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OT, Rv holiday

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aussieprime
aussieprime Posts: 41
in EggHead Forum

For the good lady wife's birthday,we've been thinking of taking the kids on a trip to a few of your national parks in an RV, then ending up in Disney World Florida. Total trip time 4-6 weeks.

My question is what's the best time of year to see the parks, regarding weather, etc, I've been studying a few maps and can tell there's a some distance between.Must see would be Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore,then anything within similar distance.

And of course any Eggfests that happen to be on in the vicinity!

Any help would be appreciated.

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  • Chris_Wang
    Chris_Wang Posts: 1,254
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    Best time to go to Disney is February, September, or the first week in December.

    Ball Ground, GA

    ATL Sports Homer

     

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  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 30,981
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    Great idea! There is a lot of ground between Rushmore and Disney! I'd highly recommend Rocky Mountain National Park - phenomenal place. Of course there is also the Grand Canyon. If you can get to it, Arches is also really something. I'd also suggest the VLA and White Sands in NM. As for timing, at minimum you want to pick a time when the weather is decent so that you can get out and walk around and hike some with the kids.
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
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  • TUTTLE871
    TUTTLE871 Posts: 1,316
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    Since you are up in the area Devils Tower is a must see, and also if you see Mt Rushmore you should go see Crazy Horse (it's not finished) but its size is Amazing. If you are heading to Florida go see Stone Mountain on the way in Atlanta and you will have completed the trifecta of carvings in mountains.

    "Hold my beer and watch this S##T!"

    LARGE BGE DALLAS TX.

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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
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    Holy crap, that's some trip. Understanding that Oz is a continent, the size and scope of North America is mind boggling when seen from behind the windshield of a house on wheels. Best time IMO is late spring, early fall. Many of the mountain passes are open and the traffic is lighter as most US schools are still in session. 
    Assuming you want to actually enjoy the trip stop and look and see things, you might want to consider doing a western trip ending in Disney California or an eastern trip ending in Florida. For the west: Grand Canyon, Arches, Crater Lake, Yellowstone, Craters of the Moon, Rushmore/Crazy Horse, Devil's Tower, Rainier, Death Valley, Yosemite, Joshua, Mesa Verde, Lassen, Zion etc... and you are not even out of the western 10 states... let alone hit the BBQ stops in Texas.
    Similar stops are in the east as well. Hell, we might even like to see you in Canada, up the Rocky Mountain trench to Banff, or come on by if you are in the Vancouver area. 
     
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 9,846
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    If you end up going to Florida, I would highly recommend stopping by one or more of the fresh water springs for a swim (if it is warm) or to see manatees (if it is cold).

    Here is a link to a partial list.

    http://www.dep.state.fl.us/springs/locations.htm

    Only a few of them get manatees in the winter - like Blue Springs and Homosassa Springs.

    However, @Skiddymarker's suggestion of just doing the western US and Disney California is probably a good idea. 

     

     

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
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    That's a tough one. Every region has a lot to offer. Tennessee has 3 different areas that offer things to see and do. East TN has the Great Smoky Mountains, bluegrass music, Gatlinburg...West TN has blues music, Memphis bbq, Mississippi River, Graceland. ..Middle TN has Walking Horses, The Jack Daniels distillery and of course Nashville, Country Music USA and all that comes with it. And also we have Chattanooga with Civil War history and mountain activities...

    Like I said every area has do much to see and do it will be difficult to choose. If possible and depending on the time of year catch a baseball or football game. We'd love to have ya'll stop in Murfreesboro or Nashville.
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    Even Canada has Niagara Falls...at least the pretty half

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
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    +1 on the music and food scene in Tennessee and Kentucky. When I lived in Chicago and eastern Ontario we often vacationed in the States, our favourite tourist traps included Mammoth in Kentucky, Great Smokey Mountains (excellent motorcycle rides) and Shenandoah in Virginia. Of course the Everglades in Florida. Lots of history in the east mixed in with some very unique scenery. 
    I think in the US the eastern parks tend to be more vehicle friendly as they are surrounded by the majority of the population. As you go west, it tends to be a bit wilder, much like western Oz. 

