I would very much appreciate any input you might have on our trip planning.
Our family will have a week or so vacation at the end of June, and we are trying to see if we should go just for the standard drive to the Northern Michigan (cheaper, but nothing unusual), or maybe we can figure out a good week-long trip to the western US.
What we are looking for is a trip that would....:
1. Satisfy the photographer in the family
2. Satisfy two kids (10 and 5 years old), who are not great hikers if there is nothing to do, but will gladly trot along if there is stuff to look at/climb on (rocks, bones, cliffs, streams, sticks, caves, lakes, bridges, lizards etc...)
3. Satisfy my husband who likes to hike, see nature and just needs to get away from the city for some time...
4. Will allow us to either stay in one place and do day trips, or have a relatively low-impact road trip staying in different places but not driving excessively in-between.
I guess we would fly out and rent a car for the trip.
Any input would be helpful, as we are kind of stuck in our idea-gathering and this means very much that without good input, we will just "stall" and do the usual drive "up North" to the Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Which is not bad, but we've been there before.
Come to the Oregon coast! I agree with Jane! So much beauty to see and enjoy for the whole family, and it’s just a few hour drive to the Redwoods in California.
The southwest four corners area is fantastic (where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona come together. Utah has 5 national parks within driving distance. Oregon coast, like others have said, amazing. Really, you can't go wrong with so many choices!
Portland and Seattle areas are awesome because you get city and mountains right next to each other. If you don't mind going to Canada, Vancouver has everything.
We live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, so I can tell you about the American Southwest. In general, it is quite hot in the summer for hiking, so a more mountainous setting would be a bit cooler. Things are spread out over quite a distance, so it's hard to avoid driving. Some of the most impressive places have big crowds of people. Some of the things most attractive to children cost money. That said, the small town of Durango, Colorado, would meet a lot of your criteria. The nearest airport is in Albuquerque four hours away. Once there, there are the following activities: 1. The Durango-Silverton old steam railroad 2. White water rafting 3. Mesa Verde National Park (cliff dwellings) 4. touring an old gold mine 5. horse-back riding 6. quaint old downtown shopping 7. riding the lift cars at Purgatory Ski resort 8. a zip line 9. glass blowers 10. visit to a honey bee shop and seeing the hive 11. an antique car museum
Another small town that would work is the small town of Moab, Utah. It is a 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City. It has: 1. Canyonlands National Park (2 areas--Island in the Sky and Needles) 2. Arches National Park 3. A riverwalk 4. water activities along the Colorado River 5. An expensive dinosaur museum 6. A quaint old downtown shopping district 7. A zip line
I suggest placing Durango, Colorado, and then Moab, Utah, into Google and then going to images to see if the photographic images that appear appeal to you. It would be possible to visit both towns by using two different airports.
I also love Oregon and the coast but so do millions of other people. We have found it to be very crowded which makes it hard to be spontaneous with your daily plans. We traveled in our RV for 3 years and 5 summers mostly in the west. One of my favorite places is South Dakota which is not terribly far for you. If you stay in Rapid City you can visit Mt. Rushmore, Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park and my favorite, the Badlands. There is a lot to explore, photograph, hike and visit. Rapid City is a nice town with historical statues on each corner. You can visit Wind Caves and see many, many bison. And while there, don't miss a visit to Wall Drug Store. It is an amazing attraction on Hwy 90 east of Rapid City. If you are used to a city, these open spaces will renew your spirit!
Have you been to the Black Hills of South Dakota? Straight shot down I90 to Rapid City and then just a jog to the south. To me it is every bit as beautiful as RMNP and Estes, though on a smaller scale and much less crowded. And the smell? Heavenly! Of course, I love the smell of pine trees (chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry you know), and with the mix of open grass plains, aspen filled vales, and the predominant pine trees the Black Hills have a wonderfully unique and peaceful smell.
You'd have Mt Rushmore, with a lovely, easy trail at the foot of the monument. Then there's Crazy Horse. I love, love, love Sylvan Lake ... beautiful easy climb/hike rock formations, fantastic lake reflections for photography. Custer State Park has bison, prairie dogs, marmots, mountain goats, deer, and cute little ground squirrels, plus lots of birds (our Rocky Mountain Blue Birds nest up there). There is Wind Cave if you'd like to explore underground. The park has several lodges with cabins where you can stay, and most have small lakes, often with seated paddle boats to take out. Hot Springs sits at the south end of the Hills, with it's huge Hot Springs Swimming place, as well as the Mammoth Dig where the kids can actually do a dig themselves if they'd like. Then there's Keystone in the middle of the hills ... your typical western tourist trap town, with pulled taffy, board walks and all that stuff.
You'd have your choice of street (Keystone or Mt Rushmore), wildlife (everywhere), nature (everywhere) and landscape photography with beautiful sunrises and sunsets and frequently some fantastic cloud formations.
From north (Rapid City) to south (Hot Springs) the sites of the Hills are an easy day drive, and would be a great week for easy adventures.
My parents took us to the Hills every year, and, as is the case of places in your backyard, I took it all for granted and never took my kids. A few years ago my son flew in to Rapid City and asked to drive home through the Hills. My son and daughter, now grown, were blown away by how beautiful it was and how much there was to see and do. Now I get regular complaints about how they missed out as kids. I keep meaning to make a day trip up (I live in the Northern Nebraska Panhandle), and I keep procrastinating. Highly recommend keeping it on your short list if you are looking for somewhere somewhat less crowded and not too far!!!!
