Mohammed

We are a family of four consisting of my wife and two teen daughters, planning a holiday to the USA this summer. While I have travelled extensively in the USA many years back (over 25 years ago), this will be a first time for my wife and two children. Everyone is very exited. We plan to cover a fair amount of territory combining both flying and some long road trips. We all love nature also my children are specially interested in American history. We arrive in NY JFK and depart from Los Angeles. Appreciate any comments and advice on my general plan which is as followsbr />
Arrive JFK (15 hour flight)
4 nights - NY City
three full days sight see NYC's usual sights
travel NY-DC by Greyhound 4 1/2 hours
3 nights - Washington DC
two full days sight seeing in DC
travel by air DC - Salt Lake City and rent car in SLC for 7 days road trip
7 nights - Grand Tetons and Yellowstone by car
we cover Jackson, West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Beartooth highway etc,
return car at SLC and fly to San Francisco
3 nights San Francisco staying downtown Union Square
2 days sight see in SF
rent car on last morning in San Francisco for 16 days road trip
drive to Yosemite perhaps via Monterey/Pebble Beach etc
2 nights Yosemite staying outside the park
drive to Las Vegas 6 hours via Tioga Pass and June Lake etc avoiding Death Valley
3 nights Las Vegas probably MGM Grand (other suggestions?)
drive to Zion 3 hours
1 night Zion stay in motel outside
drive to Grand Canyon 5 hours some scenics
2 nights Grand Canyon have booking at Yavapai lodge GCNP (got lucky)
drive to LA 7 hours through the dessert
7 nights LA
staying in a hotel in Orange County area close to friends
Universal Studios
Sea World San Diego
Knotts Berry Farm
meet friends
retail therapy before going home
retun car at LAX and take 15 hour flight home.

What do you think - am I doing too much for 32 days?

Myer

I haven't worked the mileage, but unless you're intent on spending time in Las Vegas (and even if you are), I might consider Arches, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Zion loop from Salt Lake City after the Yellowstone loop.


Each of these park, although they appear relatively close to each other (by global standards) are very different. Once in a lifetime viewing.

vova

I would subtract 1 night from las vegas and add it somewhere else...maybe to San Francisco so you can do a day trip to Muir Woods or Point Reyes or just add another day to walking around San Francisco.

Also, why Knotts instead of Disneyland? I would switch that.

LA is very very large - where do your friends live and how much time do you plan to spend with them? I might split that 7 nights into something more central like 3 nights in one part of southern California and 4 nights in another...it will save you some headache with all the driving around.

nanabee

I agree Knotts will be a disappointment compared to Disneyland. I would definately switch that as vova says.
Or if you don't want to do Disneyland just skip Knott's altogether. It's really small and not that great.

I also would subtract 1 night from Las Vegas too. One day (in my opinion!) is more than enough. But it is fun to experience - just not too much!

nanabee

Mohammed,
should add other than the minor changes I think your trip sounds great, and seems like you've spent a great deal of time and effort putting this together. Hope you have a wonderful and safe trip.

vova

One more thing - you will get more responses if you also tag this question on specific state forums. you only have it tagged under "United States" but you can also tag it under California, New York, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona as well which will allow folks on those forums to see and review your itinerary. If I go to the California page, for example, I don't see your request.

As far as Vegas, MGM Grand is good...depending on your budget and the amount of preplanning and deals going on some others are a little nicer (Bellagio, Wynn, Encore, Venitian). I still love Ceasar's as well. Planet Hollywood usually has great deals and while not as upscale, is really well located in the center of things.

janisj

Hoping that you left Disneyland off just because the list was getting long -- you'll have plenty of time to get to DL too, since you're staying in Orange County. Not that you shouldn't go to Knotts Berry Farm - - but not instead of DL.

Just one other quick comment - maybe not Greyhound from NYC to Wash. DC. Greyhound may be a bit cheaper but the train would be faster and much nicer.

dbdurand

I strongly recommend that you figure out a way to work Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park into your itinerary. It's only 3 1/2 hours drive south of Yosemite and as you probably know, is home to the largest trees in the world. It's a magnificent and awe inspiring place. Since you're not going through Death Valley, you could visit it on your way to Las Vegas by exiting Yosemite on the west rather than Tioga Pass.

ElendilPickle

I would also take time away from Las Vegas and spend a night in Bryce Canyon. There is very little for your teens to do in Vegas.

Lee Ann

christabir

I agree. Vegas is fun, but with kids under 18 not so great. Add time to Bryce and Sequoia/Kings. 7 nights GTNP and YS is a treat!

