Cleveland to Phoenix: Our Cross Country Roadtrip

Mike and I recently embarked on a long cross country drive from Cleveland to Phoenix. Typically when we move we rent a big Penske truck. It’s a bit inconvenient as you only get the truck for so many days, thus not leaving us much time to explore tourist sites along the route. Plus, it’s difficult to drive and a hassle for hotel parking, getting gas, etc.

This time, we decided to pay extra for PODS as you can pack your storage container at your own pace and then conveniently drive your own car at your own pace while they transport your things in storage containers to your final destination or a storage center. The PODS itself was a bit of a nightmare but that’s another story altogether. Let’s just say, we won’t be using them in the future.

We decided to take our time, planning 6 stops along the way. Since we didn’t have to rush to return the truck back by a certain date, we figured we would try to see more of the country while we could. With a 30+ hour, 1700+ mile drive, it’s nice to have fun stops to look forward to along the way. It keeps things exciting and enables us to check out tourist sites that would be hard and/or expensive to get to otherwise.

I will highlight some of the touristy activities we enjoyed along the way. This was a really fun trip as we got to explore places we would never have easy access to otherwise like the middle of nowhere Field of Dreams movie site that we have always wanted to visit. We took a few detours that added a bit of time, but flying/driving to each separately would require a lot more time.

Stop 1: Chicago

Distance from Cleveland: 5.5 hours

What we did: Visited the Garfield Park Conservatory, Hiked at Starved Rock State Park, Explored historic Wicker Park, Ate at Giordano’s, Saw a show at the historic Tivoli and Hollywood Blvd. theater, Visited the Original Rainbow Cone in NW Indiana

Our first stop on this road trip took us to Chicago where we stayed with some family members. We are both from the Chicagoland metro, so we have explored most of the usual spring and summer attractions. This is a great summer city for anyone who has never been here.

There is a wonderful zoo (Brookfield), some of the best museums in the country (I love the Field and Shedd Aquarium), an incredible Art Institute, a gorgeous 17 mile recreation path that runs along Lake Michigan, beautiful beaches, historic Navy Pier, and so much more.

For this trip, we decided to focus on a few new attractions versus the regular museums and lakeshore path which we typically enjoy. Plus, it was mid-May so not quite warm enough for a lot of outdoor activity.

Garfield Park Conservatory

In mid-spring, temps were still a bit cold (spring weather is unpredictable here) so we decided to check out the top rated Garfield Park Conservatory, something I have always wanted to do, but never got around to. There are so many great attractions in Chicago that I somehow managed to overlook this gem. Nevertheless, I was definitely impressed! This is one of my favorite gardens in the US!

We were really impressed with their gorgeous seasonal spring flower show as well as all the regular gardens. We really loved The Palm House (featuring over 70 palms in a room with a 65 foot ceiling) and The Fern House (featuring plants that would have grown 300 million years ago in the Jurassic era).

Take a look at my conservatory post for more pictures. In short, this is a great city attraction especially on a rainy spring day or cold snowy winter afternoon! More often than not, the weather is gloomy/rainy/snowy so perfect for indoor attractions. I would love to come back in the summer to explore the outdoor gardens (it was way too cold on our visit).

Starved Rock State Park

One of the gems of Illinois which doesn’t get nearly enough attention is Starved Rock, a gorgeous state park on the Illinois River. It’s an easy 1.5 hour drive from the city and suburbs, yet offers a drastically different setting. It’s a peaceful place to escape both the city and suburban congestion for a while.

There are 18 sandstone canyons here, 14 seasonal waterfalls, and 13 miles of hiking trails. We have visited this park a few times in the past but never timed our visit just right to see a waterfall. After a few days of heavy rainfall, we finally got to see one and it was gorgeous.

We hiked the Wildcat Canyon trail, a short mile long trek which takes you to the tallest waterfall in the park (70 ft) within the tallest canyon (90ft). Overall, this park is my favorite place to enjoy nature in the area, so if you are up for a drive, I recommend checking it out. For more details, check out my Starved Rock guide.

