Family Road Trip

[Trekhawk]

SK said I should give a little trip report from my latest holiday so here it is.

The family and I headed off to Colorado for two weeks via Arizona and Utah.

We hit Vegas first and then on to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
For all of you that have only been to the South Rim the North Rim is worth a trip. The scenery is very different on the way into the park than the South Rim and the view of the Canyon is from a higher elevation than the South (8000 feet I think).

From here we went thru Monument Valley and up to Moab. My favourite state so far on our travels around the USA has been Utah and this trip didnt change my mind. Canyonlands and the Arches National Park are just breath taking and I could have spent the whole holiday there exploring.

After leaving Utah we made our way into Colorado and enjoyed a few days in Boulder. Man I love this place, cyclists everywhere. After leaving Boulder we headed to the Rocky Mountain National Park (tunes from John Denver playing in my head and occasionally out of my mouth much to the horror of my children) and enjoyed some spectacular scenery and spotted some Coyote and Elk.

From Northern Colorado we made our way towards the middle of the state and visited some pretty places near Brekenridge and then travelled down the million dollar highway to Silverton. From here we hit Durango and then on to Mesa Verde National Park.

Mesa Verde is an amazing place and I still feel awe struck when I think of the cliff dwellings and the people who made them.

The USA is a country with a wealth of natural beauty and I feel so lucky to be having this chance to see and feel it. My family and I hope to experience more of the beauty before we head back to Aust in Mid 07.

If you are American and you havent seen many of your National Parks......what are you waiting for....get out there you wont regret it.


Snaps below are of Canyonlands National Park Utah and Mesa Verde Colorado.

[Bikingmomof3]

Your vacation looks and sounds wonderful! I lived in Wyoming and spent a lot of time in the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado. Only I did not bike then, just hiked.

[SadieKate]

Wow, Trek, you really covered some ground. My family traveled those same areas multiple times when I was the age of your boys. We only went back when we started going on mtb tours. That's what got me to the North Rim. Thank for the write up.

Rocky mountain HI-IGHHHHHH! Coloradoooooooo.

[DeniseGoldberg]

It sounds like you had an awesome time. Thanks for sharing.

And I have to agree with you on the Utah parks. Moab & Canyonlands are among my favorites - but Bryce & Zion are awesome too.

--- Denise

[bikerz]

Hey Leslie! I was wondering where you had been!

What a great trip - and nice photos too!

You know, I'm ashamed to admit it, but I have lived in CA for 24 years, and still haven't been to Yosemite! I'm going to try and remedy that this fall...

(In my in defense, I am more of an ocean than a mountain person...)

[Trekhawk]

Hey Denise - you are right about Bryce and Zion we went to these two parks on our first road trip in the States. Zion rates amongst my favourite spots in the world.

[Trekhawk]

Your vacation looks and sounds wonderful! I lived in Wyoming and spent a lot of time in the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado. Only I did not bike then, just hiked.

Travelled across Wyoming on one of our other treks to Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone. Beautiful areas.

So many beautiful places and so little time. Hmm best I be winning the lottery I think.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Zion rates amongst my favourite spots in the world.

I've been to Zion twice, and I'm not done yet!

Another one for you - have you been to Glacier National Park in Montana yet? If you haven't, I'd recommend putting it on your list of places to see before you head back home. And if you get to Glacier, wander across to Waterton Lakes in Canada too. (If you haven't been to either, there are a few pictures of both parks in this journal of my bike trip in 1998.)
--- Denise

[Trekhawk]

I've been to Zion twice, and I'm not done yet!

Another one for you - have you been to Glacier National Park in Montana yet? If you haven't, I'd recommend putting it on your list of places to see before you head back home. And if you get to Glacier, wander across to Waterton Lakes in Canada too.

--- Denise

Thanks Denise I will add that to our list.

[Bikingmomof3]

Now thatt my entire family and I bike, I would love to go back. Ah, someday.

[Veronica]

Cool! Sounds like you guys had a great time. Do you have to go back next year? Can't you stay a little longer.

V.

[Trekhawk]

Cool! Sounds like you guys had a great time. Do you have to go back next year? Can't you stay a little longer.

V.

I wish we could V but departure looks set for around July next year.