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Can we 'fill in' 2 months, New Orleans, to Yellowstone & points in between?

Can we 'fill in' 2 months, New Orleans, to Yellowstone & points in between?

Old Oct 7th, 2011, 05:32 PM
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Can we 'fill in' 2 months, New Orleans, to Yellowstone & points in between?

We find ourselves in the wonderful position to head overseas again for two months or so, from around about March next year. We love Europe and have spent quite a bit of time there over the last 2 years. I'm pushing for Europe again, DH is toying with the idea of coming and in his words, "finishing off' parts of the US that we haven't seen.

We love to drive, just wanted to clear that up first In 2009 we spent time driving from San Diego up to San Francisco then to Vegas via Yosemite. On that same trip we flew to NYC and spent time travelling up into New England. We've previously visited Orlando to take the kids to Disney World (twice), NYC, Chicago and also the West coast that trip too.

So we'd like to see some more of the 'middle bit'! He was thinking arriving into Dallas (ease of flights from Australia) heading south, then up to Memphis and we'd also love to see Yellowstone. So that’s pretty much as far as we've got. We will both be 50 (ahhhh) next year, we're active, well travelled. Our interests are mostly smaller towns, great scenery, National Parks and gentle interesting walks/hikes. As for big city's we like to avoid staying in them, but we enjoy visiting for a day or so to see the highlights. Food & wine are a big part of our trips. But I see we could drive up through Oklahoma, Colorado & Wyoming where I can only imagine there would be wonderful scenery, which we would love.

So what’s your thoughts? I always like to start here and get some 'must do's/sees along the way and start thinking out a route. We don't usually book too much accommodation ahead of time, we like to be flexible in case we find a real gem we can stay longer etc.

Thanks as always,
Deidre
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Old Oct 7th, 2011, 06:03 PM
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Taking the parameters which are:


"flying into Dallas during March, for roughly 2 months, and wanting to include Yellowstone" (wait, I shouldn't have used quotes there... but I wanted to somehow signify a capsulized thought)

A - because it starts in MARCH (I won't pretend to know whether that means the 1st or the 31st - and yes, I KNOW 'somewhere in between')... you should probably concentrate on SOUTHERN reaches upon arrival.

Given your interest in Memphis... go directly there from Dallas first, and then due south to New Orleans just because it is reasonably near, fairly warm, AND significant.

Maybe you could stand New Orleans for 3 days... but do study and decide that for yourself.

Staying with my 'southern' inspiration... I would then go across Texas via San Antonio (I guess), debating all the while whether to give Houston more than a day or two (your call).

I'd stay in San Antonio for a day or two at least, to rest up. There are some scenic areas in West Texas between San Antonio and El Paso (on or off the main freeway - but concentrate on side trips making circles to the south, from Interstate 10)

You might as well look around El Paso for a day or two, at least to break up the trip. A night in Las Cruces, NM should be nice, and interesting. You should then stick with your southern leaning, postponing your move northward as long as possible (I've witnessed a full blizzard in Denver in mid-April myself - and have only been there perhaps 3 times).

SO, the Grand Canyon is definitely calling you after looking around Phoenix and Tucson on the way there.

With all the time you have, you could even include Death Valley, CA before perhaps doubling back to Vegas and then up through Utah... a night or two in Salt Lake City should be pleasant after various paths through southern Utah for natural scenery.

Finally make your move northward toward Yellowstone... maybe 3 days-ish in that area (??)... and later, depending on whether the winter weather has gone away yet, pick an especially scenic path south into and through Colorado.

With all the time you seem to have, find your way to Aspen, CO and perhaps Telluride or the like.

Eventually you could go east again (from Denver?), or maybe north up to the Dakotas (Mount Rushmore, SD??) before heading due south and at some point a bit east to get back to Dallas for a flight back to OZ.

In general, tiz perhaps best to lean as late in March as you can, AND have southern targets in sight for the first few weeks of your journey, JUST IN CASE the northern weather is unfavorable and uncertain.

