Southwest USA & The West Coast (California, Arizona etc) - General Thread

gracie10

This is a great thread am so glad i found it. We are planning our trip for July/August next year so will be a great help. We have booked our flights and are planning on doing 3 nights LA, 2 nights Pismo, 1 night Monterry, 3 nights San Fran, 2 nights Yosemite, 1 night Death Valley and 5 nights Vegas. Am sure i will be back soon with lots of questions once I have managed to read all the great information!

northwest1965

gracie10 wrote: »

This is a great thread am so glad i found it. We are planning our trip for July/August next year so will be a great help. We have booked our flights and are planning on doing 3 nights LA, 2 nights Pismo, 1 night Monterry, 3 nights San Fran, 2 nights Yosemite, 1 night Death Valley and 5 nights Vegas. Am sure i will be back soon with lots of questions once I have managed to read all the great information!

So we know how we can help, what sort of things do you like best? City/Country/Beach:)?

gracie10

Hi, we will be taking our two young girls so will have to be things to keep them entertained and happy!!

Murphy_The_Cat

gracie10 wrote: »

Hi, we will be taking our two young girls so will have to be things to keep them entertained and happy!!

Hi gracie

how young is young ? nursery school young, or secondary school young !

vixarooni

Im going to Colorado for a month in 3 weeks, i really wanna pop over to the grand canyon but i think i'm going to have a struggle convincing my boyfriend this is a good idea.

I'm quite interested in the driving chat, we're going down to Santa fe and i've never driven abroad before or in an automatic so i'm a tad nervous about that part!

northwest1965

gracie10 wrote: »

Hi, we will be taking our two young girls so will have to be things to keep them entertained and happy!!

Depending on their ages, I am not sure 5 nights in vegas is good???:)

BritAbroad

Colorado is a great state, but don't underestimate the driving distance to the Grand Canyon - you're looking in the region of 6-700 miles or so depending on your route. Also, if you're going to be there in October/November time, you need to be prepared for snow, especially if you're driving west through the mountains on I-70. A 4wd is highly recommended, or if it's a saloon car, it needs snow-rated tyres and/or snow chains. Definitely check with the rental company. I-70 is pretty, but it can be crazy busy at weekends in the winter as most of the major ski resorts are off it and the traffic can be horrific. Colorado can get almighty blizzards even in October or November. There are plenty of places to explore along the way though. A route to the Grand Canyon can take in lots of spectacular places - I personally think the Grand Canyon is only so-so, but Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion NP, etc are fantastic.

The main north-south route in Colorado is the I-25. It's mostly ok, though is stupidly busy through Denver and you can expect traffic around Colorado Springs and Pueblo as you head south. Driving standards aren't great so you need to have your wits about you, but it's pretty scenic.

I've never been to Sante Fe but like anywhere else I know some people really like it, others don't. Tons of stuff to see and do throughout Colorado and New Mexico though (and Wyoming if you head north).

Murphy_The_Cat

vixarooni wrote: »

Im going to Colorado for a month in 3 weeks, i really wanna pop over to the grand canyon but i think i'm going to have a struggle convincing my boyfriend this is a good idea.

I'm quite interested in the driving chat, we're going down to Santa fe and i've never driven abroad before or in an automatic so i'm a tad nervous about that part!

I'd love to hear how you get on in Colorado, as its high on my list for next year.

Drivng in America (except for the busier cities at the busier times) is a doddle compared to driving in the UK - nowhere near the density of traffic, travelling on larger/wider roads.

BritAbroad wrote: »

Colorado is a great state,

The main north-south route in Colorado is the I-25. It's mostly ok, though is stupidly busy through Denver and you can expect traffic around Colorado Springs and Pueblo as you head south. Driving standards aren't great so you need to have your wits about you, but it's pretty scenic.

I'm fancying IN to Colorado and OUT of Tuscon,/Phoenix/Dallas, Alburquerke/ San Diego/ Las Vegas/Oklahoma City/Memphis/St Louis/ Kansas City buts its VERY early days for planning yet and a lot will depend if we are going in Spring, late Spring, early Summer or Summer.

jackieblack

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

I'd love to hear how you get on in Colorado, as its high on my list for next year.

And us for 2014 But we're thinking of a Denver/Mt Rushmore/Yellowstone kind of trip

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Drivng in America (except for the busier cities at the busier times) is a doddle compared to driving in the UK - nowhere near the density of traffic, travelling on larger/wider roads.

I totally agree

cubegame

Canyonlands in Utah is a more than acceptable alternative to the Grand Canyon and much nearer.

The views in the Islands In The Sky district of that park are as astounding (and possibly more so) than the Grand Canyon.