suggestions on next years

[suprz]

Just got back from a 3 week trip to south Dakota (with lots of stops along the the way) But now we are planning our next years adventure. We want to see the grand canyon, the balloon festival in New Mexico, and then head to Utah before starting back home. We will have 3 weeks off for the trip. We will bringing a motorcycle for day trips while parked. Any help with routes, must sees, etc would be appreciated

Thanks!

[LowRyter]

3 weeks for the trip and back and forth to Rhode Island? I think I'd stick to the basics as the Baloonfest and Grand Canyon will take up most of your time. Utah & Co are great and perhaps you can travel through on one of the legs.

I love all the place mentioned I am not sure it will all fit in a couple of weeks. The Ballonfest is nearly a week and trip to the South Rim is easily 4 -5 more days.

Regarding your motorcycling, is it for getting around or are you wanting to ride some of the challenging roads in the Rockies, like 550? Again, you might want to concentrate how you want to spend your time.

[TyroneandGladys]

Toss in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park,Mesa Verde National Park,and Rifle Falls State Park in Colorado. And if you have time take the bike on highway 34 through the Rocky Mountain National Park where it is known as the Trail Ridge Road where it reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet (3,713 m), making it the highest paved through highway in the United States.
The hardest part of your trip planning is deciding what you are not going to see.

[patperry2766]

Ridgway SP in Colorado. You can drive Hwy 550 down to Durango (million dollar highway) plus Moab/Canyonlands is about 3 hours away

[mabel]

In Utah I would recommend the Dead horse state park. This is near arches.

[2gypsies1]

If you look on the Balloon Fiesta site you'll see that reservations for staying on the site itself will begin the day after this year's closing. They fill up fast so plan your dates around it. The area RV parks jack their prices way up for the Fiesta and you'd have terrible traffic to get into the Fiesta. I'd highly recommend you stay at the Fiesta site. We stayed 10 nights in the boondocking area and the free shuttle came by every 15 minutes. We also volunteered to crew a balloon which was an awesome experience and gave us a free long ride.

For the Grand Canyon, stay at Trailer Village RV in the park. You'd be right at the rim.

Same goes for the Utah national parks. Move to each one and stay IN the parks themselves for the best experience and a lot less driving and time involved rather than trying to see them all for one base.

Sounds like a nice trip. Have fun planning!

[Alabama_Jim]

Cliff Dwelers Home Bandilere, NM

[Alabama_Jim]

Loretto Chapel, Sante Fe, NM

[bob_nestor]

Alabama Jim wrote:
In Utah visit Canyonland and Arches National Parks located at Moab. I loved standing on top of the arch in Canyonland. You can't stand on top of the arch in Arches. We also visited Santa Fe, NM. The beauty is wonderful. Loved visitng the old missions and going over to the Pecos Trail.

The off-road trails around Moab are fantastic, especially the trail from Moab into Canyonland along the river. You could do it on a motorcycle, although I'd recommend not trying it on a street bike.

[RoyB]

There is always just too many thing to see and do and no time to do them...

We found the best method was to home base in the center of the area and go out from there...

The areas around FLAGSTAFF AZ in all directions was what we want to see... Camping in Williams AZ was best for us to visit the Grand Canyon areas...

I love the high country between Flagstaff and Sedona including OAK CREEK canyons and RED ROCK mtns. That is a sight to see with the early sun hitting the red rocks... Then there is Prescott to the West and Payson to the East... Then you start coming down from the high country into the Phoenix Desert areas...

Love to visit the Indian ruins NE of Flagstaff and the Volanio areas as well as the Meteor Crator near Winslow. Also the Western Edge of the Painted Desert is very beautiful at dusk being viewed from the Indian Ruins when the skies all turn to the dark pink and purple hues

We never got to visit the North areas like UTAH etc... I know those bolder locations would blow me away...

Getting up in years now so probably will never get to do those places again...

Roy Ken

[Alabama_Jim]

In Utah visit Canyonland and Arches National Parks located at Moab. I loved standing on top of the arch in Canyonland. You can't stand on top of the arch in Arches. We also visited Santa Fe, NM. The beauty is wonderful. Loved visitng the old missions and going over to the Pecos Trail.

Mesa Arch Canyonland

http://i.imgur.com/iVAD9ySl.jpg'>

[imgoin4it]

If you want to see the ballon festival next year now is the time to make reservations.