Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Western Sites - Travel Guide Help

Hello All,

I'll be travelling the next 10 days or so across the Great West! I've never been, so I'm looking for some suggestions.

Here's the bare bones itinerary:

Friday through Sunday - Vegas for a Bachelor Party.

Monday through Friday - drive to Denver, CO for another Bachelor party.

My question is what I should do in those five intermediary days?

My travelling companion (younger than 79, by the way - so don't feel restricted in your suggestions) is a college buddy of mine. We're both pretty active as well, so things that require a hike aren't unwelcome. We'er thinking about seeing the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, maybe Mesa Verde. Then, it's all up in the air.

So, for those of you who live out there, or who haev been - what do I simply have to see, what should I avoid, etc.

Thanks!

Well, if you want to throw Utah in the mix, Zion and Arches National Parks are great-amazing rock formations.

Capn,

I have traveled to about every major destination west of the Mississippi River. A buddy of mine and I would take 2 weeks each summer during college and backpack and hike the west.

From where you are and where you are going there are countless attractions in between. Arches, Bryce and Zion National Parks in Utah are beautiful. The Grand Canyon is a must see for anyone. If into early Native American History ( I am a fanatic by the way) the ruins at Mesa Verde are unbelievable.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison in central Colorado is not very well known, but also beautiful. Rocky Mountain National Park outside of Denver is neat and the town of Estes Park near there in very nice.

There are countless other places I could tell you about. Give a general area that you would like to go and I can suggest more.

Scott

The Hoover Dam is worth the trip....not far from Vegas since you are already starting there.

I'll second the suggestions to spend some quality time in Utah. Definitely make time for Hoover Dam - it's worth a half-day sojourn from Vegas. There is lots of good beer in Colorado (but NOT in Utah!) - be sure to stay hydrated.

I like the Colorado Springs area quite a bit; a couple decent brewpubs, Air Force Academy, US Olympic Training facility, Garden of the Gods, and Pike's Peak. Worth a day, IMO. I double-dog dare you to stay at The Broadmoor.

I enjoyed the Coors Field tour in downtown Denver (it was not in-season when I was there); it is a very cool ballpark.

I have been on this same route myself and agree with seeing all of ScottA's recommendations.

Thanks, Ken - Zion was suggested to me by someone else too. I'm gonna officially put it on the list of "desirables"

Bryce was also suggested. It goes on the list along with Hoover Dam, too.

My buddy and I figured we'd take time on the flight out to VEags to do some trip planning. RIght now, I think we're wide open. We're packing sleeping bags and tents and renting a car for the week. Mileage is not an issue - just being able to get to Denvr on time is.

As far as which areas we'd like to cover - the answer is I don't know. I don't even know enough about the geography out there to know if I'll be zig-zagging or traveling in a straight line.

Thanks for the suggestions - keep 'em coming.

Tom - we'll be visiting Coor's on Saturday to see teh Cubs play the Rockies.

You could do a lot worse than the first half of a trip I did in 2003 with a bunch of Jeeps. It was all road travel between interesting places, with off roading at all the appropriate spots. Make sure you get to Ouray and the other towns on the (I think) "Million Dollar Highway" run :

"Vegas to Sturgis Mayhem Tour
Quit Your Job and Pack Your Jeep--You're Going

You + Your Jeep + Jp = Mayhem!

In the March '03 Trail Head, we mentioned the possibility of a cross-country Jp event. The idea went something like this: Wanna pull pranks on your pals and complete strangers, drive down the highway with Blow-Up Betty ridin' shotgun and see some of the great attractions of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and South Dakota all in your favorite vehicle, your Jeep?"

http://www.jpmagazine.com/eventcoverage/154_0307_MAHM/index.html