sw vacation ideas...vacation/adventure/trave/forum

[CALVINIST]

This summer me, my wife, and two kids (9 and 7 years old) will be doing a driving trip to the SW united states. I have never been there, so I need some help on some possible sites, destinations, camping, fishing, etc. (Of course, the Grand Canyon is one) States we wish to tour include colorado, arizona, wyoming, new mexico. I would especially be interested in a river or lake I could catch trout on with spinning gear. Any ideas?

Also, I didn't know where to post this, so would a new "vacation/travel/adventure forum" be a good idea to address these types of issues? People could ask for or volunteer information on vacation destinations, good deals, scenic attractions, places to avoid, pitfalls, etc. Also, people could describe the adventures they had while on their trip. I think a forum like this would really appeal to fm'ers sense of adventure. What do you think?

[hartner62]

While in CO you need to go to Estes Park. Lots of trails and wild life and they have a road that goes right up the mountain if you have a hard time with the altitude. Went there last year while visiting my brother and wanted to move there. Plus right when you are coming into town there is a small lake with trout in it ( I think thats what they said) anyways alot of people were fishing. Have fun!!

[CALVINIST]

Thanks hartner62

[art]

We did the SW a few years back for the first time. In NM we did Acoma Pueblo and thought it was cool. It's the oldest occupied settlement in the US on top of a huge butte. A goods place for authentic indian art. If you're going to the Grand Canyon consider the north rim too. We camped there and it was at 8000-9000ft and quite cool in June. Then don't skip by Utah. Zion National park is just a few hours up the road. Beautiful Park and river. Be sure to hike up to Angels Landing. Not for the squeamish who have a fear of heights but worth it for the view. You can do the river walk in the narrow slot canyons too. Zion can get hot in June. Then another few hours northeast is Bryce Canyon National Park. Really cool place with all the Hoodoo's. Take some walks down into the spires and be sure tocatch it at sunrise or sunset. Again, camping at about 9000ft is real comfortable in June. A drive nnortheast on Highway 12 through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is pretty cool. Capital reef was a nicestop just to see it but if you stayed overnight the campground is in a nice green apple orchard and the mule deer are everywhere. There are also some indian hieroglyphics near there. Then Arches National park is wonderful too with a great view of the Colorado River from Dead Horse State Park. Lot's to do in Moab too. Biking, hiking, rafting, etc. The famed Green River is in northern Utah and renowned for it's exceptional fly fishing and rafting. That's my take on it. Then you are set up to head through CO on Highway 40 and Rocky Mountain National Park. Anywhere in CO offers some nice fly fishing opportunities. After that we headed home and boy were we glad to see some green grass and trees.

[FishingPops]

Wow Art, that sounds like an awesome trip! How many days and how many miles did you travel?

[CALVINIST]

Thanks for taking the time to write all that out. I'll check into those things.

[federline]

Another vote for Estes Park on the way through CO - great area, easy on the eyes. I can't imagine not spending a lot of time in CO itself, but if passing through to the SW... we did a 2+ week family RV trip a few years ago:

- Most people think of desert and hot climes in the SW, but it is VERY WORTH IT to stay in the Flagstaff, AZ area at around 7000 ft elev. Summertime weather is just heavenly - low himidity, lots of sunshine, 40 degree nights and 80 degree days. The smell of high pine forest is everywhere, plenty of outdoors activities and great weather to do it in.

- Unless you have a reason to go to the Pheonix, AZ area, I'd avoid it altogether in summer, it's a pressure cooker. People escape the summertime Valley heat every Friday to go north to Flagstaff, just like the flock "up north" in MN every Friday. If you want to experience classic valley heat ("it's not bad, it's a dry heat") I'd rather head to the Las Vegas area.

- To say you've done it, and for an afternoon of being a tourist and people watching and good food and high prices, Sedona can't be beat. It is worth going once.

