tDH

@bardo @nytraveller I would have never guessed that about Texas so thanks for the warning and it's taken on board.

@jamie New Orleans keeps coming up on everything I look at so I definitely need this includes as part of my trip. Thanks

archmack

Philadelphia is known for its arts and culture. philadelphia Points of interest is Philadelphia Museum of Art,
Philadelphia Zoo,Liberty Bell, Franklin Institute.

try ....... hotel near philadelphia airport

emalloy

David, for the western portion we have done a loop from Vegas which covered a large part of the western parks. This does involve a lot of driving, but gives you a look at the area so you can figure out where you will come back to.

Day 1: leave early, drive to Zion (3 hrs), hike a bit in the PM, spend the night.

Day 2: Hike a bit in the AM, drive to Bryce (1.5 hrs), drive the rim road with stops, or hike or take a mule ride in the PM, spend the night.

Day 3: spend the AM doing those things you didn't get to then drive to Moab ( 4hrs).

Day 4, 5: Explore Arches and Canyonlands.

Day 6: Drive to Monument Valley (4hrs) explore, spend the night.

Day 7: Drive to Grand Canyon south rim, explore, hike etc. spend the night.

Day 8: See sunrise in GC, drive to Vegas, perhaps with a stop at Hoover Dam (5hrs)

The rest of the time in Vegas.

tDH

@emolloy I can't believe how beautiful the places are on this road trip. It is a lot of driving but looks worth it and would be a perfect break away from the cities. Thanks

Did you travel in RV or camp?

emalloy

We usually wing it with motels. Have toured the area several times and have been lucky to find lodging. A couple of times we've made reservations ahead when we knew we would be in an area on a specific date. People often reserve way ahead and then cancel last minute, so we've even stayed at Grand Canyon on a walk in. That said, we usually travel spring or fall, not in the very busy summer season.

In a pinch if you can't get lodging in the parks, for Grand Canyon look Cameron Trading post in Cameron or one of the motels in Tusayan; for Arches and Canyonlands in Moab or Green River: for Zion in Springdale; Bryce Ruby's or in Torrey; for Monument Valley in Kayenta or Mexican Hat.

There are camping areas in the parks, but if they are full, look at BLM land and state parks for places to stay. BLM areas will mostly be pretty basic.

emalloy

OH, and if it works better for you, do the loop in the opposite direction.

workingonthebucket

I did a national park tour last year, and ended the trip in Vegas. After seeing so much beauty, my entire family was mortified by Vegas. I would cut down on Vegas, and definitely go with the previous suggestions to visit Bryce, Zion, etc. Spend more time in the Grand Canyon..hike down to the bottom, go to the north and south sides, take a smooth water float trip out of Page, AZ.... Soooo much to do in these places, and oh so beautiful. good luck.

sharona

Hi David. Can you write down a proposed itinerary? I'm getting a little confused what you're now thinking.

In the meantime, a warning comes to mind. You are traveling in hurricane season so please keep an ear out for storm warnings around New Orleans. It seems as if NO has been a prime target the last few years.

A lot of people on these boards think that if you love the national parks you can't possibly have a good time in Las Vegas. I'm here to dispel that myth. I enjoy both, although a little does go a long way in Vegas. If you like to gamble then 3 days is plenty. If you don't then 2 days is probably enough. The pools will still be open in September and there are plenty of great restaurants and nightly shows. If you're there during the week you can likely find cheap accommodations. Prices shoot up on weekends and when there's a huge convention in town.

emalloy gives you good alternatives for when you can't find accommodation inside the parks. We've stayed in Tusayan, which is about 10 minutes from the South Gate of the Grand Canyon. We've stayed in Moab and at Ruby's just outside of Bryce. They are all fine.

I also second the idea of stopping at Hoover Dam, which is about 40 minutes outside of Las Vegas on the way to the Grand Canyon. This stop can be for as little or as long as you like depending on if you want to take some of the offered tours. But a quick stop is fine, too, to see this engineering marvel. It's right off the highway so a very easy stop.

LittleT

I live in Dallas, Texas and would not suggest any Texas city for a vacation spot except perhaps Austin.

I agree with spending time in the National Parks...Yellowstone, Arches, Zion, Grand Canyon all incredible. Also agree with limiting time in Las Vegas.

Try to get to Muir Woods in San Francisco to see the Redwoods.

tDH

I know I've had a lot of suggestions and a little time to juggle them about. So my new intinery looks like this.

LA - 5 days
San Diego - 4 days
San Fran - 5 days
Vegas - 3 days

Zion-Bryce-Moab-Monument Valley-GC-Hoover loop
9 days

(This depends on finding others to travel to reduce fuel and vehicle costs)

Back up plan if I don't get the people to travel with is

Zion Bryce Hoover - 4 days (short road trip)
Alburquerque - 2 days
Santa Fe - 3 days

The east will still have 2 weeks and

Washington - 4 days
Phily - 3 days
New York - 6 days

This also gives me 2 extra days to spend wherever I feel I like the look of.

