jeepin911 wrote:
Just wanted to give an update - made several adjustments along the way and are now in Oregon :) We have been having a blast!! Seems we are good as a family with 2-3 nights in most places (vs. 4-5) and have been moving right along with no divorces or rebelling kids in sight - LOL We did skip CA but have made it to the west coast - will see the PAC ocean tomorrow!
We are loving ALL the national parks! We LOVED Colorado (Ridgeway, Ourway, Telluride, Silverton) - Soooo much fun, thanks for that advice!!
here is where we have gone so far and tentative plans after that. Would still welcome any advice.
Completed:
Cincinnati to St. Louis (1 night) Arch - City Museum was AMAZING
St Louis to Topeka, KS (1 night) Topeka is kind of a dump.
Topeka, KS to Dodge City, KS (1 night) nothing special really - small museum
Dodge City, KS to Colorado Springs, CO - Garden of the Gods, Train to Pikes Peak - we loved CO Springs!
Colorado Springs, CO to Ridgeway, CO (5 nights) Telluride, Ourway, Silverton, Jeep Trails, Mine Tour, Black Canyon, ghost towns. Sooo much to do and see here in perfect weather!!
Ridgeway, CO to ARCHES/MOAB NP (4 nights) Arches NP (fiery furnace hike was awesome!), Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Pt, drove Shafer Trail! 4x4 fun!
ARCHES/MOAB NP to BRYCE NP (2 nights) Hiked into Ampitheater - loved the Hoodoos!
BRYCE NP to ZION NP (2 nights) Hiked the Narrows! So beautiful but crowded!
ZION NP to Salt Lake City (2 nights) Park City, Downtown, was ok
Salt Lake City to Minnewaka, NV (1 night) Drove down the Doherty Slide!
Minnewaka, NV to Crater Lake NP (2 nights) Hiked Crater Lake - Beautiful!
Crater Lake NP to Portland (2 nights) Downtown Portland, Columbia River Gorge, Hood River. Great City!
Coming up:
Hood River to Olympic NP (3 nights) considering stopping at Mt. Ranier on the way.
Olympic NP to Seattle, WA (2 nights) See the City (pikes, space needle, etc)
Seattle to Half way to Glacier NP (1 night) going through Cascades NP
Half Way to Glacier to Glacier NP(4 nights) Hike Glacier and area
Glacier to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons (see as much of YS/GT as possible)
Yellowstone to either Custer Area or T. Rosevelt NP. (Welcome opinions here)
Across MN, WI, up to Mackinaw, down through MI back to OH (anything to see on the way?)
Loving RV'ing and all the special time i am getting with together with our family. It really makes me want to keep the RV (plan was to sell when we returned) but hard to overcome the depreciation logic of owning one when we wont have this kind of time to use in the future. Who knows - we'll see!!
Thanks again to everyone for the advice and help as we got started on this!
Sounds like it is working for you - Jelous - Hoping you are taking 1,000's of PICTURES - this is the trip of a lifetime you will want the Memories.
Sounds great- might just love the Coast when you get to Olympic NP - Between the Rocks on the Beach and the Cascades - Washington gets very Inviting - Don't forget to Pick up some GOOD WINES while you are in the area- Timing looks good for Glacier - Going to the Sun Road is still not open - SNOW - but should be soon - Sounds and looks like you are now a Master RV'er - don't let the crowds get you down in Yellowstone - Get up early, no Really Early - beat them to the Punch and then hike into the Park - the Falls - the Pools - The Beartooth - all will call you - Then the MT Rushmore at Dusk - Custer State Park - Jewel Cave - Sylvan Lake.
It may be me - but once you leave Custer - The rest is just getting home - no need to bank any time - while all these areas may have some special places - they all tend (IMHO) to pale after the trip out West.
Hoping you got the Jeep on a few of the Trails in the San Juan's - Heaven.
Will be interesting to see what the Family enjoyed? Might pose the question when you get home - ranking the areas of the Country - Utah is a great Winter - Fall - Spring - Vacation - less people - More FUN - As Yellowstone is also just so Crowded.
When all is said and done - work a collage, of places and Family and give it to your Boss - let him know how great he is for allowing you to re-energize - maybe more can follow your lead - post again soon - just EPIC!
Thanks,
