Scottish family rving for first time
Hi all we hope to fly to Vegas at the beginning of July and spend two days in Vegas before picking up our hired RV .....so far we have decided to spend the first night at area 51 and the next morning ...
Forum Discussion
susanbee -
To start with enjoy Las Vegas, one of the World's unique and most exciting spots. There are several large Casinos with amusement park rides that should be fun for your Grand Kids. Circus Circus, MGM, and Landmark are the casinos I can think of that have kid rides. Do go to see the water show in front of the Bellagio. Free and fun. It will be hot in Vegas that time of year.
I have not been to area 51 except for on TV. The other day when looking in the area I spotted the Al inn or something similar as an RV park in the area. This is a still secret military base and they do not have tours.
Go see the falls at Twin Falls.
From Twin Falls it is not far to Grand Teton and Yellowstone parks. Go up Interstate 15 to Idaho Falls and turn east on Route 26 and go to Jackson WY. Jackson is a beautiful small town just to the south of the Grand Teton mountains. Maybe the prettiest range in the USA. You can camp in Jackson or make reservations in Grand Teton National Park at Colter Bay Village. This is a lovely beautiful place to camp. They have spaces with and without hookups. You need to make reservations now. Stay 3 days take a raft ride down the Snake River. Leaves from the lodge 5 miles away. Go see some of the ranger talks and the museum. From there go north into Yellowstone and stay 3 days or so. Stay at Fishing Bridge campground. Also make reservations now.
To the east of Yellowstone Park is the city of Cody. If you go there be sure to go to the Western Museum. It is huge and very interesting. You will need many hours to see it. A short days drive from Cody is Thermopolis Wyoming. They have the best dinosaur museum and tour I have ever seen. I think you can actually dig there for fossils too. This is an active area to dig up fossils.
If it were me from there I would head north to Glacier National Park. Stay in a couple of campgrounds in the park, but be sure to stay at the Many Glacier campground. Glacier park is the in the Rocky Mountains.
From Glacier drive west on Interstate 90 and stop at Lake Coeur d Alene. A gorgeous mountain lake in Idaho. Drive to Seattle. Go west from there to the Pacific Ocean. Camp on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula. Stay in a campground on the water. There are several in that area.
From there head straight to Mt Rainier National Park. Not far. Camp in or as close to the park as you can. Go to Paradise in Rainier and hike the most beautiful summer wildflower meadows on the planet. If you are fit hike to Paradise Point. 2,000 ft vertical up from the lodge. A rental camper should fit in the Lodgepole Campground in the park.
Head from there for a day trip to Mt St Helens. This volcano blew up in 1980. A spectacular day trip.
Go south on Interstate 5 to California. You might consider a day trip to Crater Lake. Then stop for an hour to ogle Mt Shasta off to the east of the interstate right after you get in California. From there on to Yosemite National Park. Try to get a reservation in the park. If you cannot get one as close as you can. Spend two full days at Yosemite. From there is is a fairly short drive to Sequoia National Park. Stay in the park and see the World's largest trees and largest living things.
From here back to Vegas.
For paper maps go to AAA (American Auto Association) when you get here. They have a couple of offices in Vegas. Get maps and what they call tour books of all the States you will be visiting and going through. The tour books will have places to eat and things to do, with hours open and cost.
For locating National, State, and local public campgrounds use this free web site. They have a tablet app too. http://www.uscampgrounds.info
For locating campground ratings nothing beats http://www.rvparkreviews.com This is the RV park review website. The best rating source for campgrounds.
There is also the Allstays web site with very good campground information.
I would suggest getting a Garmin or similar GPS device with USA information. If you already have one where you live just get the USA software for it. Use a GPS like the Garmin or Tom Tom that does not need a cell phone signal. They work far better than cell phone devices for the remote areas you will be going to.
Get a prepaid cell phone. I would recommend Verizon. They have more service in the remote areas.
You can buy entrance to all parks when you get there. If anyone is over 62 there is a discount. I have a senior pass to get into National parks. I don't know if you can get one of those if you are not a USA citizen.
