The one thing I saw in every state was the rest areas - well ALMOST every state. Like travel abroad, one never knows what to expect when one innocently pulls off the road in response to a nice big blue sign promising a place to take the wiggle out of you. Is it a luxurious Japanese style experience with air scenting and music? Or the more primitive French hole in the ground with foot pads?
Here's the skinny:
- Oregon must have built ALL its rest areas in the 70s. At least they are clean and usually have tp and soap
- Idaho had this really cool, modern building with a lobby full of helpful maps and historical points of interest - oh yeah - and there were automated toilets and sinks and (GASP) PAPER TOWELS to dry your hands
- Utah didn't do so well. It was coooold in them thar hills and the bathroom was dirty, doors didn't close, and we all had to "Promise not to look"
- Wyoming had "parking areas," not rest areas. When I finally came across a rest area sign, it was after dark and I do not go to rest areas alone after dark. Especially in a state with scary trucks that are out to get me
- Colorado - didn't need to stop
- Kansas had small affairs that were very functional and VERY clean, but you had to actually exit to get to them
- Missouri gets the classical design award. Brick buildings with pretty windows, but I got confused and had to walk all the way around the building before I figured out where the door marked "Women" was
- Illinois was cool. They had the same sort of lobby strategy as Idaho but one-upped Idaho by having staffed information booths
- Kentucky was another one where you have to exit to get to the rest area. AND they had the coolest sinks shaped like winding rivers. Said hello to the state from Chris Kirn
- Tennessee - Didn't need to stop - my new home was only 45 minutes from the border.
Made it in safe and sound. At Grandma's request, I am publishing my mailing address.