Sounds like a fantastic trip! Have fun and take binoculars! There is lots of wildlife that you won't see anywhere else.

The San Diego Zoo is fantastic, and a night at Catalina Island would be good add-ons. 7 nights in LA is a lot unless you are doing a lot of family things.

Placename

I disagree with dbdurand about exiting Yosemite from the west. The eastern exit from Yosemite, over Tioga Pass is spectacular and the drive down the eastern Sierras is very beautiful.

Buy a National Parks Pass for $80 in whichever National Park you first visit ( probably Grand Teton) if you don't enter a National Monument or Park before then. Each entry into a National Park is $20, so you would at least break even, and it is faster to enter if you don't have to pay each time at the kiosk.

http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

nytraveler

Do NOT take Greyhound to DC - it's abslutely awful. Either take the train - Amtrak has discounts if you get tickets in advance - or take the Bolt bus or similar. (I find Amtrak much more comfortable.)

Las Vegas is really not a place for kids - there are many places under 21s are not allowed - including any of the casinos. Also summer is hot as hell and to use the pools you really need to get a private cabana, or stay out of them in the middle of the day - so I would put those days against something the whole family will enjoy.

dbdurand

Hi, Placename. I agree that the drive down 395 is beautiful, but I was suggesting that they visit Sequoia, and the best way to get there from Yosemite is to exit Yosemite from the west.

Mohammed

Hey guys thanks so much for all these wonderful replies and tips, it is so nice to come back online after a few hours and see so many responses. I have read and will re read all the above and take it all in.

Probably will post separately for specifics on individual locations.

Will avoid the grehound from NY-DC.

Perhaps will reduce Vegas to 2 days and add a day elsewhere. We don't gamble at all but do like to wine and dine a bit there and perhaps take in a good show f something sutable is available - pitty I,m missing Santana which starts from 25th August.

dbdurand - I do want to see those mighty redwoods,infact my daughter too has been asking about it so will have to brainstorm that leg a bit.

Disney/Knots - well we actually might just do both - kids have seen Disney Paris some years back.

Thanks again everyone....

vova

wining and dining will be better and you'll get more value in places like San Francisco and New York (and even LA). Vegas is for the spectacle and people watching. There are some great restaurants but for some reason it always seemed to me a more manufactured environment than a city neighborhood to dine in a fancy restaurant in a huge casino.

also - Universal Studios, Disneyland, Knotts, Sea World...wow that feels like theme park overload to me. I would cut one of those personally...it will be hot and that's a lot of time walking in the sun in a theme park. save some time to check out fun neighborhoods like Santa Monica/Venice, La Jolla in San Diego and get some time to play in the water.

have fun - sounds like a fabulous trip.

Mohammed

Hi guys

I did an alternate route now including Arches/Bryce see link

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/9-JD9Ut1OPNElSUfZ6q9Y9

Is this doable in say 14 days?

Day 1 - Driving down from West Yellowstone and overnight in Salt Lake vicinity

Day 2 - Arches

Day 3 - Bryce/Zion

Days 4/5 - Grand Canyon

Days 6/7 - Vegas

Day 8/9 - Yosemite

Days 10/11/12 San Francisco

Day 13 - Monterey/Carmel

Day 14 - arrive LA

christabir

If you thought you'd be doing this again, I'd tell you to cut out one or two things, but since this is really a one time trip, I say it looks perfect. When I was a kid we did all that in about that timeframe. It was great! Yes, you'll be in the car a lot, but that's not what you'll remember. Sounds good to me. Check google maps for distances and drive times.

Happy planning!

bachslunch

My only thought about the most recently posted section of your itinerary is that you could easily spend a day in Zion and a solid half day in Bryce. As wonderful as the Grand Canyon is, if you only plan to keep your visit along the rim, one day is a good amount of time here. You could drive to the GC from Bryce the latter part of your day.

But you may not want to give up what you've already booked in the GC, plus if you plan to hike a good bit, two days is better. In that case, you could consider one and a half days in Vegas and adjust accordingly.

Sounds like a great trip, in any event. Have fun!

Mohammed

Hi and thanks everyone who helped me on this trip planning exactly one year ago! We had an absolutely fabulous trip. Could never get a trip report done but you can see my trip photos here....

http://abidally.com/mp/USA/

SAB

Looks like you had a fabulous trip, and took some absolutely beautiful photos!!! Got blown away by all those red rocks, didn't you?