Author Topic: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA  (Read 11263 times)

nz

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Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« on: January 31, 2015, 04:17:20 PM »
I am planning a road trip starting in LA and finishing in Las Vegas from mid March until mid April.

There will be 4 of us (adults)and at this stage have no set itinerary other than visiting the obvious big drawcards like the Grand Canyon and various National Parks along the way.

Coming from New Zealand it will be a whole lot different to what we are used to and so
I was hoping to get some travel advice from my American Mustacian friends:

1) What websites would you reccommend for last minute hotels/ motels ?

2) What hidden gems would you reccommend visiting? Quirky towns? Off the beaten track attractions?

I imagine that we will be in  Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and perhaps New Mexico or even Texas.

Any advice gratefully received.

chardog

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2015, 04:30:09 PM »
Northern Arizona and Southern Utah would be a great area to focus on.  In that region in March & April you will be able to pick an elevation that best works for the weather on any given day.  It also has a large concentration of National Parks.

capital

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2015, 04:37:18 PM »
There are obviously a lot of campgrounds. A lot of land in the Southwestern US is owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management, on which you can camp pretty much anywhere. The desert is relatively mild in March and April. So a tent and a hatchback you can sleep in can save you a lot of motel money.

The 5 National Parks in southern Utah are breathtaking. I highly advise a lap, maybe via Utah 12 and the Burr Trail if it's passable while you're passing through.

Here are a couple images from the Burr trail:


Moab is a famous outdoorsy town. I enjoyed renting a mountain bike there and hitting the trails.

If you're starting in LA, you'll probably want to head up California 1 through Big Sur or traveling west via the Angeles Crest Highway.

I assume this will be less of an issue, since you're from relatively wild New Zealand as opposed to relatively tame Europe, but the American desert is vast and unforgiving, and a lot of it doesn't have cell phone service, especially off the interstates. Be sure you have a lot of food and water while travelling, and clothing appropriate to the worst weather you may encounter. Likewise, know that creekbeds can be prone to flash flooding, where they go from bone dry to a deadly torrent in a matter of minutes due to a storm miles away or even over the horizon. So be careful around dry canyons and creekbeds.

chardog

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2015, 04:48:01 PM »
Great advice.  I happen to have camped out of a hatchback where that second photo was taken in September.  Traveling in the middle of tons of BLM land was so stress free.  No need to even think about where you will end up each night.  Just pull over on any dirt side road and set up camp in an obviously appropriate spot.

nz

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2015, 05:13:10 PM »
Brilliant advice - thank you.

Moab sounds great, just what we are looking for.

Any crazy old cowboy towns full of character?

Spondulix

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2015, 05:35:24 PM »
I've lived in the southwest most of my life. Driving across AZ and New Mexico is actually pretty boring - a lot of time in the car and not a lot to see (some interesting Indian stuff, but a lot of poverty). Santa Fe and Taos have the southwest feel if you're interested in going that far. Honestly, I'd suggest going places like Yosemite, Tahoe, or Zion instead of driving to Texas.

Route 66 in Arizona is pretty quirky. Definitely plan a stop to Oatman, AZ (right on the border).

Flagstaff AZ is a neat town. The drive from there to Grand Canyon is longer than it looks, so if you're not staying in the park, keep in mind you'll have a 2 hr commute every day.

There can be a lot of traffic from LA to Vegas on the weekends. Hotel price in Vegas are better during the week anyhow, so I'd plan for that if possible. Just watch out for hidden resort fees (it's in the fine print and not usually shown in hotel prices)

You can find cowboys in LA, actually. Check out the Cowboy Palace in Chatsworth (I'm sure there's more places like that too)

I'll post more if I think of any other places...

nz

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2015, 07:19:04 PM »
Oatman is now a definite stop.

What accommodation is available in these little places?

MountainBeard

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2015, 07:38:34 PM »
What sort of activities do you like?

And, +1 on Moab there's something for everyone there.

nz

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2015, 07:51:03 PM »
Good long walks....hiking in the outdoors or walking through interesting towns.