    It is all good. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • aussieprime
    aussieprime Posts: 41
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    Thanks for all the info guys, what months are your early spring / fall, seeing as our summer is dec-February , it gets a bit confusing!
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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 9,846
    edited January 2014
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    This will hopefully be helpful:

    Winter = December - February
    Spring = March - May
    Summer = June - August - this is when US schoolchildren are not in school and tourist sites are most crowded
    Fall = September - November

    I would not necessarily avoid the summer months. That is when we all visit our tourist sites and still manage to enjoy them.

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
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    Spring..March, April and May
    More chance or rain and even a little snow. Beautiful blooms on trees and flowers. Great time for southern regions

    September, October, November
    September can still be warm but later has cooler nights, great fall colors, football season. Northern areas would be cooler this time of year.
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    Winter: September till June.

    Spring: June 1st till 21st

    Summer: June 21st till Aug 7th

    Fall: Aug 8th till 31st

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
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    Sucks to be Canadian

    =))
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    Man those three weeks are hot though!

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 9,846
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    If you start at Yellowstone in late February or early March you will get to see Yellowstone in the winter which is one of the most impressive nature sites on the planet - herds of buffalo and elk wandering through chest-deep snow, mounds of ice crystals 100 feet high next to 300 foot waterfalls, thermal elements making the river warm enough for fish so predator birds a hang nearby, etc).  And there are very few people there at that time of year.  Although, it gets a little cold for an RV - was 28F below zero when we were there in late February.

    6 (or even 4) weeks later you could be swimming in warm weather in Florida.  That would be a remarkable vacation hitting the temperature extremes of the US.

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • Duranhler
    Duranhler Posts: 78
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    I can only speak for west of the South West United States. Its a BIG country!! ;)
    Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California...
    Colorado: Mesa Verde, for Indian ruins, Durango for a narrow gauge train ride to 10,000 feet
    Arizona: Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, ***Kartchner Caverns *** Very Cool ***
    Utah: Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Salt flats
    Nevada: Las Vegas
    California: Lots to do there.
    Enjoy the planning, have a blasted good time!!!
    Peoria, AZ == XL BGE, Weber 22.5 Redhead, Fiesta Blue Ember Gasser
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    Duranhler said:
    I can only speak for west of the South West United States. Its a BIG country!! ;)
    Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California...
    Colorado: Mesa Verde, for Indian ruins, Durango for a narrow gauge train ride to 10,000 feet
    Arizona: Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, ***Kartchner Caverns *** Very Cool ***
    Utah: Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Salt flats
    Nevada: Las Vegas
    California: Lots to do there.
    Enjoy the planning, have a blasted good time!!!
    I would go to Disneyland and spend the trip in your half if it were me. You didn't mention Sedona or Tombstone AZ or the wine region and Monterrey CA

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • Duranhler
    Duranhler Posts: 78
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    Agreed LittleSteven. Tombstone is close to Karchner Caverns. That cave is awesome.
    I don't know a bunch about Cali, but there's lots to do there.

    Peoria, AZ == XL BGE, Weber 22.5 Redhead, Fiesta Blue Ember Gasser
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  • Duranhler
    Duranhler Posts: 78
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    BTW - kids will enjoy the cave. And the gunfight at OK Corral!

    Peoria, AZ == XL BGE, Weber 22.5 Redhead, Fiesta Blue Ember Gasser
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    The whole Florida thing gets old real quick IMHO and I'm talking about the kid's perspective. Lord knows I've done enough trips there. Specially if its 110% humidity

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • jeroldharter
    jeroldharter Posts: 556
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    You don't say what months you have to work with or how old your children are. Assuming that your children are school age and based on an internet search of the Australian school year, it looks like you would be here during our winter. In that case, you might find some of the western national parks, especially Yellowstone, a bit chilly for Australian sensibilities. In fact, most of the country will be cold for RV camping. 

    If that is the case, my advice would be to do a western trip only. For amusement parks, you could go to Disney Land in Anaheim and Six Flags around LA. For parks you could see the Salton Sea, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and then go up the west coast as far as Seattle and Olympic NP.

