60-60-60: How we Did it with Technology

​What created this winding path:

This trip, and especially our enjoyment and peace of mind, would not have been possible without technology.  Below is a list of some of the apps that made our journey possible. As well as a map of the sites we visited.

NPS app - This app was invaluable, and very efficient.  The map allowed us to plot our route from day to day, the visitor center hours allowed us to strategically plan our arrival, and the other resources on the site let us know the kinds of activities available, timed entries, and how long the visit would take.

Google Maps - The navigation tool was essential - especially because often we went directly from one site to the next, so we were taking back roads most of the way.  We really enjoyed seeing the country in all its splendor without too much highway time.

Gemini - We learned so many interesting things along the way, so it was a delight to be able to learn about them in detail while we drove along.  Trains, road numbering, pump jacks, geology, wind power, mining, tree varieties  - all things we know more about now, because they came up over and over again on our journey.

AirBnB -  Each day, around 3 pm, we would try to lock in lodging for the night.  We would start with Airbnb.com - providing income to local people directly wherever possible.  We stayed in a variety of different interesting places and were very fortunate that we rarely had trouble getting nearby, same day reservations (largely because tourism was down because of the tariffs).  BnBs allowed us to do laundry from time to time, refreeze the ice in our cooler, prepare lunches in a full kitchen, etc.

Booking.com - If we couldn’t find a BnB, we headed to Booking and got a hotel room.  In general the hotel rooms had more reliably comfortable beds, but less other amenities. A combo of both types of lodging made for a good balance.

Roadtrippers.com - We tried to limit our driving to stretches of 2-3 hours, but sometimes it was farther between destinations.  Since we travelled a lot of back roads, the Road Tripper app was a fun way to find out what kinds of attractions were along the way.  We often didn’t stop, but it was fun to see all the quirky museums and attractions tucked away in remote corners.