Help Us Plan a Trip - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Shannon · 06-03-2005, 12:11 PM

Justin and I are planning a week-long trip in the September or October timeframe this year. We'd like to go out of state this time, since our last couple years' major trips have been in Texas or closeby (Texas -- Big Bend NP, Del Rio - Amistad NRA; Arkansas -- Petit Jean SP, Queen Wilhelmina SP, etc.)

Sadly, we haven't been to very many of the U.S. National Parks together, despite our best efforts to the contrary. The only park's we have really explored, as opposed to manic drive-throughs en route to somewhere else, are Rocky Mountain NP in Colorado, Big Bend NP here in Texas, and Great Smokey Mountains NP in Tennessee. We did a quick day trip through Zion NP in Utah some years' back while visiting family in Las Vegas, NV, but the Zion trip was so brief it hardly counts as a visit. Add in a couple National Forests in Arkansas, and that's the extent of my out-of-state explorations. Justin's been to more National Parks, but only as a child, so we're both in desperate need of connecting with areas we've not yet explored.

A week isn't a long time, so we're not anticipating really experiencing everything there is to see and do in a place. But we want to at least get a taste... We'll probably go the hotel/motel route, though camping or renting a trailer again (like we did for Big Bend) are also options.

Ideas? Where would you go in the U.S. if you had a week to spare and wanting to hike, view wildlife, relax, take photographs, learn (natural history, etc.) and come back feeling like you've had a productive trip?

Top states on our list right now, which then need to be collected into top destinations in those states -- (in no particular order):
Wyoming
Utah
Florida
Colorado (*We've been here many times and love the state, but probably will omit it from contention since we 'know' it better; we want a trip to someplace completely new to us.)
California (*I was born there but haven't been back in 25+ years. All I remember is the beach.)
Tennessee (*Been once, years ago, mostly in tourist-trap areas)
North Carolina (*Been once, years ago; hiked Chimney Rock Park)

Really, any state we haven't been to 'regularly' and as a couple is in contention, which leaves most of the U.S.A. available.

ploddinTod · 06-03-2005, 03:52 PM

Here's what I'd do:
1) Forget Florida----they'll still be recovering from the hurricanes that hit them this year or possibly be still threatened by them.

2) Fly to Reno and rent a car, drive to Lake Tahoe, take in the beauty. You can do the touristy stuff or hike in the Desolation Wilderness (west side of lake).

3) From Tahoe drive to Yosemite Natl Park which isn't too far away. Yosemite valley won't be as crowded after Labor Day. The amount of scenery that can be seen from the valley is astounding....Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, Half Dome, Three Sisters and on and on.....
Take a hike on the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Falls, have a picnic lunch at the crest of the falls and then return to the valley via the John Muir Trail.
I haven't mentioned photo ops because they're everywhere.

If you haven't experienced the Sierra Nevada yet, these are the places to start. Muir was so correct when he named them the Range of Light.

calsmom · 06-03-2005, 11:10 PM

Last summer we went to Arches National Park....beautiful!! You could explore it for days and never see it all or get tired of it!! Southern Utah is just wonderful! We went in the middle of the summer and saw very few people--not nearly as crowded as the grand canyon!
I would suggest going to arches...the wildlife, history and scenery just can't be beat! The hiking is anywhere from easy to extremely hard and the rangers are great!! Did I mention I loved this park??
Utah is like another world in itself! so different from Colorado....its just beautiful!!

06-04-2005, 12:03 PM

Try Robbers Cave State Park in Oklahoma. Its a beautiful place with lots to do. I know its not a national park but it is the best state park I've ever been to.

Shannon · 06-16-2005, 11:52 AM

-<[{ bump }]>-

Any further suggestions? Justin and I have a stack of state travel bureau brochures and information, but we have yet to pour through them and identify our top 3 or so options.

Can you tell it's been too long since we planned a big trip?

01ACRViper · 06-16-2005, 02:07 PM

the Grand Tetons are always beautiful, great picture ops, nice trails, and you can even get away from the crowds

plus the aspens that time of year would be gorgeous.

ploddinTod · 06-16-2005, 11:52 PM

Don't forget all of the Utah Natl Parks in close proximity to one another---Zion, Canyonlands, Brice, Arches, etc. And the Grand Canyon is not far from these.

