aussiedreamer

So thrilled that we might see some wild flowers, I love to take photos, so thats exciting. Thanks all.

Nelson

If you like flowers then, depending on the route you settle on, consider this lesser known area of Colorado: the Comanche National Grasslands. There is an ancient mudflat with one of the largest collections of dinosaur tracks in North America.
I've seen astounding wildflower displays there in late May.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanch...onal_Grassland

Nearby is Bent's Old Fort, a fascinating slice of American history.
http://www.nps.gov/beol/index.htm

NorthwestMale

(ponders) IF the fees ARE waived for foreign travelers, then hopefully they can price various rental possibilities, list their foreign origins, and the huge FEES won't show up when pricing and comparing.

(I know almost nothing about whether that is true or not... it will be a learning experience, but the OP should go through the motions of pricing car rentals enough so as to establish where they're from, before comparing price quotes)

jill_h

Some random thoughts:

Schlitterbahn waterpark @ 50 years of age? I would steer clear of that. However, that area of Texas is beautiful - we call it the Hill Country.

I would suggest Fredricksburg - great little town, German history, beautiful! While there you could hike/climb Enchanted Rock.

President Johnson (LBJ) (36th President of the US) was raised in the hill country. there is a national historical park that is interesting if you're in the area.
http://www.nps.gov/lyjo/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Then if you choose to head to New Orleans, you can stop by Brenham, Texas to sample some great homemade ice cream -- Blue Bell. It's only about an hour south to get to Schulenberg ...

Between San Antonio and Houston is a small town, Schulenburg, that has Painted Churches. A hidden gem in Texas. http://www.klru.org/paintedchurches/churches.html

If you're interested in plantation/southern homes, I would head to New Orleans and Natchez, Mississippi. http://www.natchezpilgrimage.com/

aussiedreamer

Thanks jill_h, sounds wonderful & yes plantion/southern homes are on the list. (Think Gone With the Wind, apologies if I've just broken some code of tackines ;-) ) The painted churches also sounds great.

Also planning a short, 3 week, trip to Asia just before this one. So all this help is wonderful.

spirobulldog

jill_h,

Part of the park is older, but then there is also a huge fairly new section too. Saying you wouldn't go there because of its age is like saying you wouldn't go to Disney because of its age.

The older section is really landscaped well and offers a lot of shade to get out of the sun. The newer section is more wide-open concrete(like all the rest of the waterparks in the world). Having been to pretty much every major waterpark in the US(indoor and outdoor), it is certainly easy to see why Travel Channel ranks it #1.

Certainly Theme Parks aren't on everyones agenda, but this is hands down the best waterpark with the best rides that I have been to(including both of Disneys-which I also think are great ones).

aussiedreamer

spirobulldog..........sorry for not acknowledging your response. We're pretty much 'over theme parks', having done it all when the kids were younger, inc' both the Disneys. Now its 'us' time ;-), which for us means great scenery and regional food & wine. But all responses are terrific, you never know who else may be reading for planning and will use some hints that I may not.

jill_h

spiro - i was commenting on the fact that the OP said that they would be 50 -- not that the theme park was 50.

aussiedreamer

LOL I didn't pick up on that jill_h........pretty funny.

spirobulldog

LOL I'm 44 and still love it.

spirobulldog

aussiedreamer,

Looking back at your original post, I was curious as to your favorite place you've visited so far?

I think I have covered everything on your list(just a tad of New England-I haven't really done it right). Yosemite would be my favorite and Chicago would be at the bottom.

I think you'll find the food to be the best thing about the South. Cajun and BBQ.

Colorado and Utah has some great scenery. I think you will be blown away by Yellowstone. It's very awesome.

A lot of the Utah parks do require some hiking to see the "must sees". How much hiking do you like to do?

aussiedreamer

spiro' just to clarify I'm OFFICALLY still ONLY 48!!! LOL

I think my favourite memory of the USA will always be our first visit to NYC (we've been 3 times now). But driving from Boston up into New England was fabulous, and yes Yosemite was awesome. Over the years I guess we've moved from loving big cities to loving the country side. And food & wine really are a huge part of our travels. Anything from street food in Hong Kong to Michelin starred restaurants and all things in between.

As for 'hiking' which us Aussies tend to call more 'walking, (Hiking for us conjures up hardcore trekking for hours or days at a time), dh can go for hours & hours. I'm pretty good on level ground, not too rocky. (Born with a form of spina bifida, so have terrible ankles after a series of surgeries) We love to pack our back pack with a picnic lunch & a thermos (even the occasional bottle of wine has found its way into that bag, especially in France ;-)) & just wander off for however long we like.

bkluvsNola

With your timeframe I'd probably stick to touring the South. If you want to throw in a National Park, just go to Big Bend.

NorthwestMale

Spiro, in all fairness, isn't some/much of your 'love' for the park (at 44) tied to it simultaneously bringing back many, many memories of the times you've been there in the (distant) past?

(if that wouldn't apply to our O.P. then perhaps we should differentiate a bit {shrug} )

spirobulldog

NorthwestMale,

I'm not following you. Are you talking about the waterpark or National Parks?

I first visited the Schlitterbahn only about 10 years ago. I think I've been 4 times total. It is about 7 hours from our house(Oklahoma). We have been there a couple of times on our way to San Antonion. The other times were just to the water park and that's all we did. Probably stopped and ate in Dallas.

NorthwestMale

... whatever "IT" refers to... you tell us

spirobulldog

It refers to the noun in the previous sentence not the previous paragraph. So it refers to Schlitterbahn.

I really have no clue what your previous post was asking, telling, or what your intentions were.

Connie

Many roads will be closed that early in the Rockies. It can be mid June before some of the best mountain roads are open--even later in the northern Rockies.