So I am taking a trip to NYC with Ralfabco and meeting the EC crew June 28-July 4th. (whart you ready? ) After that want to do a car trip. Looking for some help from you folks to plan it out. Here are some of the sketch info. Starting point: Los Angeles Want to go to: Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Zion National park, hoover dam. When: July 5-july 9th 2 Passengers Questions: 1) What roads should I take. We don't have any place in particular we need to go first. We are open to suggestions. ANy input from you guys would be appreciated. 2) Other things we should see on the way? Lake Havasu? 3) We were planning on staying 2 nights in Vegas, and run over and see Zion and Hoover dam. I have been to all of the places before. As far as Grand Canyon, I wasn't sure if we should go there first and then vegas, or go to it on the way back. 4) Would like scenic or cool things to see. Nothing is written in stone (except vegas), so your input will be important in the trip. Thank you in advance. -Ryan [email protected]
Damn Ryan, you couldn't have picked a hotter time of the year to go to some of the hottest places in the USA. FWIW, I'd head for the mountains in July...
Dale, I know you are the resident roadtrip expert, so I was looking forward to your post. Honestly, this is the only time I have to do it. So should I scrap the whole plan, and just do LA-LV-LA? What mountain/national parks would you recommend instead?
Yeah I know Matty. Just trying to figure out what to do. Was thinking of skipping Zion (friend says it will be super busy), and do LA-LV-BRYCE cyn-GC-LA? What you do you think?
Zion is out, Bryce is in. Supposedly bruce is 83 degrees in July according to their site. Who knows. Never been to bryce. LV is 115 all year isn't it We will be at crazy horse too, so i doubt outside temp matters in LV
If it were me, I'd drop Lost Wages. Personally, I find it to be one of the most depressing places on the planet. Sure the casinos look cool, but behind the facade you'll find nothing but losers. 30/40/50/60 year olds smoking a cig, dropping quarter in the slots, and drinking cheap booze. But that's just me. But if I had to go LA to LV, I'd head up to Lone Pine and spend the night somewhere in the area. I'd then get up before daybreak and do a run across Death Valley and come into LV the back way. I realize that this is about as far as you can get from a straight line, but remember Nature abhors traight lines. Good luck, Dale
Dale, Thanks for the info. I am not the biggest fan of Lost Wages, but my partner in crime has never been so that is a must do. JP, I will spend the summer eating in-n-out and getting fat. here is the new trip details Dropped Grand Canyon, not just worth it on such a short trip. I was thinking of doing this, and let me know what you think: 1) Tuesday get to LV by about 7pm. Spend some time there, and stay the night. 2) WED morning, leave for Bryce .What is the drive to bryce from LV, real driving time? We can spend the day in Bryce. 3) I definitely WANT TO SEE Calf Creek. It looks beautiful. 4) I would like to stay somewhere between Bryce and Calf Creek or thereabouts. Any recommendations for wed night? 5) Thurs--we can drive back to Vegas. If we couldn't see Calf Creek on Wed, we can do it Thurs morning, and then head to Vegas. SPend some time in Vegas, and stay the night. 6) Friday-monring quick hoover dam, and then head back to LA. What do you say? -Ryan
Whatever you decide to do make sure to read (or re-read) Hunter S Thompsons "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" before you go there, it will make your trip so much more special.
Will do Joe. Btw I saw your posts over on the 550 forums. Looks like me and you are thinking the same thing. So beck or vintage for ya We should get together and talk it over, and take a trip to the factory -Ryan
Now, yer talking. This is heavy duty country. I don't know what your driving, but this is an excellant place to take a Pepper car down to Hole in the Wall. Dr "Spooky" Who
I never owned a vintage car before, can't realy tell much about it so I guess Beck will suit me better. I'd love to visit the factory, I think it's in Glendora, not to far from me. Let me know when you are up for it, I'll go with you. EDIT:...you meant Vintage as the replica company, not the original 550, OK now I get it. Don't know, will have to stay tuned for your tread about the Spyder.
TT is getting delivered to new owner soon. Awaiting transport. WIll be driving either a snake (srt-10) or a mazdaspeed miata (turbo). Glad you approve Dale. Will post pics, like Vince does. He is my road trip inspiration as far as pics, and you are as far as words go Hehe, yes we will do Hole in the wall too Getting away from it all. Highway 89 to 12 out to 24. Should be some triple digit fun.
Yup meant Vintage as in the company I can only do Sundays. Are they open Sundays? If not it has to be after my roadtrip in July (after the 11th), when I am available any day of the week. [email protected] is my email. Beck might suit me better, want to go down there and talk to them about registration and all that. As they say, two wallets are better than one
Dunno if they still offer the "hardhat" tour at Hoover Dam, but well worth it if it hasn't been scratched for security reasons.
Hm never taken the hardhat tour. Will give that a look. SHould be fun. Last time I went (years ago) just took a look from above/car wasn't much fun, was short on time. Even if the hardhat tour is alive and well, they may not let me go, especially for "security" reasons. At least that is what the FAA people tell me at airports.
If you're around LV, make sure to check out Valley of Fire. Nice little road, really scenic, excellent photo spot just about everywhere ... I liked it a lot (2 years ago ...). Damn ... did it just take a Canuck to tell you locals about Valley of Fire?
Julien, When I go to LV, its usually with the boys, the kinda "valley of fire" we visit, is likely different from what you are suggesting This trip is more of a PG-13 kind (with only 1 or 2 trips to the crazy horse too, and not the continous hours spent there ), so I will take it up on it. Any other map info? Road info? Guess, Canadians know a bit more than just hockey, eh? Well then again your name isn't Tom, you must not be a "real" Canadian. Thanks for the tip, brutha!
aaah, you got me messed up with the Hoover dam thing, Bryce and Zion ... That's usually my kind of trip, though. The least people I see the better! BTW, Zion does $uck, Bryce is actually pretty nice. As for Valley Of Fire, keep in mind it's pretty short, and can be an interesting alternative to getting in/out of LV (rather than freeway). This being said ... if company's waiting in LV, I understand the quicker route is the better! That's all I know for that area. We spent more time in Utah (specifically Moab...). BTW, the heat isn't all that bad. I went there second half of july, and it was hot indeed, but fine. In the car. With the A/C on. Full speed. PS ... I definitely am no Canadian. I don't drink Molson, I didn't notice there wasn't any canadian hockey this winter, and I don't hunt moose. Damn. I guess I'm just up here for the girls. It's PG-13 all year around! hahahaha
Sounds like a fun trip. One suggestion. If you have time, take 95N from LV towards Reno, then 168 towards Big Pine/Mammoth. You will pass through some really remote and beautiful country. When you go over white mountains, you can swing by the bristle cone pine forest and the view of the Sierra's is just amazing from 9000ft. After that you can take 395 back to LA or spend a day in Mammoth/Mono/Yosemite area. Enjoy!
Thank you for the tip. I will see if I can squeeze that in. On the 5th of july morning we are already doing a red eye to LA from NYC. Also on Friday July 8th at night, I have a wedding to attend to, thus having to come back by Friday. Sat July 9th, we are in San Deigo all day for a day trip. As you can see really busy end of june-mid july. I will squeeze in as much as we can. Lot will depend on how much we want to drive, and our energy levels.
Thanks for the info Julien. Much appreciated as always. I read that whole thing, and was thinking myself that "wow maybe he really is normal and not canadian , but then I got to the PG-13 part, and knew you are a 100% canadian. Real men do XXX (except when family might be involved--then its pg13 like my trip )
