Next Big Adventure

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The Oct 6, 2017 San Antonio Express had report today on Port Aransas, Rockport, Port O'Connor that are on the middle Texas Coast. The cities are getting businesses repaired--restaurants, motel-most of these are being used my FEMA assisted residents and construction workers. Reports are that a good number of RV parks are getting back up and running--no list of who that is. In general, the cities are looking to be back up by Spring for those Spring Breakers. So, for winter Texans--recommend checking your favorite RV Park. The Valley--Mission, etc. were not hit by the hurricane. Most boat docks are still out but boat ramps are open with lots of debris in the water--like duck blinds. In general, the businesses need our business! So, check on a place and come on down to South Texas this winter.

rexlion wrote:
I was totally underwhelmed by Craters of the Moon. Give me a spot under pines next to a lake any day, but barren lava seems pretty dull to me. Well, maybe you are into geology though.

Arches NP and CO Natl Monument are especially scenic with colorful sandstone sculpted by wind and water. Been there yet?

While I admit it isn't Arches, or the Colorado National Monument, the lava fields are interesting. It is also a great place for night photography since the campground is non serviced, and there are no nearby cities. Both images from Craters of the Moon.



And

Just make sure you have reservations you will be in prime season starting in june

jplante4 wrote:

rexlion wrote:
I was totally underwhelmed by Craters of the Moon. Give me a spot under pines next to a lake any day, but barren lava seems pretty dull to me. Well, maybe you are into geology though.

Just doing Idaho because I was stationed there when I was in the Navy.

Arches NP and CO Natl Monument are especially scenic with colorful sandstone sculpted by wind and water. Been there yet?

Nope. I've done the Petrified Forest and the painted sands there tho.

I like Craters, of course like the OP I was stationed there too by the USN, just up the road at Arco. On the other hand having been to most of the red rock parks I found CO NM to be less impressive, they don't have many trails for one thing a drive thru with a few stops took care of it for us. If you want red rock go to Bryce or Zion.

Arches is good but unbearably hot in the summer.

rexlion wrote:
I was totally underwhelmed by Craters of the Moon. Give me a spot under pines next to a lake any day, but barren lava seems pretty dull to me. Well, maybe you are into geology though.

Just doing Idaho because I was stationed there when I was in the Navy.

Arches NP and CO Natl Monument are especially scenic with colorful sandstone sculpted by wind and water. Been there yet?

Nope. I've done the Petrified Forest and the painted sands there tho.

I was totally underwhelmed by Craters of the Moon. Give me a spot under pines next to a lake any day, but barren lava seems pretty dull to me. Well, maybe you are into geology though.

Arches NP and CO Natl Monument are especially scenic with colorful sandstone sculpted by wind and water. Been there yet?

Saguaro National Park, Tuscon, AZ, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, ND

The Interstates will mostly be open all winter. Storms may stop traffic for a day or two in which case travellers can be stuck somewhere waiting for the road to be cleared. Getting off the Interstates is the difficulty. I have no idea how your rig handles on snowy and icy roads.

I-20 south is snowbird country there are a lot of parks in NM/AZ and CA for that matter in that area. Death Valley prime time is winter/spring for example. Chihuahua NM is a great place to explore but their CG is limited to small RV's. There are a lot of state parks too.

You need to be flexible, watch the weather to the north it could be a warm spring after all. Weather is, as always, unpredictable. But Big Bend from what I've heard has their peak number of visitors around Thanksgiving-Christmas. But snowbirds winter down there too. Terlingua is pretty much closed up in the summer but is fully in business in winter. There are three of four RV parks in operation then too, not counting the ones in the NP.

I'd write off the Texas shore this winter after their bad weather experience.

agesilaus wrote:
Anything before May is asking for snowstorms or worse in high country. I've been snowed on July 3rd at Craters. The North Rim of the GCNP won't even be open then, the South Rim will but may have deep snow. This winter is looking like another very cold and snowy one. Snowfall records have already been broken in Montana and they have had significant snow all the way down into CO and CA. Very early snow.

Last year's snow hasn't even melted in some places which is also unusual. I'd aim further south if the time frame is rigid, lots to do in southern AZ and NM. It's the perfect time to visit Big Bend NP in TX. I would not want to be caught in a blizzard in that class A on a mountain road.

So we're looking at Big Bend and I-10 rather than I-20 and staying further south on the way back east. US 50 through Nevada is probably doable in the early June time frame.

I thought it may have been too early for this trip. I just don't want to get sucked into the hoards trying to cram a vacation into a couple of weeks in Yellowstone.

I crossed the Rockies on I-80 in late June some 40 years ago and remember the gas station attendant comment that the pass I was about to cross was closed the previous week. Do much for global warming.