The occasional mountain bike.

Talking to interesting locals ( so long as we can understand each others accents)

I am a pretty keen homesteader here in NZ so meeting people off the land is always a bonus.

2ndTimer

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2015, 08:05:36 PM »
Went to grad school in NM, things to eat there include:  Green chili cheeseburgers, carne adovada, buenellos

mm1970

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2015, 08:19:29 PM »
Utah is beautiful as is Arizona.  I've never been to Zion but have been to Arches.

I like Tucson and Sedona in Arizona.

Joshua Tree National Park is a favorite of ours (we'll be camping there a couple of days in  late March).

Of course the Grand Canyon is awesome.

Lyngi

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2015, 09:10:47 PM »
I am from Utah and I love Zion and Arches.    Visit www.nps.gov for information about the national parks.  There is a section on wilderness trail conditions.   (river flow rate for the  Zion Narrows).   We hike the Narrows from bottom up, a mile or two then turn around and go back down, it really is spectacular and not too strenuous, (as long as the river is low, however, it can be deadly if there is a flash flood)  March and April may be cold enough to require drysuits and neoprene socks (available to rent in  Springdale)   We happened to hike it in August.    If you go on the Emerald Pools hike, make sure to hike to the third pool.  It is the best of the three.
         I checked the school schedules for Utah, spring break runs from approximately March 30 to April 10. (March 27 to April 12 with weekends)  A lot of people go to St. George or Moab so just be aware.  Camping may not be as affected as hotel rooms.   I hope you have a great time. 
     

JetBlast

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #12 on: January 31, 2015, 09:45:26 PM »
Mesa Verde (southwestern Colorado) is worth checking out, and not too far out of the way from the parks in Utah.

If you end up heading into my home state of New Mexico, Taos Pueblo is worth seeing and the town of Taos is pretty quirky.  Depending on how you drive there you can stop for a quick photo at the Taos Gorge Bridge, though the 800 foot gorge won't seem quite as impressive if you have recently been to the Grand Canyon. Santa Fe is unique with some nice architecture, and tons of art, but can be quite touristy around the plaza. There's plenty of hiking in the mountains around Northern New Mexico, with Valles Caldera being quite stunning. From there you're very close to Los Alamos, birthplace of the atomic bomb, where you can learn about the Manhattan Project and the creation of the bomb.

If you end up down in southern New Mexico, the big sites are Carlsbad Caverns National Park and White Sands National Monument. Carlsbad is one of the most extensive cave systems in the world breathtaking the first time you see the caves. White Sands is sand dunes made of gypsum, hence the white color. If you plan to sled down the dunes, don't buy the sled in the nearby town of Alamogordo. The prices are outrageous and they play tricks on the rentals, like saying to have it back by 7 pm to avoid late fees, but closing the shop at 5 pm.

No matter what, you'll have a great time in the Southwest. If you do make it to New Mexico you must have a green chile cheeseburger.

nz

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2015, 09:56:10 PM »
This information is excellent...... And I like the food suggestions...

Can't wait to get there!

One more question. Spring Break? Is that when college students get crazy drunk for a couple of weeks? And if so what places should be avoided?

bacchi

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #14 on: January 31, 2015, 10:59:18 PM »
Camping is certainly affected during spring break at any major park. If you're hitting the Utah parks, avoid Moab during that time.

http://gobluetours.com/college-spring-break-state/ut/

At the end of the trip, Red Rock Canyon (near Vegas) is a lot of fun if you like bouldering.

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/blm_special_areas/red_rock_nca.html

Priceline is a great resource for hotels in cities and even some towns. Bid low and bid often. I've also used it with great success bidding on rental cars. And, like others have mentioned, buy 2 cheapo tents and camp free on BLM land.

