10-14 day trip to Southwest
Jul 16th, 2013, 05:29 AM
#1
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10-14 day trip to Southwest
My husband and I are planning 10-14 day trip to Southwest. We plan on seeing Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon, but have time to see other parks. We would be landing in Las Vegas, renting a car, driving toward Bryce and Zion and looping around to th Grand Canyon and ending up back in Vegas for a one to two night stay before heading back home. I have read several guide books. The more I read the more I want to see. Need a good plan with enough time to see the parks and whatelse we shouldn't miss. My husband and I are in our 60's but are physically active. We have climbed glaciers, whitewater rafted and zip lined. Also need ideas of where to stay, that are convenient to the parks. Can you help?
Jul 16th, 2013, 06:16 AM
#2
If you are intent on those 3 then I would stop in Page, AZ on the way around.
Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are must sees. They should be seen when the sun is high in the sky. Allow about 4 hours.
Personally, the Grand Canyon is one of my least favorite sights. However, with 10-14 days you can get to a lot.
If you want to see GC then I might start in Salt Lake City and go to Moab. Then work your way west and from Zion go to Page and GC and end in Las Vegas.
If you don't mind skipping GC then start and end in Salt Lake.
As far as where to stay. For the three you mentioned.
GC. Stay inside the park. Xanterra is the official booking agent.
Zion. I like to stay inside the park but many stay in Springdale just outside.
Bryce Canyon. Again, I like to stay inside. Especially if you want to go to Bryce Point for a spectacular sunrise. I believe Forever Lodging now does the lodging inside Bryce.
You should also realize that if you're 62 or older and a US resident, you can buy a lifetime senior national park pass at your first entry.
Most people don't know, but the pass is also good for federal forest land such as around Sedona, etc. When you buy the pass ask for a hang tag. The pass fits in the hanger and hooks to the mirror. Make sure you reverse the pass so the serial# shows.
Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are must sees. They should be seen when the sun is high in the sky. Allow about 4 hours.
Personally, the Grand Canyon is one of my least favorite sights. However, with 10-14 days you can get to a lot.
If you want to see GC then I might start in Salt Lake City and go to Moab. Then work your way west and from Zion go to Page and GC and end in Las Vegas.
If you don't mind skipping GC then start and end in Salt Lake.
As far as where to stay. For the three you mentioned.
GC. Stay inside the park. Xanterra is the official booking agent.
Zion. I like to stay inside the park but many stay in Springdale just outside.
Bryce Canyon. Again, I like to stay inside. Especially if you want to go to Bryce Point for a spectacular sunrise. I believe Forever Lodging now does the lodging inside Bryce.
You should also realize that if you're 62 or older and a US resident, you can buy a lifetime senior national park pass at your first entry.
Most people don't know, but the pass is also good for federal forest land such as around Sedona, etc. When you buy the pass ask for a hang tag. The pass fits in the hanger and hooks to the mirror. Make sure you reverse the pass so the serial# shows.
Jul 16th, 2013, 07:12 AM
#4
myer: He can't re-tag since this is on the <u>Travel Tips</u> forum . . .
jcmrbm1: Welcome to Fodors. You have posted this on the very general Travel Tips/Trip Ideas board. It is more for discussions about luggage, tip insurance, etc.
See the 'Change Forum' pull down menu? Click that and re-post your questions on the United States board. Over there you <i>can</i> tag it for Utah and Arizona. That forum is MUCH busier and you'll get more/better response. Plus there are hundreds of threads about the places you want to visit.
jcmrbm1: Welcome to Fodors. You have posted this on the very general Travel Tips/Trip Ideas board. It is more for discussions about luggage, tip insurance, etc.
See the 'Change Forum' pull down menu? Click that and re-post your questions on the United States board. Over there you <i>can</i> tag it for Utah and Arizona. That forum is MUCH busier and you'll get more/better response. Plus there are hundreds of threads about the places you want to visit.
Jul 16th, 2013, 11:24 AM
#6
Myer - they can MOVE the thread to USA (where it can be tagged). But no, they cannot tag this thread where it now resides for any state(s) . . .
So your idea would have made sense if you had suggested the thread be moved over to United States. But simply tagged - nope . . .
So your idea would have made sense if you had suggested the thread be moved over to United States. But simply tagged - nope . . .
