My previous post was directed specifically to Colorado and South Dakota posters, but after getting some great feedback from fellow Fodorites, I started to look at the "big" picture and came up with three exciting itineraries of places where we have not been and wondered which you would pick and why???

Last year we visited Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, which were spectacular, but we really enjoy seeing new sights so the proposed itineraries would encompass places we have not visited as yet.

First itinerary would be to visit South Dakota (Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, Devil's Tower, etc), then onto Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park. Haven't gotten many raves about RMNP so am beginning to rethink Colorado. After Yosemite (which we've seen twice) and Yellowstone/Grand Teton, I wonder if RMNP would be a disappointment?

Second itinerary involves visiting Glacier National Park and then up into the Canadian Rockies to see Banff and Jasper. Been checking out some photos of these areas and it does look awe-inspiring!! Wondered how July and August is in the Rockies??

Third itinerary is one that we have tossed around a million times because I know I would love this area. Fly into Vegas and head up to Zion, Bryce, North Rim of Grand Canyon, and over to Moab to see Arches National Park, etc. (perhaps by way of Monument Valley which we so want to see). I hear that the scenic route through Utah from Springdale up to Bryce and beyond is also awesome.

The negatives to any of these itineraries would be, of course, that they would involve a lot of driving. Frankly that wouldn't stop us as we can take two weeks if need be to do the trip right. The other question in our minds is the weather issue. Previously when I posted about a proposed trip to Utah, I received a lot of posts saying that I should be prepared for unbearably hot weather, especially in Zion. We certainly wouldn't want to spend all our days in an air conditioned car!!

Those of you who have been to these areas and especially those who have been to all three, I would love to hear which you would pick and why. Which was the most moving to you?? Which was most beautiful??

I thank you all for your kindness in answering my previous post and hope that you will help me make a good decision about this next vacation. My husband probably wants to kill me right now....we just got back from a vacation to Hawaii and already I'm thinking of the next one!!! It's a passion for me for sure!!!

As you most likely realize, you're bound to have a great trip with spectacular scenery no matter which path you choose. One way to consider your choices is to focus on what would be most different from what you've already experienced. As beautiful and awesome as the Rockies are, perhaps you would prefer the much more unusual natural formations of the Utah canyons area. That's how I try to decide these things anyway, and whatever you leave out on this trip, just resolve to do it next time. That's the beauty of travel, isn't it? One never begins to run out of great places to see and things to do.

If I was doing this trip in July/August, I would probably pick Glacier National Park and Banff. I haven't been there yet but it's on my list. It will be very hot in Utah in those summer months. I think that area is better done in spring or fall.

There's a thread going now that was pulled back up from July. It's about a surprise 40th birthday trip to Zion, Bryce, etc. They were there third week of June and temperatures were already 100 or above.

My husband and I visited Zion and Bryce Canyon in May of '06. I don't know when you are planning your trip, but the first week of May was absolutely perfect - not too hot, not too cold. This was one of the top two trips we've ever taken. We flew into Las Vegas, rented a car and drove right to Zion (2 hour trip). We stayed in the area 3 days, 2 days in Bryce, 2 in St. George and flew back out of Las Vegas. Lots of hiking, walking and picture taking, lovely rides, spectacular scenery. No crowds!! Being from Connecticut, nothing like I've ever seen, even the Grand Canyon. Have fun!

If weather is a consideration, then in order of preference:

Canadian Rockies

Bryce, Zion

Rocky Mountain National Park

The Canadian Rockies in the Banff area are absolutely awesome. I love that area! Include Lake Kootenay and also the Okanagan Valley for some winetasting. If you have the time, stop over in Vancouver and Victoria. Or you could return to the US via the crossing at Osoyoos (much easier crossing than the super busy one south of Vancouver) and visit parts of Western Washington, lots of beautiful scenery down through Wenatchee to the Columbia Gorge and on to Portland.

sounds like a great trip, no matter which route.

I have been to the parks in Utah in late June and it was very got - 100+ during the day. The scenery was incredible, but we did see most of it from the car due to the heat, which was unfortunate. And since there isn't a lot of vegetation, the heat seemed worse than when we have those temperatures at home. I would love to go back through that area again, but earlier in the year.

On that trip we also went to Colorado, which had pretty good weather - except for some thunder and lightening and a little rain.

I loved the Badlands, South Dakota, etc. things you mention, but frankly RMNP just doesn't do a lot for me compared to our many other parks.

And for sheer beauty, you aren't going to top the Banff, Canadian Rockies, Glacier itinerary. It's simply spectacular.

I love the Utah parks, but I agree that August is just too hot for them.

We also 'did' the Utah parks in late June which was supposedly a great time but there was MAJOR heat going on during our trip. There was one hike that was a great one in that heat tho--THE NARROWS Really-if we go back it would be a Spring break time and don't think we'd be swimming/hiking the Narrows that trip after we've done it when it's around 100 degrees!

My coworker did Zion early August and it got up to 113 degrees.

If you think you'd be able to travel that area another time of year sometime-esp. Spring or Fall, that would be ideal...however if you HAVE to travel July/August every trip every time then you can plan/pack for the heat with many helpful hints from fellow travellers and get to those gorgeous red canyons sometime.

I've been to Glacier National Park. I thought I would get bored becaue I am an adventure type person but I really enjoyed myself. I live in Los Angeles, Ca and it was nice to go to the park and get some fresh air

Hi, dmpalena -
I've read a lot recently about loss of glaciation in Glacier National Park, so I'd choose to see it before it loses any more!

