Why are you going to all those TX cities?? You will get a very warped view of this country. TX is a planet unto itself. I know I will get killed on this website for that comment but, so be it. Try to see more of the countryside. Cities, IMO,never give one a true impression of any country.

Another thought about Texas - and much of the rest of itinerary. We are from Boston area and after 2 trips to Southwest corner of US, we know realize how vast and BORING the distances are. We also do long driving trips and have driven both east and west coasts of US.

However, difference is that there is often something to see in between stops. With no intent of dishonor to fodorites from Texas, Arizona, etc. - driving thru vast expanses of grey on long straingth roads gets very old after a while.

Not in any way trying to alter your dreams of this trip - we have visited places that seemed strange to others and had a great time - just want you to be informed before you commit.

PS - Leaving for 5 days in London on Tuesday. Still wondering if I need to buy one of those really silly hats like worn at Prince Charles' and Camilla's wedding.

Adehug,

I bet your head really hurts by now. Are you determined to go through with this itinerary or are you open to other suggestions? I'm sure the other posters, as well as I, want your family to have a fantastic trip.

I think that Dayle has some wonderful suggestions and you could still follow most of his itinerary by doing a big driving loop and not flying. There are countless opportunities for hiking and river rafting in these areas.

You could still include Phoenix, Carlsbad, Santa Fe before heading north into Colorado and then into Yellowstone. Conclude your trip with a must see visit to the Grand Canyon. Save Texas for your next visit - maybe a tour of the Ozarks and southern states.

I love driving trips and you are fortunate to have this opportunity. It sounds like your prior trips to the the U.S. were great experiences. I just think that basing your entire six weeks (during the heat of summer) in this area may be a bit of overkill.

I agree with Dayle. Having 3 children also (although older now)in a car for extended periods of time in HOT, rather tedious and boring driving does not sound like a vacation to me. Focus on the national parks and get the kids out experiencing the natural wonders of the country rather than view it from a car window.

I agree with the other postings when in AZ stay up north Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott...were it can be 20degrees(F)cooler. Since it is off season if staying a night in Phoenix you should find a great rate at a 5 star resort with a great pool for cooling off in.

Dayle, what a great itinerary! Now all I need is six weeks....

adehug, this is your basic plan, you just need to add details. You will LOVE it.

Well good morning you all from the UK.
Thank you all so very much for the thoughts and yup my head does hurt....
We are tied to flying into LAX and i think a one way rental car would cost too much so basicaly we have to start and finish there...i note with interest your comments about the national parks and will investigate further...i should say we have done the GC three times so perhaps not a priority on this trip...on our previous two summer trips as i said weve done the east coast and west coast together with Las Vegas and Salt Lake City cutting back over to Boise to get across to Seattle then back down the coast so whilst we probably only scratched the surface of California we feel like seeing something else???!!.....we seem to have loads of work to do and really appreciate all your input ..... p.s. no you dont have to have a silly hat like charles hehe but do yourself a favour and see a little bit of the UK instead of London (there i am saying to you guys exactly what your saying to me!)
Thanks once again.
Ade

Great ideas Dayle! adehug- Are you familiar with www.mapquest.com to find the driving distances between various cities, towns, etc? It isnot always 100% correct but will give you relatively accurate driving times.

If what you are thinking of the SW like TV, consider a dude ranch. There are all kinds throughout AZ and CO and NM from gourmet 4 star resorts to rugged camps. You can learn to ride maybe even go on cattle drive, etc. (have you seen the Billy Christal movie?). Santa Fe and San Antonio would also be different from what you have already seen in US. I would skip TX otherwise. There is a great series of books that include the word "Hidden" in the title and the name of the state by Richard Harris (no, not the actor Richard Harris) and also the National Geographic series of books about driving trips in those states that will give you ideas for touring. Enjoy planning your trip!

Hi Adrian! What a great time you will have! While i do agree with the general advice of others, heres my additional .02. I was fortunate to take several similar trips growing up, each 5-6 weeks, in the family station wagon, and the last eight years with my family, each 3-4 weeks. These trips are also in july, and of course it's hot. So what, whavever! We go when we can go, while taking precautions, and we have a blast. (we're doing our 9th this july!) I do wonder if you mean *this* july also - if so, you will be busy until then!

I may be the dissenting vote here but if you want to see the cities, then by all means see them. Like gail, our family will often do things othes can't believe, but everyone is different. Son rusty wants to eat at every Hard Rock Cafe in America (and we have) and Hubby Clark has to see each major city, the skyline and the architecture, to get the *feel*, and oh yes, we must see a major league baseball game in each city if the team is in town. Doesn't matter if the teams sucks, if they're home, we're there.

(We also had to sample each major / small city in the UK, regardless of the long drives, as his ancestors are from various areas.)

So while i wouldn't make cities your focus, if you want to sample a city then do it, or you may regret it (altho i'd def skip el paso and amarillo). Keep in mind many ciities are massive and the drive by will take time. But there are *worthy* attractions in each. For example, one of our road trips included Dallas (mostly for JFK's 6th floor museum), san antonio's mission trail, houston's johnson space center, austin for #41's home, in addition to areas around taos, tucson, tombstone and areas / sites in the deep south, MS, new orleans, then TN etc. Of course we had long drives but we too have wanted to say (to ourselves!) that we've seen it, regardless what others think.

So maybe check out phoenix (see a game!) but stay in suburban scottsdale in a 4-5 * resort (for a song in the summer!), let the kids chill (ha) in the amazing pool areas (slides, lazy rivers etc) Same thing in Palm Springs, both are good breaks from exploring all the national parks, canyons etc. which i hope you'll do.

