summer vacation-Colorado/Utah area

[cookiedough]

Since last year we never had time to go on any vacation more than a day on the weekends,  thinking of a 2 week long vacation (if we both are able to get off work) to Colorado/Utah driving there taking 24 hours about or so.  If driving that far family trip with car,  might as well take 2 weeks to see the sights.

question:  Is June or July or August the best time to go there?  We were thinking last few weeks in June before it gets too hot??

Plus, any advice from the Colorado/Utah folks on here on sights/places to see since am sure there are plenty and don't want to miss too many in those 2 weeks.  More interested in visiting landscape/scenery more than anything else probably doing a lot of driving as well once out there.

Going to get my vacation request in next week before the others do in order to take off, if even possible, 1 whole month and be gone for awhile and see if it gets approved.  My wife this year is even loosing some of her vacation time UNPAID which is total B.S. since she can only carry over 18 days of vacation into next year. 

[..]

The list of must sees is large.

Please MAKE SURE you visit Zion National park. It's beautiful

View 1 Zion Canyon June 18, 2012	powered by Aeva

Motels in Hurricane are cheaper than those by the park.


I'd skip some places and go to the Grand Canyon. Northern rim.

[sandy]

A great day ride loop is the Durango, Delores, Telluride, And back to Silverton and then Durango. Stop, take your time and lots of pictures. Cortez National Park for Indian ruins. If old cars interest you, go through Gateway (Google earth it). Great collection by the owner of Discovery TV. The resort is untouchable (over $600 a night) so stay in Grand Junction. From GJ, go West into Utah for all it has to offer.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I know where I'm going in June. (Unless some unforeseen tragedy happens) 

[Oss]

Get a National Park Pass  Just do it

I agree dont miss Zion but unlike Paul if you have only one night you will really benefit from staying at ZIon Best Western  was a fair rate for what we got, killer view and being right there

The free bus to the park is right about 100 steps outside the door and lots of good dining,

We  made reservation well in advance rode up in the rental car arriving by 10 or so, room was ready and we dumped the overnite bag and took the bus into the scenic area then hiked till dinnertime  Next day we rode 9 both ways then returned to Vegas  

You cant drive the scenic trail during peak season but it was open in March when I was there on the Valk the free shuttle from the entrance will take you everywhere and you can hike to your heart's content  You can however drive rt 9 thru the park and then swing up to Bryce or wherever

[Crackerborn]

The Grand Canyon is a must and I agree with the north rim comment, it is higher and has vegetation to protect our delicate epidermis from the suns harmful rays. Zion and Bryce Canyon are two others that I have revisited over the years. If you plan making a family trip of it, and windshield time isn't too much of a concern, circle back through Yellowstone, Wind Song, and the Black Hills. I understand there may be a few lost F6C souls around the Black Hills in June. I was in the Black Hills last July on the Big Girl and it took just over 11 hrs and you are about a hour west of me. Reservations well in advance around the National Parks are a good idea as well as the Park Pass. When looking at maps of the western realm make sure you look at mileage from point A to point B, the south rim of the Grand Canyon is a long day away from the north rim where my reservation for the evening was (campground) but someone just had to see the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. I seem to remember waking the neighbors setting up camp that night (or morning). 

And 4 corners is a photo opportunity no child should not be blackmailed with later in life (sort of like the southernmost point in the continental US).

[Misfit]

We are having a Valkyrie motorcycle gathering that we call Inzane in June. It will be held in Spearfish SD. It is a family event.