Most Scenice Place out West?
Jul 12th, 2005, 06:59 AM
#1
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Most Scenice Place out West?
I don't know much about the West, but was thinking Jackson Hole. That's close to Yellowstone right? How far away are the Grand Tetons - I hear that's beautiful? Where is Bryce Canyon? Any info would be great. I'm thinking of taking my family on a vacation out there. One child is 5 so we won't be able to do much hiking.
Jul 12th, 2005, 07:10 AM
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Th area you might consider includes Colorado, Utah and Arizona. You can take what is called the Grand Circle tour which allows you to visit the following national parks. Mesa Verde, Arches/Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce and Capitol Reef. You could also include Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly and the town of Sedona.
Jul 12th, 2005, 07:28 AM
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If you fly to Salt Lake City in Utah, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and the town of Jackson are to the north about 300 plus miles.
If you go south, Bryce Canyon is about 325 miles away, perhaps a 5 hour drive.
That general area also includes Zion National Park and Capitol Reef. Farther east you have the opportunity to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
If you want to see both areas, which will provide considerable contrast, you will need several weeks because there is a lot to see in all areas.
Don't worry, a child of 5 can do quite a bit. My son is 45 and he first saw Colorado's mountains and Bryce when he was 5.
In terms of time, I would visit the desert parks of Arches and Canyonlands in the last spring and, if you include, Yelowstone, make it last.
In terms of driving, West Yellowstone is about 6 to 7 hours driving time.
If you want to get accommodations in any of the National Parks, start soon. Yellowstone is very popular and often the best places to stay fill up early in the year.
All of the parks are unique. Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches,and Canyonlands are desert parks. Mostly canyons and unique erosion formations.
Yellowstone is unlike anything else in the world. It is a volcanic caldera full of geysers, hot springs, lakes, and canyons as you probably know.
The Tetons are a small, but dramatic mountain chain between Jackson Wyoming and Yellowstone.
Viewing Yellowstone and the Tetons could easily take 6 days because there is so much to see.
Because of the wide separation geographically of these various parks, seeing them all would require a lot of driving.
If you logically divide the area into two sections, you could make two separate trips out of your visit with a brief stop in Salt Lake City in between the two halfs.
I suggest flying into and out of Salt Lake City as one alternative because of the expense of renting a car in one state and dropping it in another.
Denver and Las Vegas are two other destination airports.
If you go south, Bryce Canyon is about 325 miles away, perhaps a 5 hour drive.
That general area also includes Zion National Park and Capitol Reef. Farther east you have the opportunity to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
If you want to see both areas, which will provide considerable contrast, you will need several weeks because there is a lot to see in all areas.
Don't worry, a child of 5 can do quite a bit. My son is 45 and he first saw Colorado's mountains and Bryce when he was 5.
In terms of time, I would visit the desert parks of Arches and Canyonlands in the last spring and, if you include, Yelowstone, make it last.
In terms of driving, West Yellowstone is about 6 to 7 hours driving time.
If you want to get accommodations in any of the National Parks, start soon. Yellowstone is very popular and often the best places to stay fill up early in the year.
All of the parks are unique. Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches,and Canyonlands are desert parks. Mostly canyons and unique erosion formations.
Yellowstone is unlike anything else in the world. It is a volcanic caldera full of geysers, hot springs, lakes, and canyons as you probably know.
The Tetons are a small, but dramatic mountain chain between Jackson Wyoming and Yellowstone.
Viewing Yellowstone and the Tetons could easily take 6 days because there is so much to see.
Because of the wide separation geographically of these various parks, seeing them all would require a lot of driving.
If you logically divide the area into two sections, you could make two separate trips out of your visit with a brief stop in Salt Lake City in between the two halfs.
I suggest flying into and out of Salt Lake City as one alternative because of the expense of renting a car in one state and dropping it in another.
Denver and Las Vegas are two other destination airports.
Jul 12th, 2005, 07:39 AM
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Excellent post brookwood!
