US trip help needed

Idiophreak

hotlatte wrote: »

New York : Flight gets there for 14.35. We are going there for first time and considering potential delays at immigration and travelling to the hotel will take us well into evening.Not sure if we could use that evening for something?

Jackieblack what is ToR and SoL?

Top of the Rock and Statue of Liberty.

Personally, I'd recommend you see Grand Central Station, too...

jackieblack

hotlatte wrote: »

Jackieblack what is ToR and SoL?

Top of the Rock (observation deck at Rockefeller Centre)
Statue of Liberty

John259

hotlatte wrote: »

what is ToR and SoL?

ToR = Top of the Rock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_of_the_Rock#Observation_deck

SoL = Statue of Liberty http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

Ellis Island, the immigration processing centre, is also highly recommended if you have time - but it's not fully reopened yet after the hurricane damage http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm

Idiophreak

John259 wrote: »

Ellis Island, the immigration processing centre, is also highly recommended if you have time - but it's not fully reopened yet after the hurricane damage http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm

Thanks for the heads up on that, heading over in a few weeks and EI was on our todo list...still sounds like it will be worth a visit.

John259

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon (South Rim, presumably)

(South Rim to North Rim by normal public road is 213 miles
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ,+United+States&daddr=Grand+Canyon+Lodge+-+North+Rim,+Arizona+67,+North+Rim,+AZ,+United+States&hl=en&sll=33.961586,-115.922241&sspn=1.193686,2.202759&geocode=FawlJgIdseBQ-Skl4_-VTxczhzGhniKadMLMuA%3BFXNTKAIdXzVS-SGD2Qc2rAXdFCkVTZt1rhIzhzGD2Qc2rAXdFA&oq=grand+canyon+north+rim&mra=ls&t=m&z=9 )

The obvious attraction along the way is the Hoover Dam. Take the turn off the main road down to the dam instead of going over the new bridge.

Where do you plan to stay at the Grand Canyon? The obvious options are in the park itself (likely to be booked up), just outside in Tusayan (might also be booked up), Williams (likely to be ok) and Flagstaff (big choice, likely to be ok).

There are some national monuments around Flagstaff, including Wupatki which has Native American ruins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wupatki_National_Monument
https://maps.google.com/?ll=35.420392,-111.637573&spn=1.172832,2.202759&t=m&z=9

Grand Canyon

Instead of repeating what I posted in another thread, here's a link to it http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64847368&postcount=714

West Rim free shuttle bus route official National Park Service video (very informative)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCMRKElBkgA

Grand Canyon (South Rim) to Los Angeles

Instead of using I-40 all the way to Barstow, you can take Az66 from Seligman to Kingman through Peach Springs. AFAIK it's the longest remaining stretch of US66 (Route 66). This trucking video has a dashcam of the road but eastbound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVd2iTCkYQw&list=UUlPfYw4yyN6vHeLYCBFMx5g

There's another stretch of US66 between Kingman and Needles via Oatman but judging by this video it's a very slow and tortuous mountain road
â–¶ Scenic Historic Route 66 Drive From Kingman To Oatman - YouTube

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Seligman,+AZ,+United+States&daddr=Peach+Springs,+AZ,+United+States+to:Kingman,+AZ,+United+States+to:Oatman,+AZ,+United+States+to:Needles,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=35.429344,-113.768921&spn=2.345343,4.405518&sll=35.420392,-111.637573&sspn=1.172832,2.202759&geocode=FXkGGwIdoqBF-SmbNBljkEbNgDGyKdjDv1sA9A%3BFcchHgIdrUM9-Sl_0VM7M0zMgDG3xjyI__Xjcg%3BFcPyGAIdcrAz-Sk1YJMAE9zNgDFgpQT_vM-spg%3BFdd1FgIdLqUu-SnVliWatBPOgDHnI9rIao3HdA%3BFTy9EwIdjCAr-SkzijXhciPOgDHzlA3hF6hfIA&oq=needles&mra=ls&t=m&z=8

Another option is Joshua Tree National Park
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Big+Bear+Lake,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=33.961586,-115.922241&spn=1.193686,2.202759&sll=34.288992,-116.092529&sspn=4.755604,8.811035&oq=big+bear&hnear=Big+Bear+Lake,+San+Bernardino+County,+California&t=m&z=9
Stay in Twentynine Palms on the north side (good Motel 6, right next door to Del Taco). Indio on the south ride is IMHO a dump to be avoided.

Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains is scenic and pleasant
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Big+Bear+Lake,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=34.300337,-116.911011&spn=1.188912,2.202759&sll=34.288992,-116.092529&sspn=4.755604,8.811035&oq=big+bear&hnear=Big+Bear+Lake,+San+Bernardino+County,+California&t=m&z=9

Arrghhh, so many options, so many wonderful places, so little time. I know we keep saying it but you really must check your mileages - Google Maps is one excellent way of doing that.

hotlatte

John259 wrote: »

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon (South Rim, presumably)

(South Rim to North Rim by normal public road is 213 miles
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ,+United+States&daddr=Grand+Canyon+Lodge+-+North+Rim,+Arizona+67,+North+Rim,+AZ,+United+States&hl=en&sll=33.961586,-115.922241&sspn=1.193686,2.202759&geocode=FawlJgIdseBQ-Skl4_-VTxczhzGhniKadMLMuA%3BFXNTKAIdXzVS-SGD2Qc2rAXdFCkVTZt1rhIzhzGD2Qc2rAXdFA&oq=grand+canyon+north+rim&mra=ls&t=m&z=9 )

The obvious attraction along the way is the Hoover Dam. Take the turn off the main road down to the dam instead of going over the new bridge.

Where do you plan to stay at the Grand Canyon? The obvious options are in the park itself (likely to be booked up), just outside in Tusayan (might also be booked up), Williams (likely to be ok) and Flagstaff (big choice, likely to be ok).

There are some national monuments around Flagstaff, including Wupatki which has Native American ruins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wupatki_National_Monument
https://maps.google.com/?ll=35.420392,-111.637573&spn=1.172832,2.202759&t=m&z=9

Grand Canyon

Instead of repeating what I posted in another thread, here's a link to it http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64847368&postcount=714

West Rim free shuttle bus route official National Park Service video (very informative)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCMRKElBkgA

Grand Canyon (South Rim) to Los Angeles

Instead of using I-40 all the way to Barstow, you can take Az66 from Seligman to Kingman through Peach Springs. AFAIK it's the longest remaining stretch of US66 (Route 66). This trucking video has a dashcam of the road but eastbound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVd2iTCkYQw&list=UUlPfYw4yyN6vHeLYCBFMx5g

There's another stretch of US66 between Kingman and Needles via Oatman but judging by this video it's a very slow and tortuous mountain road
â–¶ Scenic Historic Route 66 Drive From Kingman To Oatman - YouTube

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Seligman,+AZ,+United+States&daddr=Peach+Springs,+AZ,+United+States+to:Kingman,+AZ,+United+States+to:Oatman,+AZ,+United+States+to:Needles,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=35.429344,-113.768921&spn=2.345343,4.405518&sll=35.420392,-111.637573&sspn=1.172832,2.202759&geocode=FXkGGwIdoqBF-SmbNBljkEbNgDGyKdjDv1sA9A%3BFcchHgIdrUM9-Sl_0VM7M0zMgDG3xjyI__Xjcg%3BFcPyGAIdcrAz-Sk1YJMAE9zNgDFgpQT_vM-spg%3BFdd1FgIdLqUu-SnVliWatBPOgDHnI9rIao3HdA%3BFTy9EwIdjCAr-SkzijXhciPOgDHzlA3hF6hfIA&oq=needles&mra=ls&t=m&z=8

Another option is Joshua Tree National Park
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Big+Bear+Lake,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=33.961586,-115.922241&spn=1.193686,2.202759&sll=34.288992,-116.092529&sspn=4.755604,8.811035&oq=big+bear&hnear=Big+Bear+Lake,+San+Bernardino+County,+California&t=m&z=9
Stay in Twentynine Palms on the north side (good Motel 6, right next door to Del Taco). Indio on the south ride is IMHO a dump to be avoided.

Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains is scenic and pleasant
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Big+Bear+Lake,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=34.300337,-116.911011&spn=1.188912,2.202759&sll=34.288992,-116.092529&sspn=4.755604,8.811035&oq=big+bear&hnear=Big+Bear+Lake,+San+Bernardino+County,+California&t=m&z=9

Arrghhh, so many options, so many wonderful places, so little time. I know we keep saying it but you really must check your mileages - Google Maps is one excellent way of doing that.

Hi staying at GC is not a plan we were thinking of doing a day long round trip.

hotlatte

John259 wrote: »

ToR = Top of the Rock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_of_the_Rock#Observation_deck

SoL = Statue of Liberty http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

Ellis Island, the immigration processing centre, is also highly recommended if you have time - but it's not fully reopened yet after the hurricane damage http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm

TOR looks amazing you recommend a night visit or day?

hotlatte

Is it worth doing the GC trip via helicopter flight. Taking a look at the mileage it seems a lot. Has anyone done that and how much its likely to cost roughly?

Idiophreak

hotlatte wrote: »

TOR looks amazing you recommend a night visit or day?

Either will be good.

In the daytime, you get to see Central Park really clearly. At night, you get to see ESB, Chrysler etc lit up in all their glory.

Can't go wrong either way.

photome

GC south rim in a day is a waste of time IMO.

If you allow a stop at Hoover dam you could be talking about 11 hours driving without allowing for any time at GC.

A stay over is the best way to see it and it is awesome

Like jackieblack says are you really aware of the distances and times you will be taking on, not forgetting the timezones you will be travelling through.

What is you want to see in LA. I would drop that altogerher and fly home from Vegas

Doing all 3 places in so little time is a mistake (again IMO)