Jul 16th, 2013, 12:01 PM
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This is the 'Travel Tips & Trip Ideas' board, that is correct. Now tell me what 'Trip Ideas' means if it does not mean 'help me with some ideas for the trip I am planning?'
As far as I can see, this belongs here just as much as it would on the USA board unless there is some specific (where is it found) definition of 'Trip Ideas' that Frommer's is using that makes it incorrect to post this thread here.
Jcmr, it will make a difference whether you have 10 days or 14 days, to what might be suggested. So you need to pin that down.
It also depends on what you want to do in the parks. For example, the averge visitor to the Grand Canyon South Rim (90% of all GC visitors and the reason why I prefer the North Rim) spend around 12 minutes actually standing at the Rim annd looking into the Canyon as well as taking the obligatory snap shots. They then spend an hour or two visiting the Visitor's Centre and the souvenir shops. That's it.
If however, you actually want to hike down into the Canyon then you obviously have to allow more time for that which usually means staying at least 2 nights. The same will apply to any park you don't just want to drive through.
I would suggest getting the AAA 'Indian Country' road map which covers the Four Corners area. It has a lot of useful info on the back and a lot of detail regarding parks, sights, etc. on the map itself. This is the best map for planning a road trip in the area.
From Vegas I would go North rather than south. Through St. George and on to Zion, then Bryce, then the GC North Rim. At the North Rim stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge or cabins right at the Rim if you can. Bookings can be hard to get though.
Otherwise Kanab is the closest town with lots of chain hotels/motels.
For Zion I prefer the choices in SpringDale. The Lodge in the Park is again great but hard to get into and there are places in Springdale that are equally as nice (unlike the GC north rim vs. Kanab).
I have no preferences for Bryce having backpacked there but never stayed in a hotel in that area.
Visiting both Zion and Bryce along with the GC North Rim requires some backtracking unless you go the long way around which makes little sense if you don't have lots of time and a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Not practical really.
So it's backtrack from Bryce to Kanab and the GC N. Rim or skip Bryce.
From the N. Rim you can backtrack to Jacob's Lake and then head east on 89A or backtrack to Kanab and head east on 89 to Page. If you choose 89A you will drive along a stretch that is close to the canyon and where 'Thelma and Louise' drove over the edge at the end of the movie.
If you choose to go to Page you will be at the west end of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Great if you want to rent a houseboat for a week or do a 3 day hike in to the 'Rainbow Bridge' in the Navaho Mountain area. Otherwise, Page itself has little to offer.
Either way, heading south on 89 you come to a choice where 160 meets 89. East to Tuba City or south to Flagstaff.
If you take 160 to Tuba City you can then head southeast on 264/3 through the Hopi Mesas towards Gallup. If you choose to continue south on 89 stop in at the Cameron Trading Post. This is just north of 64 which is coming east from the GC South Rim.
From Flagstaff you can drop down on 89A to Oak Creek Canyon for some surprising hiking in a largely desert area and a few miles farther down the road hike in the Red Rock country around Sedona. It's easy for avid hikers to spend a week or two in this area alone. I can reccommend the Junipine Resort in this area for a place to stay or even just a nice breakfast at the restaurant there.
Sedona is a lovely place but totally ruined by the numerous 'touts' trying to get you into a timeshare presentation. One ploy is offering you a free stay for the night. Another is what appears to be a western movie museum on the main street. You go in see pictures of John Wayne etc. in movies made in the area and a nice guy starts chatting to you about this. After a couple of minutes he gets around to something like, 'wouldn't it be nice to have a holiday home in this area?' and you are into a timeshare spiel. Should be against the law as entrapment.
From Sedona you can continue on 89A through Jerome (old mining town) to Prescott and making your way back to Vegas.
I agree with Myer re the pass for the parks. It is of course only available to US residents. If you are not then it makes sense to get an annual pass instead which is still good for all the National Parks. Most of the parks you are likely to want to visit are National Parks, not State Parks so that's fine. It's also as good a way as any to short list your choices of parks.
Should you opt to go south to Phoenix from Sedona instead of through Jerome and Prescott, then try to see Montezuma's Castle on the way. It's probably the only chance to see some Anazazi ruins you will get with such a short time available and within the area that it is reasonable to try and cover.