    For large cities you could see San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle.

    A west coast trip would minimize your driving, maximize decent weather, and allow you to see a number of American highlight.
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  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
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    If I was going to stay in the west you'd need to get over to Texas. ..
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
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  • aussieprime
    aussieprime Posts: 41
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    I must admit, going down to Florida does seem a bit too far to go. I've been to Disney world , but not Disneyland,is there much difference between the two? Also being a bit of an Elvis freak, I was hoping to take the kids to Gracelands. I reckon I'll have to face reality and unless I win the lottery stick with a sensible trip. The safe bet would probably be spring/summer trip to some parks then onto Disney land. I'm self employed, my holidays are flexible, might be able to tie in some of the trip with the kids mid year holidays, so they don't miss to much school.(not that they'd complain )..then maybe a quick stop in Vegas to win the cost of the holiday back on the roll of a dice!
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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
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    Disneyland is better IMHO, been twice to World, four times to Land - Keep them grandkids coming and there will be an excuse for another trip. Best Elvis - Vegas has some incredible shows, Graceland to pay homage, Vegas to enjoy the music. 

    Assume you'd fly into LAX.

    @Little_Steven - here on the left coast - we only have two seasons, spring or fall - really hard to tell the difference between them and construction. Todays news said Vancouver is the second most unaffordable city on the planet, after Hong Kong. If I could only convince SWMBO to sell…...
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • jeroldharter
    jeroldharter Posts: 556
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    I think most foreigners would be underwhelmed by Disneyland relative to Disney World. A child who had never been to Disney World would not know the difference. I think you do need to pick 1 or 2 priorities and decide on how much cold weather you can tolerate. I doubt you want to pack for below zero (F, not C) weather in Yellowstone plus 80 degree weather in Florida, but maybe you do. If you want scenery and American landscape, West is it. If you want amusement parks, museums, city based activities, then the East might be better but will be colder.

    For a first trip though, the West is hard to beat.
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  • aussieprime
    aussieprime Posts: 41
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    Thanks for all the input , been really helpful, I reckon West it is.Just need to pick the warmer time of year as the Aussie wife wears jumpers and jeans while I'm walking around in shorts and a tee!
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  • Duranhler
    Duranhler Posts: 78
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    aussie, just remember, you must be 18 or 21 (don't recall exactly) to enter a Vegas casino, but the rest of the Hotel is ok for kids. I got kicked out of a casino many, many years ago for being underage! I think I was 15 or 16. Security said OUT!
    Peoria, AZ == XL BGE, Weber 22.5 Redhead, Fiesta Blue Ember Gasser
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  • Coastalcooker
    Coastalcooker Posts: 185
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    Our first year of retirement we made a trip of several weeks to the four corners area. We were at Mesa Verde Memorial Day. Temps below freezing and in the nineties depending on where we were each night.

    Rocky Mountain NP stops plowing below the two mile elevation mark soon after labor day and much of the park shuts down. When my wife and I arrived June 9 several years ago to spend the summer as volunteers, there was fresh snow on the roof of the house.
    Florida is hot in the summer and mild other times of the year,but last weekend at a motorcycle rally lows were in the mid thirties.
    Hope you enjoy the trip.

    Bob
    Cookin' on the coast
    Shellman Bluff, GA
    Medium BGE

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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
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    aussieprime said:
    Thanks for all the input , been really helpful, I reckon West it is.Just need to pick the warmer time of year as the Aussie wife wears jumpers and jeans while I'm walking around in shorts and a tee!
    Before any of you pervs say something a jumper is a sweater

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
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    Little Steven said:
    aussieprime said:
    Thanks for all the input , been really helpful, I reckon West it is.Just need to pick the warmer time of year as the Aussie wife wears jumpers and jeans while I'm walking around in shorts and a tee!
    Before any of you pervs say something a jumper is a sweater
    Now I knew that being a Canuck, but I was waiting for the first "Merican to ask if she was on a ledge somewhere.....
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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