CO Family of 4 needs help planning Trip of a lifetime in ConUS! HELP
Nov 2nd, 2015, 12:51 AM
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CO Family of 4 needs help planning Trip of a lifetime in ConUS! HELP
We're a Colorado family of 4, looking to embark on a memorable trip for either 10 or 15 days departing from Denver, either going up to Wyoming and from there we are lost as to where to go. But the premise is, we would start up high up to WY North then West, then round up South to come back East then North to CO.
We have a small budget below -$3,000 free of gas, so we don't know if it will be enough but we would be driving and bringing our dogs along because it isn't a family trip if our babies, all are together. Budget is debatable, and can be more than that.
Don't know what are best times of year to do this too since it's getting colder out, but we are open for recommendations, suggestions and we're also open for extra days if necessary so please. Any info helps. Specially since We've heard that Yellowstone is close now.
We know we definitely want to do WY since our boys as little as they are, are huge fans of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Devils Tower is a huge must, Yellowstone and Old Faithful are a also on our list since we've devoted hundreds of nights to Monopoly National Parks and we've made a promise to go there. Now is the time.
Just as every family we would like to make the most out of this experience since we are a family just looking in to having some fun with our boys who love the outdoors just as much as they love learning about places and people, and want to make newfound memories while Mom is still around since Mom is really sick.
If you can join us put this together, and help us put a big smile on our sons faces, will definitely make this the best experience ever for our entire family as a whole, my husband and I had always planned and doing something like this but never got the opportunity, the health nor the funds, to do so, and although not all the funds are there now, we won't let that stop us this time. We are still moving forward!
Thank you all for all the info provided and for helping us plan and put together what is sure to be an unforgettable trip of a lifetime for our family but mostly memories our children can cherish the rest of their life!
We have a small budget below -$3,000 free of gas, so we don't know if it will be enough but we would be driving and bringing our dogs along because it isn't a family trip if our babies, all are together. Budget is debatable, and can be more than that.
Don't know what are best times of year to do this too since it's getting colder out, but we are open for recommendations, suggestions and we're also open for extra days if necessary so please. Any info helps. Specially since We've heard that Yellowstone is close now.
We know we definitely want to do WY since our boys as little as they are, are huge fans of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Devils Tower is a huge must, Yellowstone and Old Faithful are a also on our list since we've devoted hundreds of nights to Monopoly National Parks and we've made a promise to go there. Now is the time.
Just as every family we would like to make the most out of this experience since we are a family just looking in to having some fun with our boys who love the outdoors just as much as they love learning about places and people, and want to make newfound memories while Mom is still around since Mom is really sick.
If you can join us put this together, and help us put a big smile on our sons faces, will definitely make this the best experience ever for our entire family as a whole, my husband and I had always planned and doing something like this but never got the opportunity, the health nor the funds, to do so, and although not all the funds are there now, we won't let that stop us this time. We are still moving forward!
Thank you all for all the info provided and for helping us plan and put together what is sure to be an unforgettable trip of a lifetime for our family but mostly memories our children can cherish the rest of their life!
Nov 2nd, 2015, 02:07 AM
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If you want to go north, I would wait to do this trip starting in June. If you do 10 days it will take a day just to get to WY from CO and a day to get back. That gives you 8 days for the parks. Yellowstone should be great at that time with all the baby animals, like elk and bison.
If you plan to camp, make reservations in the parks now. If you plan to stay in hotels/motels you are a bit late in making reservations, but people do make plans a year ahead and then cancel when the time gets close.
The dogs will be a problem in the National Parks, as you will not be allowed to leave them in the lodging when you are hiking and some of the parks are not great places to take them even on a leash because of the native animals there.
Best wishes for a great trip.
If you plan to camp, make reservations in the parks now. If you plan to stay in hotels/motels you are a bit late in making reservations, but people do make plans a year ahead and then cancel when the time gets close.
The dogs will be a problem in the National Parks, as you will not be allowed to leave them in the lodging when you are hiking and some of the parks are not great places to take them even on a leash because of the native animals there.
Best wishes for a great trip.
Nov 2nd, 2015, 03:20 AM
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Yes, I think the dogs will be a problem all along the way. Board them or have a dog walker come to your house.
I suggest getting a sort of National Geographic style map of the western states that shows national parks and sites of interest. Stick pins in it and see what you see for "connecting the dots".
I don't know what Yellowstone would be closed now about.
I would head west from Denver to Salt Lake City, north to the Grand Tetons, up to Yellowstone and a circle back to Denver via the Devil's Tower.
You don't say how old your children are. If they are youngish there are wonderful dinosaur sites in western colorado and in Wyoming.