#2 for me please...

Thanks again to all of you who took the time to answer my post and share your thoughts. In two years our youngest will be going off to college and my husband and I will be able to take some spring and fall vacations. At that point I think we will visit the areas in and around Utah and Arizona when the temperatures are a bit more, well, temperate! For now since we are looking towards a July/August timeframe, I think we're leaning towards the Glacier/Banff route.
Any suggestions for places to stay? What towns are most conveniently located to each of the parks we will be visiting (Glacier, Banff, Jasper)? We have in the past used vrbo.com to rent condos and/or homes from private owners. Each experience so far has been very positive. It would be our preference to stay in a condo/home as opposed to motel rooms. Any suggestions?
Again I thank you for making this decision easier for us to make!!
Happy Trails!

We have been to almost all of these places. At that time of the year, I would recommend Glacier and the Canadian Rockies. It will be very hot in Utah. Do that when you can go on the cusp of the seasons. Your first option does not compare with the other two.

We were in Montana this last summer, doing a Missoula/Glacier/Helena/Missoula
2 weeks vacation.
We began with 3 days in a ranch in Seeley lake-the Rich Ranch. Seeley lake has some nice and moderate hikes(Morrel Falls, Pyramid pass and lakes) but in all the Swan lake corridor there are a lot of short and nice hikes and the country is nice(Cold lakes hike is a good exemple).
In West Glacier, we were at Belton Chalet-nice but noisy due to the railway==>Lake Mc Donald Lodge should be a good choice-near some short or moderate hikes(Avalanche lake, Trail of the cedars,Snyder lake).The lodge has very contrasted reviews and it seems it's a sort of lottery : rooms of very different sizes for the same price... There is an "Insiders guide" about the lodges in nat'l parks which can help you and with an early reservation you could be "exigent".
Don't miss the drive to Bowman lake in the north fork : it's a sort of gem...
The Highland restaurant in Belton is a nice stop, repair of the locals, with a excellent trout.
In Many Glacier area, we were at the Swiftcurrent motor inn, in the "motel's raw"(room 23), at the trailhead of Iceberg lake and Swiftcurrent pass : you cannot expect more quietness..
In this part, the hikes are very varied in lenghtness, difficulty,...but thre are some easy(along Swiftcurrent or Josephine lakes, or to Bullhead lake), some moderate(Iceberg or Cracker lakes) and some longer(Grinnel Glacier from MG campground or Swiftcurrent pass to Granite Chalet).Expect a lot of wildlife here(bears, mooses, bighorn sheps, mountain goats,...).
In Helena we were at the Best western great northern, a nice BW.
There are some hikes around helena with some nat'l forest.
On the way back we were at the Blue Mountain bed and breakfast between Missoula and Lolo : a highly recommanded adress.
In the Bitterroot valley there are a lot of nice short hikes(30 miles south of Missoula, in Hamilton the Mill creek hike to the falls is a 3 miles
hike easy and you arrive to a waterfall with a pond where you can swimm..).
There are some nice hikes guide(Dayhikes in Glacier or Dayhikes around Missoula) which are helpfull.
I've made a trip report in the Montana section : 2 weeks in west central Montana from our vacation.
You will not be disappointed by a sejour in this part of the state...
Erik.

In Glacier, we stayed at both Lake McDonald Lodge and Many Glacier. Each of them are very primitive. We did not like Lake McD, but we loved Many Glacier. No TVs in either of them, however. Request a water view room at Many Glacier. It's worth it.

This is not a plush carpeted, telephone in the bathroom, to-die-for linens type of place. It is clean, sparsely furnished and a real treat. We especially enjoyed the lobby, the restaurant and the wildlife that hung around the lobby entrancel.

A word of caution if you plan to go to Arizona---I recently got back from a trip to the Grand Canyon/Sedona/Las Vegas. When we told people where we were going, everyone commented on the heat in August but no one warned us that it's considered monsoon season in Arizona! We were prepared for the temperature, but not the storms. Almost every afternoon there were blinding rainstorms and dangerous lightening! We planned our activities for mornings and evenings (without a problem any day) and hoped for the best in the afternoons (some rescheduing required). We skipped the slot canyon tours because of weather warnings and Phoenix because of the temperature (110+ some days). Absolutely wonderful trip, but next time not in August!

We always travel on an 18-day trip at the end of August because we still have a school-age child who is also in summer camp full time.

We have been to all 3 of your choices, the most recent being Glacier & the Canadian Rockies. I am glad you chose it.

I loved all the other trips too but we had to suck it up on the heat. The Rockies are nice & cool in August(no humidity).

Our road trip included flying into Seattle from NY & doing a circular pattern northeast (into Canada), south into Montana, & then west through Idaho & back to Seattle through the rest of Washington. Fantastic.

If going to RMNP which is very nice, you might consider touring Colorado: Mesa Verde, taking the Durango Silverton train (and staying in Silverton if heat is an issue), Telluride and Ouray. For high mountains, driving around the Continental Divide would satisfy your needs.

Answering your question about places to stay...in Jasper look at Beckers cabins and try to stay at least 2 nights up there. Then for Lake Louise/Banff area you can stay in one place for several days and 'day trip' to everywhere. Please check out all the advice on the Canada forum on this site.