The Root Beer Stand

After working up a sweat at Starved Rock (this was one of the only warm days on our trip), we decided to stop by a little family owned ice cream shop that a family member told us about called The Root Beer Stand in Oglesby. It’s a quick 10 min drive from the park and worth the drive for an awesome frosty treat on a hot and humid day in the Midwest.

This is one of those places that the locals all love and it’s been around forever (it opened in 1955). We enjoyed an ice cold root beer float and scoop of ice cream. They make their own root beer which is pretty cool in this day and age. They serve American style fare like burgers and hot dogs and sundaes as well.

Giordano’s

I have not had deep dish pizza in forever despite being a Chicago native. I prefer thin crust and Chicago has a lot of great places, my favorites being the long running family-owned South Side staple Vito and Nicks and Fox’s, a suburban gem in Orland Park.

We decided to deviate from our standard tavern style and treated ourselves to the Super Veggie deep dish at the iconic Chicago pizzeria, Giordano’s. We visited the Oakbrook Terrace location and everything was fantastic including the fresh Greek salad we ordered.

If you have never tried deep dish before, it’s so delicious and worth every calorie! If you are new to this style, it’s basically goes like this: a thick pie like crust, lots of mozzarella cheese, veggies and/or meat, and then sauce on the top.

Wicker Park

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods and Wicker Park is one of the oldest and most eclectic. This area is known for its’ trendy restaurants, art galleries, nightlife, and weird vibe. It draws a lot of hipsters and creative types.

I haven’t been here in forever and really wanted to stop by mainly to check out a coffeeshop I’ve been wanting to go to for years. The Wormhole is a cool 80’s themed coffeehouse with a big Back to the Future DeLorean on display and other 80’s themed movie posters and knick knacks. As a big fan of 80’s pop culture, I was impressed.

We also strolled around a bit, enjoying the gorgeous Victorian architecture. Mopic Books, a large 3 story used bookshop is basically a bookworm’s dream destination.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for Mindy’s, an amazing pastry/hot chocolate cafe (maybe next time!). I also want to check out Emporium Arcade bar on my next visit. This is a cool concept where you can enjoy craft beer, arcade games, and pinball all in one place.

Tivoli Theater

One of my favorite things to do in the suburbs is seeing a show at the historic Tivoli theater in Downers Grove. We have been coming here for years and I just love this place. It’s a gorgeous old theater which opened on Christmas day back in 1928, so worth visiting for the historical value alone.

It’s one of those classic theatres that is disappearing more and more each year. I try to visit these whenever possible while they are still in business.

In the past, we have attended a lot of their holiday events where they screen a classic like Christmas Vacation. I just love listening to the Wurlitzer pipe organ before the show – it’s such a nice touch. You can enjoy the performance Saturday nights in the Big Screen auditorium.

On this recent visit, we saw the new Michael Jackson movie, Michael. It was pretty decent and we loved the old time theater experience. On a side note, they offer free refills on popcorn, soda, and ICEEs which is a nice perk. Or, you can stroll around the downtown afterwards and enjoy a local restaurant. I recommend Ballydoyle Irish pub.

Hollywood Blvd. Cinema

We have seen so many movies at this awesome dinner and movie theater over the years. I’ve visited many other dine-in theaters all over the country and none of them come close to this suburban Woodridge gem.

The process is quite simple. You basically get to order from a full menu at your seat. The menu includes pizza, wraps, salads, appetizers, and even a full lineup of beer, wine, and specialty drinks. They offer so much more than standard popcorn and candy. All the apps we tried are so tasty. I love all the creative names i.e. “Honey I Blew Up the Salad.”

The highlight here is the beautiful memorabilia (even the theater rooms are decked out). My favorite room is Coconut Grove which features a starry desert night sky. Everywhere you look, you will see movie props and signed celeb photos. I love browsing around before or after seeing a movie.

They run a lot of specialty events like Chicago Bears and Super Bowl parties and Celeb Meet and Greets. A few years ago, we attended a Meet and Greet with one of my favorite celebs of all time, Corey Feldman. We got to see License to Drive, Stand by Me, The Goonies, and The Lost Boys back to back – talk about an awesome lineup. They also screen It’s a Wonderful Life every year and you can meet Karolyn Grimes who played ZuZu. We attended this event years ago and it was a wonderful holiday experience.

