What to do on the off days

[Michael Thompson]

With a probably record number of overseas people chasing this year, myself included, I was wondering what suggestions the locals have for the down days?

Thinking of things out of the ordinary, or perhaps something uniquely American.


Regards

 

[Dan Robinson]

Sleep in, then work on chase logs and photos! Can't get more American that that Seriously though, that's all I ever get around to doing on the down days. If I had more time and wasn't exhausted, I'd go out shooting photos. There seems to be a lot of landscape and small-town photography opportunities just about anywhere you go.

 

[Paul Knightley]

Depending on the set-up, we either drive to a location where there may be storms in the next day or two, hang around the motel (having made sure it's got a good pool, etc!), or maybe some sightseeing.

Last year, with a week to kill when we first came over, we drove out to the Grand Canyon, up through Monument Valley and on through Utah to U-70, then eastwards across the Rockies into the Colorado Plains!

 

[Mikey Gribble]

The western part of South Dakota is beautiful IMO. I chased full time two years ago and I spent a week or two up in South Dakota. There are a lot of things to do around Rapid City. I always wanted to spend more time around there, but when I was there I spent all my time on chasing. If I were you I would also make a trip into Wyoming to see Yellowstone. I went there for the first time this fall on an elk hunt. I think the drive from Rapid City to Yellowstone takes about six hours. I could be way off but I think it's around there. The drive is very pretty for the first half. The second half is not that great though.

 

[Mike Johnston]

If you're interested in a bit of urban experience on the down days, I always recommend Kansas City as a "home base" for May/June chasers travelling from afar. There are Royals major league baseball games and legendary K.C. barbeque establishments. You can view some great impressionist art works at the Nelson Gallery or stroll along the Country Club Plaza, a beautiful outdoor shopping district.

As for road networks to chase locations, interstate highways will quickly get you to Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma. I would recommend staying on the periphery of the city to avoid congestion and get out quickly on a chase - perhaps out towards a southwestern suburb like Lenexa.

 

[Scott Bell]

The number of down days in a row definately affects what I would do on down days. If you have time and have never been to either place, the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone/Grand Tetons should be a side trip for sure.

If you only have a day or two, then I'd follow Dan's advice and try to find local photo ops.

Here's a place to find national parks: http://www.nps.gov/
and national wildlife refuges: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/

the wildlife refuges are very bare as far as services, but can provide excellent wildlife photography and typically no other people whatsoever whereas the parks tend to be more polished with services, etc. and thus have a much larger crowd around.

Each state will also have state parks that can be found on the internet. Many of these will be centered around some natural setting (river with waterfalls, mountains, lake for fishing, etc.).

There are also National Historic Sites for those that are curious about our cultural past. These are dotted all over the map: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/index.htm

 

[Christie Ponder]

Colorado is beautiful just about anywhere you go there. Rocky Mt. National Park is amazing. Black Canyon of the Gunnison, drive north out of Durango, Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs...so much to see!!!

Texas panhandle has Palo Duro Canyon and Caprock Canyons. Closer to Dallas/Ft. Worth there is Fossil Rim with dino tracks by a small river/creek and a wildlife park nearby. Of course being in Texas, don't forget about those stars. Out in W. Texas, Sonora...I saw my shadow cast by the stars they were amazing!!!! Plus Caverns of Sonora is there...great cave.

Oklahoma panhandle has Black Mesa (volcanic area) with dino tracks nearby. There is a small water park with a waterfall and castle looking structure in South Central Ok and there is a Cave in the north.

New Mexico has Carlsbad Caverns(best of 20 caves I've seen), Capulin Volcano, and several other good photo ops. Ice Caves are pretty cool and so are the lava fields.

Missouri and Arkansas are hard to chase...so many trees, but they have some great caves.

Stop by any state visitor center and you'll find bunches of things to do!!!!

HOpe the storms keep you too busy to have to find something else to do
Good luck all!!!

Christie
www.weatherfriend.com
www.christiesphotos.com

 

[Scott Weberpal]

If you plan on going to a sporting event, grab some beer, meat and a grill and get to the park a few hours early. Find the craziest fans you can to tailgate with.

or

Find a local rodeo or fair. Nothing is more American than a local county fair. Carnival rides, cotton candy, games, and America's young showing off their hard work.

