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trip to usa in december/january



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 25th, 2006, 04:00 AM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

Hi all
I am new to groups etc so please bear with me
We are leaving australia on Dec 6th to travel to usa. We will be
hiring a car and driving from SF to LA. About 10 days in LA/Anaheim
then to San deigo, barstow (to see Calico Ghost Town - is it worth
is??) We have 3 kids age 13, 10 and 7 so I thought it would be good
for them. Then to Grand Canyon via Kingman. Grand canyon for maybe 3
nights then out to Durango - Mesa Verde. Is this worth a look?
Then off to Page, St George for 1 night then Las Vegas for 3 nights.
From Las Vegas we plan to fly to New York and MAYBE drive to Niagara

Falls.
I am really worried about how cold it is over there in winter and also
if it would be too crowded in New York before Christmas.
The shops over here get absolutely mad pre-xmas, so I was wondering if
it the same over there.
Also I wasn't planning on booking any accommodation before I left.
probably only, Anaheim and new York. should I book the Grand Canyon?
at that time of the year.
It was suggested to me to stay in Queens and take the subway as it is
much cheaper than staying in hte centre of New York.
Also where would be the best place to spend Christmas Day, if we were
in new York.
It will be very strange not having Christmas with our family. It will
be the first Christmas EVER we have spent without them!!
Any advice at all would be much appreciated
Thanks
Corinne

  #2  
Old April 25th, 2006, 05:14 AM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

"cora" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi all
I am new to groups etc so please bear with me
We are leaving australia on Dec 6th to travel to usa. We will be
hiring a car and driving from SF to LA. About 10 days in LA/Anaheim
then to San deigo, barstow (to see Calico Ghost Town - is it worth
is??) We have 3 kids age 13, 10 and 7 so I thought it would be good
for them. Then to Grand Canyon via Kingman. Grand canyon for maybe 3
nights then out to Durango - Mesa Verde. Is this worth a look?

Yes, Mesa Verde is definitely work a look, but it's likely Mesa Verde will
be closed in December and January, but, nearby Monument Valley in Southern
Utah and Northern Arizona (stay in Kayenta, Arizona) is spectacular and if
you like skiing you might want to take a jog up to Telluride, but, it's
pricey. Durango is very picturesque and scenic and also has excellent
skiing at nearby Purgatory. The mountains in that part of Colorado are
spectacular and you might also want to travel a few miles north of Durango
to Ouray, which is called the "Little Switzerland of America". Durango
isn't usually nearly as cold as other mountain areas in Colorado like Aspen,
Leadville, Steamboat Springs, Crested Butte and Gunnison. KM
--
(-:alohacyberian:-) At my website there are 3600 live cameras or
visit NASA, the Vatican, the Smithsonian, the Louvre, CIA, FBI or
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  #3  
Old April 25th, 2006, 05:42 AM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january


cora wrote:
Hi all
I am new to groups etc so please bear with me
We are leaving australia on Dec 6th to travel to usa. We will be
hiring a car and driving from SF to LA. About 10 days in LA/Anaheim
then to San deigo, barstow (to see Calico Ghost Town - is it worth
is??) We have 3 kids age 13, 10 and 7 so I thought it would be good
for them.


I'd suggest Joshua Tree National Monument.

Then to Grand Canyon via Kingman. Grand canyon for maybe 3
nights then out to Durango - Mesa Verde. Is this worth a look?
Then off to Page, St George for 1 night then Las Vegas for 3 nights.
From Las Vegas we plan to fly to New York and MAYBE drive to Niagara

Falls.


It could be really cold and snowy.

I am really worried about how cold it is over there in winter and also
if it would be too crowded in New York before Christmas.


It would be really pretty in New York before Christmas.

The shops over here get absolutely mad pre-xmas, so I was wondering if
it the same over there.


The same. Christmas is the time of year where shops make most of their
money.

Also I wasn't planning on booking any accommodation before I left.
probably only, Anaheim and new York. should I book the Grand Canyon?
at that time of the year.
It was suggested to me to stay in Queens and take the subway as it is
much cheaper than staying in hte centre of New York.


Cheaper yes, but it wouldn't be New York. Try Craigslist.com to check
out some apartments rented for short term in NY City.

Also where would be the best place to spend Christmas Day, if we were
in new York.


Well, the shops will be closed, as will most restaurants. Most Chinese
restaurants will be open.