On this most recent visit, we saw Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (my all time favorite). It was fun seeing it on the big screen, however, I wish Matthew Broderick was available for the Meet and Greet!

On a side note, a staff member told us that they are currently selling a lot of their memorabilia. I really hope they don’t sell out and become the same boring theater chain as everyone else. Places like this are so few and far between today – let’s keep the unique touch!

Original Rainbow Cone

If you have ever visited The Windy City during the summer season, you have probably tasted this iconic 5 flavor ice cream cone. There is a stand at Navy Pier, the zoo, and you can find it at most festivals.

If not, put it on your bucket list. It’s basically a delicious cone consisting of 5 slices (not scoops) of ice cream flavors: chocolate, strawberry, Palmer house (NY vanilla with cherries), pistachio almond, and orange sherbert. It’s totally worth every calorie especially on a hot summer day! I really love the pistachio and Palmer house!

We stopped at the Dyer, Indiana location after visiting my sister who lives nearby. I’ve been to the original Western Ave. location many times, but this was my first time trying one of their new cafes. They have opened many new shops since the original opened in 1926.

Stop 2: Waverly, Iowa (near Dubuque)

Distance from Chicago: 4.5 hours

What we did: Visited the Field of Dreams movie filming site, ate at a quirky local bar called Sasquatch Jacks

This was the shortest leg of our journey. We typically like driving at least 6 hours each day, but we both really wanted to see the Field of Dreams field while we were in such close proximity. It was a short detour off our main route but totally worth it. As we are both big fans of 80’s movies, we knew we had to cross this filming site off our bucket list.

Field of Dreams

We have been touring iconic 80’s and 90’s movie sites for years now, and this was another fun one to check off our list. We were a bit too early to take cool pictures walking out of the cornfields like the ghost players (late July-August is the typical season), but still enjoyed the experience.

It was fun to run the bases, play baseball (they leave bats and balls, & gloves out for visitors) and take a bunch of fun nostalgic photos (including by the famous “If You Build it” quote). We would love to come back and see a legendary show from the Ghost Players. Overall, I’d say this is a bucket list contender if you are a fan of baseball or the movie! Read more about our experience.

Sasquatch Jacks

We love visiting weird roadside attractions and local restaurants on any long roadtrip. It’s more fun and gives us something exciting to look forward to over eating at the same Olive Garden and Chilis you find in every town. Plus, it’s always great to support local businesses.

We found this quirky bar in Waverly, Iowa called Sasquatch Jacks. As the name implies, there is Bigfoot decor everywhere. The interior is so rustic and over-the-top – really somewhere worth visiting just for the amount of effort they put into the decor.

The food wasn’t half bad although I couldn’t find much besides a few sides being a vegetarian. We enjoyed a few drinks, appetizers and sides. It was a fun one time visit and definitely entertained us after a long day of driving. It was nice to kick back for a bit!

Stop 3: Omaha

Distance from Waverly, Iowa: 4 hours

What we did: Strolled around the Henry Doorly Zoo, Ate at a local Greek joint

Neither of us have been to Nebraska before, so we decided to stop here for a night just to cross it off our bucket list. We mainly wanted to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo. It’s one of the biggest in the world based on number of animals.

It was super impressive – by far one of the biggest and best zoos I’ve been to. Fortunately, we received half price reciprocal admission tickets with our Cleveland Zoo membership. This place was so busy that we had a hard time finding parking. It was really hot, but thankfully, they have a number of indoor attractions which are awesome. These include a top notch aquarium and an indoor rainforest, desert dome, and nocturnal exhibit.

This zoo is unique for 3 reasons. Fist off, it is home to the largest indoor rainforest in the US. Second, it is home to the world’s largest indoor desert. Third, it’s home to the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit. Looking for gators in the dark in the world’s largest indoor swamp was pretty cool. These 3 indoor exhibits plus all the usual ones easily justify the price here (it’s way cheaper than the San Diego zoo so definitely a steal).

I wish we had more time to explore (the zoo recommends a 2 day pass to take it all in). You can read more aout our experience for the full scoop.

