jfawp

I'm already toying with some ideas about our trip next year (probably in fall). If you read my very long trip report, we just visited some of the western states in October. I'd like some imput on these areas on places we haven't visited:

1. Ca. coast from SF up to Oregon and Washington coast.

2. Montana, going up into Canada

3. Arizona and New Mexico

We enjoy seeing National Parks, wildlife, things of nature, short hikes, little bit of city life thrown in every 3-5 days. If you read my recent trip report you will know how we love to travel!! These are 3 areas that are of some interest to me, would just like to get some of your thoughts on these areas. Probably will be late Sept./Oct. (not as late as this year - although I did love the snow!) Thanks, Jean

PamEwing

Since you enjoy National Parks, short hikes, and a little bit of city life, I think you'd really like the Grand Canyon and Sante Fe. There's a wonderful shuttle service at the South Rim of the GC that stops along all of the scenic view points, so you can do as little or as much hiking as you want. Sante Fe is charming. Great museums and food.

Gardyloo

In September/October weather will likely be a factor in the coastal and Rocky Mountain alternatives. For the WA/OR/CA itinerary, I'd recommend starting in the north and going south, in order to have a better chance of missing rainy weather on the Olympic Peninsula and Oregon coasts.

Same goes for the Canada/Montana alternate - autumn comes early to the high country, and you don't want (I assume) to have to make detours around early snows etc.

In my opinion, the Pacific coastal zone between Vancouver Island and SF (including the BC lower mainland, Puget Sound and the Columbia Gorge/Portland) is one of the premier travel destinations in the world. There's so much variety - marvelous cities, rugged coast, wilderness national parks and high mountains, bays, islands and coves, the Columbia River gorge, the Redwoods... it's just one "wow" after another.

I think it would be a good balance to your recently-completed trip to the Rockies.

easytraveler

Hi, jfawp! Really enjoyed your Mountain States TR as well as the photos!

It might help to know exactly how much time you have for this next trip.

#2 Montana into Canada. Although Banff et al is stupendously beautiful, it might be a bit late in the year to be doing that, as Gardyloo has suggested.

#3 Arizona and New Mexico. There's plenty to do in both states. New Mexico has the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque in early October. However, a couple of years ago when we went from the Balloon Fiesta up north towards Taos and drove around in the mountains, there was already snow in the northern NM mountains.

#1 would probably be your best choice at that time of year. Agree you should onsider going north-south. October would be absolutely gorgeous weather for most of the coast, especially the further south you go. I would suggest taht if you are going to do the coast, that you continue on from SF onward down to Los Angeles. This section contains some of the most beautiful portions of the entire coast.

Or you could do just Oregon and California coasts and then do Washington and British Columbia together as another trip.

emalloy

In September you would find New Mexico great. Go north from Albuquerque and go to Bandelier NM, interesting Native American homes carved into the rock of the hillside, nice hiking, and do go to Tsankawi which is about 5 miles east. Then there is Chaco Canyon, and Aztec ruin for other Native sites. And go to Santa Fe and do the museums, over to Pecos Ruit, and up to Taos for the Pueblo. Then west of ABQ is el Morro NM and Inscription rock, nice hike up to the ruins on top. and Acoma Pueblo. South of ABQ is Salinas Pueblo and White Sands NP and Carlsbad Caverns. Of course there is the balloon festival in the fall too. You also have to be prepared to answer "red or green" when ordering food.

emalloy

And if you have time go to Arizona too. You could loop from ABQ and to all the stuff in NM and hit Painted Desert/Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelley, Walnut Canyon, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon. I have some pictures in www.flickr.com/photos/emalloy2009/sets in the 2008 and 2009 sets to give you an idea of some of the sites.

jfawp

Thanks to all, gives me a bit to think about. We've been SF south, but never north. This trip will probably be around 3 weeks. I like the fall because it is less crowded and so beautiful. So how late would you think is to late to head to northern Montana and Canada? I guess I should look at this year's trip to see the answer to that one!!