Just remember, the two commonest mistakes travellers make are packing too much and trying to see/do too much in too little time.
As far as I can see, this belongs here just as much as it would on the USA board unless there is some specific (where is it found) definition of 'Trip Ideas' that Frommer's is using that makes it incorrect to post this thread here.
Jcmr, it will make a difference whether you have 10 days or 14 days, to what might be suggested. So you need to pin that down.
It also depends on what you want to do in the parks. For example, the averge visitor to the Grand Canyon South Rim (90% of all GC visitors and the reason why I prefer the North Rim) spend around 12 minutes actually standing at the Rim annd looking into the Canyon as well as taking the obligatory snap shots. They then spend an hour or two visiting the Visitor's Centre and the souvenir shops. That's it.
If however, you actually want to hike down into the Canyon then you obviously have to allow more time for that which usually means staying at least 2 nights. The same will apply to any park you don't just want to drive through.
I would suggest getting the AAA 'Indian Country' road map which covers the Four Corners area. It has a lot of useful info on the back and a lot of detail regarding parks, sights, etc. on the map itself. This is the best map for planning a road trip in the area.
From Vegas I would go North rather than south. Through St. George and on to Zion, then Bryce, then the GC North Rim. At the North Rim stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge or cabins right at the Rim if you can. Bookings can be hard to get though.
Otherwise Kanab is the closest town with lots of chain hotels/motels.
For Zion I prefer the choices in SpringDale. The Lodge in the Park is again great but hard to get into and there are places in Springdale that are equally as nice (unlike the GC north rim vs. Kanab).
I have no preferences for Bryce having backpacked there but never stayed in a hotel in that area.
Visiting both Zion and Bryce along with the GC North Rim requires some backtracking unless you go the long way around which makes little sense if you don't have lots of time and a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Not practical really.
So it's backtrack from Bryce to Kanab and the GC N. Rim or skip Bryce.
From the N. Rim you can backtrack to Jacob's Lake and then head east on 89A or backtrack to Kanab and head east on 89 to Page. If you choose 89A you will drive along a stretch that is close to the canyon and where 'Thelma and Louise' drove over the edge at the end of the movie.
If you choose to go to Page you will be at the west end of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Great if you want to rent a houseboat for a week or do a 3 day hike in to the 'Rainbow Bridge' in the Navaho Mountain area. Otherwise, Page itself has little to offer.
Either way, heading south on 89 you come to a choice where 160 meets 89. East to Tuba City or south to Flagstaff.
If you take 160 to Tuba City you can then head southeast on 264/3 through the Hopi Mesas towards Gallup. If you choose to continue south on 89 stop in at the Cameron Trading Post. This is just north of 64 which is coming east from the GC South Rim.
From Flagstaff you can drop down on 89A to Oak Creek Canyon for some surprising hiking in a largely desert area and a few miles farther down the road hike in the Red Rock country around Sedona. It's easy for avid hikers to spend a week or two in this area alone. I can reccommend the Junipine Resort in this area for a place to stay or even just a nice breakfast at the restaurant there.
Sedona is a lovely place but totally ruined by the numerous 'touts' trying to get you into a timeshare presentation. One ploy is offering you a free stay for the night. Another is what appears to be a western movie museum on the main street. You go in see pictures of John Wayne etc. in movies made in the area and a nice guy starts chatting to you about this. After a couple of minutes he gets around to something like, 'wouldn't it be nice to have a holiday home in this area?' and you are into a timeshare spiel. Should be against the law as entrapment.
From Sedona you can continue on 89A through Jerome (old mining town) to Prescott and making your way back to Vegas.
I agree with Myer re the pass for the parks. It is of course only available to US residents. If you are not then it makes sense to get an annual pass instead which is still good for all the National Parks. Most of the parks you are likely to want to visit are National Parks, not State Parks so that's fine. It's also as good a way as any to short list your choices of parks.
Should you opt to go south to Phoenix from Sedona instead of through Jerome and Prescott, then try to see Montezuma's Castle on the way. It's probably the only chance to see some Anazazi ruins you will get with such a short time available and within the area that it is reasonable to try and cover.
Just remember, the two commonest mistakes travellers make are packing too much and trying to see/do too much in too little time.