At the age of 3 1/2 my son was doing the 2 mile Queen's Garden hike in Bryce. Don't under estimate those little legs!
Are you driving or flying to this region? How long do you have for this trip?
Utahtea
At the age of 3 1/2 my son was doing the 2 mile Queen's Garden hike in Bryce. Don't under estimate those little legs!
Are you driving or flying to this region? How long do you have for this trip?
Utahtea
Jul 12th, 2005, 07:54 AM
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wow thanks, that was helpful b/c I really don't know much. We'll be flying. We'll have from Sat - Sun, so a full week. I don't need to see ALL the parks, just a section of them. If we do one it sound like the Yellowstone area. I don't want to be driving all over, just a nice vacation with beautiful scenery. there's nowhere in particular that we have to see - so we're open to what you think is the top place to go. I was hoping for mid August before the kids go to school, so the father North the better b/c I know it is going to be HOT 
Jul 12th, 2005, 08:15 AM
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All the above are great suggestions. I just wanted to say that for "scenic beauty" it is hard to beat Glacier National Park in my book. Another thought -- Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore, maybe on to Glacier. What will a 5 year old remember? I bet he'd remember the giant faces on Mount Rushmore, and he'd surely not forget the herds of buffalo in Custer. Just a thought.
A week isn't much time for all that has been mentioned above, by the way.
A week isn't much time for all that has been mentioned above, by the way.
Jul 12th, 2005, 08:27 AM
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Sorry, I meant to mention that my suggestion was based partly on your mention of "hot", and shifting more northward. We were in Zion in August when they said it was 107. I believed them. It took our breath away, but not in a good way.
Jul 12th, 2005, 08:43 AM
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It can be very hot in those south Utah parks by June, even late May.
If you have only about one week, I would pick one area - either north or south of Salt Lake City. If you want the desert parks of southern Utah, then I recommend early to mid May. If you want Yellowstone,which is unlike anything anywhere on this planet, I suggest going in late May or early June.
Yellowstone is anywhere from 6,500 feet to 8,500 feet in elevation on the roads, and can be quite chilly in mid May.
June sees warmer temperatures, but it can still be cold at night.
If you have only about one week, I would pick one area - either north or south of Salt Lake City. If you want the desert parks of southern Utah, then I recommend early to mid May. If you want Yellowstone,which is unlike anything anywhere on this planet, I suggest going in late May or early June.
Yellowstone is anywhere from 6,500 feet to 8,500 feet in elevation on the roads, and can be quite chilly in mid May.
June sees warmer temperatures, but it can still be cold at night.
Jul 12th, 2005, 09:04 AM
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No one has mentioned a critical factor in your planning: At this late date, you will encounter difficulty in finding accommodations in any of the parks.
Having said that, if you are successful in finding accommodations, you can't go wrong with any of the areas recommended on this thread.
Having said that, if you are successful in finding accommodations, you can't go wrong with any of the areas recommended on this thread.
Jul 12th, 2005, 09:15 AM
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Oh my god, Howard, I guess you are right. I tend to forget that not everyone is as "anal" as I am about planning. I just booked a reservation for an apartment NEXT June in Rome. When someone appears here mid July and starts saying "I'm thinking of taking my family on a vacation" and mentions August, I guess I was assuming he meant next summer. I'm personally too picky about where I stay to start scrounging for lodging at the height of the summer season out west only one month before arrival. But maybe that's just me.
Jul 12th, 2005, 10:47 AM
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Let me second Patrick's suggestion of Glacier NP and the Black Hills including Custer State Park and Mt. Rushmore. We had young children on that trip and they loved it.
I don't know if a five-year-old is too young to go whitewater rafting on the Flathead River near Glacier, though they do have a tamer version with larger boats. Our son was eight when he went with us on the smaller rafts. (And saw both his parents fall out, btw.)
I also second Patrick on the anal trip planning -- I think he must be my doppelganger.