Visit Chaco Canyon. It's a rough drive over dirt roads but it's great fun exploring. There are some fantastic stars, too.

http://www.canyonsworldwide.com/chaco/newsletter/chacoexploration.jpg


Spondulix

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #15 on: January 31, 2015, 11:20:22 PM »
If you're looking into small towns with character, a couple to look at in CA would be Temecula or Solvang.

Have you considered going up into CO? There's a lot of old west culture, amazing hiking in the mountains...

surfhb

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #16 on: February 01, 2015, 06:40:04 AM »
There are obviously a lot of campgrounds. A lot of land in the Southwestern US is owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management, on which you can camp pretty much anywhere. The desert is relatively mild in March and April. So a tent and a hatchback you can sleep in can save you a lot of motel money.

The 5 National Parks in southern Utah are breathtaking. I highly advise a lap, maybe via Utah 12 and the Burr Trail if it's passable while you're passing through.

Here are a couple images from the Burr trail:


Moab is a famous outdoorsy town. I enjoyed renting a mountain bike there and hitting the trails.

If you're starting in LA, you'll probably want to head up California 1 through Big Sur or traveling west via the Angeles Crest Highway.

I assume this will be less of an issue, since you're from relatively wild New Zealand as opposed to relatively tame Europe, but the American desert is vast and unforgiving, and a lot of it doesn't have cell phone service, especially off the interstates. Be sure you have a lot of food and water while travelling, and clothing appropriate to the worst weather you may encounter. Likewise, know that creekbeds can be prone to flash flooding, where they go from bone dry to a deadly torrent in a matter of minutes due to a storm miles away or even over the horizon. So be careful around dry canyons and creekbeds.

+1 for The Burr Trail drive.    I drove those switch backs in a Honda Civic so don't let the picture fool you..... It's a good road.     Southern Utah is the most unique place on this planet.   I'd skip So Cal if it means missing any of it. :)

It's not cheap but I'd rent a boat and cruise Lake Powell for a day.    I have wonderful childhood memories there.   

Actually, boating on Powell is one of the most MMM vacations there is if you have enough people. 
« Last Edit: February 01, 2015, 07:03:31 AM by surfhb »

Dibbels81

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #17 on: February 01, 2015, 07:26:23 AM »
Not mentioned yet, but a visit to Death Valley is a must.  Some of the most interesting geology you will find in the southwest, and March-April is a good time to visit (weatherwise). 

california_daze

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #18 on: February 01, 2015, 08:07:09 AM »
I am planning a road trip starting in LA and finishing in Las Vegas from mid March until mid April.

There will be 4 of us (adults)and at this stage have no set itinerary other than visiting the obvious big drawcards like the Grand Canyon and various National Parks along the way.

Coming from New Zealand it will be a whole lot different to what we are used to and so
I was hoping to get some travel advice from my American Mustacian friends:

1) What websites would you reccommend for last minute hotels/ motels ?

2) What hidden gems would you reccommend visiting? Quirky towns? Off the beaten track attractions?

I imagine that we will be in  Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and perhaps New Mexico or even Texas.

Any advice gratefully received.

NZ -- let me first start off by saying, AWESOME.

About 10 years ago, me and three friends piled into a Toyota 4Runner and did a much shorter trip than the one you're about to embark on.  Starting from Alhambra, CA (Los Angeles, CA) we headed east, and had a great time.

Grand Canyon
Alhambra, CA -> Williams, AZ
We stopped in Williams, AZ and spent the night at Grand Motel on Bill Williams, Ave. in Williams.  This place is dingy (at least 10 years ago it was... and 4 years ago when I last stopped to stay the night there).  4 years ago, the per night rate was about $40.00 for my lady and I. Needless to say, she was grossed out by the motel - so that gives you an idea of what to expect from this place.  But hey - it's a place to sleep and its cheap; you're going to be spending hours exploring the Grand Canyon and marveling at the beautiful desert anyway.

Cheaper alternative is obviously camping.

