Author Topic: "Holiday Road" - The Official Vacation Thread (Read 228904 times)

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #550 on:** March 24, 2016, 10:34:34 pm »

Quote from: comish4lif on March 24, 2016, 10:23:52 pm

Honestly? At times a littlle nervous. The mules go straight and follow the mule in front of them. At the head of the line was the guide - looked like Sam Elliot - he really fit the part.

But, you are moving along the edge, in the middle of the trail and the mule moves a little to one side and you are like "HEY" and give the reins a little correction.

Here's a panorama of the Bright Angel Trail - we hiked down about 30-40 minutes and turned back.

Awesome. Still need to get there.

imref · « **Reply #551 on:** March 24, 2016, 10:42:32 pm »

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I struggle with heights though I hiked diamond head and the iki trail on the big island in 2014. The GC is one of the few major landmarks that I haven't taken the kids to yet but I don't want to freak out at the edge of the rim.

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #552 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:05:49 am »

Stunning. I've flown over the GC a bunch of times but never been on the ground.

wj73 · « **Reply #553 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:41:19 am »

Beautiful pix!

Hubby and I are in the early stages of planning a 2 week driving trip next year out west, starting at Grand Canyon, going up through Utah and some of those parks, and maybe with luck having enough time to get to Mt. Rushmore. Not sure how much of that is possible yet, but Grand Canyon is definitely the starting point since neither of us has ever seen it except to fly over it on our way to California.

OldChelsea · « **Reply #554 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:55:58 am »

One of the few situations I've regretted not driving...never getting to see the Grand Canyon.

mitlen · « **Reply #555 on:** March 25, 2016, 08:01:52 pm »

Aerial America ... Arizona at 8; California at 9 ... Smithsonian Station

houston-nat · « **Reply #556 on:** March 27, 2016, 11:40:55 pm »

Quote from: wj73 on March 25, 2016, 10:41:19 am

Beautiful pix!

Hubby and I are in the early stages of planning a 2 week driving trip next year out west, starting at Grand Canyon, going up through Utah and some of those parks, and maybe with luck having enough time to get to Mt. Rushmore. Not sure how much of that is possible yet, but Grand Canyon is definitely the starting point since neither of us has ever seen it except to fly over it on our way to California.

Arches & Canyonlands are great in Utah, so stay in Moab for a couple days. I regret not catching Zion & the other southern parks on our drive from Arches to the Grand Canyon, but all that stuff is gold. If you can't get to Mt. Rushmore, Mesa Verde in CO is probably still doable, and Durango is a great town. Plus the awesome drive up 550 to Ouray. Or maybe try Yellowstone and the Tetons??

imref · « **Reply #557 on:** March 28, 2016, 09:02:47 am »

No more complimentary snacks or white wine with dinner on the auto train. Boo.

wj73 · « **Reply #558 on:** March 28, 2016, 12:09:08 pm »

Quote from: houston-nat on March 27, 2016, 11:40:55 pm

Arches & Canyonlands are great in Utah, so stay in Moab for a couple days. I regret not catching Zion & the other southern parks on our drive from Arches to the Grand Canyon, but all that stuff is gold. If you can't get to Mt. Rushmore, Mesa Verde in CO is probably still doable, and Durango is a great town. Plus the awesome drive up 550 to Ouray. Or maybe try Yellowstone and the Tetons??

Thanks for the input as we're just starting our research. Arches is high on the list, but I know there are other great parks in Utah that we need to research. Yellowstone is also high on the list but I'm quite clueless about distances and travel times so it might not be possible. We figure with only two weeks we won't be able to do more than 5-6 places in depth, so we're going to have to be ruthless about pruning down our destinations. But it's a fun problem to have.

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #559 on:** March 28, 2016, 12:33:59 pm »

Quote from: wj73 on March 28, 2016, 12:09:08 pm

Thanks for the input as we're just starting our research. Arches is high on the list, but I know there are other great parks in Utah that we need to research. Yellowstone is also high on the list but I'm quite clueless about distances and travel times so it might not be possible. We figure with only two weeks we won't be able to do more than 5-6 places in depth, so we're going to have to be ruthless about pruning down our destinations. But it's a fun problem to have.

