So I am doing that mid-winter fantasy thing again… where I start dreaming of summer vacations that we can take with the kids. And just like last spring, I am drawn (okay, okay- obsessed) with the idea of packing my kids up in my big ole Mommy bus and going on a dream vacation”Out West”. To see the sights. Show them what makes America great, and unique, and beautiful. To get out with nature and marvel in her beauty.
And to hopefully not fight with one another for 17 hours straight in the car.
So today I am asking for you to indulge me in this little vacation fantasy and give me your advice and first-hand experiences on the following destinations. Any thoughts on where to stay- don’t miss places?
1. Grand Canyon, Arizona
I went here many years ago…. and would love to take my kids there. To stand on the canyon’s rim and stare into it’s vastness is really breathtaking. And I would love to see it with them at sunrise and sunset. And to hike a bit. So here are my questions…. North Rim or South? Camping or hotel? What fun things should we do with the kids (they aren’t all old enough to ride the mules down yet).
2. Rocky Mountains National Park
The park is one thing… but I know that the entire area and towns around the park provide for lots of great outdoor things to do. What town do you recommend?
3. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
Okay- this seems a bit outta the way to look at bunch of giant Presidents carved out of stone…. is it really worth it?
4. Yellowstone / The Grand Tetons
I have always wanted to see Yellowstone. But my question is…. if we see the Rocky Mountains and also the Grand Canyon…. is there anything unique to Yellowstone or would my kids be annoyed that we droive another 600+ miles to see what they’ve already seen?
5. Bryce/ Zion/ Glen Canyons
These areas just look so spectacular that I would love to see them. Plus they don’t seem too out-of-the-way if we tie them into a Grand Canyon trip. Anyone ever been here?
Okay- I know that my plans will have to include many many many kid-centric activities- beyond seeing these national parks, hiking, and sightseeing. We;ll need to work in some trail rides, some (gentle) white-ewater rafting, and maybe even a water park or two to make this something that they love too. But I need to plan (or at least dream about planning) a route before I can look into any of that…..
Now I know that there aren’t any California destinations on this list…. it’s just too far to fit some fo the above and all of the things that we would want to do in Cali in just one trip. So if we can make this a successful adventure- then maybe the following summer we would head all the way to the west coast and explore Yosemite / San Fran / Redwood Forests all of the other amazing sights there.
Um and here’s the thing…. there’s a good chance that this adventure would be Mom commanding the ship of 6 kids, solo. I don’t think hubby will be able to join us for the whole trip (a man’s gotta work, a family’s gotta eat, right?) So I am envisioning him flying out and joining us for a week and then flying back. I am also hoping that I can convince some other members of my family to join us for parts of the trip too!
So please, please…. share your thoughts and ideas with me!
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Twitter: chickadeejess
February 26, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Those are all the things I’m dreaming about for this summer too! I’m sorry I can’t point you in the right direction but I’ll be following the comments to see what other people have to offer. If you ever make it to the Pacific NW (I’m in Seattle) I have lots of ideas for you!
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You’ve picked some of the ‘best of the west’ places! I’ve been to all, except Mt. Rushmore, so here are my thoughts.
1. Grand Canyon. A not-to-miss site. Was there with DH many years ago and would love to take the kids (ages 8 and 10). Not sure how my irrational fear of one of the kids stepping/falling off the rim would affect the trip, but I just might be worried sick the whole time. Yes there are railings on many overlooks, but most of the park is wide open and a looong way down. I remember being worried for my husband–he always got too close to the edge for my liking and I once heard myself scream at him, “If you fall off, I’ll KILL you!”
2. Rocky Mtn Natl Park is beautiful and one of the only places you can actually drive to above tree-line. Again, went before kids, and tho I’d like to revisit for the scenery, there’s not a ton to do in the park with kids besides drive and hike that I remember. On the bright side, there’s not much to kill you there. Oh…wildfires. And wind at the summit could blow you off the mountain. There might be cougars/pumas too, but I’m not sure.
3. Never been to Mt Rushmore, but I’m sure it’s worth a stop if it’s on your way. Safe trip; odds of death are way low. Heat, probably could do you in…and maybe boredom for the kids.
4. Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. Our family did this trip last summer and… Oh. My. Word. This is a destination unto itself. We all had the most wonderful time and the kids are begging to go back. There is sooo much to see and do. Gorgeous scenery, gorgeous wild animals, amazing thermal features, mountains, overlooks, waterfalls, valleys, rock formations. Beside hiking, there’s river rafting, mountain slides in Jackson Hole, playfully cute ground squirrels in Mammoth Springs, boat rides on Lake Yellowstone, rodeo in Cody, WY… I just could go on and on. A trip you’ll definitely want to take at some point in your life!! Devote as much time as possible in Yellowstone, and don’t miss it! (For the record, I worried about getting eaten by grizzly bears. Luckily our group made enough noise to scare off any animals…and most people, too. Although there was that moment of a bison stare-down, but that’s another story.)
5. Zion/Bryce/Capital Reef Nat’l Parks: Again, went sans kids. All are gorgeous rock formations. Zion you climb up to high precipices, Bryce you climb down from rim (like Grand Canyon). Again, much fear of DH falling. Oddly, I didn’t worry much about myself but I suppose I knew I was being safe and taking precautions. Obviously I have a hyper-active imagination, major worry-wart side, and a sick sense of humor.
Hope this helps!
Twitter: sharonmomof6
March 4, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Kris- I am so grateful for your advice. I just totally re-worked the trip to fit in Yellowstone / Grand Teton based on your recommendation. And yes, I worry about my kids falling off the rim at the Grand Canyon too! And meeting a bear, or a rattlesnake!
To answer your question about Yellowstone, it has features you will see nowhere else. It had the perfect balance of beauty to satisfy me and just fascinating, magical stuff for the kids. It’s also so much fun for them to be on the lookout for wildlife. It was our best trip ever, and we’ve been to Disneyland three times. You do not want to miss it.
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