Where to stay in Utah
 

We are planning a trip in Sept. Flying into Las Vegas, then to Cameron Trading Post, AZ, then to somewhere in Utah for 3 nights, then to Mancos CO, then to Cedar Crest, NM and flying back to UK.
We like walking to scenic or historical sites, and as you can see it's the Utah bit that's giving us trouble.(Unsure which area would be best for us and do'nt want to spend more than 5 hours on road between destinations)
We like B&Bs but reasonably priced. 120 a night or so and we like peace and quiet at night.
Suggestions gratefully recieved.

There is a huge area in Utah called Canyonlands National Park and another called Grand Staircase/Escalante that have very few roads through it that makes this kind of trip hard to plan. You must go south of it through northern Arizona or west and then far north to get around it. If you are looking for scenic views, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon are two that I have been to that fit that description. From Page, Arizona you will drive mostly west to Kanab, Utah before turning north. Just up the road from Kanab, you can drive west about 26 miles to Springdale and will have gone through Zion National Park. During the summer months, shuttle busses will take you to the trailheads for the trails in the park. The drive from Cameron to Springdale will be about 5 hours. From Springdale to Torrey, Utah through Bryce Canyon will take about another 5 hours of driving, plus stops. From Torrey, Utah to Mancos, Colorado is about a 7 hour drive. You will have spent each of the 3 days mostly driving and stay in a different town each night. This will have left you with little time to enjoy the parks. I'd probably skip this and go east toward Kayenta, Arizona and spend time in Monument Valley and perhaps Natural Bridges National Park instead.

How about the Moab area? Could that be what we're looking for?

Hi Ron Janice,

From your post, it sounds like visiting these small towns in CO and NM are your main objective. Is that correct? Are you going to Mancos to visit Mesa Verde?

You are setting yourselves up for a lot of driving and not much seeing and enjoying. Have you been to the west before? Visiting these places does require more driving and more time.

Give us more information on your objectives and maybe we can help.

I would suggest staying in Cortez while visiting MV. There are several options from motels to a lovely B&B Inn at McElmo Canyon --

http://www.theinnatmcelmocanyon.com/
Also -

http://www.cityofcortez.com/visiting.shtml


There is also a lovely B&B in Moab that we love and hightly recommend:
Cali Cochita B&B --

http://www.moabdreaminn.com/

I live in SW Colorado and lived in Albuquerque too. If I can be of more help, please ask.

Hope this helps...
Debi

No we haven't been to these areas before. We have done some of the S.Eastern states and those seem spacious to us (we live in the UK) but I suppose the West is even bigger.
Coming such a long way means we're trying to pack a lot (too much?) in. We want to see the Grand Canyon and for some reason ron wants to go to Albuquerque.
We prefer to stay in small towns if possible and B & Bs.
How about if we drop Utah and concentrate on AZ, CO and NM?
And just to make things more difficult - it's easy for us to fly to Las Vegas and stay for 2 nights before we start out on our western adventure.. And we feel that we ought to see Vegas even though we don't gamble.
So where would you all suggest please.

DebitNM - I've just been looking at your suggestions for a trip starting in Alburquerque and ending there by way of the interstate.
Would it be possible for us to start from Las Yegas, travel to the North rim and then go on to Cortez and onwards. In other words we'd be doing your suggestion backwards.
We have about 17 days.

Ok,

Ron and Janice, you asked, so here you go. Having no idea of what your interests or objectives are, I'll give you MY opinions. :S-

I have developed a theory over the years that some people prefer "manufactured entertainment" to "activities". Manufactured entertainment being places like Las Vegas, Disneyworld, and cruises, which I do not do. To me these are PASSIVE vacations.


I'm one of those people who really cannot tolerate Las Vegas. I've been there a couple of times. I get claustrophibic in the casinos :& , because they design them with no windows and no clocks so you don't realize the passage of time and how long you have been sitting there losing money. They are also designed so that they are disorienting and it's hard to find your way around. You can't get to hotel check in or the restaurants without passing through the casino. The constant noice and cigarette smoke give me a headache in record time!

I also strongly dislike having flyers for prostitution and porno shoved into my hands as I try to walk down the sidwalks. Entertaining myself with tickets to shows that are outrageously priced, and restaurants too, is out of the question. :(

OK, so on to better things!

If you are looking for an experience with Native American culture and history, then the 4 Corners area is the place to go. Mesa Verde is a very special place, fascinating and, to me, a spiritual experience. I have also enjoyed Santa Fe. Lots of great restaurants, galleries, and Native American art for sale. Sante Fe and Taos are very scenic and very tourist oriented.

If you are interested in jaw-dropping, amazing scenery and natural beauty, maybe also photography and hiking, ((R))then southern Utah is the place to be. This is my idea of an "active" enterainment vacation. Seeking out your own activites (to whatever degree), getting a bit physical, and not really spending that much money. You don't have to spend a lot of money to be "entertained" in the best way.

If you only have 3 days to plan, and LV is a must, then fly in and out of LV. Spend 2 days at Zion and 1 at Bryce.

If you go in and out of Albuquerque (which is not that great compared to other destinations), then see the 4 corners area including the things that interest you there.

The states in the west are BIG and driving between sights takes a while, but is usually half the fun. Beautiful drives, lots of photo ops, lots of experiences along the way.

I just depends on what type of vacation you want. Man made or natural.

Happy planning! <):)

I can't get you from LAs Vegas to Grand Canyon but I can get you from GC to cortez and then down to NM.

Moab is only 90 miles from Cortez, I would try to get it in. We stayed 2 days and one night and saw a lot.


Any reason why you picked Cedar Crest[nothing really there to speak of]??

I would be sure to stop at Tent Rocks on the way into ABQ. They are unlike anything else.

Let me think of time frame and get back to you.

Also, feel free to email me direct.
Debi

You could go from Las Vegas to the north rim, but I think there is more to see at the south rim. I'd suggest you stay at one of the lodges at the Grand Canyon if you can. Shuttle busses take you to many observation points and keep the congestion down. From there to Monument Valley (Kayenta, Arizona) is a bit over 3 hours, but you'd want to make some stops between Grand Canyon Village and the east entrance station so it would likely take 4 or 5 hours. After touring Monument Valley you could go up to Moab, Utah (Arches National Park and Canyonlands National park) which should take about 3 hours. From Moab to the entrance to Mesa Verde is another 3 hour drive which will leave you time to stop along the way before you visit Mesa Verde National Park.