Hi we are an Australian couple driving our RV from Miami to Los Angeles and would love to find out about all the great things to see and do on the way thanks Chris and Mandy
Loralie said
11:11 AM Dec 20, 2008
wow...a lot of territory to cover and SOOO much to see. How much time do you have?
In Louisiana, I would do Betty's Rv park and the local food, then be sure to hit Santa Fe and on to Tucson. Spend some time in Tucson and go to Tubac then on to the Grand Canyon...a true American must see. Of course Las Vegas is amazing!
Hope you write a blog...would be interesting to read your perspectives on our country.
Loralie
no hurry said
01:09 PM Dec 20, 2008
Hi Chris and Mandy, first of all, I hope you enjoy the trip, whichever sites you make time for. If you should find yourself in Santa Fe and decide to jump on 40 hiway, over to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, you'll go thru Winslow Arizona. There you will find the Meteor Crater. At first when I heard about it, I poo-poo'd it but my daughter, who at the time was about 12, talked me into jumping of the hiway to stop there. It was well worth it, once we got there. Now, I always reccomend it to anyone who is in the area. Have a great time. Dave
chris said
08:43 PM Dec 20, 2008
HI L and L,we have 6 weeks to travel accross the US looking forward to the food and music and interestig sites,i wonder if you know of any particular sections that you would would take country roads .Chris and Mandy Port Douglas Australia(near Cairns)
chris said
08:44 PM Dec 20, 2008
thanks for the tip,meteor craters it is!
Judy said
08:34 AM Dec 21, 2008
If and when in New Mexico check out Chaco Canyon, Bandiler which is near Los Alamos. Pancho Villa State Park south of Deming and Carlsbad Caverns,and the Glen Wood area with the Catwalk. Even after living there for 12 yrs we still return to see these special places over again. Metor Crator is worth seeing also. southwestjudy
jcw said
09:30 AM Dec 21, 2008
Sounds like a great trip. If you make your way over to Las Vegas, NV, I'd recommend heading west another 60 miles to a little desert community called Pahrump. There you will find our all-time most favorite RV park, Terrible's Lakeside Casino and RV Park. Even if you don't gamble (and we don't do much of it ourselves), the park is SO beautiful and relaxing. It's a veritable oasis in the desert. The park is only 160 spaces surrounding a 7 acre lake, so it has a cozy uncluttered feel about it. Besides the casino (no live games, only slots) there is an on-site restaurant that serves a buffet along with a complete menu. Bev and I split a full order of baby back ribs for $10.95 the other night and had left overs for the next night! Love this place (oh, did I mention we're here now ). And the rates are not bad either. We stayed here for a week a couple of months ago and, taking advantage of the Passport America discount, it was only $147. This time we are here for a month and it's only $607 (with the PA discount). On top of that, we both, each, have won two RV Park vouchers at the casino (Wednesday is 10x points day) and received ~$80 cash back on the RV Park fees. And we have two more Wednesdays left to go before we leave .
Ok, ramble, ramble, ramble. Enough about Terrible's RV Park (love that name ). I hope you enjoy your trip and our beautiful country, no matter where you go or where you stay!
-- Edited by jcw at 09:36, 2008-12-21
chris said
05:23 PM Dec 21, 2008
THANKS JUDY I THINK WE WILL BE GOING THRU NEW MEXICO,WILL CHECK OUT THOSE PLACES LOVE TO GET THE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE,GOOD ONYA CHRIS AND MANDY(AUSTRALIA)
chris said
05:26 PM Dec 21, 2008
TERRIBLE DOESNT SOUND SO TERRIBLE AND WE LOVE YOUR RIBS WE WENT TO VEGAS EARLY THIS YEAR AND ENJOYED IT,WE HAD EVEN THOUGHT OF LEAVING THE RV IN VEGAS RATHER THAN LA MAYBE FOR CONVENIENCE ,WHAT DO YOU THINK?HI FROM AUSTRALIA CHRIS AND MANDY
thebearII said
09:49 AM Dec 22, 2008
Once you arrive in California you should see Death Valley, it's on the way to LA from Las Vegas. Be sure to see badwater, devils golf course, racetrack dry lake, scottie's castle, furnace creek, painted canyon...etc.
