Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon trip

[Cloud_9]

Will be in Houston area after Feb 1st, thinking this might be a chance to visit these sights we have longed to see(we know its not local, but maybe farthest west we will get),can you folks recommend a general route, stops along the way? We can take our time, move departure date for better weather, etc.

Carl

[Cloud_9]

Much good information in all your replies, as for the weather, I am hoping the seasonal trend will be our friend, and since we have no real deadlines, we could slow down or delay our trip.

Carl

[hermy]

Definetly stay very aware of the weather in the Grand Canyon/Flagstaff area at that time of year. It is very high and can have plenty of cold and snow- pay attention!

[ddndoug]

If you go through San Antonio, I recommend the Alamo like most people have, but we found that we really enjoyed some of the other missions in the area more than the Alamo simply due to the crowds and being over commercialized.

Doug

[djsamuel]

dapperdan wrote:
"We spent 6 days there last year, which may be too much for some, but we hiked a lot. I would plan for at least 2 full days, then you can leisurely enjoy the views. If you can do more, then so much the better in my opinion. "

X2 We stayed there two days and felt that was enough for what we wanted to see and do. We asked at an information booth at GC what to see, the gal there said "Grand Canyon is nice but MY favorite is Bryce Canyon." ...Well we cut the Grand Canyon short to two days and high-tailed it to Bryce and Zion! Funny part is that was in 2001 and we hadn't heard of Bryce before that :S

If you can, try and make time to see Bryce, it's well worth the effort!!

Dan

Bryce is really nice as well. That's part of the trouble, so many great places to see! 🙂

You really can't fit it all in unless you have plenty of time. Hopefully when I retire (6 years to go) we can take the time.

[dapperdan]

"We spent 6 days there last year, which may be too much for some, but we hiked a lot. I would plan for at least 2 full days, then you can leisurely enjoy the views. If you can do more, then so much the better in my opinion. "

X2 We stayed there two days and felt that was enough for what we wanted to see and do. We asked at an information booth at GC what to see, the gal there said "Grand Canyon is nice but MY favorite is Bryce Canyon." ...Well we cut the Grand Canyon short to two days and high-tailed it to Bryce and Zion! Funny part is that was in 2001 and we hadn't heard of Bryce before that :S

If you can, try and make time to see Bryce, it's well worth the effort!!

Dan

[djsamuel]

Lauren wrote:
Stay at the South Rim to see the Grand Canyon. You are going to see it and not waste time on a train ride back and forth and a couple or so hours midday to see the canyon. This was you can say you have SEEN the Grand Canyon; not just been to there.

^^^^ Very good post.^^^^

If you stay at the canyon and take your time, weather you hike down into the canyon, walk the rim, or take the busses to the viewpoints; you can see so much more. Enjoy the canyon, the views, the stores, and the general atmosphere of the place. My favorite place to go.

We spent 6 days there last year, which may be too much for some, but we hiked a lot. I would plan for at least 2 full days, then you can leisurely enjoy the views. If you can do more, then so much the better in my opinion.

[Cloud_9]

Thanks agaiin to all , re: the weather, we could delay our departure a bit, do not look forward to travel in snow. DW wondering how many days to allow for Grand Canyon visit?

Carl

[NMDriver]

There are several minimal-freeway routes with lots to see. The safest choice to avoid freezing weather is to go through San Antonio, Del Rio, Van Horn, El Paso, Phoenix, Kingman, to Hoover. It will likely have above freezing weather in Feb. although the coldest weather can occur in Feb in New Mexico. Just watch the forecast. Staying south of I-40 is generally warmer weather, not always but generally.

[Busskipper]

Cloud 9 wrote:
Wow ! Lots of great stuff do see, thanks for the thoughtful feedback. We are currently on the road, but with family and Drs back in New England (VT and NH). So will end up back there eventually, but Do want to see the above mentioned sights on our bucket list, along with other ones like you guys have mentioned.

Carl

River Walk is a must.
Hill country is great.
Carlsbad - be sure to carry a good Camera and a couple of STRONG flashlights and a jacket, after a while it just feels cold in the winter.
White Sands NM is worth the drive.
From here we will usually catch a few of the state parks many interesting stories.
Window Rock - Home/Capital of the Navajo Nation.
Canyon de Chelly - often missed but never forgotten - we always have had good luck with the Food and the local Jewelry, some even made on the spot.
Depending on your time frame and the weather............
Sedona hard to beat the Red Rocks.
Then up to the South Rim, as I am pretty sure the North Rim is Snowed in.
The Dam and Vegas.
Depending on the schedule - Utah or down to the warmth of Yuma.

Hope this connect the dots itinerary is some help,

BOL,

[Roy_Lynne]

I didn't mention Hoover/Boulder Dam but I do believe that it is worth seeing and while in the area, Las Vegas is worth a stop, take in some shows.

[Cloud_9]

Wow ! Lots of great stuff do see, thanks for the thoughtful feedback. We are currently on the road, but with family and Drs back in New England (VT and NH). So will end up back there eventually, but Do want to see the above mentioned sights on our bucket list, along with other ones like you guys have mentioned.

Carl

[D_E_Bishop]

Texas is not my favorite place but San Antonio's River Walk is really nice, and the Alamo is worth the time too. Further North is Canyon, 13 miles south of Amarillo, it is a neat little college town with a great Oil Field Museum. On the east side of Canyon is Palo Duro Canyon. It is not well publicized but a nice overnight stop, nice campgrounds down on the canyon floor. Not sure about the weather at that time of year but it does get very cold there. In Amarillo is Jack Siezmore's RV Land. He and his son have a great museum out back. Well worth the stop.

My next stop would be Carlsbad, I waited 60 years to see the Caverns, saw a film strip or two in grammer school and always wanted to go there. The DW had no interest but in May of '14 we stopped there going east. About 100 feet into the main room she was amazed and wants to make sure I get back in the summer to see the bats.

From there to the Canyon via I40 to Williams and then to Trailer Park if you want/need hookups, Mather for dry camping. There are some great sites there and a myriad of things to do and see. Check out the Ranger programs, go to Kolb Studio, Hermits Rest for sunset, Bright Angel lodge for ice cream, See the fireplace in the lodge with rocks that Mary Colter hand picked from each strata from the river to the rime. Do the Walk of Ages and take lots of photos.

Back down to Williams and the west and up to the Dam. Check the night before to see if they are giving tours. With the attack in Paris, security will still be very high and the dam may be closed.

I could go on but I'd need to know how long you'll be there.

Also if el nino is really bad, there may be some rain although the monsoons are over until next spring but Zion may well have a lot of trails closed due to high water in the slot canyons.

Have fun and try to come back, we'll give you an itinerary for at least three months of sight seeing.

[Lauren]

Stay at the South Rim to see the Grand Canyon. You are going to see it and not waste time on a train ride back and forth and a couple or so hours midday to see the canyon. This was you can say you have SEEN the Grand Canyon; not just been to there.

[harley-dave]

Not just green chili burgers but green chili Cheese burgers and New Mexico Apple Pie (has green chili's and pinon nuts in the apple pie). Great!

Dave