Suggestions for a trip to US

[CDP]

I had a trip planned that I've had to cancel.

Unfortunately BA won't refund the ticket (or the approx 60% tax!) but for £100 I can change the airports and dates.

I loved Yosemite (I could easily go again) last spring so I'm thinking of Yellowstone in September, possibly for a week of hiking and a couple of cities either side.

Any good suggestions? I'll almost certainly be travelling on my own so would prefer not to be too isolated. (Curry camp at Yosemite was great for meeting people).

[davepoth]

If you like hiking, try New England in the fall along the northern bit of the Appalachian Trail.

[Nickyboy]

Or the Blue Ridge Parkway

[Matt..]

How long do you have there, and what are the dates?

Yellowstone is an amazing place, and I would say its my favourite park (I've been to 10, so a good number!). However, it's not exactly close to any big cities, which means you will have to spend extra time getting there.

Southern Utah would be a good option. Zion (good for short hikes and other adventure things), Bryce, arches, canyonlands, antelope canyon, etc... It's close to denver/Vegas/slc to.

[CDP]

Matt.. said:

How long do you have there, and what are the dates?

Yellowstone is an amazing place, and I would say its my favourite park (I've been to 10, so a good number!). However, it's not exactly close to any big cities, which means you will have to spend extra time getting there.

Southern Utah would be a good option. Zion (good for short hikes and other adventure things), Bryce, arches, canyonlands, antelope canyon, etc... It's close to denver/Vegas/slc to.

I haven't picked my time or dates. Probably the first couple of weeks in September so could spend a couple of days driving either side

[Geoff Stilwell]

Hi...Right what you need to do is look at a map or research so area's that you would like to see. Remember, some of the sites can be 200 to 700 miles apart. September is a good time to go. But it depends where your flying to. Here is a suggestion on the basis your going to LAX. Fly to LAX. Stay the first night in LA. Then...take the I5 down to Oceanside and then across to "Indigo" near Palm Springs...Drive out to the Grand Canyon via the Hoover Dam and stay in one one of the Motels in the Canyon. Then up to Yellowstone via the Teton Mountains across to Sacremento then San Francisco. Or if you want to see the mid west..fly into Denver, Drive up through Estes Park, then on to Jackson Hole..Tehen down to Cheyanne, Custer, Deadwood City..Battle of the Little Big Horn..Devils Mountain (as in Close Encounters). Both great drives. Another tip is join "The Best Western Club"..you can call them here in London and they will send you a complete directory of all Best Western Motels in the US. Use your club membership and the book to help you plan. Remember, out the desert regions it will still be very hot in September especially in the Canyon...it can hit well over 100. But most of all, you need to really research where you fancy going and then plan a route.

[Matt..]

Geoff Stilwell said:

Hi...Right what you need to do is look at a map or research so area's that you would like to see. Remember, some of the sites can be 200 to 700 miles apart. September is a good time to go. But it depends where your flying to. Here is a suggestion on the basis your going to LAX. Fly to LAX. Stay the first night in LA. Then...take the I5 down to Oceanside and then across to "Indigo" near Palm Springs...Drive out to the Grand Canyon via the Hoover Dam and stay in one one of the Motels in the Canyon. Then up to Yellowstone via the Teton Mountains across to Sacremento then San Francisco. Or if you want to see the mid west..fly into Denver, Drive up through Estes Park, then on to Jackson Hole..Tehen down to Cheyanne, Custer, Deadwood City..Battle of the Little Big Horn..Devils Mountain (as in Close Encounters). Both great drives. Another tip is join "The Best Western Club"..you can call them here in London and they will send you a complete directory of all Best Western Motels in the US. Use your club membership and the book to help you plan. Remember, out the desert regions it will still be very hot in September especially in the Canyon...it can hit well over 100. But most of all, you need to really research where you fancy going and then plan a route.

That is a LOT of driving for someone that appears to only have a couple of weeks.

Grand Canyon to Yellowstone if nearly 900 miles, and 15hrs+!

There are so many options as to where to go in the US. It would help if you gave some indication as to what your preferences would be, or whether anything suggested so far is interesting to you.

[CDP]

Matt.. said:

Geoff Stilwell said:

Hi...Right what you need to do is look at a map or research so area's that you would like to see. Remember, some of the sites can be 200 to 700 miles apart. September is a good time to go. But it depends where your flying to. Here is a suggestion on the basis your going to LAX. Fly to LAX. Stay the first night in LA. Then...take the I5 down to Oceanside and then across to "Indigo" near Palm Springs...Drive out to the Grand Canyon via the Hoover Dam and stay in one one of the Motels in the Canyon. Then up to Yellowstone via the Teton Mountains across to Sacremento then San Francisco. Or if you want to see the mid west..fly into Denver, Drive up through Estes Park, then on to Jackson Hole..Tehen down to Cheyanne, Custer, Deadwood City..Battle of the Little Big Horn..Devils Mountain (as in Close Encounters). Both great drives. Another tip is join "The Best Western Club"..you can call them here in London and they will send you a complete directory of all Best Western Motels in the US. Use your club membership and the book to help you plan. Remember, out the desert regions it will still be very hot in September especially in the Canyon...it can hit well over 100. But most of all, you need to really research where you fancy going and then plan a route.