Then DO follow an itinerary similar to what Dayle suggested, as those are some of the best, most glorious, not to be missed parts of america! Sorry this post is so long but i want to encourage you not to skip the cities if that's what you want to see, as you CAN do a ton in 6 weeks. You will have a ball and i'll look forward to reading your trip report. In the meantime, happy planning!

This is nothing against Texas or big cities, but if you are going to the Southwest/Rockies area, the main attractions are definitely the national parks and similar-type destinations! To take a six-week trip to the area on not focus on these wonderful natural sites, I think, would be a big mistake.
If I was planning trip like yours, I'd start by looking into these five states (listed alphabetically): Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming and then refining your trip to include, say, three of them.

Well weve had a look at the map and talked, read etc....so not to bore you all could you have a look at perhaps a revised itinery
LA
Phoenix
Tucson
El Paso (a must do as my partner wants to go and cross into Mexico for the day)
Carlsbad (for the caverns)
Amarillo (believe it or not the only reason is that Tony Christie is number 1 in the record charts with "show me the way to Amarillo" and the kids insist we go!!
Albuquerque
Santa Fe
Colorado Springs
Denver
Grand Junction
Reno (is this place like Vegas)
Yosemite on the way back down to LA

this seems to be about a 1000 miles less driving
Thanks once again for all your help.

In Colorado Springs, please don't miss a drive through the Garden of the Gods. A trip up the tram/train to the top of Pikes Peak is also wonderful. If you can venture just outside the Springs to Manitou, the Cave of the Winds is also worth a visit.

While in Denver, your kids might enjoy a Major League Soccer game. The Colorado Rapids play in Denver...and while our soccer isn't as good as your football, it still makes for a fun outing.

Much, much better. Just skip Reno and spend the extra time in Yosemite!

If you can stay IN Yosemite valley it makes the experience 1000% more enjoyable since you don't have to come and to a hotel or campground outside the park.

There are 4 options in the valley.

1. Awahnee hotel - luxury hotel built in the 30's. $300-400/nt, booked up 1yr in advance

2. Yosemite Lodge - typical US motel, but clean and comfortable - also usually booked 1 yr in advance.

3. Curry village tent cabins
4. Tent camping site

I recommend you check the Yosemite web site www.yosemitepark.com for available accomodations in the valley of any type. Cancellations do happen, so check back often (or you can call them).

I've never been able to get a room at the Awahnee but have stayed in the Yosemite Lodge numerous times. When I lived in SF Bay area I would book a reservation 1 yr in advance to plan ahead for the next spring or summer - the places fill up that fast. I have had luck with a last minute room when someone cancelled.

You mentioned wanting to see "typical" parts of the USA, so visiting large cities is a good idea. After all, large metropolitan areas is where most Americans live! However, your last itinerary still has too much driving through empty country: hours of boring driving with nothing to see. You may not realize this, but the USA has many areas where you can drive for HOURS without passing a single town. It becomes excrutiatingly tedious. Your kids will not be happy.

This is a suggestion for a revised itinerary. It will give you more than enough to keep busy for 6 weeks:

1. LA Airport
2. San Diego (if you haven't already visited there)
3. Tucson
4. Nogales, Mexico: This is close to Tucson, and will satify the request for a visit to Mexico.
5. Phoenix and Sedona
6. Albuquerque
7. Santa Fe and Taos
8. southern Utah, to visit National Parks (Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands) while on your return trip to LA
9. LA

This itinerary still includes a lot of driving through emptiness, although some of it is at least scenic.

If you want to also include Denver, I strongly recommend flying from Denver to LA. Six weeks is not enough time to include a drive from Denver to LA in addition to all the other driving you will be doing, not if you want to have time to actually see anything once you reach your destinations.

I live in Reno and I agree you could skip it...not at ALL like Las Vegas. However, Lake Tahoe is georgous and if you want a "taste of the old west", Virginia City could be a good stop unless you did want to add the extra day for one of your other stops. Virginia City is a great day trip from the lake so you could stay at Tahoe, take a day in Virginia City and then be on your way else where.

adrian,

Your revised itinerary looks much better. Tucson to Nogales is a nice trip and the best option for seeing a little of Mexico in your situation.

Dayle and JoyceL have given you the best (if bluntest) advice yet.


Texas??? Let me put it this way. Only in asmuch as an American would spend a first visit to Europe seeing Moldova or Albania instead or Paris, Rome or London. Texas is simply toward the bottom of reasons to visit the US. ESPECIALLY IN SUMMER!! But if Tony Christie has a hit song that mentions Amarillo I guess you're going.

Make sure you spend a few days at the Grand Canyon - reserve early.

Don't spend more than one day in Reno. If it were Vegas, I'd say two days max.

That's why I suggested staying at Tahoe instead of Reno if you come through this way. You could stay in Reno and take a day trip up to Tahoe and if you wanted another day, take a trip up to Virginia City. The distances are very short. I think it would be much more scenic and relaxing to stay at the Lake. If you want to gamble, you can do it on the Nevada side..that covers South Shore, Incline Village, to North Shore just before Kings Beach (if you check a map)

well weve had a great day so far and it looks like well be going with our new revised itinery....so all thats left to do now is research what is on and what to do deciding how long to stay in each destination.......easy!!

Thanks to you all youve helped no end and if you ever want any info on Wales or the UK feel free to email me