 Poster: A snowHead
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I have been dispatched to research a possible summer trip - end of June to mid July (2 weeks).
I would love to go to the Grand Canyon starting in Phoenix - Las vegas (not too bothered about this bit but am curious) then Grand canyon - Death Valley - Yosemite - Lake Tahoe - San Francisco (have friends here to stay with). Doing some white water rafting, hiking, sailing, cycling, horse-trekking etc. I don't know much about San Francisco other than Alcatraz is there so any advice or suggestions would be very welcome. (Flights etc are very reasonable for this option).
Other option is Calgary - Banff - Lake Louise - Kamloops - Whistler - Vancouver but this seems to be very expensive especially the accommodation and more expensive to fly to. We've been to Lake Louise and Banff in winter so I would prefer to see somewhere new.
A one-off trip so would like to cram lots in! All advice welcome!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Grand canyon and Death Valley in July = HOT!
Some people might enjoy that. It'd be a deal-breaker for me.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I'm not great with sun actually but last time we were in the USA it was 40degrees - still they have plenty of air conditioning. Not totally fixed on the time we go.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Mrs johnboy wrote: |
| I'm not great with sun actually but last time we were in the USA it was 40degrees - still they have plenty of air conditioning. Not totally fixed on the time we go. |
If you can, avoid first week of July. National holiday and the traditional "first day of summer (travel) season"!
Top of Grand Canyon will be cool even in July. Bottom (if you go) will be hot.
Death Valley will be a big no-no, as pointed out by ami in berlin. Better to just skip it till another trip in more suitable season.
[EDIT] Starting from Phoenix, you can also head east after Grand Canyon to hit Zion & Bryce. Maybe add Moab if you still have time.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Yosemite's a must.
All 3 times I've been through Death Valley it was July and 45 to 48 degrees (and no A/C). Just get acclimatised 1st and take lots of water, of course. It's not that good but Highway 395, the Owens Valley north from there is - Lone Pine, Mt Whitney, Bristlecones, Yosemite, Mono Lake, the ghost town Bodie and all the way up to Lake Tahoe
There's not a lot of water for whitewater rafting at that time of year.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We were told we'd have to stop off in Death Valley as the journey from the Grand Canyon to Yosemite would be too long - perhaps there is another route?
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You can stop at Las Vegas.
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There's some threads on Snowheads about doing the Canadian trip in Summer.
I've done it twice, it's fantastic.
If you want to do the outdoor stuff, the climate in the Canadian rockies will be far more pleasant.
You've been to Banff and Lake Louise but that's just a very small part of it.
Recommend something like:
Airport -> Banff/Lake Louise. 5 nights recovering from Jetlag and daytripping. Don't miss:
- Kicking Horse river rafting
- Day in Yoho National Park - Takkakaw Falls and Emerald Lake.
- The hiking round Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Drive to Jasper along Icefields Parkway. Full day stopping at Many incredible sights.
Jasper 4 nights. More rafting, outdoor stuff.
Drive to Clearwater, afternoon in Wells Gray Park (waterfalls, hiking).
1 night in Clearwater
Drive to Whistler. 2 nights Whistler. Not a patch on the Rockies in summer but plenty of nightlife and activities like Ziptrek.
Drive to Vancouver. 2 nights Vancouver. I thought it was a bit rubbish but most people seem to like it.
Surprised the flights are that expensive. Even Zoom?
The accomodation was pretty expensive. Accept that if you're not getting the deals shopping around that could be a dealbreaker.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Zoom from Belfast to Vancouver wasn't actually too expensive.
Trailfinders have got us a great price and some very reasonably priced accommodation for the USA trip option. Just have to make our minds up what one to go for. We weren't too bothered about going to Las Vegas but everyone says you got to go. Our Trailfinders itinerary includes a night or two at the Luxor with the room in the pyramid - should be interesting!
Must do some more research!
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LV isn't everyone's cup of tea. But it's situated in the middle of that big nowhere which makes for a good stopping over spot.
If you don't expect much, you might even find it pleasent enough...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Grand canyon - Death Valley - Yosemite - Lake Tahoe - San Francisco (have friends here to stay with). Doing some white water rafting, hiking, sailing, cycling, horse-trekking etc. I don't know much about San Francisco other than Alcatraz is there so any advice or suggestions would be very welcome. (Flights etc are very reasonable for this option).
Bit of a random order. I'd suggest skipping Deat Valley too and just stop somewhere on spec. up to Yosemite. Grand Canyon would be baking at the bottom. The road up that Degage, points out is a great scenic drive. Tahoe is relatively cool by the lake and very scenic (the lake stays very cold all year). LVs OK for a day or two, no more. Lots to do in and around San Fran.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Mrs johnboy wrote: |
| We were told we'd have to stop off in Death Valley as the journey from the Grand Canyon to Yosemite would be too long - perhaps there is another route? |
There are small towns all along any route and they all have motels.
They get cheaper the further they are from the center of town and the owner run ones will often give a big discount for cash and forget to ask you to register, if you know what I mean.
I love Las Vegas.
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Degage, Johnboy wants to stay in a shady motel like the one in dumb and dumber with the heart shaped jacuzzi! 
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You know it makes sense.
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what Degage, says is true. We stayed in a place in, I think it was called, Inyoberg. For 40 dollars or whatever it I thought I'd bought the place.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Mrs johnboy, if you like desert scenery do the Canyon trip, which is absolutely stunning, otherwise take the Canadian option. If doing the Canyon, Bryce is an absolute must also (two nights is enough, giving you a full day for hiking though it) - Zion is less spectacular, but will give you a welcome view of water, but will give you terrain similar to Yosemite (on a much smaller scale). If you and jb are into hillwalking, instead of stopping off in Death Valley between Yosemite and Gd Canyon, how about climbing Mt Whitney? If you're fit and start early in the morning, you can do it in a day, or start in the afternoon take a tent and camp halfway up (like hiking the Canyon, it's a hike along a made up path all the way). Did this in Sept when I was about 30. Following day (as we essentially did your route in reverse) we went to LV via Death Valley and even then it was still pretty hot - about 49C at 2pm  . I'm not a gambler, so LV was interesting for an hour or so, but one night was more than enough for me.
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Poster: A snowHead
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GrahamN, Thanks Graham - That sounds good - I think we're planning on September now which should be a little bit more comfortable than July.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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MrsJohnboy, Vegas is a must on that trip, where else can you visit for free New York, Venice, Ancient Rome, Lake Como with 250 ft musical fountains, Ancient Egypt, Paris, an erupting volcano and see a galleon sink with full pyrotechnics all in one day. It may sound tacky, but it's very well done. It'll make an interesting counterpoint to the natural wonders.
I'd do the US trip, especially as you've already seen the Canadian Rockies before. I've done the Pacific Coast Highway, San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas. Would love to go back to all these plus Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion NP, Death Valley and Lake Tahoe, though 2 weeks probably wouldn't be long enough. Your itinerary sounds doable though. September sounds a better month to visit the desert areas, should be cheaper too.
EDIT-for clarity
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FAQ
. Seriously, if you can resist the temptation to gamble there are some amazing architectural sights eg Luxor, and the Casinos do very good value all-you-can-eat buffets 