That is a LOT of driving for someone that appears to only have a couple of weeks.

Grand Canyon to Yellowstone if nearly 900 miles, and 15hrs+!

There are so many options as to where to go in the US. It would help if you gave some indication as to what your preferences would be, or whether anything suggested so far is interesting to you.

Best Western Club sounds like good advice.

I really want to see wildlife, hot springs and go hiking but travelling on my own don't want to get too far off the beaten trail. A day or two in cities either side would just offset it nicely.

[Geoff Stilwell]

I did the canyon and yellowstone in 2 weeks. Easy. Remember driving long distance out there is easier than here. You can easy cover the ground. But it's what i said previously. Really study the maps. Make a short list of where you fancy going and then build your trip around that. Of course you don't have to do the miles...i lived out there and i do spend alot of time there now. As to the wildlife go up through the Grand Tetons and around Oxbow or Estes Park. Stunning. For rental cars i use www.usrentacar.com they are based here in the UK and are really. All we can do is give you ideas at the end of the day check the map and rough out your route.

[Matt..]

Yellowstone and Grand Teton are perfect for wildlife, and September is a good time. It's big enough that you can easily escape the crowds, but the popular sites get busy enough that you won't always feel alone. I went there on my own and really enjoyed it. I went for photography and would love to go back!

But yes, get on google maps and start investigating . 1,500 miles a week is easy in the US, so don't be afraid of driving, but you'd be wise to be sensible on how far you go in a day.

Glacier National Park is one I really want to do at some point.

I would also advise to stay in the parks as much as you can. Eg in Yellowstone you can stay in Mammoth Hot Springs and somewhere in the south near Old Faithful. It's fun to stay in cabins to .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthoulb/collections...
Those are my photos from my parks trip in 2011, maybe it will give you some ideas.

[Fidgits]

Matt.. said:

Geoff Stilwell said:

Hi...Right what you need to do is look at a map or research so area's that you would like to see. Remember, some of the sites can be 200 to 700 miles apart. September is a good time to go. But it depends where your flying to. Here is a suggestion on the basis your going to LAX. Fly to LAX. Stay the first night in LA. Then...take the I5 down to Oceanside and then across to "Indigo" near Palm Springs...Drive out to the Grand Canyon via the Hoover Dam and stay in one one of the Motels in the Canyon. Then up to Yellowstone via the Teton Mountains across to Sacremento then San Francisco. Or if you want to see the mid west..fly into Denver, Drive up through Estes Park, then on to Jackson Hole..Tehen down to Cheyanne, Custer, Deadwood City..Battle of the Little Big Horn..Devils Mountain (as in Close Encounters). Both great drives. Another tip is join "The Best Western Club"..you can call them here in London and they will send you a complete directory of all Best Western Motels in the US. Use your club membership and the book to help you plan. Remember, out the desert regions it will still be very hot in September especially in the Canyon...it can hit well over 100. But most of all, you need to really research where you fancy going and then plan a route.

That is a LOT of driving for someone that appears to only have a couple of weeks.

Grand Canyon to Yellowstone if nearly 900 miles, and 15hrs+!

There are so many options as to where to go in the US. It would help if you gave some indication as to what your preferences would be, or whether anything suggested so far is interesting to you.

Bah! I did a 2 week holiday, flew into phoenix, up to grand canyon, monument valley, Moab, 6 days in Yellowstone, then down to kolob canyon, death valley, Vegas, then back to phoenix...

Wasn't too much driving, though interesting going from 36 degrees, to snow in Yellowstone, to 42 degrees in death valley...

Amazing trip though, and well worth doing

[jmorgan]

I found a week in Yellowstone was not enough for me but superb.
But, wait till after labour day. The hotels in the park are all government run but OK and looks like a good range from cheap cabins to hotel rooms. Car is a must. Geothermal I would stay around Old Faithful, wildlife watching on the East side. We had a cabin at Lake (East side) and hotel at Old Faithful snow lodge (few nights in either 4+3). Eating is not a real problem, there are store to buy for picknic or eateries to scoff in. As you go into September and October stuff starts to close down. We finished off in Near Jackson in the Tetons and saw moose, bear dear(antelope?) and some serious fires! The road do not look that long in distance but 20 mins can take two hours especially with bison jams.

Getting there is a bit of a pain, check out what airports service the area and what carriers go in.

Excellent holiday though.

Edit. Don't go hiking on your own and get bear spray if you do go.

Edited by jmorgan on Monday 21st January 22:11