Monument Valley
Williams, AZ -> Kayenta, AZ (headed north on US 163)
We cruised up to check out Monument Valley and it was amazing. I don't recall there being any official 'Hey stop and read here' kiosks anywhere, however, it is on tribal land and to get to certain areas there is a pay-fee. Monument Valley is not a national park - just a gorgeous place. We headed over to Page, AZ to stay at a local motel. Can't remember which one we stuffed into and can't remember what we paid.

Zion National Park
Page, AZ -> Zion National Park
Definitely one of the great highlights of the trip. We camped in Zion and the whole experience was incredible. There are a ton of things you can do and see and explore.  I can't really expound on anything you can't already find with a quick google search or a quick read in a Lonely Planet book.

Las Vegas, NV
Zion National Park -> Las Vegas, NV
We ended the trip with a stop in Las Vegas, NV. Not a Mustachian city. If you're into buffets, Vegas has some excellent ones.  Here is a tip we learned from this trip: show up at a buffet of your choice right as breakfast is ending and take advantage of the lunch 'roll-over'.  You pay the breakfast rate (usually much cheaper) and get to stick around for lunch (they don't kick you out even though you didn't pay the lunch rate).

Anyway - hope this gives you some ideas.  The Southwest is beautiful... a lot of Los Angeleno's don't realize that.  I know I didn't, until I took this road trip.

Have fun friend.

horsepoor

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #19 on: February 01, 2015, 08:36:17 AM »
Brilliant advice - thank you.

Moab sounds great, just what we are looking for.

Any crazy old cowboy towns full of character?

You might enjoy Mesilla, just outside of Las Cruces, NM.  Make sure you get some food at a good local Mexican restaurant and try out the green chile while you're there (it's been about 12 years since I've lived there, so I can't provide specific recommendations). Pecans are another big food item in the area. Also, the Organ Mountains just north of town were just designated as a national monument, and they're great for a day hike.

If you don't necessarily want to go through southern AZ, you might enjoy heading north from Las Cruces and running through more of New Mexico.  White Sands is well worth checking out too - about 45 minutes northeast from Las Cruces.  You can then head west through Gallup, NM to Flagstaff, AZ, and then up to Grand Canyon.  Take the Interstate if you want to make good time, or pick one of the state highways for a more leisurely drive.  The state highways usually roll right through the really podunk towns that time forgot, and you'll get to see more of the countryside.

One thing I always did when traveling down there, was to carry a couple gallons of drinking water.  Towns are few and far between in many stretches.  Also keep this in mind and don't let your gas tank get too low.  If you're traveling through the county highway routes on Sunday, bring food because nothing will be open.  Also be aware that you'll probably not have cell phone service, and that might be an issue if you're using a smart phone for navigation.

Have fun!

Albert

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #20 on: February 01, 2015, 11:14:52 AM »
Grand Canyon
Alhambra, CA -> Williams, AZ
We stopped in Williams, AZ and spent the night at Grand Motel on Bill Williams, Ave. in Williams.  This place is dingy (at least 10 years ago it was... and 4 years ago when I last stopped to stay the night there).  4 years ago, the per night rate was about $40.00 for my lady and I. Needless to say, she was grossed out by the motel - so that gives you an idea of what to expect from this place.  But hey - it's a place to sleep and its cheap; you're going to be spending hours exploring the Grand Canyon and marveling at the beautiful desert anyway.

12 years ago we stayed two nights in this town while visiting the Grand Canyon. I have a vivid memory of two very fat policemen eating huge pile of pancakes with a syrup for a breakfast and a dingy motel (maybe the same?) where a woman in reception was high on something and withdrew accidentally 10x the price from our credit card (got back money of course). But actually it was a mistake to stay there. I wish we had stayed in the park instead on the rim. It will cost you extra 100$ or so a night per room plus you need to reserve it early, but it's very much worth it to be there early in the morning particularly if you plan to do some hiking.

hyla

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #21 on: February 01, 2015, 12:36:52 PM »
First of all, definitely buy an annual national parks pass. $80 will get you in any park for a year, with individual park weekly fees between $10 and $25, this will pay for itself pretty quickly if you visit more than 4 or 5 parks. 

