NY - BIG SUR 5d
Route: NYC→Scranton→Watkins Glen→Ithaca Driving: ~4h scenic via I-80W, NY-14N
Day 1 · Manhattan to Finger Lakes
Highlight: Watkins Glen waterfalls. Note: Book lakeside inn early.
Times Square
Depart before rush, grab coffee
Watkins Glen
Gorge trail, 200ft waterfalls
Ithaca Commons
Dinner at Moosewood Restaurant
Day 2 · Across Pennsylvania
Highlight: Fallingwater architecture. Note: Advance tickets required.
Ithaca Commons
Coffee at Gimme! Coffee
Fallingwater
Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece tour
Pittsburgh Strip
Primanti Bros. sandwich, sunset at Point
Day 3 · Ohio to Indiana Dunes
Highlight: Lake Michigan sand dunes. Note: Beach sunset, pack layers.
Pittsburgh Strip
Early start, avoid tunnel traffic
Cuyahoga NP
65ft waterfall, boardwalk hike
Indiana Dunes
Climb Mount Baldy, Lake Michigan sunset
Day 4 · Chicago to Iowa Plains
Highlight: Mississippi River crossing. Note: Long day, audiobook ready.
Indiana Dunes
Sunrise beach walk, then depart
Cloud Gate
The Bean, quick photo stop
Galena Historic
Grant's home, 19th-century Main St
Dubuque Riverwalk
Mississippi sunset, Fenelon Place elevator
Day 5 · Great Plains to Denver
Highlight: LoDo brewery district. Note: Altitude adjustment, hydrate.
Dubuque Riverwalk
Cross back into Illinois, I-80W
Field of Dreams
Baseball diamond, movie nostalgia
Des Moines Sculpture
Free outdoor art, 28 sculptures
LoDo District
Great Divide Brewing, Union Station