Even though I do like the sound of NO Boston and Chicago I just think they are too separated from the other areas I'm visiting and I want it to flow.

@littlet Thanks for the extra tips for SF. I'll look it up.

Think this gives me a balance of city and country adventure but part of me feels this 6 weeks looks like hard work rather than enjoyable but I can always cut something's out of I feel it's too frantic!!

Thanks

David

bardo1

David,

Perfecto!!

kja

Sounds like a great trip!

dougpatel82

You are spending too long in Vegas. Make it short. I am pretty sure you will have fun but still remember it is a very expensive city. I would rather spend more time in DC-Boston-Philly-NYC area. If you even have the time you could go to Niagara Falls by train. Only bad thing it is 8 hrs. trip. There are a few stadiums in the destinations you are actually visiting that offer tours to the field and sometimes they even include a ticket for a game. Check the parks sites so you know which one offer this. For the portion of the trip in the West you might like to rent a car. Distances are not really something to worry about.

lmhornet

Philadelphia over Boston is just plain wrong. Philadelphia is a second tier tourist city. The Boston area has more to see than just about any metro area in the US. It's really a great place. It is also a very easy place to get around.

I'm not big NYC fan, so 6 days look way too long.

Four days in San Diego is 2 days too many. It's just a smaller, duller LA. It's go to Santa Barbara for visit instead.

3 days in Santa Fe is way too much. It's a small place. Take one day and spend it in Taos.

"I am pretty sure you will have fun but still remember it is a very expensive city."

????? Las Vegas is very quite reasonable on the strip if you go when there in no big convention in town. If you stay off the strip, it is a very cheap city to visit. There is also tones of free entertainment.

Amy

Imhornet, I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of Philadelphia as a second tier tourist city in comparison with Boston. Not only is it the birthplace of the nation, which usually has, of course, less importance to our overseas visitors than to citizens, but it also has world-class art and other museums, a vibrant restaurant scene, fascinating neighborhoods, and unique attractions ranging from the largest urban park to an abandoned prison with art installations to the largest operational pipe organ in the world--played daily in a department store--to an Amish/multi-ethnic market to...well, let's just say this list goes on.

I'm not sure on what you are basing your assessment, but perhaps you need to revisit.

alexandrabatman

I think you could possibly squeeze in a trip to Boston by reducing a few of your other legs. It's only a few hours drive from NY, grab a Boltbus or Megabus ticket and it'll be super cheap. Boston is an amazing, beautiful city, and you have the opportunity to see it without sacrificing anything from your other trips, I think. Even if the Sox aren't playing, you could head out to a bar and watch playoff games (if they do get in, cross fingers, they may be playing away games). It's not at all too seperated from the areas you want to travel to.

lmhornet

"Imhornet, I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of Philadelphia as a second tier tourist city in comparison with Boston. Not only is it the birthplace of the nation, which usually has, of course, less importance to our overseas visitors than to citizens, but it also has world-class art and other museums, a vibrant restaurant scene, fascinating neighborhoods, and unique attractions ranging from the largest urban park to an abandoned prison with art installations to the largest operational pipe organ in the world--played daily in a department store--to an Amish/multi-ethnic market to...well, let's just say this list goes on."

Blah, blah, blah. If that's the best you can come with, it just confirms how much better Boston is.

"I'm not sure on what you are basing your assessment, but perhaps you need to revisit."

Unlike you, I'm basing my opinion on reality.

nytraveler

Sorry - although Phil is where the Continental Congress met (not until 17174 and then about what was happening in Mass) - Boston was the birthplace of our nation from long before that - from the Sons of Liberty (1765) to the Boston tea party (1773) to the battles at Lexington And Concord (1775).

While Philly is a pretty city and does have things to see and do IMHO Boston is of more historic interest and I like a whole lot more.

Amy

The, er, process may have started in Boston, but the actual birth event was in Philadelphia. (That was a fairly long gestation, eh?) And Virginia might disagree that all of the, um, things that led to the birth were only taking place in New England.

Imhornet, everybody's got an opinion on what reality is, too.

Christina

I like your new plan a lot better. I was going to suggest New Mexico. If you have a car, which I assume you will, you can venture other places easily while staying in Santa Fe for 3 days. I would think even 1 day in Albuquerque could be enough. However, you could drive up to Mesa Verde and the Durango CO area from there to fill your extra time. YOu have the FOur Corners area, some interesting Indian stuff. I vacationed at a dude ranch in Durango once and easy drove from there down to ABQ for my flight home in a couple hours, as I recall. Good weather and an easy drive. I think on that trip I started in Santa Fe a few days before going to the ranch in Durango. It's too far for a day trip, but if you could change your schedule a bit, that would be an idea. Here is some info on that http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._Colorado.html

I also think 4 days in San Diego could be cut back to 2 or 3 tops, and same for Philly. I woldn't spend 3 days there.