I lived in Utah for a little while, some of my favorite trips were backpacking in the needles district of canyonlands, the narrows, east rim, kolob canyons, and kolob plateau in Zion, and a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (far fewer people than south rim, although in march and april check road conditions, it's pretty high elevation and could be snowy).  If you like climbing, there is excellent sport climbing around St. George Utah, and lots of trad near Moab.  Also, don't overlook the underadvertised BLM recreation sites or state parks you may see.  The parks get lots of attention and with good reason, but you'll also see arches, petroglyphs, red sandstone spires, and crazy desert plants outside of them.

If you're goal is to see something different than NZ, the southwest is a great idea.  While places like Colorado and California are pretty, it's forests and mountains, which you have at home.  The desert will seem like another planet sometimes. 

kpd905

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #22 on: February 01, 2015, 06:19:36 PM »
I'm getting a lot of good ideas from this thread. 

To OP, I'll recommend Zion as many others have.  It is amazing.  If you hit it near the end of your trip it might be perfect timing.  I went in mid May and the bright green spring bloom of the plants in the valley was a crazy contrast to the red rock walls.

capital

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #23 on: February 01, 2015, 08:16:22 PM »
Many of the best trails in Zion (e.g. the Subway) require advanced reservations. I didn't have it, and thus couldn't go. So look into that if you want to do some of the crazy hikes. That said, the whole park is pretty spectacular.

nz

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #24 on: February 01, 2015, 09:04:04 PM »
Right, Zion is now definitely on the list......and will definitely be getting a National Park pass.

Thanks everyone for the ideas..........lots of googling now going on..........think we'll need more time.....

Dimitri

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #25 on: February 01, 2015, 09:30:43 PM »
If you are going to be in the Las Vegas area (and this is a trip of gentlemen - I haven't read all the posts so if not read no further) then I might suggest a trip to Pahrump, Nevada.  The links below should help you to see the entertainers who will be working at two of the well-known brothels.  Prostitution is not legal in Clark County (which includes Las Vegas) although if you sit at the bar of any of the better Strip casinos you should have no problem meeting an independent contractor who will be pleased to satisfy your needs.  Enjoy your visit!

Sheri's Ranch - http://www.sherisranch.com/

Chicken Ranch - http://chickenranchbrothel.com/

Lyngi

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #26 on: February 01, 2015, 09:49:36 PM »
Regarding spring break, it is more families with kids, lots of kids.  Utah has interesting liquor laws.  It's a religious thing, drunk in public is rare. 

nz

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #27 on: February 01, 2015, 09:53:15 PM »
Dimitri- Ha ha.....for some reason my wife isn't that keen.....and i have the feeling that she won't be                           
            Changing her mind.

MontanaMoneyMustache

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #28 on: February 02, 2015, 02:28:19 PM »
A lot of good information already... I will just add a +1 for Moab. One of my favorite places in the whole United States. Don't miss it!

MrsPete

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #29 on: February 02, 2015, 04:26:56 PM »
We did a driving trip like this when our kids were young teens -- it was a fantastic trip! 

Lots of good information on RoadTripAmerica.com, and lots of good information on the national park websites. 

Look into an America the Beautiful pass.  For one price, you can enter all the national parks for one year.  It may or may not be worthwhile for you, but it saved us money, especially because I was able to lend it to a friend for her trip to the Grand Canyon (you're allowed to have two names on the pass) and because I used it the next summer (literally the week before it would've expired) in Puerto Rico.  Don't buy it until you reach your first park; your year begins when you buy it.  And add up your costs ahead of time, recognizing that not all parks use the same fee schedule; for example, Mt. Rushmore charges per car . . . while admission to Yellowstone ALSO gets you into Grand Tetons . . . and Wind Cave is free, but you pay if you go on a tour of the cave . . . and Great Smokies is altogether free -- you must do the math for yourself to see if the pass is worthwhile.

