what do you think about our itinerary? Santa Fe-San Francisc

hi,

me and my husband are planning 2 week holiday in August driving around southwestern US (arriving in Santa Fe or ABQ) staying 2 days around here and heading off to Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Las Vegas (through St.George) towards San Francisco. We would stay around 2 days in each place and also take it easy, relax and see where we decide to stay longer or move on. We love travelling, visiting little towns and admire nature. What do you think about our plan? Is there anything you would recommend more or less? What about the roads and distances? it seems we will make over 2,000km, which is not bad. hopefully we leave some space for day off driving. Which way from Las Vegas to San Francisco would you suggest? i would love to drive along the coast for some distance but as far as I can see on the map, the road is not great. let me hear your opinions:)

what do you think about our itinerary? Santa Fe-San Francisc

Sounds like a great trip, but a lot of territory to drive through. Here%26#39;s a plan that could work.

Day 1 arrive Albuquerque NM. Drive to Santa Fe for the night.

Day 2 Santa Fe. See the sights, museums, the Plaza etc. Have a great New Mexican meal.

Day 3 Drive to Albuquerque via Turquoise Trail, Hwy 14. Stop and see Madrid (pronounced Mad Rid). One in Abq. See Old Town, some museums and possibly Sandia Tram or Petroglyph Nat Mon. A tour to Acoma Pueblo is a must. Stay in Abq.

Day 4 Drive to Monument Valley area, via Canyon de Chelly Nat Park

Day 5 Sunrise at Monument Valley, on to Grand Canyon. Stay inside the park

Day 6 Grand Canyon. Stay inside GC Nat Park

Day 7 Grand Canyon in morning, then drive to Vegas

Day 8 Vegas

From here... I would ask on the California Forums. I have not traveled this route since I was a kid.

what do you think about our itinerary? Santa Fe-San Francisc

You do have quite an adventurous trip planned! :-)

First of all, you%26#39;d be flying into Albuquerque, as our capital city doesn%26#39;t have any major, commercial airline connections. (Santa Fe is only an hour%26#39;s drive from Albuquerque however.) You%26#39;d want to get your car rental at Albuquerque International anyway...more choices.)

Canyon de Chelly National Monument is neat, but I%26#39;d choose Mesa Verde National Park in SW Colorado instead via Durango...then on to Monument Valley...and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. You specifically mention going through St. George, Utah, so I%26#39;m supposing you also wish to see Zion National Park, and possibly nearby Bryce Canyon National Monument in SW Utah enroute. You could also take in the North Rim of the GC, but if you%26#39;ve spent two days on the south side, you could probably skip it.

I%26#39;ve been across to San Francisco and back a few years ago, (one way out, another way back) so I%26#39;ll recommend you travel my ';Southern Route'; from Las Vegas, to Barstow, then Bakersfield, and over to the coast via CA-58 at Morro Bay. The drive north along Highway 1, will be beside some of the finest scenery on the Pacific Coast, especially so in the Big Sur area. Be sure to stop in Monterey Bay and see their excellent aquarium. You can continue on CA-1, all the way to San Francisco. Or, cut off on CA-9 at Santa Cruz, and travel past some of California%26#39;s famous, giant Redwood trees.

In between your destinations, you%26#39;ll be traveling through a lot of ';boonies,'; so you can make time during these portions, and go slow when you reach the ';highlight'; places on your trip. Sounds great!

Get back if you need any more ';opinions.'; :-)

thanks a lot! to be honest since I posted my note, I went through the map again and I slightly changed the plan.

Instead of going through Flagstaff to GC from ABQ/Santa Fe I think it would be better to take turn in Gallup and head north (stop to see Window Rock).

I would love to see Canyon de Chelly as you are suggesting, but maybe we will decide then if we have time etc. After: Monument Valley - down to GC- maybe Glen Canyon NP or stay at Lake Powell - after Zion (been to Bryce already, well been to some of those parks like GC and Zion, Monument Valley, but my husband hasnt seen those places). And then down to Las Vegas-San Francisco.

The route to San Francisco seems fabulous, that%26#39;s what I%26#39;m looking for. I wonder if the coastal part of the road won%26#39;t be too bumpy or bendy. But it sounds great. And also the part with the Redwoods. Thanks a lot!

male makeup