It will be very strange not having Christmas with our family. It will
be the first Christmas EVER we have spent without them!!
Any advice at all would be much appreciated
Thanks
Corinne


  #4  
Old April 25th, 2006, 06:00 AM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

In article ,
says...

"cora" wrote in message
roups.com...
Hi all
I am new to groups etc so please bear with me
We are leaving australia on Dec 6th to travel to usa. We will be
hiring a car and driving from SF to LA. About 10 days in LA/Anaheim
then to San deigo, barstow (to see Calico Ghost Town - is it worth
is??) We have 3 kids age 13, 10 and 7 so I thought it would be good
for them. Then to Grand Canyon via Kingman. Grand canyon for maybe 3
nights then out to Durango - Mesa Verde. Is this worth a look?

Yes, Mesa Verde is definitely work a look, but it's likely Mesa Verde will
be closed in December and January, but, nearby Monument Valley in Southern
Utah and Northern Arizona (stay in Kayenta, Arizona) is spectacular and if
you like skiing you might want to take a jog up to Telluride, but, it's
pricey. Durango is very picturesque and scenic and also has excellent
skiing at nearby Purgatory. The mountains in that part of Colorado are
spectacular and you might also want to travel a few miles north of Durango
to Ouray, which is called the "Little Switzerland of America". Durango
isn't usually nearly as cold as other mountain areas in Colorado like Aspen,
Leadville, Steamboat Springs, Crested Butte and Gunnison. KM
--
(-:alohacyberian:-)


I'm with Alohacyberian on this. It will be cold, once you leave CA. Check with
each of the sites that you wish to visit, as many will be closed with the
season and the weather.

Grand Canyon is likely to be very cold, though the El Tovar Lodge has a
wonderful fireplace in the lobby area. I would make reservations, even in the
off-season, as you do not want to get to some out-of-the-way place, only to
find that they are booked. Grand Canyon could mean a 75 mile drive at night,
to try and secure a room.

If you get any place near Santa Fe/Alamagorda, NM, Bandolier National Park
offers a more personal, up-close view of the ruins there, than does Mesa
Verde. It is more open hiking, and not so much of a "tour." This is NOT to say
that Mesa Verde should be missed, only that Bandolier is more one-on-one, and
the kids might get much more out of it.

Make sure that your hire-car is winter-equipped, as you will likely pick it up
in SF and Utah, CO, and maybe points in between, will likely be very snowy,
especially if you do Ouray. US 550, up from Durango, is NOT to be missed, so
long as you have a well winterized auto.

Hunt

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth
  #5  
Old April 25th, 2006, 07:00 AM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

On 24 Apr 2006 20:00:40 -0700, "cora" wrote:

Hi all
I am new to groups etc so please bear with me
We are leaving australia on Dec 6th to travel to usa. We will be
hiring a car and driving from SF to LA. About 10 days in LA/Anaheim
then to San deigo, barstow (to see Calico Ghost Town - is it worth
is??) We have 3 kids age 13, 10 and 7 so I thought it would be good
for them. Then to Grand Canyon via Kingman. Grand canyon for maybe 3
nights then out to Durango - Mesa Verde. Is this worth a look?
Then off to Page, St George for 1 night then Las Vegas for 3 nights.
From Las Vegas we plan to fly to New York and MAYBE drive to Niagara

Falls.


Niagara Falls is about a 9 hour drive from New York City and winter is
not a great time to visit. Skip it, is my advice.

I am really worried about how cold it is over there in winter and also
if it would be too crowded in New York before Christmas.
The shops over here get absolutely mad pre-xmas, so I was wondering if
it the same over there.


It is hard to say how cold it will be -- I remember one New York
Christmas when the temperature was 65F. Now that was unusual, of
course and you should prepare for cold weather with a warm jacket,
hat and gloves. Book a hotel well ahead. As for other "crowding"
there are plenty of restaurants and the city is very festive. Yes,
the shops do a good business but there are lots of them to
choose from.

Also I wasn't planning on booking any accommodation before I left.
probably only, Anaheim and new York. should I book the Grand Canyon?
at that time of the year.


Probably always a good idea to book the Grand Canyon in advance.

It was suggested to me to stay in Queens and take the subway as it is
much cheaper than staying in hte centre of New York.


That would be a mistake. There are not that many hotels in Queens
convenient to Manhattan. And it isn't all that much cheaper. Most of
the decent hotels in Queens are around the airports and you really
would not want to travel that far on the subway to get into
Manhattan where all the things you will want to do are located.
In fact, you can't get to many of them on the subway.
Book as early as you can as the hotels fill up and you will have a
better chance of finding a moderately priced room early on.
Any part of Manhattan would be fine -- you need not stay in the
Times Square area. You will be able to get around easily on bus
and subway.

