day in Seattle. Taking an Alaskan cruise from there and will have the evening before and the day of (until about 2 pm) to explore. I’ll have a car so can get anywhere-ish.

(Also if anyone knows a free place to park for 10 days haha)

Busy answer - Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Chihuly, and anything else right near the Space Needle and the hockey arena
Quiet answer - Discovery Park

[DSafetyGuy]

(Also if anyone knows a free place to park for 10 days haha)

We have a family friend who works in commercial real estate rental up there, checking...

[brian]

(Also if anyone knows a free place to park for 10 days haha)

We have a family friend who works in commercial real estate rental up there, checking...

Appreciate it. For what’s it’s worth even a spot on a street or something like that is fine as long as the car’s not gonna get towed.

[sancarlos]

I asked my daughter. She lives in Belltown.

She said:

Phil (boyfriend) would know better - I’ll ask him. Personally, assuming he’s leaving from the dock in magnolia, idk of particular parking lots, but tbh you could probably park on one of the backstreets in magnolia and just leave it there for a week. its pretty suburban there. He’d need to get a car from there to the cruise (or take a long walk?)

.
I’ll let you know if her boyfriend adds anything of note.

[rass]

Can you get Phil to check on it every couple of days?

[sancarlos]

phil says he knows this parking terminal next to where the alaskan cruise ships dock their boats, but is unsure if it’s exclusive to those cruises or not though. idk if it costs money too (i imagine it would)

[rass]

THANKS FOR NOTHING PHIL

[brian]

phil says he knows this parking terminal next to where the alaskan cruise ships dock their boats, but is unsure if it’s exclusive to those cruises or not though. idk if it costs money too (i imagine it would)

That’s helpful and worst case I’ll just pay to park at the cruise terminal bc they have long term parking there but can get pricey (though I should research costs. It’s it’s “only” $10/day the $100 is probably worth the piece of mind. If it’s $25/day I might take my chances parking somewhere else.

ETA: Looks like worst-case it would cost $202 to park at the port.

[DaveInSeattle]

I have personally been in Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah. Can any of y’all say that?

I have FWIW

Any recs on what to do if you have one day in Seattle. Taking an Alaskan cruise from there and will have the evening before and the day of (until about 2 pm) to explore. I’ll have a car so can get anywhere-ish.

(Also if anyone knows a free place to park for 10 days haha)

Didn't see this earlier, but the Pike Place Market is awesome. There's a reason its a big tourist attraction.

[DaveInSeattle]

(Also if anyone knows a free place to park for 10 days haha)

Free...no.

But there are parking lots by the terminal: https://www.seattlecruiseparking.com/

[Steve of phpBB]

I have personally been in Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah. Can any of y’all say that?

No but I've been from Walla Walla Washington to Kalamazoo.

[govmentchedda]

I have personally been in Tucson, Tucumcari, Tehachapi, and Tonopah. Can any of y’all say that?

I have FWIW

Any recs on what to do if you have one day in Seattle. Taking an Alaskan cruise from there and will have the evening before and the day of (until about 2 pm) to explore. I’ll have a car so can get anywhere-ish.

(Also if anyone knows a free place to park for 10 days haha)

Susanna Hoffs is a Swamp lurker?

[wlu_lax6]

In St. Louis...the weather is crazy. Hot and Steamy. Staying at the Hilton at the Ballpark. Rooms are cold but everything else is like a sauna (bathroom, exercise room, hallways, lobby). Just nuts. That being said, if you like baseball it is a fun hotel. Everything is decorated in Cardinals. Old baseball cards, pictures of the teams past, etc. Shame that the Cards were heading out of town after I flew in.

[mister d]

Spirit Airlines question: I know they're on the budget side so expecting to be uncomfortable or have them looking for upcharges. Anyone know how strict they are with their personal belongings policy which is stated at 18" x 14". Like is 20" x 14" going to throw up red flags or are those measurements there to avoid people carrying on two carry-ons?

[govmentchedda]

I don't remember them being strict about carry ons, but I also swore them off after being stranded two extra days in Vegas.

[brian]

In St. Louis...the weather is crazy. Hot and Steamy. Staying at the Hilton at the Ballpark. Rooms are cold but everything else is like a sauna (bathroom, exercise room, hallways, lobby). Just nuts. That being said, if you like baseball it is a fun hotel. Everything is decorated in Cardinals. Old baseball cards, pictures of the teams past, etc. Shame that the Cards were heading out of town after I flew in.

Stayed at that hotel a dozen times but never had any issues. The rooftop bar there is nice.

[brian]

Spirit Airlines question: I know they're on the budget side so expecting to be uncomfortable or have them looking for upcharges. Anyone know how strict they are with their personal belongings policy which is stated at 18" x 14". Like is 20" x 14" going to throw up red flags or are those measurements there to avoid people carrying on two carry-ons?

Yeah something that close should be OK in my experience.

[A_B]

That size will be fine like Brian said. My spirit flight was fine. No frills but I got across the country in 4 hours or so.

[Ryan]

4 hours per engine is pretty solid

[mister d]

Thank you everyone!!!

That size will be fine like Brian said.

Heh.

[DaveInSeattle]

I spent last week in Colorado Springs visiting my parents with my younger daughter, and while we were there we checked out the new Olympic Museum.
(United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, and it was pretty darn cool. Lots of great exhibits about events and training and whatnot, and then tons of stuff about the Games themselves.

I was impressed that they did not shy away from some of the more controversial topics...like drug testing, the Larry Nassar/Me Too scandal, the Black Power salute in '68, Munich '72, the various boycotts, etc.

If you find yourself in the area, definitely worth checking out. But remember...because Visa is an Olympic Sponsor, they will not take any other cards. They didn't even have an ATM in the lobby...we have to walk a few blocks to find an ATM to get cash.

[mister d]

People who intentionally wake up at 5:00 AM are insane.

[The Sybian]

People who intentionally wake up at 5:00 AM are insane.

I was just having that thought about 6:30. And I’m looking at 5:30 for Friday and Saturday.

[Sabo]

People who intentionally wake up at 5:00 AM are insane.

I've been awake since 4 a.m. Fight me.

[mister d]

Yeah, maybe we can set up a 3:30 PM pay-per-view so you’re good for supper then bed.

[duff]

People who intentionally wake up at 5:00 AM are insane.

I've been awake since 4 a.m. Fight me.

He only said those that wake up at 5 AM. You should be good.

[Giff]

I've been waking up at 6 all week and it's been glorious.

[Steve of phpBB]

People who intentionally wake up at 5:00 AM are insane.

So I just had about three or four weeks straight of this, preparing for and then doing a two-week commercial arbitration. It is still very hard for me to stay asleep past 5. (Or awake past 9.)

[DaveInSeattle]

People who intentionally wake up at 5:00 AM are insane.

My alarm is set for 5:20am so I can be at the pool when it opens at 5:45.

[sancarlos]

I get up when I wake up. Usually a little after 8:00.

Why, yes. I am retired, thank you!

[HaulCitgo]

Quite impressive to be somewhere 25 mins after the buzzer