too little time?
 

I am planning a week-long trip to the southwest in late July. After renting a car in Denver, our inital plan is Denver down to Santa Fe/Albuq. (staying over night somewhere in between) then to the Grand Canyon area, then to Four Corners/Mesa Verde and back up to Denver. I've never been west- are we trying to do too much? any suggestions of places to stay along the way? <BR>What about climate? I've been told to pack for 3 seasons- Any suggestions would be appreciated! thanks!

That's a LOT of driving. I'm not sure if that's do-able, or wise. When will you have time to see anything? <BR>I wouldn't worry so much about what to pack. Late July is warm in all those areas. <BR>But let me know if you have any specific questions but any of those places. Have fun.

thanks! what would you recommend eliminating, or postponing until next time?

Are you committed to flying into Denver? If so, I'd do a loop like: Denver to Crested Butte (stay the night -- it's about a 4 1/2 hr drive to C B from Denver). Crested Butte to Durango. Stay two nights. Take one day to see Mesa Verde. Then, drive up to Telluride. Spend two nights there. Then drive to Aspen and spend the last couple of nights there. <BR>Alternative 1: You could fly into Grand Junction, drive to Moab and see Arches. Down to Canyonlands. Down to Monument Valley. You could spend a week in that area alone. <BR>Alternative 2: Fly into Albuquerque. Then drive up to Santa Fe and Taos. There's Bandalier to see (great Indian cliffdwellings). A long day trip to Chaco Canyon (a truly wonderful Indian site.) You could spend a day in Taos. <BR>The problem is working the Grand Canyon into this. We did the G C by flying into Las Vegas, driving over to Zion, then to Bryce. Then down to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I'm afraid if you try to do it from Denver or even Albuquerque you're not allowing yourself a lot of time to savor the sites. <BR>let me know if you're, indeed, flying into Denver? then, I'll see what i can come up with.

we're committed to flying into denver on a friday evening- we're spending the weekend in cheyenne (frontier days) and were leaving cheyenne monday afternoon to have until the following sunday to do the rest. I'm trying to tell myself that the energy that is youth will be on our side, but I'm starting to think I will need a vacation from my vacation!

I think, given your time schedule, that the Grand Canyon is not do-able this trip. Okay, if you accept that, then what you can do is: <BR>1) the Crested Butte/Durango/Mesa Verde/Telluride/Aspen loop. Even then, I think you'll have to book it, i e, drive really fast between stops. <BR>Alternative 2) Denver to Grand Junction to Moab, Utah (all on Interstate 70, until the cutoff for Moab.) From Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, Valley of the Gods, and Monument Valley. This is some awesome scenery. You MIGHT have enough time to cut over and see the actual Four Corners mounument, then drive back through Colorado (Mesa Verde/Durango/up 550 - beautiful road, through Ouray and Silverton - then take a right at Montrose to head back to Denver, or continue north through Montrose to I-70, back to Denver.) Still, A LOT of driving. <BR>Still open for questions. (I know I haven't been real specific about actual locations.)