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Old August 13th, 2013, 02:16 AM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
Stef
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Default USA December trip recommendations?

Terry Pinnell wrote:

I'm visiting my son and grandsons in San Diego for a week or so from about
23rd December. Before that I'd like to take 7-10 days on my own elsewhere
and would much appreciate recommendations please.

Basically I'd like to fly from London Gatwick to an initial destination
and then hire a car and work my way to San Diego, sightseeing en route,
staying at motels. Or if the initial destination was too far away, do
*some* driving but then fly the remainder.

If it wasn't winter then I'd probably elect to visit Canyonlands, Moab,
Yellowstone etc, places in the West that I missed on previous trips. Those
included Boston, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree
National Park, LA, Las Vegas, Meteor Crater, Miami, New York, Niagara,
Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sedona, Sequoia National Park,
Yosemite, Zion - and I may have missed some.

I haven't got the maps and guides out yet so I'm wide open to all
suggestions please. Tentative thoughts include maybe New Orleans (if it's
no longer too depressing after the flood catastrophe?) or starting at some
mid America location and traveling via a southerly (warm!) route
westwards. If I wasn't on my own then I'd want to do some hiking but I
reckon on this trip I'll stick to a 'drive and stroll' style.

All ideas warmly appreciated please.



Here's the most efficient routing for the majority of the destinations
you list. Leaves out Boston, New York, Niagara, New Orleans, Miami.
All East Coast ciities and all about 2600 miles (4000 km) from San
Diego.

Fly directly into San Francisco and spend a few days seeing it and the
surrounding areas. Then, depending on the weather: Yosemite, Sequoia,
Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Las Vegas. Using Vegas as a base: Zion
and Bryce and return to Vegas. Can't visit the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon. It's closed from mid-October to mid-May. South Rim open
year-round.

Depart Vegas for Grand Canyon (South Rim), Flagstaff, The Meteor Crater
is about a hour east on Interstate 40, return to Flagstaff to Sedona and
Oak Creek Canyon, Phoenix, then Interstate 10 to Joshua Tree, Palm
Springs, and finally to San Diego.

This is an ambitious trip for 7 to 10 days. Also, the days are short
in December: the sun sets about 5pm. So take that into account.

I'll leave it up to you to pick the various sights you want to see in
each location. Study those maps and guides.

Have a nice trip.

Stef