I don't know if a five-year-old is too young to go whitewater rafting on the Flathead River near Glacier, though they do have a tamer version with larger boats. Our son was eight when he went with us on the smaller rafts. (And saw both his parents fall out, btw.)
I also second Patrick on the anal trip planning -- I think he must be my doppelganger.
Jul 12th, 2005, 10:49 AM
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If you only have a week, then I would spend the time in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Very scenic locations!!!
The best places to stay for location is in the parks, but with this late planning you might not be able to get reservations. I would start calling now to see if you can get in on a cancellation. If you can stay in two different locations in Yellowstone that would be idea. Old Faithful area and then any other area would be best. If you can't get lodging in Yellowstone, then I would look for lodging in West Yellowstone. It's the best location for staying outside the park. I would plan one day each for driving to and from the parks, 4 nights for Yellowstone and 2 nights for Grand Tetons.
If you have a light weight stroller you could bring for your 5 year old it can be used on most of the boardwalks to see the geyser areas in Yellowstone. Using a stroller will also keep little feet from wandering off the path into dangerous areas.
Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are both excellent places to spot wildlife like bears, moose, bison, eagles, etc.
Utahtea
The best places to stay for location is in the parks, but with this late planning you might not be able to get reservations. I would start calling now to see if you can get in on a cancellation. If you can stay in two different locations in Yellowstone that would be idea. Old Faithful area and then any other area would be best. If you can't get lodging in Yellowstone, then I would look for lodging in West Yellowstone. It's the best location for staying outside the park. I would plan one day each for driving to and from the parks, 4 nights for Yellowstone and 2 nights for Grand Tetons.
If you have a light weight stroller you could bring for your 5 year old it can be used on most of the boardwalks to see the geyser areas in Yellowstone. Using a stroller will also keep little feet from wandering off the path into dangerous areas.
Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are both excellent places to spot wildlife like bears, moose, bison, eagles, etc.
Utahtea
Jul 12th, 2005, 10:54 AM
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Especially in the past 10-15 years, I've always planned far ahead for two reasons:
1. To get maximum flexibility when using FF miles, one must plan far ahead.
2. National parks have been a frequent destination over that period, and early reservations are also just about mandatory at those locations.
1. To get maximum flexibility when using FF miles, one must plan far ahead.
2. National parks have been a frequent destination over that period, and early reservations are also just about mandatory at those locations.
Jul 12th, 2005, 11:28 AM
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well we planned ahead to take our kids to Brazil in June to visit their Bio mom and had a problem last minute with the kids Visas - had to cancel the day beofre we left!! So I have tickets, that is why the last minute planning. We have a year to use them, but the kids were so excited to go on vacation I kinda wanted to go somewhere before school starts. Carribean is hurricane season so don't want to chance it there. Just looking at other alternatives. thanks for all the feddback - this board is so helpful. DH just said "I prefer the beach!" I can't win - LOL!
Jul 12th, 2005, 11:41 AM
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If you can't get accommodations in Yellowstone and/or the Teton, I'd start looking in nearby Jackson. That's certainly close enough to the Teton and it's doable--though not ideal--for day trips into Yellowstone.
Jul 12th, 2005, 03:44 PM
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The town of West Yellowstone has a lot of motels & is very convenient. The Tetons are not very far from Yellowstone. If your wife wants a beach you could do LA & then Yosemite.
Whatever you do it will be great.
Whatever you do it will be great.
Jul 13th, 2005, 12:57 AM
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We are chronic last minute travelers and had great luck w/ Yellowstone accomodations last summer. Keep checking the Natl Parks website and you're sure to get rooms at the top places. We planned a Bryce-Tetons-Yellowstone road trip last July one month in advance for August and ended up in Bryce Canyon Lodge, Old Faithful Inn and the Lake Hotel. We also stayed in a 2 bedroom condo at Teton Mountain Lodge in Jackson Hole - fabulous.
But back to your question, cervonil.
But back to your question, cervonil.
