how long to plan for these....

[hsmamato2]

destinations? plan on flying into Phoenix- driving to Grand canyon.....stay on South rim somewhere- how many nites at G.C. to get a good feel for views,etc?
then,drive to Hoover dam- I assume this takes an hour or so to view,then stop in Las vegas for the night-
Sound ok?
then plan to drive to Yosemite,arrive by evening- stay 2 nights?
drive to Sequoia park-stay overnight-?
then drive to Disneyland area- we're staying for 7 nights in Anahiem,so I x-posted about this part too,but what else is drivable to see from here? we want to see Universal....but still looking.....thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

For GC if you don't plan to hike into the Canyond a single day is plenty. But it's really crowded in summer. So if just for views you can spend the night see it in the AM and get to Vegas at night.

For Hoover dam which is along the way, a long hour can work. I'd suggest taking a tour, this will take about 2 hours or upto 3 total at the dam.

If you haven't been I'd spend two night in Vegas.

In Yosemite and Sequoia it's the same deal. A day in each can work but if you hike you would like more time there.

If you go to Universal the park, consider staying near by it on your first night in LA and drive to Anaheim at night. It will save you some to a lot of driving time in LA.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I would recommend 2 nights at the GC, (1 afternoon, 1 whole day) it is crowded and you want to be able to see the entire rim.

If you're going to Sequoia just to see the trees, you can see Sequoias at Yosemite and sepnd more time in that magestic park. Even if you don't hike, you need 2 days just to see all there is to see. I would recommend an extra day in Yosemite and skip Sequoia.

 

[hsmamato2]

....so...we like to hike,but not usually harsh hikes....gentle hiking walking is what we do....
Are there any hikes in GC that are good for folks like us? We REALLY love being outdoors and soaking up the sights...and exploring. But we won't have gear for major climbing or hiking,just regular travel clothes,etc.
now also considering a side trip to Canyon De Chelly,how does that compare(For native artifacts interest,cliff dwellings etc)
ANd Yosemite,I know nothing,except we want to see this. How long can this hold us? Are there scenic hikes or picnic places,things to just relax and do there?
2 nites in LV, what is there to do for non gambling parents and minor kids? We'd like to see stuff there,but will we need more than one nite?
Sequoia not worth it? I really wanted my kids to at least see this place,if not stay overnight.....
LOVE the advice so far- more is appreciated!

 

[hsmamato2]

oh, our place in Anaheim is set in stone, aren't there buses/trains to get around the city areas? maybe shuttles for hire? I'd prefer to use those,not drive,from what I've heard of traffic....

 

[disneyfaninaz]

....so...we like to hike,but not usually harsh hikes....gentle hiking walking is what we do....
Are there any hikes in GC that are good for folks like us? We REALLY love being outdoors and soaking up the sights...and exploring. But we won't have gear for major climbing or hiking,just regular travel clothes,etc.
now also considering a side trip to Canyon De Chelly,how does that compare(For native artifacts interest,cliff dwellings etc)
ANd Yosemite,I know nothing,except we want to see this. How long can this hold us? Are there scenic hikes or picnic places,things to just relax and do there?
2 nites in LV, what is there to do for non gambling parents and minor kids? We'd like to see stuff there,but will we need more than one nite?
Sequoia not worth it? I really wanted my kids to at least see this place,if not stay overnight.....
LOVE the advice so far- more is appreciated!

If you go to the Grand Canyon website, it will list trails that you can take. As far as easy hikes, there is a rim trail that extends from the Bright Angel Hotel all the way to Watch Tower. It is a flat trail with awesome views of the canyon. There is also a tram that will take you to Hermit's Point with a few stops along the way. No need to do any major hiking into the canyon to see it's splendor. Also, make sure you stop at the Visitor's Center and get Junior Ranger badge info for your kids. The best place to stay is on the rim, but you need to make reservations about a year in advance, otherwise, you are staying just outside the park.

As I said before, if you just wanted to see the Sequoia trees, you can do that at Yosemite. If you're set on seeing Sequoia Park, then by all means, try to spend a night.

Take some time to check out the Yosemite website. Also, my trip report below will show you some of the park. There are tours available and plenty of places just to sit, picnic and see it's splendor. There is a shuttle service available on the Valley Floor to help you explore the park. Really, you need at least 2 full days to really enjoy the park. There are some nice easy trail hikes to waterfalls as well.

Canyon de Chelly is really out of your way. It is about a 5 hour drive directly east from the Grand Canyon. Are you flying into Phoenix? If so, you can stop at Montezuma's Castle or Tuzzigoot on your way north to the Canyon. They are easy stops just off I-17 if you want to see some native ruins. Also Wupatki National Monument, just outside Flagstaff, is also an interesting ruin.

With small kids, I'd only stay one night in Vegas and use the other night at either Sequoia or Yosemite.

Also, while you're at the National parks, make sure you get a National Park Passport book, if you don't already have one. It is a lot of fun collecting stamps and cancellations from all of the parks you visit. Your're kids will enjoy it.

 

[GrandBob]

In the GC, I recommend taking the Bright Angel Trail. It leaves from one of the main lookout points on the South Rim, and you can take it as far as you'd like. You can go 4-5 miles out onto a plateau that looks out over the inner canyon. Whatever you do, take plenty of water, even if it seems cool out to you.

I agree with the advice to skip Sequoia and see the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias at the south entrance to Yosemite. It's a better display, and you can hike or take a tram part way. From there, you can then drive to Yosemite Valley, and you'll have an extra day to spend.

