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Showing posts 51 - 75 of 75, (reverse)
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03/06/2013 06:21:13 PM · #51
Thank you Alan, great tips. I'll study that area in more detail as we get closer.
03/06/2013 06:46:26 PM · #52
For a slight detour between Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon I would recommend is the Antelope Slot Canyons near Page AZ. Another more informative link I knocked this off by bucket list a few years ago and am planning on a return trip in the next few years. It is spectacular.

I'm not sure if it fits your timing, but if you want to see cowboy and Indians in one place I would go out of my way to visit the July 4th Celebration & PRCA Pro Rodeo put on by the Navajo Nation July 2-6 in Window Rock. You won't see much in the way of tribal dances and the like but lots of good junior riders and some very good pros, since it is a PRAC event.

Message edited by author 2013-03-06 19:07:18.
03/06/2013 09:19:01 PM · #53
Originally posted by BrennanOB:

For a slight detour between Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon I would recommend is the Antelope Slot Canyons near Page AZ. Another more informative link I knocked this off by bucket list a few years ago and am planning on a return trip in the next few years. It is spectacular.

I'm not sure if it fits your timing, but if you want to see cowboy and Indians in one place I would go out of my way to visit the July 4th Celebration & PRCA Pro Rodeo put on by the Navajo Nation July 2-6 in Window Rock. You won't see much in the way of tribal dances and the like but lots of good junior riders and some very good pros, since it is a PRAC event.


That looks amazing. If I get my 80-200mm in time I definitely want to see the rodeo, but I'd go just for Creedence Clearwater (think this was just last year).
06/01/2013 10:52:42 PM · #54
Update:
There have been some more changes and we have had to leave out some of your wonderful suggestions but we do get to include some others.
We have finished visiting NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC & Cape Cod.
Now making our way up the New England coast and on to Quebec City, Montreal & Toronto. Then dump rental car back in Philly & fly to Dallas for 3 days before flying to Las Vegas and picking up another rental and driving to Denver by way of:

Grand Canyon
Monument Valley
Zion
Bryce Canyon
Moab
Rocky Mountains

you can see it on google here

Thanks for all your input so far it has been extremely helpful.
It was fantastic for Deb & I to meet up with pennyclick & bear_music who were most generous with their time and showing us around and we look forward to meeting some more of our DPC family.
06/01/2013 11:06:30 PM · #55
Sound wonderful - we were at the Grand Canyon last summer and hope to get back that way again.

If you are following the route on the map, I suggest you may want to take the southern route from Vegas to the Grand Canyon (via Kingman and Williams or Flagstaff). My only reason for saying that is that you wouldn't be doubling back. Is there are reason you're taking the northern route?

Enjoy!
06/01/2013 11:25:03 PM · #56
Originally posted by mariahdc:

Sound wonderful - we were at the Grand Canyon last summer and hope to get back that way again.

If you are following the route on the map, I suggest you may want to take the southern route from Vegas to the Grand Canyon (via Kingman and Williams or Flagstaff). My only reason for saying that is that you wouldn't be doubling back. Is there are reason you're taking the northern route?

Enjoy!


Actually this is a part I need help on as I'm not sure what to see at the GC. I've seen pictures of Horseshoe bend and the platform that visitors walk out on but apart from that I don't know anything and would be grateful for any suggestions allowing 2-3 days in the area.

Message edited by author 2013-06-01 23:26:25.
06/01/2013 11:26:45 PM · #57
It was a hoot of a visit, and Michael and Debby are... ermm... EXTREMELY personable :-) That is to say, they are AUSTRALIAN. I highly recommend the experience to any of you who can hook up with them on their journey.
06/01/2013 11:32:21 PM · #58
Just a quick note about the platform you were mentioning... be aware that they don't allow cameras on that platform, it's expensive, and quite a hike to get to. I'd probably spend more time around Grand Canyon Village on the south rim, and enjoy the sights there.

My brother and I did the hike down the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom of the canyon last summer, and that was just an remarkable experience! If you get the chance, do part of that hike, perhaps down to the first rest stop (1.5 miles down the trail). The views are just amazing.