I suggest getting a sort of National Geographic style map of the western states that shows national parks and sites of interest. Stick pins in it and see what you see for "connecting the dots".
I don't know what Yellowstone would be closed now about.
I would head west from Denver to Salt Lake City, north to the Grand Tetons, up to Yellowstone and a circle back to Denver via the Devil's Tower.
You don't say how old your children are. If they are youngish there are wonderful dinosaur sites in western colorado and in Wyoming.
Nov 2nd, 2015, 05:10 AM
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Leave the dogs at home.
Save Yellowstone for next summer. I'm not sure where you are in CO, but Devil's Tower is about 6 hours from Denver so that possibly could be done as a quick weekend trip depending on weather.
If you want to go on a trip now, look at the National Parks in Utah, especially Arches NP and Zion NP.
Save Yellowstone for next summer. I'm not sure where you are in CO, but Devil's Tower is about 6 hours from Denver so that possibly could be done as a quick weekend trip depending on weather.
If you want to go on a trip now, look at the National Parks in Utah, especially Arches NP and Zion NP.
Nov 2nd, 2015, 06:04 AM
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That's a lot of car travel for dogs who don't understand why.
How about Themopolis to YNP,back through Idaho (Craters of the Moon/Lava Hot Springs, etc.), down through Utah (2 national parks) to I70, Colorado National Monument, east to home?
Devils tower is out of the way, unless you do a South Dakota trip instead of a YNP focus (another way to go).
How about Themopolis to YNP,back through Idaho (Craters of the Moon/Lava Hot Springs, etc.), down through Utah (2 national parks) to I70, Colorado National Monument, east to home?
Devils tower is out of the way, unless you do a South Dakota trip instead of a YNP focus (another way to go).
Nov 2nd, 2015, 06:51 AM
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North won't work very well unless you wait til next summer. The Utah national parks and south rim of the Grand Canyon would work. But unfortunately the national parks are not really doable with dogs. They are not prohibited -- but you can't take them almost anywhere in the parks, and they cannot be left in cars or accommodations.
So they (and you) will be MUCH happier leaving them at home w/ a pet sitter or kenneled.
So they (and you) will be MUCH happier leaving them at home w/ a pet sitter or kenneled.
Nov 2nd, 2015, 10:08 AM
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Yes, most of Yellowstone is now closed. http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm
This sounds like you need to make this trip in the next month and if that's the case then you need to go south and even with that you could see a lot of snow. Utah would have the best in the way of scenery like Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion and Bryce National Parks. Maybe even the Grand Canyon & Petrified Forest.
As everyone has mentioned, the dogs are best left at home with someone you trust. You will NOT be able to take them on any of the trails so if they go with you you will be VERY limited on what you can do and see.
Best of luck.
Utahtea
This sounds like you need to make this trip in the next month and if that's the case then you need to go south and even with that you could see a lot of snow. Utah would have the best in the way of scenery like Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion and Bryce National Parks. Maybe even the Grand Canyon & Petrified Forest.
As everyone has mentioned, the dogs are best left at home with someone you trust. You will NOT be able to take them on any of the trails so if they go with you you will be VERY limited on what you can do and see.
Best of luck.
Utahtea
Nov 2nd, 2015, 12:35 PM
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Gretchen, I think you missed this:
"and want to make newfound memories while Mom is still around since Mom is really sick."
The boys would probably also love the Great Sand Dunes National Park. So while it might not be the right time of year for a 2 week trip to Yellowstone, there are several short road trips possible weather permitting.
"and want to make newfound memories while Mom is still around since Mom is really sick."
The boys would probably also love the Great Sand Dunes National Park. So while it might not be the right time of year for a 2 week trip to Yellowstone, there are several short road trips possible weather permitting.
Nov 3rd, 2015, 02:03 AM
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Oh, dear, really did. Oh, definitely a LOT of places to go. I'd head south (as I'm sure someone else said) to the Sand dunes and over to Mesa Verde and Canyon de Chelly.
I still think the dog is a big problem but if they went to Durango before Mesa Verde they might be able to board the dog for a couple of days while they see the parks. Take all the records and up to date shots.
I still think the dog is a big problem but if they went to Durango before Mesa Verde they might be able to board the dog for a couple of days while they see the parks. Take all the records and up to date shots.
Nov 7th, 2015, 05:44 PM
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If you click on my user name, you will see trip reports on all 5 of Utah's National Parks with kids--also Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. Yelowstone in winter is expensive--have to take a snow coach into the park--you couldn't snowmobile with young kids. I would go for southern Utah and the Grand Canyon and call it good. Those will be amazing memories--my kids love the desert parks!!