Easytraveler, I posted more pics today under a new post (don't ask me why I did it that way!?) - it's titled More pics from "I did it My Way - Out West".

Emalloy, I'm going to look at your pics now. Thanks

jfawp

emalloy - where is that Upper Antelope Canyon. I wanted to go there on our recent trip, but knew we didn't have time. That looks awesome

spirobulldog

Antelope Canyon is near Page, Ariona. You could easily combine(any or all) this with North Rim of Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Monument Valley, and Lake Powell. North Rim facilities close oct 15. We saw nice fall foliage at Capitol Reef mid-october and can say the same for last year mid-october in Zion. This trip wouldn't have any city stops, however.

We really enjoyed Oregon this past year, but we were there in July. Crater Lake, the coast, Redwoods(in california), Oregon Cave, Portland, Mt St Helens, Mt. Hood, Columbia River Gorge. We were there 10 days. You could start this out in San Francisco. We did San Fran last spring break and enjoyed it along with Pt. Reyes. We really liked Portland, lots to do close by and very good food. Powells Bookstore is a must if you like to read at all.

easytraveler

You usually have to book the tour of Antelope Canyon out of Page, Arizona. I don't know of any other way to get there. You cannot go alone.

The best time is to go there around noon, when you will get the light shafting into the canyon from above. For this to happen, you have to depart Page at about 11am, as it takes about an hour to get there.

As this is Navajo country, I'd suggest booking a tour with a company run by the Navajos themselves.

If you do go to that part of the country, I'd suggest looking into the Navajo run "hotel" at Many Farms which is located in the Navajo Nation. It's really inexpensive but it's also a way to help train Navajo kids for the hotel industry.

Thanks for the additional pictures. I'll go and check them out now!

easytraveler

Here are a couple of sites on Navajo country and Antelope Canyon for you to enjoy:

http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm

http://www.navajotours.com/

aliced

Just got back from September trip to WY, MT, OR & WA. The highight of the 3 weeks was Glacier National Park. NOTE the Going to the Sun Road which traverses the park closes mid-September for construction; this year closing date was 9/14 soyou must plan your time around this. We left Yellowstone from the north, stayed in Helena (not worthwhile) heading to GreatFalls (great boat ride at Gates of the Mountains however) to see the Lewis & Clark Exposition, before Choteau along the Rockies, which town was essentially closed for winter on 9/7 before entering Glacier. Stayed at the wondrous Many Glacier Hotel on the east side and exited to Whitefish on the wes side of park. We loved MT but you must visit by or in early Sept. Glacier borders Waterton at the northern border, not sure of closings up there. We eliminated Canada from our trip due to car rental restrictions between drop-offs.

Portland and Seattle were lovely, we spent about 8 nights there in their environs. Glorious weather in Seattle, were told to be there in September and not after also for best weather. Glad we listened!

annieO

I agree that October is iffy weather wise for Montana & Alberta. My friends went to Yellowstone in October this year and it was cold. I've been to Southern Alberta in October when it's nice but it can also be cold. Some of the towns we have enjoyed visiting in Montana are Deer Lodge (old Montana prison and car museum), Helena (museum,lots of historic buildings), Great Falls (Lewis & Clark museum), Missoula (university town) & Bozeman (museum on university campus),Butte (old minig town), and Whitefish. The weather in Glacier and Waterton may be cold and/or snowy with limited places open. Waterton does have some permanent residents year round.

Last October, we went to the Oregon-Washington coast and had a good trip but it was rainy a lot of the time. It was nice to have fewer tourists.