Enjoy. The USA west is beautiful.
To start with enjoy Las Vegas, one of the World's unique and most exciting spots. There are several large Casinos with amusement park rides that should be fun for your Grand Kids. Circus Circus, MGM, and Landmark are the casinos I can think of that have kid rides. Do go to see the water show in front of the Bellagio. Free and fun. It will be hot in Vegas that time of year.
I have not been to area 51 except for on TV. The other day when looking in the area I spotted the Al inn or something similar as an RV park in the area. This is a still secret military base and they do not have tours.
Go see the falls at Twin Falls.
From Twin Falls it is not far to Grand Teton and Yellowstone parks. Go up Interstate 15 to Idaho Falls and turn east on Route 26 and go to Jackson WY. Jackson is a beautiful small town just to the south of the Grand Teton mountains. Maybe the prettiest range in the USA. You can camp in Jackson or make reservations in Grand Teton National Park at Colter Bay Village. This is a lovely beautiful place to camp. They have spaces with and without hookups. You need to make reservations now. Stay 3 days take a raft ride down the Snake River. Leaves from the lodge 5 miles away. Go see some of the ranger talks and the museum. From there go north into Yellowstone and stay 3 days or so. Stay at Fishing Bridge campground. Also make reservations now.
To the east of Yellowstone Park is the city of Cody. If you go there be sure to go to the Western Museum. It is huge and very interesting. You will need many hours to see it. A short days drive from Cody is Thermopolis Wyoming. They have the best dinosaur museum and tour I have ever seen. I think you can actually dig there for fossils too. This is an active area to dig up fossils.
If it were me from there I would head north to Glacier National Park. Stay in a couple of campgrounds in the park, but be sure to stay at the Many Glacier campground. Glacier park is the in the Rocky Mountains.
From Glacier drive west on Interstate 90 and stop at Lake Coeur d Alene. A gorgeous mountain lake in Idaho. Drive to Seattle. Go west from there to the Pacific Ocean. Camp on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula. Stay in a campground on the water. There are several in that area.
From there head straight to Mt Rainier National Park. Not far. Camp in or as close to the park as you can. Go to Paradise in Rainier and hike the most beautiful summer wildflower meadows on the planet. If you are fit hike to Paradise Point. 2,000 ft vertical up from the lodge. A rental camper should fit in the Lodgepole Campground in the park.
Head from there for a day trip to Mt St Helens. This volcano blew up in 1980. A spectacular day trip.
Go south on Interstate 5 to California. You might consider a day trip to Crater Lake. Then stop for an hour to ogle Mt Shasta off to the east of the interstate right after you get in California. From there on to Yosemite National Park. Try to get a reservation in the park. If you cannot get one as close as you can. Spend two full days at Yosemite. From there is is a fairly short drive to Sequoia National Park. Stay in the park and see the World's largest trees and largest living things.
From here back to Vegas.
For paper maps go to AAA (American Auto Association) when you get here. They have a couple of offices in Vegas. Get maps and what they call tour books of all the States you will be visiting and going through. The tour books will have places to eat and things to do, with hours open and cost.
For locating National, State, and local public campgrounds use this free web site. They have a tablet app too. http://www.uscampgrounds.info
For locating campground ratings nothing beats http://www.rvparkreviews.com This is the RV park review website. The best rating source for campgrounds.
There is also the Allstays web site with very good campground information.
I would suggest getting a Garmin or similar GPS device with USA information. If you already have one where you live just get the USA software for it. Use a GPS like the Garmin or Tom Tom that does not need a cell phone signal. They work far better than cell phone devices for the remote areas you will be going to.
Get a prepaid cell phone. I would recommend Verizon. They have more service in the remote areas.
You can buy entrance to all parks when you get there. If anyone is over 62 there is a discount. I have a senior pass to get into National parks. I don't know if you can get one of those if you are not a USA citizen.
Enjoy. The USA west is beautiful.