Jul 16th, 2013, 01:45 PM
#8
Where this post belongs is for the original poster to decide.
However, it's ludicrous to think that the owners of a web site can't move a post from one category to another and then from one state to another.
I had a post on the U.S. board tagged for several southwest states moved to the Canadian board tagged for Alberta.
I purposely did what I did but they (Fodors) did what they thought they should do and what they wanted to do. They did what they thought was correct even though I was targeting a specific audience.
However, it's ludicrous to think that the owners of a web site can't move a post from one category to another and then from one state to another.
I had a post on the U.S. board tagged for several southwest states moved to the Canadian board tagged for Alberta.
I purposely did what I did but they (Fodors) did what they thought they should do and what they wanted to do. They did what they thought was correct even though I was targeting a specific audience.
Jul 16th, 2013, 03:40 PM
#9
>>However, it's ludicrous to think that the owners of a web site can't move a post from one category to another and then from one state to another.<<
Yes, they can move it. Isn't that what I said??
And no, Improvisor, Fodors forums are designed for destination-specific topics to be on the appropriate boards. The main reason being almost NO ONE reads/posts on this board while the geographic boards are VERY active w/ TONS of information already available there.
So - if your point is to actually <i>help</i> jcmrbm1 it would be kind to help him learn how the forums work.
Yes, they can move it. Isn't that what I said??
And no, Improvisor, Fodors forums are designed for destination-specific topics to be on the appropriate boards. The main reason being almost NO ONE reads/posts on this board while the geographic boards are VERY active w/ TONS of information already available there.
So - if your point is to actually <i>help</i> jcmrbm1 it would be kind to help him learn how the forums work.
Jul 17th, 2013, 03:08 AM
#11
By posting on the wrong board the OP greatly restricts the number of people who will see and therefore respond to the post.
I saw it by accident on the opening screen. Otherwise I never would have seen it.
I saw it by accident on the opening screen. Otherwise I never would have seen it.
Jul 17th, 2013, 08:25 AM
#12
Instead of looking at an ideal world where we all do what is intended (assuming planning should go on this board) is unrealistic.
Then if they go here, what should go on the other boards? Only trip reports?
I assume the OP started the thread to ask questions and get answers. The more the better.
If that's the case then I agree with janisj that since this board won't provide the desired results for the OP, then this would be the wrong board for her.
By cross-posting I assume you mean posting on both boards. Unfortunately, while you can post to multiple states within the US or multiple provinces within Canada, the only way to post on two forums would be to post twice and keep track of the answers on both. Not a good idea.
Then if they go here, what should go on the other boards? Only trip reports?
I assume the OP started the thread to ask questions and get answers. The more the better.
If that's the case then I agree with janisj that since this board won't provide the desired results for the OP, then this would be the wrong board for her.
By cross-posting I assume you mean posting on both boards. Unfortunately, while you can post to multiple states within the US or multiple provinces within Canada, the only way to post on two forums would be to post twice and keep track of the answers on both. Not a good idea.
Jul 20th, 2013, 09:07 AM
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That's a good example of what I mean by forum regulars seeing things in a certain way Myer.
On other forums, 'cross-posting' is in fact quite common. Yes, you post twice. That isn't difficult you simply 'cut and paste' from one to the other. So why would that be, "not a good idea"?
When you do 'cross-post' it is considered polite to add a line at the bottom of your post that says, 'cross-posted on the X branch'.
Every forum has it's own norms but they are only norms, not rules. This particular forum happens to have very few different boards where cross-posting would tend to make sense.
But then where for example should someone planning a RTW trip post? Would they not need to prepare a post covering their entire plan and then cross-post it to each geographical board involved? Would you then expect them to leave out all that did not pertain to that given geographical area? In other words customize it for each geographical board?
Perhaps as I said, it is Forum regulars who need to re-examine their view on what this board is for and what the words 'trip ideas' mean.
On other forums, 'cross-posting' is in fact quite common. Yes, you post twice. That isn't difficult you simply 'cut and paste' from one to the other. So why would that be, "not a good idea"?
When you do 'cross-post' it is considered polite to add a line at the bottom of your post that says, 'cross-posted on the X branch'.
Every forum has it's own norms but they are only norms, not rules. This particular forum happens to have very few different boards where cross-posting would tend to make sense.