Originally posted by MichaelC:

Actually this is a part I need help on as I'm not sure what to see at the GC. I've seen pictures of Horseshoe bend and the platform that visitors walk out on but apart from that I don't know anything and would be grateful for any suggestions allowing 2-3 days in the area.
06/01/2013 11:39:14 PM · #59
I don't know what you're really interested in seeing. The Grand Canyon offers a lot, if you're willing to walk/hike. Otherwise, there's plenty from the rim. We stayed on the edge of the canyon in one of the rooms there just for one night. We walked out of the door and straight to the edge of the canyon. If you're staying anywhere in the area, be sure to get there very early for sunrise. Also, it gets hot quickly, and if you want to make any sort of descent into the canyon, you need to get going before sunrise and be back up by mid-morning. They have plenty of info about this online, I believe. There are guided tours that meet and go down for short trips, or you can just walk down the trail a little by yourself.

Other things:
- we loved Flagstaff, which was our 'base' for the 5 days we were there. We weren't expecting much so I think we were just pleasantly surprised. Get coffee at Macys European Coffee House (not the dept store) and have eggs benedict next door at Bellavia.
- Sedona is wonderful and you can make it down in one day and back to Flagstaff, but it would mean a lot of traveling. If you can, plan a night there, or just get up early one morning and drive. We stayed two nights in an old ranger cabin.
- Walnut Canyon just east of Flagstaff is very different scenery for that area, and unique. We loved it.
- Wupatki is another place to see. It can be done on your way north as you're leaving the Grand Canyon area.
- Jerome. The view from up there is like looking down from Heaven...
- Sunset Crater is okay but I don't rank it as high as the other places.

We had taken Amtrak from DC and from there we headed west to SoCol, so I don't have any more advice that would help you, given your route. I just know the area right around Flagstaff/Sedona.

Hope this gives you some ideas - you'll have a good trip.

Edited to add: just saw alanfreed's response. Bright Angel Trail would be great. We had a sick child and had to back out, but I hear it's wonderful...

Message edited by author 2013-06-01 23:42:17.
06/01/2013 11:40:42 PM · #60
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

It was a hoot of a visit, and Michael and Debby are... ermm... EXTREMELY personable :-) That is to say, they are AUSTRALIAN. I highly recommend the experience to any of you who can hook up with them on their journey.


Would love to have played host here in DC. MichaelC, if you're passing back through here, give me a shout.
06/01/2013 11:59:15 PM · #61
Thanks Maria for the info and for the hosting offer. We were staying with my nephew & his wife in Philly and they took us down for the day to tour the mall and attend our very 1st baseball game (Phillies vs Nationals). We had a ball, definitely better than cricket! Now I just gotta find a team whose logo I like so I can buy the merchandise - Redsox are in front so far:)



Message edited by author 2013-06-02 00:03:40.
06/02/2013 10:33:52 AM · #62
Originally posted by alanfreed:

My brother and I did the hike down the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom of the canyon last summer, and that was just an remarkable experience! If you get the chance, do part of that hike, perhaps down to the first rest stop (1.5 miles down the trail). The views are just amazing.

A couple of friends and I hiked the Bright Angel trail during Spring Break (I think) our senior year of High School (c. 1970). Unfortunately, we got there just after noon, and only had time to hike to the bottom (about 4.5 miles), eat something, and hike back out just before it got dark. When we woke up at our campground the next morning it was snowing, so we left for Joshua Tree ... I like to think if we hadn't been stupid teenagers our experience at the Grand Canyon would have lasted more than five hours ... :-(

Be aware that, at least at the time we went, mule trains (for non-hikers) also used that trail, with all that implies ... ;-)

Have a great time!
06/02/2013 12:01:09 PM · #63
During your travels from Montreal to Toronto, do let me know when you are in the Ottawa area and I will do my best to hook up with you.

Ray
06/02/2013 01:56:57 PM · #64
If you've been to Alice Springs in the Summer, expect similar temperatures or higher if you go through Death Valley.
06/02/2013 11:53:50 PM · #65
Sorry to hear you are skipping the badlands and the Black Hills as it is gorgeous, but maybe next time. Magical places and lots of native American points of interest., not to mention old mining towns and ghost towns!

Sounds like a wonderful trip.
06/03/2013 07:51:37 AM · #66
Originally posted by MichaelC:

Now I just gotta find a team whose logo I like so I can buy the merchandise - Redsox are in front so far:)



Just as long as you don't become a Yankees fan.