Probably would be better to do a separate northern trip for Yellowstone, the Tetons. Throw in Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier National park. Have been to all but the latter. You really need 3-5 days for Yellowstone.

We need to do the trip you are planning: Grand Canyon and Utah parks.

BrandonK · « **Reply #560 on:** March 28, 2016, 12:47:23 pm »

Haven't done the Moab trip yet, but planning to do a weekend trip sometime this year. Definitely recommended Rocky Mtn for anyone that hasn't visited!

varoadking · « **Reply #561 on:** March 28, 2016, 02:16:25 pm »

Quote from: imref on March 28, 2016, 09:02:47 am

No more complimentary snacks or white wine with dinner on the auto train. Boo.

It's Trump's fault...

imref · « **Reply #562 on:** March 28, 2016, 02:28:52 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on March 28, 2016, 02:16:25 pm

It's Trump's fault...

in that case, it's the Chinese's fault.

imref · « **Reply #563 on:** March 28, 2016, 09:54:55 pm »

we just got back this morning from a week at a beach condo in St. Augustine, FL. Really beautiful place with tons of things to do ranging from tourist hell to really quiet, beautiful spots, and it was only about 1:45 from Viera!

houston-nat · « **Reply #564 on:** March 31, 2016, 05:09:05 pm »

Anybody been to Taiwan? Any travel recommendations for Taipei and the countryside? Flights from Dallas to Taipei are $510 right now. Insanely cheap.

KnorrForYourMoney · « **Reply #565 on:** March 31, 2016, 06:31:56 pm »

Everything I've heard about Taiwan says go to the Taipei night market.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #566 on:** March 31, 2016, 06:58:40 pm »

Young and single seems fun

varoadking · « **Reply #567 on:** May 23, 2016, 11:56:36 am »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on March 31, 2016, 06:58:40 pm

Young and single seems fun

Old, married and retired ain't bad either...

wj73 · « **Reply #568 on:** May 23, 2016, 12:52:57 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on May 23, 2016, 11:56:36 am

Old, married and retired ain't bad either...

I got two out of 3, and working on getting to #3 as fast as I can.

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #569 on:** May 23, 2016, 01:06:02 pm »

Chinese Professional Baseball League!

skippy1999 · « **Reply #570 on:** May 23, 2016, 01:08:32 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on May 23, 2016, 11:56:36 am

Old, married and retired ain't bad either...

Hi VaRK! Did you and the missus go to that restaurant The Rules yet?

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #571 on:** May 23, 2016, 01:12:28 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on May 23, 2016, 11:56:36 am

Old, married and retired ain't bad either...

Tru dat.

varoadking · « **Reply #572 on:** May 23, 2016, 01:42:08 pm »

Quote from: skippy1999 on May 23, 2016, 01:08:32 pm

Hi VaRK! Did you and the missus go to that restaurant The Rules yet?

No...but been just about everywhere else here it seems. Opening day at the Chelsea flower show tomorrow...Wednesday is open, though, so maybe then...

Hope that picture loaded...view to the southwest from our hotel room balcony...

skippy1999 · « **Reply #573 on:** May 23, 2016, 02:11:04 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on May 23, 2016, 01:42:08 pm

No...but been just about everywhere else here it seems. Opening day at the Chelsea flower show tomorrow...Wednesday is open, though, so maybe then...

Hope that picture loaded...view to the southwest from our hotel room balcony...

yep that worked and it looks absolutely gorgeous!!! omgosh picture perfect truly and what a great location with Big Ben right there, is that Parliament next to it? Don't know my England geography too well. Well, any geography really

anyway you guys enjoy every second, we're keeping the

's going in your absence

varoadking · « **Reply #574 on:** May 23, 2016, 02:14:51 pm »

Yes...that is Big Ben, and indeed the Houses of Parliament are to the left, with Westminster Abbey in the background.
Afternoon teas have managed to spoil me...