Sweet Willie

Gourmet magazine listed the restaurant Nevada Dinner House as a great spot for lunch and dinner, apparently there is some Basque culture/influence from the shepards in the hills nearby. Located at 351 Silver Street in Elko, phone 775.738.8485

cblaisd

It's that time again. I know you have been breathlessly awaiting helping plan this year's version of Boys-Drive-Through-The-Desert.

Here are four possible routes that I, as the designated router and hotel/motel-getter, am considering given both past drives and things we enjoying doing and seeing (doing = mostly driving punctuated by eating, and seeing=interesting things that can be seen from the car which means both stretches of desert and stretches of mountains and the ability to drive long distances without return to where one started. Living on an island where driving for 5 hours brings you back where you started that's nice to do once a year to return me to my Texas roots

This is also the annual build-up-the-Hilton-HHonors-stays-'n'-nights trip

This trip once again starts LAS on a Sunday evening and ends there so we can both fly home on Thursday morning:

POSSIBLE ROUTE #1

MONDAY
http://tinyurl.com/2zrngt
Las Vegas to Ajo, Arizona
(there are a couple of decent motel reviews for Ajo, and the town sounds interesting)

TUESDAY
Following the route/ideas of this article:
http://tinyurl.com/3dremk and
traveling this route:
http://tinyurl.com/2gb6c4
Overnight in Tuscon. Note: If we were tired we could cut it short at I-19 and head straight for Tuscon.

WEDNESDAY
http://tinyurl.com/2zrngt
Overnight in Vegas.

Distadvantages of this route: 1) The last day is too long, leaving us too little time to give away or money in Vegas Some of the third day could be shortened by taking the interstates, but we tend to like the smaller highways. 2) Lots more desert than mountains; we like both. Advantages: The second day's drive, as describe by the NYT does sound intriguing.

I am not familiar with Arizona, so that second day's routing could no doubt be improved by someone who was.

ROUTE #2

MONDAY
http://tinyurl.com/yuklud
Overnight in Baker NV
http://www.greatbasinpark.com/
These look like the best bet:
http://www.greatbasinpark.com/getawaycabin.htm
http://www.outside-art.com/EOT.html

TUESDAY
http://tinyurl.com/2ced55
Overnight in Cedar City.

We've driven highway 12 in the other direction Zion-->Escalante-->Torrey, and have wanted to see it again. This routing skips the section that has Torrey and then over the mountain (which is pretty stunning) to Boulder and on to Escalante and instead drives the Burr Trail to Escalante (I'm told the Burr Trail is also gorgeous)

WEDNESDAY
http://tinyurl.com/yo9sab
Easy drive to Vegas, leaving more time for our investment strategies at the tables.

ROUTE #3

MONDAY
http://tinyurl.com/2dutva
We driven this exact drive before and wouldn't mind doing it again.
Overnight somewhere in Torrey, UT

TUESDAY
http://tinyurl.com/36rj7l
A couple of years ago we did Monument Valley and Kayenta, and enjoyed it immensely. Could also eat one again at Amigo Cafe in Kayenta for the best Navajo Tacos I've ever had. The ferry over the Colorado would be a new twist. We've not done the first part of the drive -- up through Mexican Hat -- before, and descriptions of the road that parallels the Capitol Reef sound intriguing.
Overnight in Kayenta, AZ

WEDNESDAY
http://tinyurl.com/2jxwff
We've done this route before in the opposite direction. Would enjoy seeing the Grand Canyon Museum in Page, and woul really enjoy the drive along the Vermillion Cliffs again.

ROUTE #4

MONDAY
http://tinyurl.com/2bzno5
Basically Wednesday of Route #3 in reverse

TUESDAY
Another Highway 12 excursion, but beginning with the Colorado River ferry and then cutting over on the old road through the Capitol Reef Park to Boulder.
Overnight in Cedar City.

WEDNESDAY
http://tinyurl.com/yo9sab

So, any general thoughts?

My own preference right now is in this order: 4, 2, 3, 1

And, btw, if you'd be interested in offering your ideas for video fare, see here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...6&postcount=83

AZ_MISMAN

Unfortunately, I don't think the amount of time permits, but you could route your Tucson -> Las Vegas trip via Show Low, AZ. This would solve your desert vs. mountains issue. At any rate, I hope that one of your Southwest trips brings you our way sometime.

kellio33

I've been through Ajo a couple of times and it's not that exciting. Not sure if I would overnight there. If you continue along and cross the border at Lukeville you could then drive another 1 to 1/2 hours to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point). The drive along there can be absolutely beautiful and the Organ Pipe National Monument is about 20 miles past Why. Once you cross the border the roads are actually better in Mexico than on the US side. Coming into Rocky Point are some great Dunes and you can rent quads for a little adventure in the dunes. Over Christmas it was so windy it looked like snow drifting across the road but it was sand!

RP is an old shrimping town on the Sea of Cortez that is now growing up and has some fabulous places to stay. Las Palomas is my favorite. Great sea shelling on Sandy Beach. Heading into old port finds the shrimp and fish market as well as one of my favorite taco stands.

cblaisd

That sounds very intriguing indeed!

But we've ended up with this as our final candidate:

DAY 1
http://tinyurl.com/2bzno5
LAS to Page (perhaps a side trip to north rim; Vermillion Cliffs, Grand Canyon Museum in page) and on to Kayenta.

DAY TWO

Kayenta to Cedar City, UT -- through the western edge of Monument Valley, then the ferry across the Colorado, Burr Trail/Bullfrog Road, the old road through Capitol Reef into Boulder, perhaps the Escalante Trail Boulder to Escalante then onto Cedar City.
http://tinyurl.com/24bj4v

DAY THREE
Easy drive back to LAS for plenty of time of night before departure investing
http://tinyurl.com/yo9sab

I'd be particularly interested in those who have some thoughts/expertise/suggestions re the general routing of day two.

