Trip Out West
I am trying to break up the winter boredom by starting to do some early planning for our summer 2016 trip. I am looking at a East to West trip. I would be starting in Canada near Detroit. I would p...
Forum Discussion
You don't say how old your kids are and that makes a big difference in how I would answer some of your post. There's a huge difference between travelling with a 3, 5, and 7 year old and a 13, 15, and 17 year old, both in terms of how long they can handle being in the car and in the experiences they can do and will enjoy.
This concept may be OK for the trip out and back, but once you're at the National Parks, my advice is to forget trying to keep the kids happy with some artificial entertainment and let nature do that for them. Try to camp in the parks where there is often a lot to see and places to play. For instance, Watchman CG in Zion has a stream that flows beneath grand cottonwood trees right through the CG where kids build dams and splash around all day. At other CG's kids can play in the woods, hike trails, etc. I always think of the kids when I answer these types of posts, and to me, the most important thing is to give them new and unique experiences they will remember for a lifetime. They can visit swimming pools anywhere, but to stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon at sunset or to gaze waaaay up at a Sequoia is something they can't do at home.
As for some of the stops on your list, I don't find that Vegas is a place I'd take kids given all the other great sights in the western US. Disneyland is fun, but SoCal is a tough place to get around and not easy to find quiet CG's. I'd also skip SF as a tough place with an RV. I think SoCal attractions like Disney are best visited by flying in, renting a car and staying in a motel. There is some interesting camping near beaches once you get north of SF. Not as warm of water, but they are kids after all.
Instead of I-80 for your return, how about taking the more scenic and interesting (IMHO) US 50 across NV and hooking up with I-70 in UT? Great Basin NP off US 50 in NV has an interesting cave and is a mountain oasis in the desert for an overnight stop. I-70 also will take you near Moab with Arches and Canyonlands NP's. Hot in the summer, but lots of great activities for kids. That will also take you into CO where it will be cooler in the summer.
Of all the places on your list, Yosemite is the most difficult for CG reservations. But worth the effort.
Again, I don't know your kids ages, but my list of places that kids will be Wow'ed by:
Mesa Verde NP it takes a full day to see a couple of ruins. Book a guided trip in advance -- well worth it.
Grand Canyon NP camp at trailer village and take the shuttle around. camping in the park means you can be at the rim at sunrise and sunset -- the magical times
Zion NP - play in the river or hike up Zion Narrows, where you'll wade in knee deep+ water in a very narrow canyon. Cool temps even in the heat of summer
Arches NP - climb on sandstone fins, through arches, lots of great playing in one of our favorite parks.
Canyonlands NP - we like this better than the Grand Canyon. Views from the rim really show the immensity of this area.
Mt. Lassen NP with it's thermal features and a relatively easy hike up a volcano
Lava Beds NM with a number of lava tubes (small caves) kids can explore with flashlights.
For non-NPS places, a couple jump to mind:
The area near Durango has amazing mountain scenery. Ride the Durango - Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This steam powered trail takes you through amazing mountain views for a lunch stop at Silverton, one of the most authentic old mining towns with wooden sidewalks and dirt streets. I can't recommend this trip highly enough for those unaccustomed to high mountain scenery.
Another area with loads to do for kids is the Upper Arkansas River Valley in central CO from Leadville down to Salida. Ghost towns to explore, great river rafting, fishing, mountain biking, lakes, streams, hot springs, etc. etc. Want to test your stamina? The mountains on the west side of the valley have a number of peaks over 14,000' high. Check out this website for more ideas.
rwbradley wrote:
Because we are a family, we will likely make most stops at family friendly full hookup locations like KOA type parks where the kids can unwind after a long day in the car.
This concept may be OK for the trip out and back, but once you're at the National Parks, my advice is to forget trying to keep the kids happy with some artificial entertainment and let nature do that for them. Try to camp in the parks where there is often a lot to see and places to play. For instance, Watchman CG in Zion has a stream that flows beneath grand cottonwood trees right through the CG where kids build dams and splash around all day. At other CG's kids can play in the woods, hike trails, etc. I always think of the kids when I answer these types of posts, and to me, the most important thing is to give them new and unique experiences they will remember for a lifetime. They can visit swimming pools anywhere, but to stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon at sunset or to gaze waaaay up at a Sequoia is something they can't do at home.
As for some of the stops on your list, I don't find that Vegas is a place I'd take kids given all the other great sights in the western US. Disneyland is fun, but SoCal is a tough place to get around and not easy to find quiet CG's. I'd also skip SF as a tough place with an RV. I think SoCal attractions like Disney are best visited by flying in, renting a car and staying in a motel. There is some interesting camping near beaches once you get north of SF. Not as warm of water, but they are kids after all.
Instead of I-80 for your return, how about taking the more scenic and interesting (IMHO) US 50 across NV and hooking up with I-70 in UT? Great Basin NP off US 50 in NV has an interesting cave and is a mountain oasis in the desert for an overnight stop. I-70 also will take you near Moab with Arches and Canyonlands NP's. Hot in the summer, but lots of great activities for kids. That will also take you into CO where it will be cooler in the summer.
Of all the places on your list, Yosemite is the most difficult for CG reservations. But worth the effort.
Again, I don't know your kids ages, but my list of places that kids will be Wow'ed by:
Mesa Verde NP it takes a full day to see a couple of ruins. Book a guided trip in advance -- well worth it.
Grand Canyon NP camp at trailer village and take the shuttle around. camping in the park means you can be at the rim at sunrise and sunset -- the magical times
Zion NP - play in the river or hike up Zion Narrows, where you'll wade in knee deep+ water in a very narrow canyon. Cool temps even in the heat of summer
Arches NP - climb on sandstone fins, through arches, lots of great playing in one of our favorite parks.
Canyonlands NP - we like this better than the Grand Canyon. Views from the rim really show the immensity of this area.
Mt. Lassen NP with it's thermal features and a relatively easy hike up a volcano
Lava Beds NM with a number of lava tubes (small caves) kids can explore with flashlights.
For non-NPS places, a couple jump to mind:
The area near Durango has amazing mountain scenery. Ride the Durango - Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This steam powered trail takes you through amazing mountain views for a lunch stop at Silverton, one of the most authentic old mining towns with wooden sidewalks and dirt streets. I can't recommend this trip highly enough for those unaccustomed to high mountain scenery.
Another area with loads to do for kids is the Upper Arkansas River Valley in central CO from Leadville down to Salida. Ghost towns to explore, great river rafting, fishing, mountain biking, lakes, streams, hot springs, etc. etc. Want to test your stamina? The mountains on the west side of the valley have a number of peaks over 14,000' high. Check out this website for more ideas.
rwbradley wrote:But I have to think that for the kids, more days in fewer places will be more memorable that a lot of days driving.
but in my mind one day at Yosemite is better than never getting there.