October is a good time to visit southern Utah especially Zions. Arches, Canyonlands (Moab) and Capital Reef are also usually nice to visit in October.

emalloy

Antelope Canyon is just a bit south east of Page, AZ (maybe 5 miles)on route 98 as Spirobulldog said. We were there in the afternoon in September and took a smooth water raft trip on the Colorado river from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees ferry from Page in the morning and then drove to the Antelope canyon parking lot and took the tour with a Navajo guide. I think it was $ 6 to park and $20 each to take the tour. There are outfitters who will drive you from their office in Page, but we just went there and did not have reservations in advance. The guide drives you in from the parking lot to the entrance and I thought that even though it was late in the day, the place was fantastic. There were people in the group ahead of us but only one other couple in our group. Lower Antelope is also beautiful, I hear, but involves more climbing in and out, upper is a flat walk. I think were there for an hour or less. If you go to the area, I think there are plenty of people who do boat trips on Lake Powell from Page and we'd like to do some of that on our next trip.

lindsyb

I loved New Mexico in October! We visited Santa Fe, Taos and ABQ and were there for the Balloon Fiesta. Our favorite things: Balloon Fiesta, Petroglyph Nat'l Monumnet, Bandolier National Monument, the Pueblos, fabulous food and great weather - just to name a few!

Gardyloo

Let me throw out a sort of hybrid itinerary, taking into consideration the other "contending" areas for your holiday.

In Sept/Oct it's true the north Pacific coast can be rainy. In fact, that's one of its chief attractions - IF - you don't mind some drippy conditions. The coastal rain forest valleys on the Olympic Peninsula, in particular the Hoh and Quinault valleys, are spectacular at that time of year, especially if the Roosevelt Elk have made their way down from the high country. Trees extending into the mist, hanging Spanish moss over moss-covered paths... it's spooky beautiful. Near the Hoh valley are some of the most beautiful wild beaches in Olympic National Park, so it's easy to get a twofer - rain forest and wild coast.

But my suggestion would be to combine some coastal and mountain scenery, including some red rock old west bits, thus:

Start in Vancouver BC or Seattle; do a three-day loop out to the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula (see those valleys) then back via Port Townsend (very cute Victorian town) to Whidbey Island in Puget Sound (ferry from PT to Whidbey.) Then follow WA Hwy 20 through North Cascades National Park ("America's Switzerland") to US 97, which runs along the eastern (dry) slopes of the Cascades. Follow US 97 south (stop for a day cruise up Lake Chelan, which extends almost 100 miles into the mountains from the east side) through the Yakima Valley wine area (you'll probably be there around the harvest.)

End up at Goldendale and the Columbia River. Follow the river west through the Columbia Gorge (WA side to Hood River, then OR side) - where there will be a lot of autumn color, especially around Hood River where the orchards will also be in harvest mode.

Spend a day around Portland, then head south through the Yamhill County wine area, or else straight out to the Oregon coast, and continue south along US 101 all the way to and through the Redwoods, and finally CA Hwy 1 from Leggett through Mendocino and over the GG Bridge into SF.

Alternatively, you could stay on US 97 south through Oregon (but be sure still to do the Columbia Gorge loop, just double back to US 97 from Portland.) Go through Bend and Sisters, then head back over the mountains via Crater Lake.

You could either continue from Roseburg out to the coast, or if you want some culture thrown in with your scenery, stop for a night in Ashland for a play at the Shakespeare Festival, then backtrack to Grants Pass and take US 199 down to Crescent City and the Redwoods.

With these inland alternatives you'll take advantage of dryer weather (the mountains stop the rain) plus some very fine scenery, ranging from red rocks and canyons (not Utah or 4-Corners quality, but not bad) to sagebrush, Indian reservations, snowy mountains on both sides, and the big river. HIGHLY recommended route at that time of year.

jfawp

THANK YOU ALL!! Now that I've got something to play with I'll start reading. There is so much to see in America and so little time!! Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming. JEan

JC98

If you like national parks and the west, do the grand loop that includes Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Grand Staircase Escalante, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonland, Monument Valley, etc. You'd think all rocks look the same after some time, but no everywhere we went, we still uttered "wow!".