A mid-March arrival does have you around until mid-May, when the weather is much more accommodating in the northern and/or mountainous regions.

This is just a general backbone of an idea.
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Old Oct 7th, 2011, 06:09 PM
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WOH!! Thats awesome, thankyou so much. I've been reading some trip reports this morning (Aus time ;-) ) and I'm getting quite enthused! We have been to the Grand Canyon but Dh would love to go back and spend some more time. Thanks for the weather tips, as we can be flexble with departure we will absolutely go later rather than earlier.

I probably should of mentioned that I love the thought of some Southern Plantation/Garden type visits. And I just read a TR about the food in NO and I'm salavating.

Thanks again.
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Old Oct 7th, 2011, 06:30 PM
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Even the "south" in the Rockies might be a bit chilly given the altitude (check Google for altitude of various locations). But you could do a long trip that would dip south after you've visited Louisiana and the southern Mississippi river by going to San Antonio (nice missions there in addition to the Alamo -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623718580201 ), Big Bend National Park, areas in New Mexico before heading north, hoping that it has warmed up by then. It would be a long trip. All forts of things to see along the spine that is the Continental divide:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624514560099/
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Old Oct 7th, 2011, 06:36 PM
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Great advice from NorthwestMale. I'll throw this out 'cause it's another option given that you've got two months.

Driving through the Rockies in April / May can be dicey. In Colorado those can be our snowiest months in the mountains. Eastern Wyoming is lots of wide open spaces, not that much great scenery except some isolated pockets.

What if, after Memphis and NO, you stayed south, made your way across New Mexico then headed north to Yellowstone through Utah? There are loads of fabulous large and small parks and unique small towns you can hit on this route. It's prime time for many of them, desert in full bloom and all that.

I live in Colorado and it's wonderful here, so not trying to steer you away, but for April / May having a plan B could be good.
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Old Oct 7th, 2011, 07:14 PM
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mmmm all such great advice, we got caught in a blizzard last year, trying to get to out of Italy...for us Tropical Australia folk it was pretty terrifying. So we sure don't want to risk that again.
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Old Oct 8th, 2011, 09:30 AM
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I think you are going too early in the year. If you stay in the far south you will be OK. But a lot of the country you will be traveling though will still be in winer or perhaps early spring - and esp Yellowstone. Some roads aren't even open until the end of May. And passes through the mountains can still get snow in June.

It the territory you want to se is fixed I would start in May instead so by the time you get to the mountains the chance of any real snow is gone.
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Old Oct 8th, 2011, 01:25 PM
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Personally live in the southeast on the Gulf Coast

lots of awesome stuff to see if you have not been.

Go to Dallas a bunch a great town.

weather2travel.com climate guides head south first

carrentals.com cheap DFW rentals classic.mapquest.com

My route take what you like Hill Country San Antonio

Hang a left to Houston on I-10 neworleansonline.com a must

Boloxi casinos Mobile Pensacola www.orangebeach.com area

where I live is beautiful best for beaches and seafood...

Head back up to Dallas via Natchez Vicksburg Shreveport

Then head north to Amarillo www.bigtexan.com FREE 72 ounce

steak if you can eat it all tonnes of fun pick up I-40

historic66.com route to Santa Fe Taos over the Raton Pass

up toward Durango Ouray on to yellowstone.com then

shoot back to Dallas via Thermopolis Cheyenne

Denver Pikes Peak on down...

That is the way I would do it...

Lots of great deals on cupon hotels along the way...

Personally get my best deals betterbidding.com Priceline

bids get me great 3 stars and up from $35...

Happy Travels!
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Old Oct 10th, 2011, 02:22 PM
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Okay, so we are now thinking.............

Our friends have asked us to go to Vietnam & Cambodia in March, finishing up the first week of April. So we might do that, then head to the States towards the end of April, starting South.

