Having been an international traveler at least every six months for most of the past 20 plus years, world events keep me closer to home as the years pass since 9/11/01.  One of the fantastic ways to travel America is to pick an interstate highway and travel it, with detours as to see events along the way.  A truly  awesome trip is the Interstate 80 from San Francisco to Fort Lee, New Jersey.

San Francisco is one of America’s most diverse cities.  I love the place!  The annual temperature is inviting, as well as the beauty of the city.  Some of the finest dining of our nation is to be found here, as well as the famous:  cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown,  the 1776 Mission Dolores and another million and one things to see and do.  A day along the piers and watching the street performers, eating street vendor food, and shopping can really be a fun day.  Union Square area offers some of America’s upscale shopping for the high dollar spenders!  http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Union_Square.html

Leaving out of San Francisco may be more difficult than expected because you may be “leaving your heart in San Francisco.”  I did!  http://www.sfvisitor.org/

Fine Arts: http://www.thinker.org/

City Tour Specials:  http://www.gosanfranciscocard.com/

On to Oakland with its Lake Merritt, Lakeside Park, and massive Oakland Museum of California! http://www.oaklandnet.com/    Berkeley’s University of California offers some interesting places to visit, and then on toward Sacramento. http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/  Along the way Auburn has “Old Town Auburn” and Bernhard Museum as well as Auburn State Recreational Area.  Grass Valley is where the mother lode was found and during the next 100 years following 1850 5.8 million ounces of gold  was mined from the Empire Mine.  Lots of mining history around the area to visit.  http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=499

http://www.778.com/sights/empire/

Lake Tahoe connects the states of California and Nevada.  The lake is at 6,225 feet elevation, and offers beauty, water sports, hiking, skiing, gamming at the casinos, and beaches.

http://www.fs.fed.us/outdoors/naturewatch/region-5/Fish-Wildlife/taylor-creek/index.shtml

http://www.tahoesbest.com/   

From here it is on to Reno, Nevada with several notable museums as well as the 200 vehicle National Automobile Museum. http://www.renonv.com/ http://www.reno.com/  http://www.nevadanet.com/   Down the road will bring Lovelock, Rye Patch State Recreational Area, Unionville, Winnemucca, Elko, Wells, and Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.  Of course, there at  Bonneville there is the famous racing flats where record-breaking speeds are achieved. 

The Great Salt Lake welcomes you into the Salt Lake City area.  Here is a city with more things to do and see than can be listed here, so go the web site:  http://www.visitsaltlake.com/home.shtml

This will get you started on one more  thrilling journey along the ever changing Interstate 80.

I can recommend National Geographic’s  Guide to The Interstates Crossing America.  This book will guide you over America’s famous highways, pointing out the most interesting sites along the way.

Happy Traveling