Need help planning

[audidriver4ever]

This is ‘off topic’ but because you live in the desired area, we hope somebody is willing to help us planning and put energy in it.
We are planning to visit the SW USA in 2009. If affordable, but that’s only known when the planning is complete.
We have some Roundtrip suggestions gathered and like to combine some of them.
If you are willing to help us, please PM me.

[audidriver4ever]

Nobody? [:(]

[jrau13]

What exactly are you looking for? Ideas of where to visit in socal?

[michgo]

Not too sure what your asking here? Are you looking for standard southwest stuff to do? Car meets? Let us know.

[audidriver4ever]

Wow! that's nice of you (both). [up]

I have to think how to explain you what our plans are and what we like/want. And my English is far from perfect and sometimes not understandable. Noticed that in this Forum.
I have to prepare some text so please have some patience.

[audidriver4ever]

Hi all!

To get some more help I've posted in this Sub Forum too.
==================================================

There is a little problem to get my list split-up into the 3 parts of the SW Sub-forums.
Please be so kind to write what city or whatever listed belongs in which sub forum.
Thanks for your attention [up]

- Albuquerque
- Arches National Park
- Bryce Canyon
- Canyon de Chelly
- Capitol Reef
- Death Valley
- Durango
- Grand Canyon [NV/AZ]
- Lake Powell
- Las Vegas
- Mesa Verde
- Moab
- Montezuma's Castle
- Monument Vallay
- Oak Creek Canyon
- Palm Springs
- Petrified Forest
- Phoenix [NV/AZ]
- Salt River Canyon
- San Fransisco (Golden Gate, Tram…) [NorCal]
- Sante Fe
- Sequoia National Park
- Taos
- Tucson [NV/AZ]
- Yosemite
- Zion Canyon
- Zion National Park

[audidriver4ever]

Hi all,

Thanks for your patience and already shown willingness to suggest.

Because it seems impossible to get my ‘want to visit’ List split-up so I would be able to post the concerning cities in the concerning Sub-Forum, I post the list completely in all the 3 Sub-Forums.[;)]


We (Wife and I) have been visiting the US East Coast (Florida, N&S Carolina, Georgia) several times for a holiday but that was in the 80’s and 90’s when we had as we called them, our 3rd set of parents in Vero Beach FLA.
They were retired folks but very sweet and treated us like their own kids. BTW She used to cook for the LA Dodgers when they had their Winter Training in Vero Beach.
Unfortunate they both died in 2000 shortly after each other.
As you can see by clicking my profile, I’m on early retirement so I’m one of the older guys in this Forum.

Now the exchange rate euro/dollar is in our favour, we like to visit (privately) the SW part of the US in 2009 and hope to get some ideas/suggestions etc. from you.

We figured out already that April/May and October are the best periods to visit because temperatures are mostly comfortable around that time.

Of course we can arrange a round trip at the local Travel agent but perhaps it’s possible to plan (by us) with your help and experience something unique.
It could also end up in a combination of travel options.
At this point we don’t even know how we will travel around in the SW States. It’s all very premature yet.
We are thinking of rental car/camper. No complete Bus tour, hate that! [mad]
But if it's more convenient to get somewhere by Rail instead by car/camper, please tell us.
Don’t know the advantages or disadvantages (car/camper) yet.
Perhaps you have experiences about that?

Most of the flights from The Netherlands to the SW-USA are to LA or SF, but perhaps it’s better to do it this time different and to fly to Phoenix and start/end there?
Or start Phoenix and end in LA or SF?

What do we like to see/visit in a period of 21-28 days?I copied some from travel magazines..
There maybe spots where we like/should stay a couple of days extra because of all the things worthwhile to see. No long periods for a beach holiday, large city or Las Vegas please.
That’s where your info is most welcome too!

[U]Do you have suggestions (by your experience) about some of the listed below? What is per item a ‘must see’ or ‘must do’? And can you specific mention?

- The National Parks in the SW. Or is it seen two/three, the others aren’t that much different to drive a long distance to it, so isn’t worthy?
-
- Albuquerque
- Arches National Park
- Bryce Canyon
- Canyon de Chelly
- Capitol Reef
- Death Valley
- Durango
- Grand Canyon
- Lake Powell
- Las Vegas
- Mesa Verde
- Moab
- Montezuma's Castle
- Monument Vallay
- Oak Creek Canyon
- Palm Springs
- Petrified Forest
- Phoenix
- Salt River Canyon
- San Fransisco (Golden Gate, Tram…)
- Sante Fe
- Sequoia National Park
- Taos
- Tucson
- Yosemite
- Zion Canyon
- Zion National Park

We know it is probably too much to see for this visit but you get an idea of what we want/like to visit.

Dining: we like most of the food. Italian is favourite but not every day. Dislike pork, pepper, sauerkraut, high prices and too much fast food.

Activities: driving in a nice area, walking, strolling around, and shopping! Short distances of biking, relaxing, drinking a good coffee, little alcohol (wife) for me as a driver NO, NO smoking (both).
NO Disneyland and the Universal, we have been to Florida already as you read above.

Driving: not too long distances (over 700 miles/day), unless it’s worth it to see where we are going to.

We hope you are able to help us by your experiences and give us advice about where to stay, rent, what/where to rent, discount offers and all the other things that might be interesting or handy etc.

Thanks for reading this.

Regards,