Hiking in Yosemite -- there are so many choices. A typical, but still very good hike, is to hike the Mist Trail past Vernal Falls. It's a very gentle hike as far as Vernal Falls. If you're ambitious, you can hike all the way to the top of Nevada Falls. Heck, if you're really ambitious, you can keep going past Little Yosemite Valley, all the way to the top of Half Dome. People do Half Dome and back in a day, but I don't recommend it. It's a long hike. I've done it overnight, by backpacking into Little Yosemite Valley. Beautiful hike.

Another Yosemite hike. Take a bus or car to the top of Glacier Point (a definite must do, anyway - the views are breathtaking). And then hike back down the 4-mile trail to the valley. If you've taken a car, someone will have to skip the hike to drive the car back. If you take the bus, everyone can hike.

One more thing. I'd guess that 90% of the people who visit Yosemite see only the valley, and perhaps the Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point, and believe they've seen Yosemite. There is so much more in the high country and back country. You could spend weeks. But if you have time, I'd take a day drive up to the high country at Tuolumne Meadows. On the way, be sure to stop at Olmsted Point. It has breathtaking views down Tenaya Canyon, past Cloud's Rest and Half Dome, all the way down to Yosemite Valley. It's funny; takes an hour to drive there, but you'll swear that you're a short walk from Yosemite Valley (you're not, of course; takes a couple of days to hike it with backpacking gear).

HTH,
Bob

 

[hsmamato2]

WOW. thanks for the detailed info!
so native ruins....I can see some closer to Phoneix/GC than canyon de Chelly? Anything cliff dwelling style like that?
I am going to go research all the notes you-all have posted,it'll take me a while!
maybe a dumb question,is there any type of geyser formations near Yosemite? I would love to see yellowstone,but that isn't in the cards this time for us....just too far (the west is BIG!)
I would really love for the kids to see that type of thing if possible, oh,BTW, I probably misled, the kids aren't too young, tween/teen age but I know DH and I like to relax and hike, not hike and die of blisters.....
petrified forest looked interesting,till I read reviews on the place....anything similiar worth looking into?
thanks again for all your knowledge!

 

[skiingfast]

maybe a dumb question,is there any type of geyser formations near Yosemite? I would love to see yellowstone,but that isn't in the cards this time for us....just too far (the west is BIG!)
I would really love for the kids to see that type of thing if possible, oh,BTW, I probably misled, the kids aren't too young, tween/teen age but I know DH and I like to relax and hike, not hike and die of blisters.....
petrified forest looked interesting,till I read reviews on the place....anything similiar worth looking into?
thanks again for all your knowledge!

There is nothing like Yellowstone, it drawfs any other thermal area in the world. It you would like to see something interesting but not a geyser you can go by Mono Lake. There are tufta formation along the edge in the Mono Lake Tufta State Reserve.

 

[hsmamato2]

that's what I figured.... the geysers are calling me....but I don't we can manage that much driving......

 

[disneyfaninaz]

WOW. thanks for the detailed info!
so native ruins....I can see some closer to Phoneix/GC than canyon de Chelly? Anything cliff dwelling style like that?
I am going to go research all the notes you-all have posted,it'll take me a while!
maybe a dumb question,is there any type of geyser formations near Yosemite? I would love to see yellowstone,but that isn't in the cards this time for us....just too far (the west is BIG!)
I would really love for the kids to see that type of thing if possible, oh,BTW, I probably misled, the kids aren't too young, tween/teen age but I know DH and I like to relax and hike, not hike and die of blisters.....
petrified forest looked interesting,till I read reviews on the place....anything similiar worth looking into?
thanks again for all your knowledge!

Montezuma's Castle is the ultimate cliff dwelling. It is about an hour outside of Phoenix off I-17.

http://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm

There is also Walnut Canyon which is just outside of Flagstaff. You need to go down a trail into the canyon to see the dwellings.

http://www.nps.gov/waca/index.htm

I would start planning for a separate trip to Yellowstone now and plan on spending a week in the park. There is so much to see that you can't do it in just a couple of days. It is definitely a must see place!

BTW, my DD is 10 and loves to go to these types of places and national parks! She also likes getting the Junior Ranger Badges and collecting the park stamps.

 

[woody73]

. . . It you would like to see something interesting but not a geyser you can go by Mono Lake. There are tufta formation along the edge in the Mono Lake Tufta State Reserve.

Here's another recommendation for the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve. It's quite impressive. Website

Woody

 

[hsmamato2]

The west is SO big!!!! I am def. going to Montezuma,thanks so much for the note-
And I'm def. heading to Tufa.....
so now I guess my basic plan will be Phoenix-visit Montezuma for afternoon- GC for 3 nites-
drive to Hoover Dam/Vegas-1 nite
Drive to Yosemite-3 nites and visit Tufa also while there
visit Sequoia park on way to Anaheim?
maybe add an extra nite somewhere along the way b/c we'll have an extra nite?
sound ok for those who are familiar with these places?
Oh, DH mentioned finding a touristy 'ghost town' old west kind of place somewhere...I guess I need to search some more.....I will be planning for many months!

 

[woody73]

Drive to Yosemite-3 nites and visit Tufa also while there

To cut down on driving, I would go to the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve on the way to Yosemite. It's a convenient stop where you could easily spend an hour or so.

If you like history, a fascinating stop along the way is the Manzanar War Relocation Center. It's a national historic site. The interpretative center has excellent displays and a film. Manzanar.

Woody

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Jerome is considered to be an authentic ghost town. It is on the way from Phoenix to Flagstaff.

http://www.azjerome.com/

 

[hsmamato2]

sweet! thanks!