Also where would be the best place to spend Christmas Day, if we were
in new York.


Take that day for a visit to Chinatown. Nothing closes there and
there are dozens of good restaurants. I once took visitors there on
Christmas Day and we had a fine time.

Here is a website that describes some of the things to do in New York
during the Christmas season:

http://www.nyctourist.com/xmas_in_nyc_calendar2.htm

It will be very strange not having Christmas with our family. It will
be the first Christmas EVER we have spent without them!!
Any advice at all would be much appreciated


If you have other questions, just ask.
  #6  
Old April 25th, 2006, 07:28 AM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

Corinne writes:
We are leaving australia on Dec 6th to travel to usa. ...
...From Las Vegas we plan to fly to New York and MAYBE drive to
Niagara Falls.


In Niagara Falls you will find some attractions closed for the winter,
but of course you can view the falls themselves, although they are
turned down to 1/4 power (in summer they run at 1/2 power -- the rest
goes into hydroelectricity). If you have no problem with crossing the
border into Canada, you will find the best overall view of the falls
from the Canadian side.

There may be or may not be ice and snow all around the falls -- many
people find them more attractive that way -- depending on the weather
that December.

I am really worried about how cold it is over there in winter


You will be traveling in at least three climatic regions: the California
coast, the high desert of the Southwest, and the Northeast. The coast
is well moderated by the sea, but in the other two areas temperatures
well below freezing are a real possibility, and you may encounter snow,
particularly in the Northeast. Or you may not -- it's not possible to
say. If there are freezing temperatures or snow and you've never driven
under such conditions, you might not want to do that drive to Niagara Falls.

You should also be aware that since it is winter the hours of sunlight
each day will be short, and in the Northeast at least, they will be
shorter than you get at any time in Australia. This web site

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html

will give you sunrise and sunset times for any date and for any city
in the US (also for anywhere else, if you know the longitude, latitude,
and time zone).

and also if it would be too crowded in New York before Christmas.


Certainly! But that's part of the fun of visiting New York.
--
Mark Brader | "In my youth", said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,
Toronto | "I kept all my verbs very supple
| By the use of these smileys -- one shilling a box --
| Allow me to sell you a couple?" --John Dean (after Carroll)

My text in this article is in the public domain.
  #7  
Old April 25th, 2006, 01:01 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

cora wrote:
Hi all
I am new to groups etc so please bear with me
We are leaving australia on Dec 6th to travel to usa. We will be
hiring a car and driving from SF to LA. About 10 days in LA/Anaheim
then to San deigo, barstow (to see Calico Ghost Town - is it worth
is??) We have 3 kids age 13, 10 and 7 so ...


Hi, I read your post on the travel newsgroup. Since I did a similar
trip this January I thought you might like to read my trip report.
(I am sending it to you be e-mail as I posted it here a few months ago)

I wonder whether the flight and trip you plan to New York will be worth
it especially when you express concern about the cost of staying there.
New York is a great place to walk around in and see the sites. I have
been there many times and really like it. But it will not be too
comfortable to do long walks, like in Central Park etc., in December. I
also, like a few other people say don't waste your time going to Niagara
Falls. It is a very long drive and possibly dangerous if you experience
ice and snow, and it ain't that great in the dead of winter. I have
also been there many times. If you do go to New York, also as others
have said, stay in Manhattan. It is more expensive but that is where
you will experience the ambiance of New York City. It is the hustle and
bustle, the crowded stores, you will experience that will define NYC.
There are so many cultural and entertainment experiences in NYC,
museums, galleries, theatre, to experience. BUT with three kids that
age you won't be able to do much of that. Will the flight and visit to
NYC be worth it for you? I wonder. In any case, save some money and
skip Niagara Falls, stay a day or two less, but do NYC right if you do it.

I would also suggest more time in San Diego (do a FULL day at the zoo)
and spend more time in San Francisco - 10 days is a lot for LA - there
are much better places to spend your time in California. Also with
three kids that age you have to plan things for Las Vegas for them to
do. They are not allowed in the casinos, just walking through the hotel
lobby to the elevator, if they stop to look for a minute they will be
hustled along. Las Vegas, a few years ago started to be "family
oriented" but that has changed. You will have to plan carefully how to
amuse them there for three days - I would recommend fewer days in LV
with three kids. But do Hoover Dam, hike in Red Rock Canyon, though.

