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

northwest1965

We're doing something very similar soon. Fly to Vegas, then GC, onto Monument Valley. From there Page. Next stop Bryce/Zion. Ending at Death Valley.

We did a drive tour last year. I think you have to like driving. Make sure you know the distances between places. if it says 2hrs 30 on google, add another 1hr 30 for stops etc.

Enjoy the planning stage.

blindman

northwest1965 wrote: »

Has anyone been to Horseshoe Bend? Can anyone give me any info on it?

Yes-Last years trip

Only worth it if you're passing by TBHO. (on your way to or from Page).

Best light for photography is in the AM as in the PM you are looking into the sun.

Small dusty car park, then a steep sand\rocky climb, then a 1/4 mile downward trail to the edge of the bend. No hand rails!

Stop and gawp for maybe 10 mins then back to the car.

If you are reasonably fit you'll be Ok but if it's HOT, it's a slog -Both ways.

Take water.

blindman

Crispy_Ambulance wrote: »

We are planning our trip next year to include Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce and were thinking of starting in Vegas and doing a loop. Now I thinking again of flying to Phoenix and heading to GC from there. That would mean the loop would go up to Utah and back round to Vegas, missing out on the Hoover Dam.

Any thoughts on which would be better if flight costs are similar? Phoenix via Sedona, or Vegas via Hoover Dam?

This Grand Circle tour map show that it's probably the same mileage from Phoneix or Vegas.

I've done the area from Vegas a couple of times and flew into Phoenix once a while back to tour Tuscon and that area.

Flights to Vegas may be more expensive than Phoenix but IIRC only BA fly to Phoenix directly (haven't checked for a long time :cool: ) so the prices could just be as high.

Depending on how you cope with jet lag if you go to Vegas you could stay for a day or two to acclimatise then set off. No car needed for those few days, nor when you return.

Phoenix is a car city IIRC.

Hoover Dam
Worth a stop if you're passing\nearby-quite close to Vegas. Not the end of the world if you miss it. :cool:

There a sooooooo many better sights in Utah\Arizona This Grand Circle route show a few

Crispy_Ambulance

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Hi Crispy

Its one hell of a lot of driving to see all three.
I've recently come from that part of the world and stayed a couple of days in Cedar City, which was quite a good base to visit Bryce & Zion Canyons (plus other related stuff !). If you are visiting Bryce, it would nearly be criminal not to see the Cedar Breaks National Monument - absolutely gorgeous.

Good luck with your planning. Distance are big over there and being on the move for 4 hours at a time isn't always fun

Thanks Murphy - I need to hear ALL about your trip! I think there will some heavy driving days but we're trying to plan it so that we have some downtime in between. I'm hoping to make jetlag work for us if we go via Phoenix - may as well get up and go in the morning.

Originally we were only going to GC but now I've read up on Zion & Bryce, we're really excited to see them.

Each time I do a bit more research, I spot more wonderful things to do!

Crispy_Ambulance

Dirk_Gently wrote: »

Agree with Murphy, but it can be done. Alternatively, have you thought of a day flight to GC from Las Vegas?

We flew over GC in a light aircraft on honeymoon years ago, but I was so busy trying not to fill the sickbag, that it didn't have much impact on me. This time we're taking the kids, so we want to drive up and stay over nearby so we get to see the sunset etc.

Crispy_Ambulance

blindman wrote: »

This Grand Circle tour map show that it's probably the same mileage from Phoneix or Vegas.

I've done the area from Vegas a couple of times and flew into Phoenix once a while back to tour Tuscon and that area.

Flights to Vegas may be more expensive than Phoenix but IIRC only BA fly to Phoenix directly (haven't checked for a long time :cool: ) so the prices could just be as high.

Depending on how you cope with jet lag if you go to Vegas you could stay for a day or two to acclimatise then set off. No car needed for those few days, nor when you return.

Phoenix is a car city IIRC.

Hoover Dam
Worth a stop if you're passing\nearby-quite close to Vegas. Not the end of the world if you miss it. :cool:

There a sooooooo many better sights in Utah\Arizona

Thanks - it's looking like going from Phoenix would be preferable from a scenery point of view and the main driver is keen to go this way. But the advantage of starting in Vegas is, as you say, we don't need the car at first and we get a couple of days "rest" before we get going. I guess it will all depend on flight prices and car hire.

Talking of flights - if we are going next July (Mr Crispy can only take leave at certain times), will I be getting the best flight prices this August? I was hoping to get them around £500 each but is that hopelessly unrealistic?

Murphy_The_Cat

Crispy_Ambulance wrote: »

Thanks Murphy - I need to hear ALL about your trip! I think there will some heavy driving days but we're trying to plan it so that we have some downtime in between. I'm hoping to make jetlag work for us if we go via Phoenix - may as well get up and go in the morning.

Originally we were only going to GC but now I've read up on Zion & Bryce, we're really excited to see them.

Each time I do a bit more research, I spot more wonderful things to do!