I do think you'd be better off with the Tigers
06/03/2013 09:03:35 AM · #67
Suggestion - while at the Grand Canyon, try to make it happens to see the canyon by moonlight. I'd suggest driving towards the East entrance, along the South rim - lots of parking lots along the way, and mostly not used at night. Away from the lights of the South Rim village, the canyon is absolutely spectacular in the moonlight.
A note of caution - be careful of coyotes (both the 2 and 4 legged kind) when you are out like that by yourself at night.
Also, a note on Native American culture events. There are many Native American events, but they are not "public". The Native American tribes in the SW and their cultures are still very active, and in some cases, still quite isolated from "white" culture. The Native American tribes are as distinct and different from each other (and maybe even more so) than the different European nations and cultures. In addition, the Native Americans tend to be wary of "outsiders" witnessing their events - somewhat like we wouldn't want a stranger just joining in to our wedding reception, or hanging around the hospital room where our relative is ill.
If you want to get a taste of the Navajo reservation, I believe if you drive out the East entrance (South Rim area), and take that highway SW back into Flagstaff, it goes through part of the Navajo reservation (think a separate sovereign country within the US). The Navajo reservation is huge - goes from there all the way East into New Mexico. The drive from the S Rim to the E entrance, and down to Flagstaff would take about 2-3 hours, and frankly, there isn't really a lot to see, so not sure I'd recommend it - per se.
06/03/2013 01:09:46 PM · #68
Wonderful info, many thanks David.
06/04/2013 11:33:00 AM · #69
To Ray & others in the area we will be leaving QC on Thursday and in Montreal on Thur, Fri, Sat then we expect to be in Kingston Sunday
06/04/2013 02:00:11 PM · #70
Originally posted by MichaelC:

To Ray & others in the area we will be leaving QC on Thursday and in Montreal on Thur, Fri, Sat then we expect to be in Kingston Sunday


I hope you'll be able to stop in at Upper Canada Village en route to Kingston! I sent you a pm as well.
06/10/2013 07:03:00 PM · #71
Deb & I would like to publicly thank Enlightened for the generous use of her time in showing us around Upper Canada Village. We had a fantastic day and especially enjoyed meeting Snaffles & RayEthier who took the time to come from Ottawa. We even got photo-bombed by the King at the medieval festival when we were sitting on his throne.

06/10/2013 07:03:00 PM · #72
whoops! double post

Message edited by author 2013-06-10 19:03:40.
06/10/2013 07:15:05 PM · #73
Originally posted by MichaelC:

Deb & I would like to publicly thank Enlightened for the generous use of her time in showing us around Upper Canada Village. We had a fantastic day and especially enjoyed meeting Snaffles & RayEthier who took the time to come from Ottawa. We even got photo-bombed by the King at the medieval festival when we were sitting on his throne.



I also would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Enlightened for the time, effort and unbelievable level of hospitality she meted on all of us. It was for me a wonderful opportunity to meet her and our dear friends from Down Under.

Notwithstanding the muddy terrain, we all had a wonderful time and I do hope I have the opportunity and pleasure of meeting up all of these fine folks in the near future.

Ray
06/11/2013 09:20:32 PM · #74
Originally posted by RayEthier:

Originally posted by MichaelC:

Deb & I would like to publicly thank Enlightened for the generous use of her time in showing us around Upper Canada Village. We had a fantastic day and especially enjoyed meeting Snaffles & RayEthier who took the time to come from Ottawa. We even got photo-bombed by the King at the medieval festival when we were sitting on his throne.



I also would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Enlightened for the time, effort and unbelievable level of hospitality she meted on all of us. It was for me a wonderful opportunity to meet her and our dear friends from Down Under.

Notwithstanding the muddy terrain, we all had a wonderful time and I do hope I have the opportunity and pleasure of meeting up all of these fine folks in the near future.

Ray


It was a great day! I was so happy to meet everyone, laugh over lunch and chat about our travels! Oh and RayEthier people pay big bucks for that mud treatment at the spa!! MichaelC and Deb I hope the rest of your trip is fantastic. keep posting about it! Snaffles and RayEthiertouch base for the re-enactment.
06/29/2013 11:54:04 PM · #75
Anymore updates on this trip?
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