| cardingtr |
Good suggestions will be appreciated.
My family will be on a 12 days road trip that will go all the way up to Yellowstone NP and back to Texas. Never done this with so little time. If I just drive it straight up and back down to TX it will be easy but to call it a vacation trip I need attractions along the way.
I got two girls 9 and 6 yrs old. So their enjoyment is the main concern. We definitely are stopping first in Albuquerqe, NM to ride the Sandia Tram and/or Hot air balloon then head North to either Pikes Peak or Rocky Mountain NP.
I got to choose either of the two peaks. Any suggestion which one to climb? (Of course with my MDX)
On the way to Yellowstone, what road to take to enjoy the scenery but not too far from gas, etc? Is Mt Rushmore/ Devil's Tower worth the detour? or we just head north? We got too much flat lands here in TX so we prefer mountain passes.
I am planning not to go straight to Yellowstone actually but to head a little north to Billings, MT or Red Lodge, MT to enjoy the scenery going to Yellowstone driving the Beartooth Scenic drive.
On the way back, we are planning to visit Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, if we have time. Any suggestion of a good National parks to visit? I am planning to buy a NP annual pass along the way to save on fees so I want to use it up.
Between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, is Arches NP worth the detour?
Pardon my long post but any suggestions my whole family will be grateful. I will pay you all back with pictures! |
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| greatscot |
Sounds like a fun trip. :4:
I'm familiar with the southern Utah NP's, and would strongly recommend Zion's (my favourite NP) and then you can take an awesome hike with your girls (take plenty of drinking water on the hike) through Bryce's Canyon NP. Arches is also spectacular. Looks like you will have some outstanding opportunities to take pics of some spectacular scenery.
Have a great trip :29: |
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| azfansinnc |
Pikes Peak is neat but it's a drive to the top with a really nice view and that's about it. You can experience all four seasons up there. I have seen 6 inches of snow on July 4 while in shorts from a really hot morning. Of course, there is also some historical significance to the mountain. From the base of the mountain, it's about 15 miles or so to the top. You then come down the same road, a good portion of which I believe is still dirt. It's very easy access off I-25 in CO Springs.
I have never been to RMNP or Arches. The Moab area has quite an impressive reputation. If you can fit it, I would either do Lake Powell (rent a boat for the day and go to Rainbow bridge and farther south) or Moab/Arches/Canyonlands.
When in Las Vegas I highly recommend Hoover Dam (Take the dam tour). Zion NP is also very beautiful. The Grand Canyon speaks for itself.
What time of the year are you going? If it's over the summer it's realy hot and dry in S Utah/NV/AZ. You will want to be careful with your outdoor, unprotected activities. Shade (hat), sunscreen and water.
Let's see, the above should take you about two weeks.
**Edit - Apparently greatscot and I both appreciated the beauty of Zion. Leaving out the east gate of Zion towards Bryce is pretty cool. You go through a tunnel carved into the canyon wall. |
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| cardingtr |
We are leaving Jul 21st so it's hot summer time. I will definitely go through Zion then.
azfansinnc,
You mean you can drive through the canyons from Bryce to East gate of Zion NP or vice versa? |
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| azfansinnc |
quote:
Originally posted by cardingtr
azfansinnc,
You mean you can drive through the canyons from Bryce to East gate of Zion NP or vice versa?
Yes, Hwy 9 goes through the southern part of Zion. You can come from or go to Bryce Canyon through the park.
However, to really appreciate Zion, you do need to take the Scenic highway deep into the park.
Here are some map links:
Zion detail
Area Map
Scott |
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| nightguy |
If you're thinking about going to Albuquerque, I think Santa Fe is worth driving through. I'm not usually a big fan of art deco or whatever that is but it was cool. First time I ever saw 3 BMW X5's on one street. You can smell the money there.
Also White Sands, west of Alamogordo....I think it's a NP. Miles of big white sand dunes with roads going between them. It's probably a little out of the way but actually I'd probably go there before Santa Fe.
Almost forgot...the Carlsbad Caverns. Again maybe not along your path but worth the 3 hour drive from Las Cruces with my in-laws. Just make sure you know their hours before you go there. |
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| cardingtr |
quote:
Originally posted by nightguy
If you're thinking about going to Albuquerque, I think Santa Fe is worth driving through. I'm not usually a big fan of art deco or whatever that is but it was cool. First time I ever saw 3 BMW X5's on one street. You can smell the money there.
