4runnerguy wrote:
TriumphGuy wrote:
I don't want to pack a thousand things into the trip. The drive is long enough as it is, don't need added stress.
I'm hoping this is the first trip of many before they grow up and leave the house.
Thoughts?
My first thought is that you are a wise man. Too many people try to see too much in too little time. Kids usually aren't thrilled with the driving but rather with the experiences once they're out of the vehicle.
Based on what you've written, I'd stick to some sightseeing on the way out and back to break up the trip and spend most of your time in the four corners area. Plan another trip in the future with a loop through Yellowstone and Glacier NP's. That's another four weeks right there.
With that in mind, the NP's of southern Utah can occupy a lot of your time. Hiking is great in Zion and Bryce, more so than the GC IMHO. Kid's will love to climb and play in Arches NP. We usually spend two weeks in the Moab area every year.
While you're in the area, stop at Mesa Verde NP in SW CO. Plan on one or two of the guided hikes there. Take the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It goes through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the country. If you go in mid to late September, the aspen will be changing. Silverton is a real old west town with wooden sidewalks and dirt streets. I'm a Colorado native and Silverton is one place I try to get to every year. Another area in CO I highly recommend is the Upper Arkansas River Valley between Leadville and Salida. Lots of different things to do. Click here for activities. We've been taking our nieces there since they were 7 or 8 and even now in their mid-teens, they love going back.
Four weeks will go by like a blur, but the scenery your kids will experience will be so much different than what they usually see they will remember it for a lifetime.
Plus 1....infinity!
This is an outstanding suggested itinerary, and in this order. Between the Grand Canyon and the 5-NP Loop in southern Utah, you'll create a lot of memories for your entire family. There will be diversity in sights to see. Adding in Mesa Verde and the Silverton-Durango railroad would be a sure bonus. And, for a grand finale if you have the time, take the Cumbres& Toltec Railroad from Antonito CO to Chama NM. There are several options for that trip; I recommend starting in Antonito and finishing in Chama, then taking the bus (provided) back to Antonito. There's some good camping areas just west of Antonito. From there, you could meander back to the Palmetto State, with a whole bunch of wonderful memories. Your kiddos would love it ! !