That will have us 'finishing up' mid to late June, is that a better time of year?

Excited now, I will start researching all your suggestions.
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Old Oct 10th, 2011, 02:42 PM
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Now you are doing much much better. April is great weather in the South and then when as you head north things will be good. The later you can wait the better, unless for some reason it is a really light snow year up north.
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Old Oct 10th, 2011, 03:07 PM
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Just one quick question. Will we have the car hire drama of picking up in one state and dropping of in another? It would seem 'silly' to go back to Dallas if we can fly home from somewhere else.
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Old Oct 10th, 2011, 03:51 PM
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Yes, sometimes the drop fees are a lot and sometimes they are not much difference in price.

Rocky Mountain National Park really needs to be after Memorial Day(which is the last weekend in May). That is the weekend that they normally open up the main road. You don't want to miss that.

Really Mid-June is when Yellowstone gets everything opened up. If you arrive there on the first week in June there is a good possibility that all the roads won't be open.

I like in Oklahoma. Right on the Arkansas border. Frankly, there isn't much to Oklahoma that I would come as far as you have to see.

So lets say you take a 7-14 days to do New Orleans, Nashville, (Maybe a stop at Pigeon Forge/Smoky Mountain National Park/even Dollywood), and Memphis. Don't miss the plantation homes along the river road near NO.

In Arkansas, I really like Petit Jean State Park and The Buffalo National River area. You could spend a day or two at those.

You might enjoy stopping for a couple of days in Branson, Missouri. I wouldn't do it if you did Pigeon Forge and Dollywood. They are very similar.

Then head to Colorado. There is a lot that could be done in Colorado. Mesa Verde National Park, Durango Train, Great Sand Dunes(perfect time to see it is last of May or the first of June for the little creek that runs through it), Rocky Mountain National Park. A lot of the ski resort like Aspen, Crest Butte, Breckenridge, etc have a ton of things to do in the summer as well. So you could do 10-15 days there.

Then on to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. I would probably spend a week or so there. Maybe 2-3 days in the Tetons and 5-7 days in Yellowstone. You will want to make lodging reservations for this ASAP. Stay "in park".

An option would be to return to Dallas. Come back thru Utah. I like the parks in Utah far more than the Grand Canyon. Arches, Bryce, and Zion are spectacular. You could hit Mesa Verde on this route as well. Then come back thru New Mexico and see Carlsbad Caverns. The bats usually are good toward the end of June.

Still another option would be to include- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills area of South Dakota.

If you started your trip more towards the1st or 2nd week of May and ended on July 4th, you could see a fireworks show somewhere. Plus, the weather would be more cooperative(most likely). Addison(which is North Dallas) has a great fireworks show.

There are many good restaurants, stops, hikes, etc that I will mention when you get a little more detail ready.
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Old Oct 10th, 2011, 05:54 PM
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Many car rental companies will not rent a car for more than 30 days at a time. One way to fix this would be to rent for 28-30 days from Dallas (return to Dallas) and then fly or take the train to another city and rent another car for the remainder of your trip. Salt Lake City usually has better rates on rental cars than Denver.
I agree with the others. Delay the northern part of the trip.
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Old Oct 10th, 2011, 07:12 PM
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Your new plan sounds perfect. You'll be out of SE Asia before the really brutal pre-monsoon heat settles in, and you'll be hitting the US parks before the heavy tourist season begins. The odds of decent weather has greatly improved.

Agree with spiro's recommendations: Great Sand Dunes at the end of May / early June, and Rocky Mountain National Park after that. Mesa Verde (also not to be missed) and the Durango train could be done in between those two by making a long C-shaped loop through Colorado. You could make your way to places like Ouray, Grand Canyon of the Gunnison, Crested Butte, Aspen, Leadville, Steamboat Springs, Grand Lake. Lots of options.

Have fun planning!
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Old Oct 10th, 2011, 09:14 PM
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Thanks so much Spiro' & co. Just perfect.