Jim & Jennie’s Greek Village

Unfortunately, the zoo took much longer than we expected (we walked around for over 5 hours) and we only had time to eat afterwards. If we are ever back (unlikely), we would like to stroll around the historic Old Market neighborhood, browse the collection at the Joslyn Art Museum, and hike at Platte River State Park.

For dinner, we found this cute local cafe called Jim & Jennie’s Greek Village. I love Greek food and we were not disappointed with the quality and massive portion sizes. Everything was so good – the spanakopita, Greek potatoes, hummus and pita, falafel, and Greek salad. We were happy that we decided to support a local business (we were tempted to enjoy the big salad bar at Jason’s Deli after a hot day in the sun).

Stop 4: Dodge City, Kansas

Distance from Omaha: 6.5 hours

What we did: Explored the history of the Old West at the Boot Hill Museum

Have you ever heard of the saying “Get Out of Dodge?” Most of us know that it means to get out of a bad situation quickly, but do you know where the term originates? For those who don’t know, it was popularized in the 50s’ series Gunsmoke. The town’s marshal, Matt Dillon, frequently tells outlaws to “Get out of Dodge.” Even though the series took place in Dodge City, KS, it was filmed on a set.

Remember that scene in National Lampoon’s Vacation when Clark and the Griswold family are on their cross country trip to Wally World and they stop in that saloon in Dodge City? This is one of the main reasons I wanted to visit this museum (to check another great 80’s movie filming scene off my bucket list). Sadly, this movie didn’t film at the Long Branch Saloon (a set was made). We learned during our visit that no movies actually film in Dodge.

Either way, it was fun touring all the recreations of Front Street businesses (you can even order a Sarsaparilla at the saloon). We loved the old time western vibe and shakes at Beatty and Kelley’s ice cream shop. What a treat on a hideously hot day!

On an interesting side note, the museum was built on the Boot Hill Cemetery. On an interesting side note, we were wondering why a lot of western cemeteries are called Boot Hill. We found out that this name refers to the many outlaws who died with their boots on.

At the museum, you will take a self guided tour after paying the pricey $20 per person ticket. Your journey starts with exhibits on the history of the city and region. There is also a Hollywood Gunsmoke exhibit, a recreation of historic Front Street which burned down in the 1880’s, over 200 authentic guns on display, over 20,000 Old West artifacts, historical documents and more.

It’s a must visit for history buffs, fans of Gunsmoke, and fans of westerns. It would be too much to list it all here, so I will direct you to my Dodge City article. In the summer months, you can enjoy a variety show, old time West photos, and gunfight reenactments.

Stop 5: Santa Fe

Distance from Omaha: 6.5 hours

What we did: Walked around the Railway District, Strolled around historic Santa Fe Plaza, Explored the beautiful gardens at The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi

I’ve always wanted to visit Santa Fe, but never got around to it. When we lived in Arizona a few years back we pretty much roadtripped everywhere in New Mexico but here. Our route took us right past the city, so we decided to stop for a night. Had I known there was so much to do, we would have booked 2 nights. There is a lot to do in and around the city including hiking, soaking in hot springs at Ojo Caliente, and the famous Meow Wolf immersive art installation.

We found a nice budget friendly property called The Sage hotel. It was convenient with a free breakfast and shuttle to area attractions. It was also walkable to the Railway district which was a big bonus as we were limited on time. This was basically a quick one night stay just to see if we wanted to return. We were impressed and plan on returning sometime in early October.

The Railway District

We conveniently walked from our hotel to the popular Railway district, a former 19th century depot which is now basically a trendy destination for dining, shopping, and browsing art galleries. There is a big farmer’s market here on the weekends and a lot of breweries. Our shuttle driver recommended Tomasita’s, a long running New Mexican restaurant. Unfortunately, we already planned on dining at our hotel. Maybe next time – the menu looks great especially the grilled veggie enchiladas and chalupas.

We walked around a bit, checked out a few galleries that were still open (we arrived a bit too late as most closed at 6), and didn’t have much time for anything else. We noticed a dine in theater (Sky Cinemas) and a local coffeehouse (Sky Coffee). I’ve heard Santa Fe has an amazing local coffee scene. As a coffee lover, I would love to visit a few independent shops.

