Tomsd

If you do drive over to Monument Valley from the GC - maybe 2 and a half hours but well worth it - be sure to stop at the Navajo National Monument - about 20 miles before you get to Kayenta - and see the Cliff Dwellings. They also have a great visitor center - and we camped for free.

Again, you could probably buy decent camping gear - sleeping bags, soft mats or air mattesses, a small tent, maybe a small cooking stove - for $200 or so - and have an ace in the hole of being able to stay in a campground if all the other places are full. Should be good weather when you are there.

Tomsd

Oops - forgot to paste this: http://www.nps.gov/nava/index.htm

ozgirl

Tomsd, I am tempted by the whole camping thing but my husband would probably say that I like to sleep under the stars as long as there are five of them!! Lol

emalloy

ozgirl, I hear you, my DH thinks camping is a motel with a black and white TV.

ozgirl

Emalloy, my daughter sent me a card that reads " roughing it is a hotel without wifi!"

Tomsd

LOL. Tell your husband he has to "mate up".

Camping - especially in the summer - can be not only fun - but again, an ace in the hole if the places you want to stay are full. I/we don't like to totally block out reservations when going somewhere and having the camping gear along affords you much more flexibility.

It would pay for itself in a few nights - and one doesn't have to make a steady diet of it - but a day here - maybe a couple of days there - and pretty soon - your "Frontier Husband" will be up before you - making the "camp" coffee.

ozgirl

Just wanted to clarify guys, DH is saying that about me not him!!
The romance of the idea appeals... Not sure about the reality.... My birthday today, another year older!

ozgirl

Hello again everyone, I have received my map, done more research and have a couple of questions for those very patient Fodorites still with me, before progressing....

Firstly, I have done a lot of thinking about Yosemite - it IS an 'outlier' but I DO have two nights now at Yosemite Lodge albeit in the middle of my planned timeline

An alternative would be to fly into SF and do Yosemite first and then drive down to LV and continue as planned. Problem is only Wawona Hotel available at this time (early June) - the hotel looks nice location is not as optimal is that right?
I'm thinking though that that would be a reasonable compromise in order to fit Yosemite in???

Secondly, I love the look of The View in Monument Valley.

If I were to include this area would I be best doing a 'loop' which includes (in some configuration) GC, Zion, Bryce, Route 12, Moab,Monument, Page and then north again to Yellowstone?

Lastly (for now) and this is a bit random, as mentioned way back in thread, we do like self catering in our 'own' home. IF I were to try and fit 3-5 nights into this trip in such accommodation - I'm thinking scenic riverside/mountain secluded cabin??? - where would be the place to look for this?

I have seen some likely candidates near Gardiner, would a night in Yellowstone and then a few near Gardiner be feasible? (Oregon? Washington? to finish up?)

We will have up to 4 weeks for this trip.
Any other suggestions gratefully received!

ozgirl

spirobulldog, I think I am basically going to base on your itinerary suggested above, but starting from San Francisco, have found a good fare into SF and could fly out of SF or Vancouver.

unsalted2

"Since I only spent most of 4 days in Glacier I decided to go back for a longer period next August. I believe the problem will be matching the weather (four cloudless warm days), wildlife and scenery." I agree with this. The weather can be very tricky to find good weather.

spirobulldog

When you get something figured out, you might post it, so others can comment on it. I would get all "in park" lodging as quick as you can.

ozgirl

yep, did that yesterday! I have accommodation in most places that I would be happy with, a couple of places it wasn't my first choice but I will keep checking back.
Hopefully I have allocated the days reasonably...?

Fly into SF, 1-2 nights (flight not booked yet, so flexible here, have been to SF previously)

Yosemite 3 nights (2 confirmed Wawona, will book one 'outside' in case)

Las Vegas 2 nights

Grand canyon 2 nights booked Bright Angel cabin

Zion 2 nights booked Lodge

Bryce canyon 3 nights booked cabin (want to do horse ride one day)

? Moab 2 nights (nothing booked yet)

Monument valley (love the look of The View, not booked yet)

? Page one night

1 night en route to Jackson (maybe SLC?)

2 nights Jackson - not booked (Grand Tetons)

3 nights Yellowstone - middle one booked OF Inn, not sure where to spend 1st and 3rd as nothing currently at the Inn - availability at the lake Lodge and Hotel, is this because it is not so popular?

after Yellowstone, still have some time free to either do Glacier or Oregon/Washington

we can fly out of SF or Vancouver.

How does that look please

Michael

Check on the cost of dropping your car off outside California. That may influence your decision.

spirobulldog

I like Lake Hotel and Roosevelt. Canyon area would be an ok choice as well.

I like one night at Wawonna and 2 nights in the Valley. We wound up staying 2 nights @ Wawonna as that was all we could get too. But, keep trying.

I wouldn't stay in Jackson for the Tetons. I would stay at Signal Mountain, Colter Village, or Jackson Lake Lodge.

For Moab, probably just Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn and Suites, unless you like Bed and Breakfast.

Really anywhere in Vegas is all right. I prefer staying on the main section of the strip, but Vegas is all similar to me really.

There is an awful lot to do in Oregon and Washington. We spent 13 days in Oregon a couple of summers ago and then spent 10 days in Washington this past summer. Both were very good trips. We are going to Glacier for the first time next year in July(have our reservations already).

Now what Day/Month does this start on?

ozgirl

Thanks spirobulldog. And good point Michael, hadn't got that far!

First booking is June 5 at Yosemite.

I will definitely keep trying for valley accommodation in Yosemite and will look into lake Hotel for Yellowstone as I think there was still availability there on the right dates, what about the Lodge?

Is the night in Page worthwhile?

Any comment on my "cabin in the woods" thought above?

Thanks again.

Toucan

Another wrinkle to consider. In travelling from park to park look for All American Roads or National Scenic Byways. Maps here http://bywaysonline.org/ The AAR's are designated as the most beautiful and varied highway routes in the USA with only 31 AAR's and about 120 Scenic Byways throughout the country. If it fits into your general route and schedule, it is well worth it for the scenery along All American Roads.

Route 24 from Bryce toward Arches/Moab is an All American Road, and is one of my favorite drives. There are several in the Western Montana Northern Idaho Eastern Washington region.

When I hear "cabin on the lake" Utah, Arizona, Nevada do not come to mind. The southern areas in your trip are arid and lakeside cabins are sparse.

I would suggest Flathead Lake near Kalispell MT (near Glacier NP). A very beautiful lake with lots of cabin rentals and not at all remote with golf courses, jet ski rentals etc. Look for something along route 35 on the East side of the lake which is far less busy than the West side. The sunsets across the lake will make you want to stay forever! You could even day trip to Glacier from the lakeside cabin. And do try the huckleberries!

Or maybe lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho. I'm not as familiar with that one but there are lots of recreation cabins to rent there as well.

ozgirl

Hi Toucan, cabin on the lake OR woods would fit the bill! I envisaged that it was more likely in the latter part of the trip (which is also when I have free time) and will check Flathead lake out thank you!

Toucan

Oops, you said scenic river/woods but somehow I was thinking lake. I would still suggest east side of Flathead though it is woods on one side of the road and lake on the other.