Whatever you decide to do it sounds like you will have a great experience.


--
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California Photos http://tinyurl.com/ann2l
Sawyer's Nicknames http://tinyurl.com/gowma
  #8  
Old April 25th, 2006, 01:28 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

On 24 Apr 2006 20:00:40 -0700, "cora" wrote:

I am really worried about how cold it is over there in winter and also
if it would be too crowded in New York before Christmas.
The shops over here get absolutely mad pre-xmas, so I was wondering if
it the same over there.


We were in New York the week before Christmas this year, and I was
pleasantly surprised. There were certainly a lot of tourists, but it's
a big city and absorbs them fairly well. I remember mad shopping
scenes before Christmas when I lived near New York. You can avoid
these by either shopping early or late, or going to the smaller, less
well-known shops.

We shopped without long lines or other hassles at Century 21, which is
just across from the ex-World Trade Center. This is a huge department
store with marked-down brand name merchandise, everything from
clothing to housewares. We also shopped at J&R, which is a
conglomeration of stores offering cameras, computers, and all sorts of
other consumer electronics. It's a fairly easy walk from Century 21.
Then we went to lunch at the South Street Seaport, also within walking
distance, where there is a food court and lots of small shops.

This was the only day we did shopping, but it was enough for my
Italian relatives, and more than enough for me.

The weather in New York in late December could be quite cold for
someone who is not accustomed to the cold, but the city is near the
sea, so is not as cold as other places you're thinking of visiting. We
took a walk in Central Park one day, which was absolutely lovely.

It was suggested to me to stay in Queens and take the subway as it is
much cheaper than staying in hte centre of New York.


I got a very good deal on an excellent hotel in New York by booking
several months ahead. I booked it on Expedia. We were three people
sharing a room and had a centrally located, 4-star hotel at a price
little higher than the youth hostel. My daughter and son-in-law and
their baby were in a nearby room.The cost for the third person in the
room was very low. Most rooms have two double beds, and many will also
put a cot in the room for a fifth person. To get this kind of room,
you may have to talk to the hotel. I found the hotel on Expedia, but
then saw the same price on the hotel's own web page. In the end, I
called the desk to arrange to some things, like a crib for the baby,
and booked the hotel over the phone.

Also where would be the best place to spend Christmas Day, if we were
in new York.


There will be many restaurants open. Some of the churches will have
magnificent Christmas Eve services with choirs, organs and even
orchestras. I believe you would be able to ice skate at Rockefeller
Center, and it might be the only day when it's not too crowded. If
it's nice, you could walk in Central Park, where there are at least
two other ice-skating rinks.


It will be very strange not having Christmas with our family. It will
be the first Christmas EVER we have spent without them!!



--
Barbara Vaughan

My email address is my first initial followed by my last name at libero dot it.
  #9  
Old April 25th, 2006, 09:06 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

Grand canyon for maybe 3 nights

The Grand Canyon is beautiful in the winter, but 3 days is probably
more than you'll need unless you plan to hike into the Canyon. Keep in
mind that the trails will probably be cold and snowy. Some folks enjoy
winter hiking; others don't.

About 10 days in LA/Anaheim


Your kids will love Disneyland, but you might want to spend some of
that time in San Francisco instead of LA. Most folks consider SF a much
better vacation city than LA.

There are also some beautiful areas near San Francisco, such as Muir
Woods (redwoods), Napa Valley (wineries), and to the south there's the
Monterey Pennensula and the "17 Mile Drive" (magnificent ocean
scenery), Point Lobos park (hiking trails overlooking the ocean), etc.

Jim

  #10  
Old April 25th, 2006, 09:27 PM posted to rec.travel.usa-canada
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Default trip to usa in december/january

cora wrote:


Then off to Page, St George for 1 night then Las Vegas for 3 nights.
From Las Vegas we plan to fly to New York and MAYBE drive to Niagara
Falls.
I am really worried about how cold it is over there in winter and also
if it would be too crowded in New York before Christmas.
The shops over here get absolutely mad pre-xmas, so I was wondering if
it the same over there.


Count on stores and malls being madhouses before Christmas. Even worse are
are Christmas sales.

Niagara Falls in beautiful in the winter. Winter temperatures around here
(Niagara) tend to hover just under freezing for most of the winter with
the odd warm spell and the odd cold snap. There is no telling when they
might come, though they are more likely in January or February.


 




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