LV-Durango Itinerary; Doable/Exhausting?
 

Thanks everyone for your help on my previous posts. Pending any further advice, suggestions, changes you may have, here is our tentative schedule.

Dec. 18 Las Vegas (flight arrives approx.10:30am / flight time 5hr 40min)
Hoover Dam (no tour/pictures only)
Kingman/Seligman
overnight
Dec. 19 Grand Canyon
overnight
Dec. 20 Grand Canyon
Page
overnight
Dec. 21 Antelope Canyon
(is Page/Antelope Canyon to far out of the way?
Go direct to Monument Valley?)

Monument Valley (via Hwy 98? good hwy?)
overnight
Dec. 22 Monument Valley
Durango

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Dec. 27 Durango
Holbrook/Winslow (via NM Hwy 491 and I-40}
overnight
Dec. 28 Meteor Crater
Route 66
Kingman
overnight
Dec.29 Oatman
Las Vegas (arrive)
overnight
Dec. 30 Las Vegas
Stratosphere (thrill rides on top for teenagers)
In-N-Out Burger
Vegas stuff (no casinos)
or
Death Valley (lowest point)
overnight
Dec. 31 Las Vegas (departure flight for home)

Is there somthing you are doing in Durango? This is doable, but it is a lot of driving without much time to really see much.

If time allows while in or near Durango, do see what is open at Mesa Verde.

I would see Petrified Forest over Meteor Crater. PF is one of my least favorite national parks, but to be right there and not see it would be a big loss. It is definately good for 3-5 hours of your time. I think there is one short hike/walk that takes you through the biggest of the trees. I think you could do both in one day very easily. I think in a earlier post that I said I had seen meteor crater. Now I can't remember if I saw it or Sunset Crater.

If you could take the tour to the bottom of Hoover it is neat to see from the bottom, but I understand if you are running close on time.

Death Valley is the parks that suprised me the most. I didn't expect much at all. We stayed there 3 days(at the end of December 07-same time frame as you) and had a great time. Lowest Point is just one of a dozen places to visit there.

If your budget allows for a Helicopter tour of Grand Canyon, give that a whirl(what a pun).

I have been to all of the places you are going with the exception of Antelope Canyon. These are all good destinations to do in the winter. I like Zion and Arches much better than all the places you are going, but it would be far better to do it in the summer sometime.

http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/...4?source=pw980
Photos of 4 Corners, Durango Train/Zipline, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley


http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/...F?source=pw980
Red Rock Canyon and Death Valley

One more thing. I have been to the top of Stratosphere on 4th of July for fireworks and dinner. I have not ever eaten at In-N-Out Burgers. I did eat at the Burger Joint in Paris Hotel in Vegas and found it to be outstanding. Burgers there can be as high as $50. I guess this would be far different than In N Out. It looks like a fresher burger version of McDonalds.

I'd certainly pick In-n-Out over a $50 burger, but I'm cheap. :-)

Go ahead and stay in Kingman your first night; after several hours on the plane and the Hoover Dam tour, you'll probably be ready to stop for the night. There are a lot of places to stay in Kingman.

Antelope Canyon is beautiful! Try to get there around noon if you can, as it is a great time for photos as the sunlight slants into the canyon.

Lee Ann