Seat 2A

I apologize if I missed this somewhere, but when are you doing this drive? March? May? The reason I ask is because the road to the North Rim is closed seasonally.

I used to work the back country desk at Zion N.P. and if you've not driven Hwy. 9 through through the park, it's a worthy drive though it'll cost you $20.00. The alternative route out of Hurricane to Kanab along AZ389 offers Pipe Spring National Monument but far less dramatic scenery.

A nice side trip out of Page is Horse Shoe Bend, located just about 5 miles south of Page on US 89.

Also, perhaps for future reference you might want to consider a night at the historic Parry Lodge in Kanab.

Day Two through Monument Valley sounds great, and I'm sure you'll enjoy UT261 over Moeki Summit before continuing on to Cedar City as described (UT95 to UT12 I assume. Gorgeous route!

One suggestion for Day Three: Consider returning to Las Vegas via the following route:

From Cedar City, drive west on UT 56 to Panaca, Nevada.
From there head south down US 93 through Caliente back to Las Vegas.
After all, you'll have already seen everything along I-15 between St. George and Las Vegas.

A really nice side trip off US 93 would be to take NV375 (Junction is about 40 miles west of Caliente on 93) up to Rachel. You can have lunch at the Little Ale Inn, then turn around and head back to US 93 and on to Vegas. NV375 is otherwise known as the Extraterrestrial Highway because of the proximity of Area 51. All manner of whackos go out there looking for this or that but to me, NV375 is the prettiest highway in Nevada, especially in the morning and late afternoon. As for the Little Ale Inn, I've yet to ever stop in there but it's pretty much the only thing in Rachel. Total roundtrip mileage for this side trip: 80 miles.

Regardless of your final route, have a great drive!

cblaisd

Thank you SO much!

Excellent help!


Trip is for latish-April, so I know that the North Rim doesn't officially open until May 15, although I was there once on November 16 and while all the concessions were shut down, the restrooms were open.

cblaisd

Any other comments/experiences/suggestions regarding this route?

azepine00

SR 148 may still be closed near Cedar Breaks - IIRC it's over 10000 ft elevation overthere.

Mr. Vker

I don't know if you are asking about a previous route spoken about or additional possibilities.

8 years ago the family took a great trip out west.

Day 1) Flew into Vegas and drove on to South Rim Grand Canyon
Day 2) Visit Grand Canyon and drove to Monument Valley. Stayed at Gouldings Lodge. Not fancy, but comforable with AWESOME views.
Day 3-4) Drove to and stayed in the Bryce Canyon area.
Days 5-7) Vegas

Since then we have done similar routes that included Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. THEY ARE AWESOME. We stayed at a wonderful place called Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, Utah. The cabins are great.

cblaisd

2009 edition...

This one is a bit more challenging....

For an early February southwestern road trip, here are the parameters:

a) Flying into PHX mid-week, arriving by early afternoon.

b) Want four nights on the road

c) Don't really want to drive more than ~8 hours or so a day. (And we don't tend to stop and wander much; it's more the Griswold style of tourism <g>)

d) Due to cash realities (and opportunity) would really like to use HHonors points at Category 1 or Opportunity hotels (and need to nail that down before the devaluation on 1/14). In the sort-of area are: Deming NM, Alpine TX, Alamogordo NM, Los Alamos NM, Santa Rosa NM, Farmington NN, and Richfield UT.

e) Have driven the Moab-Monument Valley-Kayenta stretch several times. Wouldn't be averse to another one, but...

f) Would like some desert and some mountain; don't know if any of the major U.S. or state highways get closed in eastern Arizona that time of year.

g) If possible would enjoy a few hours in a casino. That could be a decent Native American casino or Vegas or ??

Some possibilities I've thought of:

Day 1 PHX-Deming NM. Either interstate or possibly the U.S. highway that cuts southeast from Phoenix to east of Tucson.

Day 2 Deming to Alamogordo (with a loop through Cloudcroft)

Day 3 Alamogordo to either Los Alamos or Farmington (but that makes for a long Day 4 back to PHX)

or Deming to Show Low AZ doing some mountain and national forest highways (although the HHonors property there is 20K)

Day 4 Wherever back to PHX for an overnight before Day 5's flight home

OR

Day 1 PHX-Deming

Day 2 Deming to Alpine Texas (via Marfa)

Day 3 Alpine back to Deming? North to Alamogordo? (The latter makes a long drive back to PHX on Day 4)

Day 4 Wherever back to PHX for an overnight before Day 5's flight home

OR

Day 1 PHX-Las Vegas

Day 2 Las Vegas to Richfield UT. (Looks like some very nice mountain scenery?)

Day 3 Richfield to Farmington NM via Torrey Utah (with maybe a swing through Durango CO)

Day 4 Back to PHX for an overnight before Day 5's flight home

Or you may have better ideas

Oh my, you were right. What a stunning climb up that ridge to the summit.

cheepneezy

I'd definitely recommend a sunset at White Sands if you want to deal with the drive...with a lovely night at the Hampton Inn.

DenverBrian

There's a whole lot of nothing in Deming, NM - but the scenery is okay along I-10.

I think you're wise to try to stay south given your early February time frame.

Consider making a stretch run to Carlsbad Caverns.

cblaisd

Helpful. Thank you.

Three possibilities at first blush:

http://bit.ly/7LCpoi

http://bit.ly/6GbBJm

http://bit.ly/89Tg08

cblaisd

Particular question about the third possibility: Would this circuitous routing from Show Low to PHX keep us in mountains/forests most of the trip?