In LA there's Universal Studios to see how movies are made, Hollywood (Walk of Fame, Grumman's Chinese Theater, tour to see movie star homes), Venice Beach, Peterson Automotive Museum and a lot more.
If you have time to head north inland, there's the Sequoias (largest & oldest trees), Mount Lassen Volcano, and Shasta Lake.
Or head up the coast of the Pacific Ocean (Highway 1 & 101, Pacific Coast Highway) and you'll see Santa Barbara, California Missions, Pismo Beach, Hearst Castle, Monterrey, Pebble Beach 17 mile scenic drive, Redwood Forest and San Francisco.
chris said
08:10 PM Dec 22, 2008
Thanks ,the desert stuff sounds interesting,death valley seems like a western movie set!!Will head up the west coast on the next trip,all things being equal we will take a couple of trips a year to the US thanks for the info,i have a map going now that i will mark all of the interestig sites on to it,,regards Chris and Mandy(great Barrier Reef Australia)
pierreandcolleen said
08:56 PM Dec 22, 2008
Beginning in early November we headed from central Florida to Tucson, Arizona (where we will be spending the winter). Some of the places we have enjoyed along the way include:
1. Camping on the beach in Carrabelle, FL (Ho Hum RV park) 2. The Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX 3. Big Bend National Park, TX (out of the way, but worth it) 4. Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Carlsbad, NM 5. Tram to Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, NM 6. Hiking in Tucson Mountains and Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ 7. Eating at LaFuente Restaurant in Tucson, AZ 8. Visiting Sedona, Flagstaff, and Grand Canyon in Arizona
If interested in more info on these, you can check out our blog: www.colleenandpierre.wordpress.com Under archives, click on November and December....I usually include links to the places we've visited.
Have fun! Colleen
chris said
06:37 PM Dec 23, 2008
Thanks Colleen,i saw the big bend national park on a unique media map(3D) it looks like a good spot with the rio grande nearby?Could i ask a question please i am a member of campclub usa is it worth joining any other clubs ?Thanks for the info my map is getting quite a few sites on it now .Regards Chris and Mandy
pierreandcolleen said
08:39 AM Dec 28, 2008
Hi Chris and Mandy,
Sorry for the delayed response....I forgot to subscribe to updates to this thread.
If you will be visiting several national parks or Federal recreational areas I recommend getting the National Parks Pass...it is now called the Interagency Pass. Here is the link: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html
Without the pass it is usually $20 per vehicle to get into most National Parks. The Interagency Pass is $80 for 12 months and is best if purchased at the first National Park you visit since it expires 12 months from the purchase date. The Pass does not cover campground fees.
The only other membership we use regularly is Passport America: http://www.passportamerica.com/ It offers 50% off campground fees (about 1400 campgrounds are members). It is only $44 per year and it will definitely pay for itself.
Colleen
Donna162 said
01:29 PM Dec 28, 2008
I would like to second Coleen's recommendation to purchase a membership in Passport America. Well worth the cost! You can find all kinds of campgrounds either online or in the directory that they send you. Most of the campgrounds we have stayed in have been Passport America campgrounds.
Sandra said
03:03 PM Dec 28, 2008
I second going to Big Bend. We spent some time there four years ago and loved it! Also Sedona, AZ is lovely with all its red rocks as is Palo Duro Canyon (also has red rocks and lots of hiking trails) near Amarillo, TX (in the Texas panhandle). They have beautiful campgrounds there.
I also recommend Passport America. Worth the $39 for the year.
chris said
04:49 PM Dec 28, 2008
Thanks Colleen,nothing like info from people on the ground so to speak..I saw they have snow fields in New Mexico,have you or any other members of RV dreams visited by rv ?Thanks for the web links regards Chris and Mandy
chris said
04:51 PM Dec 28, 2008
Thanks Sandra,Passport america sounds good,will organise today..regards Chris
chris said
04:55 PM Dec 28, 2008
Thanks Donna,passport America sounds good i will organise today regards Chris(Port Douglas)google earth north of Cairns,North Queensland Australia on the great barrier reef if you would like to see some top reef .