SKOT FREE · 06-18-2005, 01:53 PM

You may want to consider The Gila National Forest. Lots of Trails, Water, Trees, And My favorite, HOT SPRINGS THAT DON'T REEK. There is a groovy B&B ( The Wilderness Lodge) just up the road from The Gila Cliff Dwellings. The Owners Dean and Jane are outdoors enthusiasts. They are involved in the Gila Bike Race as well as being experienced canyoneers. There is also a campground next to the river. It is very inexpensive and they run it on the honor system. I HEAR THAT PATAGONIA IS REAL NICE TOO. ITS ON MY LIST.

ploddinTod · 06-24-2005, 10:40 AM

Have you decided if you're going to drive or fly? If you're going west, driving would eat up a good portion of your week.

Shannon · 06-24-2005, 11:08 AM

Fly (commercial; not economical to rent an aircraft and have Justin fly us there for that long.) That's why we're planning further in advance more than usual.

Haven't really sat down with each other yet to go over our druthers. Justin just got his leave from work approved for a week in October (3rd - 11th), so at least we have a timeframe nailed down.

ploddinTod · 08-20-2005, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannon

Haven't really sat down with each other yet to go over our druthers. Justin just got his leave from work approved for a week in October (3rd - 11th), so at least we have a timeframe nailed down.

What parks are on your short list? We are curious.

Shannon · 08-20-2005, 05:41 PM

We actually switched gears and are making this trip a history and education excursion, rather than our usual outdoors and recreation one. We're going to Washington, D.C. and will be there a little over a week, with plans to see as much as we can... Our focus will be on the museums, monuments and other unique-to-D.C. things, but we will try to squeeze in time at some parks in the D.C. or Reston, VA area. With so much to do in D.C., however, neither of us will be disappointed if we come back with 'just' loads of photos of and exposure to our nation's history. I've been to D.C. but on a whirlwind 24 hour visit where I arrived around midnight and left before sunrise (in '99, due to work), while Justin's seen it in a whirlwind fashion during off-hours of a week-long business trip. Both of us want to see and experience more.

Shannon · 09-29-2005, 01:02 PM

Okay, gang, you are on your own for the next week or so. I will drop in periodically, but if you have any issues with the website or such, by and large it will have to wait until I'm back in the "Alamo City" (San Antonio).

That said, I do have a couple folks locally who can still check in on the website as needed and report any critical issues to me if they arise. Hell, if you just want to hear my voice(mail) and report an issue, feel free to leave a voicemail message -- two one oh, fore won six three too five ate --
(spambots even harvest telephone numbers, so that's obfuscated a bit so I don't get added to yet another telemarketer's list!) I won't be answering, so don't expect to chit-chat; if I answer, then this won't be a vacation, because I'll have to handle other business via the phone, as well! ;-)

Be good, have fun, enjoy the cooler weather and report back on all your outings, trips, etc. as I will when I return!

Shannon · 10-12-2005, 03:01 AM

I wanted to at least document our Washington, D.C. trip's destinations, in case anyone else was interested:

Things We Visited During our Washington, D.C. Trip:

Saturday, October 1st:
The National Mall, which includes the following iconic sights:
Washington Monument
National World War II Memorial (Opened April 29, 2004)
Lincoln Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial ("The Wall")
The White House (exterior only, viewed from Pennsylvania Avenue)

Sunday, October 2nd:
Shenandoah National Park & the Appalachian Trail (obligatory 1/4 mile hike on the Trail)

Monday, October 3rd:
Manassas National Battlefield Park ("Bull Run")
Smithsonian (National) Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center (opened December 15, 2003)

Tuesday, October 4th:
Arlington National Cemetary (including experiencing heightened security due to a visit from the foreign ambassador of Malta
Tomb of the Unknowns
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (opened April 26, 1993)
Jefferson Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Wednesday, October 5th:
U.S. Capitol (Exterior only)
Smithsonian (National) Air & Space Museum (including the formal dedication of SpaceShipOne by Burt Rutan)
National Museum of the American Indian

Thursday, October 6th:
Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Friday, October 7th:
Great Falls National Park (on the Potomac River
Return trip to Smithsonian (National) Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center

Saturday, October 8th (A very rainy final day in D.C.):
Smithsonian Natural History Museum
Return visit to National Museum of the American Indian

Sunday, October 9th:
Serenity, viewed at a 6-screen theatre near our hotel, in Reston, Virginia.
Return home to San Antonio, Texas, arriving around 10:30 PM CST.