Talking of flights - if we are going next July (Mr Crispy can only take leave at certain times), will I be getting the best flight prices this August? I was hoping to get them around £500 each but is that hopelessly unrealistic?

Hello Crispy

When you've got a few hours spare one afternoon I'll bore you with the highpoints of the holiday:D.

I don't know the age of your children, but mine are 9 & 6 if thats a useful reference point for you.
We flew into Salt Lake City and spent 4 nights there.
Whilst there we went
white water rafting
train trip along Herber Railroad
Car racing at night
SLC Nat Hist Museum
Red Butte Gardens
Antelope State Park
Cowabunga Water Park

Then it was a 250 mile 3 and a half hour drive ( or more if you take the detour via the canyon offshoot from I5)

We stayed 2 nights at Cedar City which was ideal for having a day long trip too see Brian Head, Cedar Break National Monuments & Bryce Canyon) these are great places to visit try not to rush !
Then we went from Cedar City to Zion Canyon, stopping off for a few hours and then carrying on to Las Vegas.

Las Vegas for one night, not my cup of tea and I would have gladly given it a miss.

Then onto Furnace Creek in Death Valley for an overnight stay -- absolutely and completely fascinating.

One night in Bakersfield where we went to the baseball.

Then 5 nights in our favourite place in the world, San Luis Obispo, where we did lots, relexed lots, saw lots, took part in lots.

We're all different, but at the risk of getting flak from the canyon lovers out there

---

you're going to be spending an awful lot of time driving from one (extremely inspiring) hole in the ground to another (extremely inspring) hole in the ground to another (extremely inspiring) hole in the ground. As extremely inspiring these holes in the ground are, yoiu may exhaust the interest of the younger members in your party very quickly.

If your children are you LV isn't a nice place to taken them. It's not a family friendly destination.

DV was a real eye opener for me, but it is quite a trek to get there.

I'd strongly suggest that you investigate an 'open jaw' flight ticket.

Hire a really big hire car - if its got three rows of seats, all the better. Please, please please don't get a 'regular' car thinking that it will be adequate. This is your holiday and the poor saps in the back seat deserve better than adequate.

Flight prices ????? I'd allow for them being (a lot) closer to £1000 each than £500 each. Keep your eyes out for a seat sale by the airlines and have a really close looksee.

blindman

Crispy_Ambulance wrote: »

Thanks - it's looking like going from Phoenix would be preferable from a scenery point of view and the main driver is keen to go this way. But the advantage of starting in Vegas is, as you say, we don't need the car at first and we get a couple of days "rest" before we get going. I guess it will all depend on flight prices and car hire.

Talking of flights - if we are going next July (Mr Crispy can only take leave at certain times), will I be getting the best flight prices this August? I was hoping to get them around £500 each but is that hopelessly unrealistic?

I see from another thread your Kids are 11 and 14 and you can leave at the end of July.

That sounds expensive!

Always hard to gauge flight prices this far out for popular times\places BUT I think £500 is unrealistic.

Airlines have sales at various times BUT rarely do the school term times feature in cheap prices

Indirect flights are cheaper-But with kids etc can be tiresome.
HolidayPirates seem to find the "unusual" or mistake fares-Not sure if they could fit the bill for your family though.

My stab at prices could be about £800 direct and if you're lucky £650 with one change.

BTW
I agree with MC that too many "Holes in the ground" with the kids will be boring for them. No matter how awesome some of the holes are

Murphy_The_Cat

blindman wrote: »

My stab at prices could be about £800 direct and if you're lucky £650 with one change.

BTW
I agree with MC that too many "Holes in the ground" with the kids will be boring for them. No matter how awesome some of the holes are

Crispy, if it helps at all. I booked in the Christamas seat sales.
Flying Man - SLC, topping at IAD and returning
Santa Barbara to Man (changing at LAX & FRA) with United
for £708 each with very family friendly flight times (I could have reduced it by £5.00 flying out at 6.00 in the morning)
I never saw any prices lower than that for the trip -- but they did fluctuate quite widely. It certainly wasn't a consistent increase in fares.
IIRC, only Virgin fly to LV from Manchester and no airline can get you close to the American West Coast without a connection from Manchester.
My suggestion would be to dismiss the idea of the Virgin flight and research a full service airline that is part of a global partnership i.e Star Alliance. Don't get to hung up on the price, as convenient flight times/connection have a value all of their own :beer:

mysparrow

northwest1965 wrote: »

Has anyone been to Horseshoe Bend? Can anyone give me any info on it?

If your kids love lizard hunting then this is a great place to be in the evening. As the heat begins to disappate you will see many different types of lizard around the path down to the bend. I went with my two boys when they were 13 & 14 - they loved it. We also did the float trip from Glen Canyon dam which takes you past Horseshoe bend from below - absolutely amazing being on the water. You get the chance to have a dip too (it's freezing in there!). The details for the company are on the first page of this thread.
Also would recommend hiking the narrows in Zion & horse riding in Bryce.

ETA sorry got my wires crossed about the kids! I would say if you like lizards it's worth doing! And if you like photography too, great place for a wide-angle lens.