Judy said
06:39 PM Dec 28, 2008
Chris snow fields in New Mexico? We lived there for 12 yrs and are going back in March. They do get snow there. However, I am wondering if you are thinking about White Sands National Monument?? Its a good place to see. southwestjudy
chris said
12:09 AM Dec 29, 2008
Thanks Judy,I thought i remembered seeing something about snow on a tourism site?Thanks for the info on the monument regards Chris
TXRVr said
10:27 AM Feb 9, 2009
Chris> I make this same suggestion for those with itineraries like yours. For those states you will be traveling in, go online to their Department of Tourism and order a Tourist Guide. They are all free. You can do the research on what’s available from these guides and then compare with the suggestions everyone has provided.
As for the ribs, I’m gonna have to be stick up for my state (Texas). Beef…..not pork. And if you don’t also try so smoked, sliced brisket you we’re not going to let you in the state again.
I’m going to have to put a plug in for the Riverwalk and the Alamo in San Antonio, both of which are convenient to each other. The Riverwalk will have many, many restaurants where you can get the aforementioned beef dishes as well as great Mexican food.
Big Bend is a unique national park and well worth visiting, but know that it’s off the beaten path. It will take at least an entire day to visit it. There are restrictions on RV length in certain parts of it. I would also agree with the recommendation to visit Carlsbad Caverns in NM.
You might want to check out the casino campgrounds along your route. They are usually prefer good and less expensive than other commercial CGs.
chris said
08:40 AM Feb 10, 2009
Hi the beef ribs have got me hungry allready,Texas sounds like fun ,My wife Mandy is a keen horse person and is looking fwd to some rodeo action.Thanks for the casino tip....
junebugq said
02:34 PM Feb 11, 2009
While you are in Florida, don't miss Panama City Beach, especially St. Andrews State Park. We camped there last year for a week, and wished we had a month.
It has one of the most beautiful beaches we have seen. Hope you have a great trip.
southwestjudy
-- Edited by jcw at 09:36, 2008-12-21
1. Camping on the beach in Carrabelle, FL (Ho Hum RV park)
2. The Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX
3. Big Bend National Park, TX (out of the way, but worth it)
4. Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Carlsbad, NM
5. Tram to Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, NM
6. Hiking in Tucson Mountains and Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ
7. Eating at LaFuente Restaurant in Tucson, AZ
8. Visiting Sedona, Flagstaff, and Grand Canyon in Arizona
If interested in more info on these, you can check out our blog: www.colleenandpierre.wordpress.com
Under archives, click on November and December....I usually include links to the places we've visited.
Have fun!
Colleen
Hi Chris and Mandy,
Sorry for the delayed response....I forgot to subscribe to updates to this thread.
If you will be visiting several national parks or Federal recreational areas I recommend getting the National Parks Pass...it is now called the Interagency Pass. Here is the link:
http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html
Without the pass it is usually $20 per vehicle to get into most National Parks. The Interagency Pass is $80 for 12 months and is best if purchased at the first National Park you visit since it expires 12 months from the purchase date. The Pass does not cover campground fees.
The only other membership we use regularly is Passport America: http://www.passportamerica.com/
It offers 50% off campground fees (about 1400 campgrounds are members). It is only $44 per year and it will definitely pay for itself.
Colleen
We lived there for 12 yrs and are going back in March. They do get snow there.
However, I am wondering if you are thinking about White Sands National Monument?? Its a good place to see.
southwestjudy
Chris> I make this same suggestion for those with itineraries like yours. For those states you will be traveling in, go online to their Department of Tourism and order a Tourist Guide. They are all free. You can do the research on what’s available from these guides and then compare with the suggestions everyone has provided.
As for the ribs, I’m gonna have to be stick up for my state (Texas). Beef…..not pork. And if you don’t also try so smoked, sliced brisket you we’re not going to let you in the state again.
I’m going to have to put a plug in for the Riverwalk and the Alamo in San Antonio, both of which are convenient to each other. The Riverwalk will have many, many restaurants where you can get the aforementioned beef dishes as well as great Mexican food.
Big Bend is a unique national park and well worth visiting, but know that it’s off the beaten path. It will take at least an entire day to visit it. There are restrictions on RV length in certain parts of it. I would also agree with the recommendation to visit Carlsbad Caverns in NM.
You might want to check out the casino campgrounds along your route. They are usually prefer good and less expensive than other commercial CGs.
It has one of the most beautiful beaches we have seen.
Hope you have a great trip.
Jerry & Gloria
-- Edited by junebugq at 14:36, 2009-02-11
-- Edited by junebugq at 14:37, 2009-02-11