But then where for example should someone planning a RTW trip post? Would they not need to prepare a post covering their entire plan and then cross-post it to each geographical board involved? Would you then expect them to leave out all that did not pertain to that given geographical area? In other words customize it for each geographical board?
Perhaps as I said, it is Forum regulars who need to re-examine their view on what this board is for and what the words 'trip ideas' mean.
Jul 20th, 2013, 09:26 AM
#16
improvisor - instead if lecturing us about how Fodors' forums should operate, maybe notice that the OP took my suggestion, re-posted and is getting a ton of good advice/information over on the US board . . .
Jul 21st, 2013, 07:19 AM
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Janisj, if you take a look, you will see the OP got 'good advice' on this sub-forum from both Myer and myself. That they got additional advice on the US sub-forum doesn't detract from that. Posting here got him advice he didn't get on the US sub-forum. So posting on BOTH is clearly better than on just one.
You continue to confuse majority with maximum.
All the rest of this thread is YOU telling us how the forum is supposed to work.
You continue to confuse majority with maximum.
All the rest of this thread is YOU telling us how the forum is supposed to work.
Jul 21st, 2013, 11:08 AM
#19
improvisor -- if you notice - myer only found the thread 'by accident'
>>I saw it by accident on the opening screen. Otherwise I never would have seen it.<<
You have had posts deleted and a thread locked down which is pretty unusual for a brand new member. Quit w/ the lectures and telling us and Fodors how it 'should be done'. By any chance were you kicked off all these other travel forums you know so much about.
>>I think you finally figured it out. That is precisely what I, and others, do here.<<
And that is what Fodors explains in its FAQ's
>>I saw it by accident on the opening screen. Otherwise I never would have seen it.<<
You have had posts deleted and a thread locked down which is pretty unusual for a brand new member. Quit w/ the lectures and telling us and Fodors how it 'should be done'. By any chance were you kicked off all these other travel forums you know so much about.
>>I think you finally figured it out. That is precisely what I, and others, do here.<<
And that is what Fodors explains in its FAQ's
Jul 22nd, 2013, 07:16 AM
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OK thursdaysd, if that is the case, how would you deal with this example.
Suppose I plan to visit 14 countries in 90 days, on 4 continents. I want to post here and ask for advice on my plan.
One of my questions is about whether I have divided up my budget appropriately. ie. x for this area and y for that area,etc. Similarly, how I have divided my time in each area.
My point being, without seeing the whole picture how can you advise me on any given part. They are all interrelated and all affect each other. The only way for you to see that whole picture is for me to post the entire plan on each sub-forum. In other words, cross-post the entire thread. For example, if you read that thread your immediate reaction might be this person is trying to see/do too much in too little time. But if divided it up and you only read, 'here is my 2 week plan for Italy', your reaction might be quite different. 'Oh, well if they only have 2 weeks, it's how to make the best of it.'
Does that not make sense to you thursdaysd?
Janisj, you continually ignore the point and continually respond instead with only what you want to talk about. Stop talking about ME and address the point raised. So let me ask you to respond DIRECTLY to this point.
"So posting on BOTH is clearly better than on just one.
You continue to confuse majority with maximum."
Yes or no janisj, correct or not?
Suppose I plan to visit 14 countries in 90 days, on 4 continents. I want to post here and ask for advice on my plan.
One of my questions is about whether I have divided up my budget appropriately. ie. x for this area and y for that area,etc. Similarly, how I have divided my time in each area.
My point being, without seeing the whole picture how can you advise me on any given part. They are all interrelated and all affect each other. The only way for you to see that whole picture is for me to post the entire plan on each sub-forum. In other words, cross-post the entire thread. For example, if you read that thread your immediate reaction might be this person is trying to see/do too much in too little time. But if divided it up and you only read, 'here is my 2 week plan for Italy', your reaction might be quite different. 'Oh, well if they only have 2 weeks, it's how to make the best of it.'
Does that not make sense to you thursdaysd?
Janisj, you continually ignore the point and continually respond instead with only what you want to talk about. Stop talking about ME and address the point raised. So let me ask you to respond DIRECTLY to this point.
"So posting on BOTH is clearly better than on just one.
You continue to confuse majority with maximum."
Yes or no janisj, correct or not?