Definitely take a big cooler and plenty of water and juice drinks; in the dry heat you'll want drinks constantly, and sodas just don't go down particularly well.  We always had sandwich fixings, fruit and yogurt in the cooler, and we ate many roadside meals. 

My personal favorite stops:

- Mesa Verde National Park -- We took two ranger-led hikes to see the old Indian villages built into the hillsides; absolutely amazing, and you can't go without a ranger (each tour costs only a few dollars).  Note that one of my children had some trouble with altitude sickness.  The negative:  This is close to nothing else. 

- Antelope Canyon -- Absolutely amazing.  Otherworldly.  Because it's on Navaho land, you must go with their guides.  Even if that weren't a requirement, you'd want to do it -- a couple of the big trucks got stuck in the sand on the long drive out to the canyon.  I'm 100% certain our little rented Saturn Vue (?) wouldn't have made it.  In this same area, we visited a dam (second biggest, but I forget its name); my husband was thrilled. 

- Zion National Park -- Wow, the hiking!  So beautiful! 

- Grand Canyon -- Wonderful, wonderful, but not the absolute best we saw.  Oddly enough, not what I expected.  We were at the North rim over July 4, and the parade they threw (which morphed into a large-scale water fight) was one of my kids favorite parts of the whole trip.

- Yellowstone -- So diverse.  So beautiful.  I absolutely want to go back.  We did the cookout experience, which was really fun, though pricey.  Look into the ranger programs.  Take the hike up to the mountaintop and see Old Faithful from that vantage point.  Very crowded in the summer, and people cannot drive.  Do not enter the park without a FULL gas tank; they sell gas inside the parks, but oooh the prices.  Do not take risks with food -- bears will win every time; they can even tear a door off your car to get a loaf of bread.  Also take jackets; we were there in July, and I ended up shelling out $50/person for sweatshirts because the temp dipped unexpectedly to 50 degrees! 

-- Custer State Park -- It's a state park, not a national park, but -- WOW -- was it great.  Possibly our #1 stop.  Their claim to fame is buffalo.  We did the buffalo safari, which I highly recommend -- though, again, it was expensive.  We were the only family on the tour, and our guide was an elderly man who really knew his stuff.  He took us into parts of the park not accessible to tourists and told us great stories.  He also left us with a healthy respect for how dangerous buffalo are.  I want to return in the month of September, when they herd the buffalo every year. 

- The Jenny Lake hike in Grand Tetons.  It was the single most beautiful hike I've ever taken.  We took the ferry across the lake instead of hiking alllll the way around.  The view from the top was incredible.  In fact, everything in Grand Tetons was incredible.  We did an evening rafting trip down the Snake River, which was enjoyable -- but it was something you could excuse yourself for missing. 

We were gone for 3 weeks and saw SO MUCH . . . but these are the big stand-outs. 
« Last Edit: February 02, 2015, 04:30:11 PM by MrsPete »

nz

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Re: Road trip advice required - Southwest USA
« Reply #30 on: March 25, 2015, 06:10:31 AM »
Update - so here we are 10 days into our road trip and time for an update.

LA - didn't spend much time here, just found the freeway and headed south

San Diego - beautiful city, dipped our toes in the Pacific and had a picnic down by the Coronado hotel

Joshua Tree - stunning scenery

Phoenix - loved the climate. Saw a baseball game, White Sox v Royals, great experience.....national       anthem and all.

Tuscon - stumbled upon a funky street festival and visited the 'boneyard' at PIMA air museum.

Tombstone - had a wonderful time visiting Tubac, Tombstone and my favourite, Bisbee. Small  town America at its best.

The plan from here is to visit Carlsbad Caverns swing north to Santa Fe and then return west towards the Grand Canyon and Utah.
Having a wonderful time and have met some wonderful people, incredibly friendly and super polite.
Everything seems to be much cheaper than back home in NZ, especially gas.

Thank you so much to all those who provided travel advice.....invaluable.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!