Also Sky Railway offers a few specialty train rides which depart from the historic depot. You can book tickets for an ale ride, outlaw Wild West themed ride, or a sunset excursion.

Santa Fe Plaza

We conveniently took the free hotel shuttle over to the downtown Plaza. This historic region is home to local restaurants, the oldest churches in the city, art museums, and a ton of galleries and touristy gift shops. There is a lot to do here so you really need at least a few hours to explore. This is the big historic attraction in town so you will find a lot of people walking around and a number of events on the lineup year-round.

Just walking around is an experience in and of itself. This downtown is a National Historic Landmark. You will find historic Spanish Pueblo Revival architecture, beautiful old churches, and colorful murals and art sculptures everywhere you look. It’s one of those interesting places where you can have a great time just strolling around. No need to buy anything but it’s fun to look! If you like Native American art, you should be pleased. There are so many gorgeous Navajo blankets, pottery pieces, turquoise jewelry, dreamcatchers and more to explore.

Other things to do including: visiting the New Mexico Museum of Art, checking out local galleries, shopping for unique Talavera art, walking the Stations of the Cross Prayer garden at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, seeing the oldest church built in the US (San Miguel Chapel est. 1610), dining alfresco at the city’s oldest restaurant (The Plaza Cafe est. in 1905), and visiting a museum dedicated to the artistic legend Georgia O’Keeffe, “the Mother of American Modernism.”

Stop 6: Phoenix

Distance from Santa Fe: 7.5 hours

Our last stop on the long journey brought us to our new home in suburban Phoenix. We moved out here temporarily to enjoy easy access to all the great national parks in Utah and California which we missed the first time around. We have already visited Zion (Utah), Grand Canyon (Arizona), Petrified National Forest (Arizona), White Sands (New Mexico), and Saguaro (Arizona).

During our time here, we plan on visiting the following parks: Bryce Canyon (Utah), Capitol Reef (Utah), Arches (Utah), Canyonlands (Utah), Joshua Tree (California), Death Valley (California), and Sequoia (California). Check back frequently as I highlight our adventures. In the meantime, you can check out my Western National Park article for details on those we already visited.

So far, we have not done much in the region as temps will be in the triple digits for the next few months. We did do a lot here the last time we lived in Arizona about 8 years ago. You can check out my Phoenix summer activity guide for more details on how to stay cool in triple digit heat.

Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve

We did hike one trail at our favorite place, the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran preserve. I like that there are a number of short trails. I recommend skipping any summer hiking, but this is the best place if you want to enjoy the desert. Get up early and keep it very short!

We hiked a beautiful short trail called the Lost Dog/Ringtail loop which is just over 2 miles. It’s mostly flat and features gorgeous views of the cacti and mountains. It was super hot even early in the morning (mid 90’s) but we enjoyed the peace and quiet being the only ones on the trail. We hope to hike here a lot more once the temps cool down in the fall and winter.

Old Town Scottsdale

We also strolled around Old Town Scottsdale which I think is a bit of a tourist trap. That being said, there is a great Mexican restaurant there (Cien Agave) which serves delicious fajitas in a funky colorful dining room.

I also love this old-fashioned 50’s style ice cream shop called the Sugar Bowl. The ice cream is so cold (the type that never melts even if you hold it upside down). The ambiance is really cute with pink bar stools and retro ceiling lights.

Other things to do in this touristy Old Town district include: checking out local art galleries, shopping for Southwest souvenirs, and visiting the Museum of the West. This museum is pretty cool if you are into old westerns or just interested in learning more about the Southwest and Native American culture. Fortunately, we had a free pass courtesy of our Bank of America card. The Museums on Us Program gains you free entrance to certain museums the first full weekend of each month.

We also ate lunch at a new Native American owned restaurant called The Fry Bread lounge. We basically tried a vegetarian version of the Navajo taco. This entree is basically fry bread topped with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, tepary chili beans, and red or green salsa. It was just ok honestly (I’ve had better navajo tacos in Flagstaff), but it’s always fun to try something new.

Check back frequently as I share all the unique hidden gems that I explore in the Phoenix metro. I will also be covering all the great national parks, ghost towns, and natural attractions I explore in Arizona and surrounding states.