Let's Plan a Trip...

“I have many hurdles to get over to make it happen, but I am hoping to take a three week family vacation next summer, and I would love to have some input on destinations. So my question is this--what are your favorite 10 or 15 places in the US to visit?

Here are the parameters:

- I will be heading west and south from Philadelphia, so the wonderful spots in NH, ME, NY, etc. will be saved for a different trip

- I will be taking my wife and our five children, ages 9 to 18

- we will not be doing any serious hikes, although we may do some dayhikes

- I want to see as many "natural wonders" as possible

- I hope to have worthwhile destinations along the way--not to drive three days without seeing or doing anything interesting/fun

I am probably crazy. This trip may not happen in summer '02. If not, maybe summer '03.

Either way...what are the "can't miss" National Parks and other natural wonders?

Thanks,

Fritz”

“I have 2 suggestions. Both are in Kentucky and both are suitable for kids-- Natural Arch and Mammoth Cave. Both have oohh,ahh value and both are surrounded by hiking trails. Be prepared for high heat and humidity.”

“Cool. Too bad you won't be coming to HI were I live.”

“Like sklukaz I was going to suggest Natural Bridge and the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

You might consider driving down via Skyline Dr. and the Blue Ridge Pkwy---lot's of natural beauty and ample day hike opportunities. Spend a few days in the Smokies. Then return via Kentucky and West Virginia, a state also filled with natural wonders, such as the New River Gorge.”

“Yellowstone on the way to Yosemite.”

“Thanks...KY, definitely.

Yellowstone, Yosemite, sounds great too. Is that like a two-day drive (Yellowstone to Yosemite?)

And does anyone know what Interstate I'd take to swing by HI? ;-)”

“That would be the new California to Hawaii cross-Pacific Parkway. It should be finished by next summer. ¦)”

“If I had three weeks, I would head to Colorado, Golden, Vail, Lake Dillon, Steamboat Springs, Montrose where the Colorado Monument Park has canyons, rock formations, then head for Ouray, then Silverton/Durango, then Mesa Verde, some Utah, AZ and New Mexico National Parks, then home. I haven't been to Utah is ages, so I am not as familiar with the details, but I know there are three or four "must see" parks there. AZ has many great areas in the Grand Canyon, and other areas of colorful rock, cliffs, and canyons.

Anyway, that is what I would do with three weeks. Or you could do the Kentucky and Tennessee sights, too. I would do the Skyline through VA, or the highway that runs in the valley next to the Skyline through the Shenandoah (not I-81). The Virginia George Washington Nat'l Forest and Jefferson Nat'l Forest have some great areas too, south and west of Shenandoah. And VA's Grayson Highlands were really pretty for dayhiking.”

“This won't be very helpful since you said you wanted to head west and south. But I'll give my 2cents anway!

I would say to head west and north. Go through S Dakota and hit the Badlands and spend a few days in the Black Hills - very beautiful. Then you could either go south to Colorado or North to my favorite, Montana. There are many "can't miss" places in Montana. Come home through Michigan's Upper Penninsula and hike at Porcupine Mountain State Park, Pictured Rock National Lakeshore.

That is what I would do... Oh, wait, that is what I have done!”

“Thanks tarabull!

Actually I didn't mean to rule out Montana, etc. I think of that as just west, not north of me, although it may be a little north.

How about Glacier NP and Mt. Rainier? Are those "can't miss" destinations? Depending on my route it looks like a significant commitment in terms of miles and days to get up there...

re:"many can't miss places in Montana"--please tell me what they are...

Thanks!”

“When I lived in the Motor City suburbs, my objective in doing the same type of trip was to see the most distant points I could reasonably do in a relaxed, non-rushed "typical tourist" manner. I was initially drawn, as you might suspect, to those places which were well known, familiar, or somehow stuck in my mind from previous exposure.

I pulled out a map of the continental U.S., stuck push-pins in those areas I'd LIKE to visit, and then, created a circular route I knew I could cover in the time period I had to work with. Rather than stop at several places along the way, my real desire was to see a particular area of the country, and thus, logistics prompted me to seek an efficient route.

For instance, one trip - 3 weeks - focused on Yellowstone N.P. as a starting point. I left Detroit Saturday afternoon, arrived Yellowstone Monday morning (40 hours, including 8 hours sleep - you won't accomplish this with 3 kids, but an extra day is feasible). From there, I headed South to the Tetons, then further South through the Utah Canyonlands (Bryce, Zion, Canyonlands N.P.'s, to name a few), further South through Monument Valley in Northern AZ, the Grand Canyon, and then East through New Mexico, North through Colorado (Mesa Verde, Telluride, Estes Park), and then East toward home. Spent a few days in nearly every place - camping - and had a very nice, non-rushed liesurely trip filled with the memories of America's West.

It was a fabulous trip, and paved the way for many to follow, each to some of the places I'd seen before, only for longer periods - like, "I wanna spend a week here" stuff.

Go get that map.”

“obi - That's exactly what I am doing! I put up a US map on my wall several days ago. Believe it or not, some of the places that I have heard about my whole life--and seen pics of--I didn't even know what state they were in. SO I am learning a lot.

But the bottom line is just as you said. I want to locate all the interesting destinations, then see what kind of a route would get me to most of them without going nuts.

Thanks for the response.

Wish I could afford to fly out west and rent a car, but with seven of us that is pretty expensive...”