- MOAB MOAB MOAB! I started going to Moab, UT in the early 90's. This is a small-medium sized oasis town in a desert canyon on the Colorado River in SE UT, originally born as a housing complex for uranium miners. Don't worry, the uranium tailings are cleaned up now. Moab has top-rated golf, hiking, dining, one-of-a-kind boutique stores, killer mountain biking, 100's of miles of public jeep trails up and down canyons and mesas, and modified jeeps for rent, horseback, U name it... it sounds tacky on paper, but Moab has mastered the art of tasteful tourism. Oh, and if you see only one of the numerous driving trips though national parks, Arches Nat'l Park is a few miles right5 outside town. We experienced our first sandstorm here, too.

- Of course went to the grand canyon. Take the advice above to try the North Rim, the South Rim is a madhouse.

- between Moab, UT and Flagstaff, AZ, we went to the Four Corners. I'll never do this again, but glad I did it once. The summer winds were awful, it was 115 degrees, sand storming, and other than the cartographical significance and a good Native American cultural experience, this place belongs on the moon.

- I wish I knew more about the Las Vegas Area and the reserviors in AZ and NV, as well as the Salt Lake area. We also drove through NM didn't stay anywhere here.

- On the west side of the continental divide in CO, there is a very nice stop - Rifle, CO / Garfield County. Gather information on on the MOST UNDERRATED snowmobiling, hunting and fishing (trout, bass; river, lake & ice!) destinations in the US :-) and take in some nice scenery and relax a bit. This is another Moab, UT in my book.

Finally, to mix up the driving route, rather than trip twice through Colorado, we did one leg through NM, TX, OK, KS, MO, IA. You can stop at the Oklahoma City Federal Building Memorial, and the OK City-to-Flagstaff trip was scenic, through Amarillo and Albuquerque. The KS tollway is a barren wasteland, but worth the money for the good driving time - be sure to fill up before entering, there is virtually only one place to get fuel along it; also note the private ranch roads with their own overpasses and freeway exits :-) .

I hope you have a GREAT time!

[CALVINIST]

What alot of info! Thanks federline.

See how a travel/vacation forum would be beneficial?

[Jeremy airjer W]

I have a couple of potentials for you in CO. My favorite is Mesa Verde. I remeber see this when I was very young and thought it was pretty neat. My wife and I returned a few years back and its still pretty cool.

Four Corners is turning into a touristy stop but one of those stops you just have to make.

St. Mary's glacier is pretty fun. There is a nice drive through the foothills/mountains and a short hike. If you have never seen a glacier its pretty neat, small but neat. in the winter the lake is frozen and you can walk right up to it!!!

Beau Jo's pizza in Idaho Springs is an absolute must! Rocky mountain pie should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Fortuneately I have several years under my belt!! After all that hiking you may be up for the CHALLENGE. 2 people a 12 to 14 pound pizza (yup its 12 to 14 pounds) and one hour! Win and the pizzas on the house, you get $50, 2 t-shirts, and your picture one the wall (there aren't that many pictures on the wall! Lose and its $64.50, plus beverages, tip, tax, and a brused ego!

One of my favorite drives is the backroads (sort of) from denver to durango. I70 to Glenwood Springs and head south. Ouray has one of the most incredible views I've ever seen while heading out of town! Besides the great views there are hot springs, Great small town eating, old boarded up mines, and the touristy Silverton, home of the narrow gauge railway.

Once in Durango the Wife will love a tour of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The tour gives an interesting insight on how the chocolate treats are made and is completed with a sampling of the goodies!!

Some of my other favorite stops would be;

Trinidad - how often can you say you been to Trinidad?

Breckenridge - Was engaged on peak 8

Eisenhower Tunnel - who doesn't like tunnels?

Pikes peak

Highway 6 around the tunnel - Great views - A basin can only be appreciated in the winter!!

Red Rock Ampitheater

Highway 5 - highest road in the U.S.

[IceWrangler]

I would try the SW Side of Mil Lac's...Just a Thought

[CALVINIST]

Quote:

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I would try the SW Side of Mil Lac's...Just a Thought

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HaHa. I would, but then I would have to deal with my whiny kids!

[jerkin'm]

If you end up going through Colorado and Vail, I have a few easy walk to trout spots you could hit...

[CALVINIST]

I would be interested, jerkin em. thanks!

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