Also White Sands, west of Alamogordo....I think it's a NP. Miles of big white sand dunes with roads going between them. It's probably a little out of the way but actually I'd probably go there before Santa Fe.
Almost forgot...the Carlsbad Caverns. Again maybe not along your path but worth the 3 hour drive from Las Cruces with my in-laws. Just make sure you know their hours before you go there.
Actually we are passing Carlsbad before Albuquerqe. I doubt it if my wife will approve that stop. We went to one cave in San Marcos, TX and we have to go back halfway on a guided tour without lights because she can't breath. :rolleyes: |
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| DocWalk20 |
Sounds like an ambitious trip you've got planned. I have been to all the places you've mentioned and have good things to say about them all. I'm just concerned that you might be trying to see too much in the time you've got available. While you can certainly drive the distances and get to the places you've mentioned in that time frame, how much time does that leave you to actually spend enjoying the places you've driven so far to see? Everyone's different in their vacation travel preferences, so just sampling each of these places may be what you have in mind. That being said, let me comment on a few of your questions.
Pike's Peak is an interesting drive, but agree with azfansinnc when he/she said "that's about it." If you're going to go there I'd hit Garden of the Gods park as well.
RMNP is gorgeous, but I've enjoyed it most when taking time to do some hiking. Don't get me wrong, the drive through the park is beautiful but if mostly planning to drive through, it won't take too long to see most of the scenic drives.
Devil's Tower is very cool, but in the middle of nowhere. It's so unusual it's definitely worth seeing once in your life, but would probably skip it in favor of having more time availble to spend at Yellowstone or the Utah parks.
Mount Rushmore... again, one of those things that's just so impressive/unusual it's worth going to at some point, but a ways off your route especially if wanting to do the Utah and Nevada loop on your way back.
I will second previous posters high opinions of Zion and Arches. Definitely spend some time at these parks.
One other suggestion (as if you don't already have enough to see :D ) is Mesa Verde National Park. It's in southwestern Colorado so it might not work into your travel plans. Check it out at: http://www.nps.gov/meve/ I just thought it was very cool and very different from any of the other national parks out there. So if you really want to get the most out of that national parks pass, it's another one you can visit.
Hope some of the suggestions help, and have a great trip with the family in the X. I'm jealous just thinking about it. Look forward to seeing some pics when you return. |
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| azfansinnc |
quote:
Originally posted by cardingtr
Actually we are passing Carlsbad before Albuquerqe. I doubt it if my wife will approve that stop. We went to one cave in San Marcos, TX and we have to go back halfway on a guided tour without lights because she can't breath. :rolleyes:
Carlsbad Caverns is pretty much self guided and the lights are all built in. It's one of the top two caves in the country along with Mammoth in KY. It's both pretty & awesome. I'm not sure what caused your wife's breathing problems but claustrophobia is not a problem there. The cave is wide open and lit up. However, like nightguy stated, know the hours and make sure you remember to adjust for the time change from Texas.
If you are coming across I-20, it's not much of a detour mileage wise. Just take 285 from Pecos to White City (not much there). If you do go to the cave and don't go to White Sands, take 285 north through Roswell to Albuquerque. Hwy 82 from Artesia to Alamagordo is pretty, but slow.
As a note: I-25 between Las Cruces and Albuquerque is boring. Then again, so is I10/20 through west Texas. No good unless you are making time. |
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| nightguy |
quote:
Originally posted by azfansinnc
Carlsbad Caverns is pretty much self guided and the lights are all built in. It's one of the top two caves in the country along with Mammoth in KY. It's both pretty & awesome. I'm not sure what caused your wife's breathing problems but claustrophobia is not a problem there. The cave is wide open and lit up. However, like nightguy stated, know the hours and make sure you remember to adjust for the time change from Texas.
If you are coming across I-20, it's not much of a detour mileage wise. Just take 285 from Pecos to White City (not much there). If you do go to the cave and don't go to White Sands, take 285 north through Roswell to Albuquerque. Hwy 82 from Artesia to Alamagordo is pretty, but slow.
As a note: I-25 between Las Cruces and Albuquerque is boring. Then again, so is I10/20 through west Texas. No good unless you are making time.
Yeah I seem to remember a lot of natural light coming in different places. I seem to remember water dripping in places too. It was fun. Not nearly as bad as the Tower/Soudan mine in northern Minnesota where they take you down 1/2 mile and then in on a train 2 miles and then shut off the lights for the heck of it. |
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