Aussies travelling Vegas to Denver...help

[x5fromOz]

Hi all,
We will be in the US on the 18th Dec and after doing the usual theme park thing for a week, we will be travelling to Vegas and then on to Denver for a week in Vail over the New Year period. We will have about 6 days to spend travelling between Vegas and Denver and would like to know if there are any spectacular stops along the way that we should not miss. We are a family of 4 (2 boys Aged 15 & 17) so anything with a bit of excitement attached to it will be good.
I know I have already asked about theme parks in LA, and the info you guys supplied was great...unfortunately we wont be travelling in the comfort of our X5 but more than likely an Ford Expedition ...unless of course some nice members would like to offer their X5

Thanks in advance...this site rocks
Rod & Katrina
Sunshine Coast Queensland Oz

[B-Line]

Hey Rod,

You might want to make a detour and stop in Sedona Arizona. It is an amazing place with fantastic scenary. They have some really good restaurants too. There is one Italian restaurant, I think it's called Dean and Deluca or something like that, it's REALLY good.

I must remind you that you are traveling to the US during our winter so the weather will be a bit brisk especially at higher elevations. And if you go to Sedona, your only an hour or so from the Grand Canyon.

Hope this helps.
B

[motordavid]

X5fromOZ...
6 days to "do stuff" from LV to Vail or,
6 days to do theme parks on the LeftCoast and
then LV and then haul azz to Vail?

We/I need a clearer time frame.

It's 650+ miles from LV to Vail, though I wouldn't
want to do it in one day, even under exc. summer conditions
as there is too much to see and outstanding scenery.
Plus, that is Big country...if you are still doing the RV thing,
you may have some real probs., weather-wise that time of
year. I would rec'd an AWD or 4 wheel drive vehicle, though
that may not give you the room you need with your teens.

It's not "winter" all across the US, in late Dec., but at any
bit of elevation, you will see, be in, and have lots of snow.

I've done M'cycle trips that offered 6" of snow on July 4th
on Interstate 70, in the Vail, CO area, so December can
offer 80 degrees at sea level and 10 degs F at altitude.
I would be prepared, as elevation gains are the standard in
most of that area you would be traversing from LostWages
to Vail and Denver.

Off the top of my head, stuff I've seen several times and would
rec'd to everyone

-Hoover Dam outside of LV: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

-Sedona, AZ as BLine mentioned is very pretty: maybe worth a
half a day and dinner; many resturants. http://www.visitsedona.com/

-Grand Canyon: A Must...it's 5-6 hours from LV to the Canyon.
I rec'd a motel res. in advance. One can easily spend a couple
days there, just "seeing" some of the views, from both South and
North rim. I believe they still run helicopter rides and they are titz.
links: http://www.nps.gov/grca/
and, http://www.grandcanyon.com/
and, http://www.grand.canyon.national-park.com/

-Monument Valley drive out of AZ into southern Utah:
http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/monument_valley/

-Southwestern Utah: Zion Natl Park, Bryce Canyon, Capitol
Reef & Escalante parks: outstanding site with many links and pics
here: http://www.so-utah.com/

-Western Colorado: http://westerncolorado.com/

That should give you some food for thought.
GL,mD

[yeowzer]

There will definately be snow but hopefully no blizzards. You could check out Moab, it's a pretty cool place. http://www.moab.net/linksystem/index.pl

You could check out lake powell too, although winter is not the best time of the year. http://www.powellguide.com/

You do not want to drive at night through Utah, There are a lot of deer that run across I-70 it can be really crazy.

I will be in Vail for New Years! Hopefully, we get the same snow we did last year. Where are you staying in Vail?

[x5fromOz]

Again...great info from the team of X5 world...lots of info to look at here. For 'motordavid', we a spending 5 days in LA then travelling to LV in one day and then taking 6 days to travel from LV to Denver. We may change this a little to go to San Diego (sea world) before LV, not sure if its worth it though?? We have given the RV idea away as we feel that it could be too dangerous that time of the year and will probably get are 'full sized' SUV 4x4. I have heard that Sedona is nice... will certainly look into that and all the other links you have all supplied.
'Yeowzer' we are staying at Willows Condos between the 31 and the 3rd...meet for a drink?? We cant wait to be in Vail for the New Years celebrations.

Thanks again

Rod & Katrina
Sunshine Coast Qld Aust.

[motordavid]

Rod,
I thought I understood your itin correctly...I just wanted
to confirm.

I wouldn't place Sedona near the top of a must see list, but
it's a nice area with some good scenery and a pleasant town.
(We looked there 6 years ago, as an alt to our idea of
moving to hillbillyheaven.)

If you are into some great drives, scenery and stuff, dig into
those links for info. The good news is you are not competing with the
summer tourist crowds; the less than good news is the weather,
at any decent altitude, in mid to late Dec. But, AZ, UT, CO remain
my three fave 2 lane blacktop driving roads in the US.

Have fun planning your trip, stay loose and flexible, and enjoy
seeing the western mtn country!
GL,mD

[yeowzer]

Rod,

My wife and I should be up there all weekend. My friend has a condo at Cascade Village, so it all depends when he is there. Drinks would be cool, I would love to meet some X5WORLDers. Vail is awesome for New Years, if you are planning to do anything in town you should try to make reservations now because everything gets booked for New Year's Eve. Check out www.snow.com, it lists all the resorts owned by vail and has all the activities that will be going on.

[x5fromOz]

Hey Yeowzer...leave a message at 'The Willows Condos' in Vail if you are going to be there...Nice to have a drink with you.
Can anybody tell me if the Ford Expedition Rental cars are 4x4 or 2x4. I have emailed the rental companies and they just reply with standard info that does not clarify this for me.
Also...I know I'm a pain, but I am on the other side of the planet...Has anybody been to Pagosa Springs Resort (hot springs) good...bad or ugly.
Thanks again
Rod & Katrina

[JCL]

Every Expedition or Navigator I have ever rented has been a 4x4. Don't think the 2wd versions have much resale potential, and that is really the business the rental car agencies are in.

[x5fromOz]

Thanks JCL...guess we will go for the Expedition...bigger is better they say!!