Community Forums

Grant Lasson · 02-16-2012, 01:19 AM

Some of this would depend on what you like but there is a very nice RV park at Lake Powell (Wahweap). A day on Lake Powell is unforgettable.

Since you have a Jeep, the Grande Escalante Staircase might interest you. There are a range of trails from not too intimidating (e.g., The Burr Trail with the Waterpocket Folds) to some that are too isolated to really do alone.

You'll be in the vicinity of Mesa Verde. Do you like ancient ruins from lost civilizations? There are a few other Kivas not too far away also.

If you've never been and you don't think there will be a return trip, Yellowstone has to be on your itinerary.

Just a few ideas. The list could be very long indeed. I'm fortunate to live in Utah but I haven't even scratched the surface yet in that one state!

okmunky · 02-16-2012, 03:51 AM

Forget the planning, just hop in and go. The best thing about RV travel is that you can get away with NOT having to plan. Drive until you want to stop, eat when you get hungry and take a nap if you want.

I have been fulltiming since May. I have a Walmart US atlas, but I usually navigate using google maps on my ipad using a Verizon MiFi device to connect to the internet. I prefer to boondock in National Forests, stay in driveways of friends and family, or park overnight at Walmart. I find campgrounds noisy and expensive and have no interest in using their swimming pool or playgrounds.

I have a general direction and let the weather dictate north vs south travel. I have friends all over the country who know me as their "fair weather friend". Weather.com helps me decide when the weather is better elsewhere and off I go.

Choose the freedom of not having to schedule your life. ENJOY!!

bobwalter · 02-16-2012, 02:18 PM

Grant,
Thanks for the input. We will look for those ruins for sure and the Jeep trails are high on our list too.

okmgreat unky,
I totally agree with your perspective. We don't plan on having a schedule as such. My goal here was to get input on peoples opinions of the best, don't miss areas. Being that this is probably the last trip of this magnitude for us, we would hate to get back home and find that we missed some of the "don't miss" sights just down the road from where we were. This is an open ended trip with no set destination or time limit. There will be many stops for as many days as necessary to see and experience the sights. We will boondock most of the time with stops at a campground every several days to refill, empty and shower. Have no need for pools and other amenities. Just give me a quiet spot away from others and no lights. The stars and moon provide enough light. Looking forward to the trip. The only thing holding up final departure is out 15 year old Cocker. He is not doing well health wise and don't want to drag him on such a long trip. So we will patiently wait for him and give him our love until it is his time to go. Some days I think it will be tomorrow and then other days, it looks like he will last forever. May have to wait till the summer of 2013. No problem. No schedule. No destination. No rush. No worries.

Thanks to all for your input on this trip. I have many great suggestions and am looking forward to seeing as many as I can.

Bob

scenic route · 02-16-2012, 07:21 PM

Bob, your plan of 'no plan' is the only way to see the West. The area is just too huge with wonders that, until you see them, you could never have imagined the scope of their magnificence. In the last two summers, we have traveled the West with no plan whatsoever. We just tried to plan a route('scenic', he,he)that would make the areas we wanted to visit as logistically efficient as possible.

My only advise would be...if you are ANYwhere near a National Park, go see it. We have been to 35 NPs(two were in Alaska) in the past two summers and we have found, that in every one of them, our Nation's NPs were made for some very good reasons...none will disappoint! We also found that we wanted to stay in some areas longer and in some, not as long...it all depended on what was around the next curve. The only time we made a reservation(I had forgotten this) was when a major holiday was approaching and we were coming into a popular area. Columbia Falls(Memorial Day) and in Fairbanks(July,4th)were a couple of those times. Not a problem for the rest of our trips. Don't forget your senior pass to the NPs...it's bargain city!

Go now!

Bob

Ding-a-ling · 02-18-2012, 07:58 AM

If someone mentioned this, I missed it.

The Kennecott Copper Mine in Bingham, UT near Salt Lake City.
It's among the largest open pit mines in the world. My wife's childhood girlfriend married a guy who was a C-130 cargo plane loadmaster in the USAF at Hill AFB near SLC. He says his pilot one time flew their plane down into the mine and flew around in circles! It is BIG!

FJF

Randy125 · 02-25-2012, 07:54 PM

Wow I wish I could takeoff and go to all these places so I will put my 2-cents in also. I see you pull a Jeep and there is no finer place to Jeep in lower 48 than Ouray Colorado, Silverton, and Telluride. When you get off the paved roads the scenery in Southwest Colorado is breathtaking. I will also second all the folks that recommend Utah, all the parks are a must see.