Most of the suggestions I've seen in this thread are general sightseeing, I'm trying to think of more things which are unique small town middle-america

You could rent a pilot for a day and see how many meth labs you can find in remote areas

 

[Doug Lee]

If you find yourself in or near Tulsa, check out some of the architecture: Oral Roberts University, Boston Avenue Methodist Church, the Maple Ridge Neighborhood, Philbrook Museum, for starters.

Keystone, Oolagah, Skiatook, Grand, Fort Gibson, Hudson, Eufala, and Tenkiller are some of the lakes within driving distance.

Gilcrease Museum has one of the biggest collections of Old West art.

Drive down historic Route 66, celebrated in song, the setting for a TV series, immortalized as the "Mother Road" and "Main Street USA."

There's also the Will Rogers Memorial and J. M. Davis Gun Museum in Claremore.

Eat at the Rock Cafe in Stroud. The owner was the inspiration for the character Sally in the movie "Cars."

In Oklahoma City, you will find Bricktown, the Oklahoma History Center, Kirkpatrick Science Museum, the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Down the road in Norman, of course, you will probably want to see the National Weather Center and the OU campus.

And if you think you may have brought too much money, the Indian casinos will be glad to help you with that problem!

This is also the season for marathons, foot races, bike races and bike tours. You probably won't want to participate, but watching is usually free.

If you really want some small town flavor, pick up a small town newspaper. Or race through a speed trap!

 

[MatthewCarman]

Omaha has one of the biggest Zoo's in America if your ever in that city. I have been to the Henry Dooley zoo and it is breathtaking. If your in WI go to House on the Rock that is also a breath taking house and takes atleast half a day to go through. SD has the 1880's town made for Dances with wolves,The Bandlands (also in NE and ND etc) Mount Rushmore,WallDrug etc ND has Theadore Rosevelt National Park and Space Aliens. WY has Devils Tower just across the boarder from SD. (Mountain used in Close Encounters of the third kind with Richard Dryfuss) If your in Des Moines the Science Center and Imax Theater is worth checking out here in IA. Also Red Rock here in IA. If you happen to chase in NC Ashville has the unted states largest house with 250 rooms I think and has tours. Hope that helps.

 

[Shane Adams]

This isn't applicable to vacationers, but I spend my off days working....to ensure I can further my season. I've never done the nomad/chasecationer thing, but I'd suggest doing laundry on the off days

 

[Skip Talbot]

Tim Vasquez's Storm Chasing Handbook has a whole section on points of interest in various regions that would make interesting stops on the off days.

 

[Shane Adams]

My copy is tattered and road-worn, but it's lying in my backseat...always. The most valuable aspect for me is the list of FM radio stations that do weather during severe storms.....that has saved our butts a few times when we had no clue what was happening visually.

 

[Bill Hark]

I always try to check out local sites as I often arrive just as a death ridge forms. The above suggestions are good. I would suggest trying some local cafes and restaurants. Check out Vasquez' handbook or ask around. Many mid-sized towns will have some nice barbecue or Mexican restaurants. As for landscapes, Palo Duro Canyon is a favorite. I also like photographing animals and landscapes in the Wichita Mountains area of Oklahoma. If your chase takes you to extreme southwest Texas, I suggest checking out Big Bend National Park for a couple of days. In western Kansas, check out the Chalk Pyramids (worth a short side trip). In Oklahoma City on certain mornings, you can watch a cattle auction. There is also the OKC bombing memorial. Just to the north of OKC, Guthrie Oklahoma has a beautiful old towne, shops, galleries and a couple of events in May including a rodeo and a banjo festival.

Cattle Auction Images
http://www.harkphoto.com/05212001.html

Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma
http://www.harkphoto.com/05232001.html

Big Bend National Park
http://www.harkphoto.com/05262003.html

Monument Rocks (Chalk Pyramids) Kansas
http://www.harkphoto.com/05132005.html

Bill Hark

 

[Gerrit Gulden]

I typically load up the quad (4 wheeler) and drive 15 minutes to the hills and ride, ride, ride. Other than fishing as well I also spend alot of time working on my website, uploading photos and Visiting this website and many others to read about whats going on in other parts of the country or world.

Yesterday and Today I spent a total of 15 hours Encoding video and then uploading to google video. From the lack of storms here in the Northwest I had alot of time to think so I decided to upload my video to google and then make a video page for my website (not done yet).

-gerrit