We can't delay too much longer as we will need to be back before they end of our financial year (june 30).

"So lets say you take a 7-14 days to do New Orleans, Nashville, (Maybe a stop at Pigeon Forge/Smoky Mountain National Park/even Dollywood), and Memphis. Don't miss the plantation homes along the river road near NO.

Still another option would be to include- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills area of South Dakota."


To the above let me say it all sounds wonderful but 'Dollywood' would not be 'our thing' but having said that I will be doing a bit of 'Elvis' in Memphis!!!! ;-) And Mt Rushmore would be wonderful. Will definately take up the advice to stay 'in' N/parks, we learnt that and were very grateful for Yosemite.

We will have to do some research on cars, in Europe last year for 3 months, we leased a car, which worked really well.

I will start a new thread when my map is on the wall and we start getting down to the nitty gritty.

Thanks again.
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Old Oct 12th, 2011, 08:35 PM
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Um, don't try the 72-ounce steak... LOL (not that the first few minutes of it wouldn't be heavenly... but, well, "heaven" might be on your itinerary soon after if you shoved-down the whole thing)

Generally I can understand the thought process which suggests not flying into and out of Dallas, but the logistics of it sound good for Aussie travelers, AND you can take so many paths to and from Dallas that you wouldn't need to double-back over much territory at all.

FURTHERMORE, SAAAAAAAAAAAAY, with all the time you have, you want to make one loop toward the south, during, say, your first month-ISH, (er, "south", to Americans, often means "east" from Dallas - LOL - don't ask!) Lets call it "the DEEP South". and then circle back around and end THAT rental period at Dallas (yet again) before getting a NEW rental there, for the west and northern segments.

That would solve any 30-day rule, PLUS you wouldn't have the aggravation of more air travel. I think there is more going on "in the middle" of the USA than there is "in the middle" of OZ... so you really could connect two rentals and keep from running into a problem.

Nowthen, a GREAT bit of advice, with all that time YOU have, is to rent your vehicle in the Dallas area AWAY from the airport. Take a bus/shuttle into town, maybe even stay a night, and rent a car at a local rental outlet (but still with one of the BIG rental companies). The airports charge staggering amounts of taxes and 'fees' that ring-up "PER DAY" on rental cars.

Avoiding them for nearly two months worth of daily fees, could really help your budget.

When projecting your return, you make time to return the vehicle downtown and then use public transportation to get back to the airport to fly out.

(or you even get a room near the airport, stow your luggage there, and have a much easier trip to the remote rental office at which you'll save lots of money)

Hope that makes sense.
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Old Oct 12th, 2011, 09:36 PM
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Again wonderful advice. I'm having such fun planning this, especially now that 'I have discovered' the Natchez Trace!!

So far I've found out that we can hire a car for up to 62 days, but Dh is in charge of all things car. And I'msure it wouldn't be a hassle to drop off and collect another one.

Yep, theres pretty much nothing to see in middle Australia ;-)
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Old Oct 13th, 2011, 03:31 AM
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I would check out Austin and vincinity when in Texas. You would like the vibe of Austin then maybe a stay overnight in Fredericksburg. A possibility would be heading down to Big Bend National Park in Southern Texas. April is wildflower time in Texas.
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Old Oct 13th, 2011, 10:11 AM
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If you go to Austin, I would do The Schlitterbahn waterpark. Awesome! If you go to Austin, I would include San Antonio too.

IMOP, Big Bend isn't worth the effort. Having been to 30 of our 58 National Parks(I am a huge huge fan of National Parks), it would rank near the bottom for my least favorite. We enjoyed it and were glad we went, but having only 2 months, I wouldn't go there. Again, IMOP.
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Old Oct 13th, 2011, 10:12 AM
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It is also my understanding that a lot of the fees are waved for foreign travelers. I think that most car rentals are a much cheaper rate for those coming from abroad. Totally makes me mad though.
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