Ah. ... I you do decide on the Black Hills, I would try and stay at one of the lodges there in the hills, and be sure to take the scenic drive (highway 16). It is curvy, narrow, and slow, with tunnels that isolate and frame Mt Rushmore, and totally worth the wander down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MEx1zS1bcA
That time my son talked me into driving home through the Hills happened to be the first week or so in August when the big Motorcycle Rally is at Sturgis. Here is was, slowly driving along taking in the beauty and being careful of all the curves, with clusters of motorcycles trailing behind frustrated that I was slowing down their fun.
Anyway .. it would be a great place to spend a week. You could stay in the hills at a lodge and then your daily adventures would be just a hop, skip and a jump down the road.
Hope you all have a great time, wherever you go. We are in agriculture, and it just occurred to me this week that we have never had a family vacation. Too late now, as mine are grown and gone. Thank goodness for college! I actually had to leave home and see places!
@aecasey@joysabin@stownsend@janeandcharlie@darylo@taffy@hrb73@northy@jgpittenger
Oh my goodness, every time you think 365 reached the peak of how good it can be, it gives you something else that tops that! THANK YOU all so much for your wonderful ideas and generous advice, I have to plan some time tonight to show all your comments to my husband - so many great ideas! I am getting a feeling that from this discussion, I will have a "bucket list" that will serve me for years to come :)
@aecasey Thank you for filling in my gaps on South Dakota. I never realized what it had to offer until we visited and now it is just about my favorite. There are other lovely places but some of them are just too crowded. I would go back in a heartbeat!
@vera365 As much as I love the southwest (it is where I live), please keep in mind that it is much too warm for a summer visit unless you are at high altitudes. Fall and spring are better here.
@stownsend I was so surprised to see your post. I was writing mine just as you posted yours. Happy to see others who have enjoyed the beauty of the Black Hills.
Just wanted to thank thank you again for all your input and give an update - SOUTH DAKOTA it is! We are driving all the way with two kids in tow - a long way on I-90, but I think we should be fine.
So far in plans - staying one night in Deadwood, two nights in Rapid City and three nights in a cabin in Keystone.
Thanks for all your help, information and inspiration!
I am so excited for you! Our country is just so full of beautiful places but SD seems to fit your criteria very well. Now I can't wait to see your pictures!
@lisahans Absolutely!!!! But it’s basically in our backyard and is always easily accessible - even for a long weekend (we are in the SE Michigan). So we were looking for a “BIG” adventure. Just came back from South Dakota/Wyoming - still have to process and post pictures!!!!!!!!
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Another small town that would work is the small town of Moab, Utah. It is a 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City. It has: 1. Canyonlands National Park (2 areas--Island in the Sky and Needles) 2. Arches National Park 3. A riverwalk 4. water activities along the Colorado River 5. An expensive dinosaur museum 6. A quaint old downtown shopping district 7. A zip line
I suggest placing Durango, Colorado, and then Moab, Utah, into Google and then going to images to see if the photographic images that appear appeal to you. It would be possible to visit both towns by using two different airports.
You'd have Mt Rushmore, with a lovely, easy trail at the foot of the monument. Then there's Crazy Horse. I love, love, love Sylvan Lake ... beautiful easy climb/hike rock formations, fantastic lake reflections for photography. Custer State Park has bison, prairie dogs, marmots, mountain goats, deer, and cute little ground squirrels, plus lots of birds (our Rocky Mountain Blue Birds nest up there). There is Wind Cave if you'd like to explore underground. The park has several lodges with cabins where you can stay, and most have small lakes, often with seated paddle boats to take out. Hot Springs sits at the south end of the Hills, with it's huge Hot Springs Swimming place, as well as the Mammoth Dig where the kids can actually do a dig themselves if they'd like. Then there's Keystone in the middle of the hills ... your typical western tourist trap town, with pulled taffy, board walks and all that stuff.
You'd have your choice of street (Keystone or Mt Rushmore), wildlife (everywhere), nature (everywhere) and landscape photography with beautiful sunrises and sunsets and frequently some fantastic cloud formations.
From north (Rapid City) to south (Hot Springs) the sites of the Hills are an easy day drive, and would be a great week for easy adventures.
My parents took us to the Hills every year, and, as is the case of places in your backyard, I took it all for granted and never took my kids. A few years ago my son flew in to Rapid City and asked to drive home through the Hills. My son and daughter, now grown, were blown away by how beautiful it was and how much there was to see and do. Now I get regular complaints about how they missed out as kids. I keep meaning to make a day trip up (I live in the Northern Nebraska Panhandle), and I keep procrastinating. Highly recommend keeping it on your short list if you are looking for somewhere somewhat less crowded and not too far!!!!
That time my son talked me into driving home through the Hills happened to be the first week or so in August when the big Motorcycle Rally is at Sturgis. Here is was, slowly driving along taking in the beauty and being careful of all the curves, with clusters of motorcycles trailing behind frustrated that I was slowing down their fun.
Anyway .. it would be a great place to spend a week. You could stay in the hills at a lodge and then your daily adventures would be just a hop, skip and a jump down the road.
Hope you all have a great time, wherever you go. We are in agriculture, and it just occurred to me this week that we have never had a family vacation. Too late now, as mine are grown and gone. Thank goodness for college! I actually had to leave home and see places!
Oh my goodness, every time you think 365 reached the peak of how good it can be, it gives you something else that tops that! THANK YOU all so much for your wonderful ideas and generous advice, I have to plan some time tonight to show all your comments to my husband - so many great ideas! I am getting a feeling that from this discussion, I will have a "bucket list" that will serve me for years to come :)
Just wanted to thank thank you again for all your input and give an update - SOUTH DAKOTA it is! We are driving all the way with two kids in tow - a long way on I-90, but I think we should be fine.
So far in plans - staying one night in Deadwood, two nights in Rapid City and three nights in a cabin in Keystone.
Thanks for all your help, information and inspiration!
V.
@vera365