Family vacation roadtrip out west-need local advice

Hey folks--I know its been a long time since I posted anything--been working out of state on navy project and don't have any free time. With the economy the way it is, I guess we're sorta hunkering down and trying to ride out the current situation....anyway we're trying to plan a family vacation out to the grand canyon and then maybe up into Utah & Colorado. So far we have our lodging arranged from FL to Sedona, AZ with one night in Ft. Worth, another in Amarillo and two in Sedona. I've got a few questions that maybe folks along the way (mostly thru Texas) and folks in northern Arizona, Utah & Colorado could answer.

1. We'll be traveling from the Fort Worth area up toward Amarillo for our 2nd night. For now we're figuring on taking 287 up to Amarillo. Is that a good route or is it loaded with stop lights through all the towns? The only other route I could see is taking I-20 west and then pick up 84 and run NW through Lubbock to Amarillo. If any of the Texas folks could weigh in, I'd be grateful...Also, I don"t know of any tractor-related sites along the way, but let me know if any of you know any. We plan to stop at the CTD outdoors place on the NE Loop in Fort Worth. We buy gun supplies from the online CTD store so wanted to check this place out--already heard they weren't connected, but share some of the same inventory.

2. Once we leave Sedona, we're trying to make it up toward Salt Lake via Grand Junction, CO. My daughter wants to ease over toward Red Mesa and then pick up 160 where it crosses four states. Is there a spot on the highway that has a sign or something telling you about this location? Once we get back toward Grand Junction, anyone know of some off the beaten path stuff to see--old iron or not? My wife heard about a steam train and rafting combo thing somewhere too.

3. As to the Salt Lake location, my son wants to go to "Get Some Guns" near Salt Lake City. From there we"ll head back east through Denver and after that we haven"t worked out our route, but will generally head back along I-70 and then I-35 south and maybe head over through Tulsa, OK...

Anyway, sorry for the rambling post--just looking for some local advice along the way for hotel tips, places to see--tractor stuff or other wise..thanks in advance...

Check out the "Cadillac Ranch" at Amarillo LOL

I prefer I20 to 84 through Lubbock then I27 to Amarillo it is all 4-lane, Post is about the only town that will slow you down a bit. 287 has several small towns to go through one you are past Wichita Falls that will slow you down some.

In Lubbock there is the American Museum of Agriculture, the American Wind Power Museum and on the TX Tech Campus is the Western Heritage Museum. All these are just a few block off of I27. In Canyon, TX just outside of Amarillo there is a nice museum on the West TX A&M campus. It has a lot of panhandle heritage in it.

Gary
American Museum of Agriculture

There is a nice tractor and farm museum south of Hale Center ,whitch is about 35 miles north ofLubbock,on the interstate.I27 is a great road to amarillo and also divided hiway to Dumas.Also farm museum south of Dumas.

If you were to go north out of Grand Junction, you could go west on Hwy 40 to Heber City, UT. Check this out: http://www.hebervalleyrr.org/

Vic

You forgot the Black Hills and badlands. Then there is Harold Warps museum in NEB then Metz in Avoca,Ia that if you want to see old tractors and that sort of stuff.

He said:
2[i:3260ba5350]. Once we leave Sedona, we're trying to make it up toward Salt Lake via Grand Junction, CO. My daughter wants to ease over toward Red Mesa and then pick up 160 where it crosses four states. Is there a spot on the highway that has a sign or something telling you about this location? Once we get back toward Grand Junction, anyone know of some off the beaten path stuff to see--old iron or not? My wife heard about a steam train and rafting combo thing somewhere too.[/i:3260ba5350]

You can take I-40 to Williams AZ and go north to see the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. I am in southern Utah, on the highway accessing the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The highway is 89A, to Jacob Lake AZ, where Hwy 67 breaks off to the south taking you to the North Rim. To me, the north side of the canyon is the better side of the Grand Canyon to see. Or, you can see both sides and make your own evaluation. It will take a day to see the South Rim, then drive over a hundred miles around the canyon through the Navajo Indian Reservation to the North Rim. I would also suggest that you see the Zion Canyon National Park, and the Bryce Canyon National Park also. These parks are to the north of the Grand Canyon in southern Utah. These are must see parks for my friends. I just took friends to both parks in a single day a few weeks ago. Zion is hot this time of year so do it in the morning, then drive 80 miles to Bryce which is in high country for the afternoon. Eat at "Ruby's Inn" in Bryce Canyon City.

I have been to the Four State Corners marker. Yes it is well signed, as a side road off of the main highway. It is on the reservation and the Native Americans will take your money so you can go stand on a marker that represents the corners of the four states. It is in a remote area and just high desert all around. Not real attractive to me.

If you have more specific questions, just ask.

Dean

amarillo just basicly north of the big texan rest ( a must see for me ) is a large salvage yard thats east side of town

At Chalma NM there's a steam train NE into Colorado. Narrow gauge to Alamosa. Standard gauge from there on.

At Durango there's a narrow gauge Durango and Silverton. Takes a day to do the round trip and needs tickets reserved ahead of time their web page says.

Google Texas museums, Colorado museums and the like and you will come up state lists of museum sites all over each state. Ask those museums for their brochures or print them on line. There are many, some worth ten minutes, some worth a day.

Warp's museum at Minden NE is worth more than a day. There's also a decent museum at Grand Island and at Kearney NE. There's a good air and space museum at Hutchinson KS, the Cosmosphere. There's a good aircraft museum at Topeka Kansas, the Combat Air museum. And up near Omaha at Ashland NE, there's the SAC museum.

Gerald J.

@87 is four lane with only a few traffic lights North og Vernon TX. The road is good without the heavy Interstate traffic.

Go to Bass pro or wherever and spend $150 on a Tom Tom or Garmin street pilot. Best money you will ever spend. It will more than pay for itself on one trip.

You can set the thing for shortest distance or fastest time. You end up in a strange town near dark, the kids are fussing for supper but you have no idea what is there. Punch food, It'll ask you if you want All food, American food, Mexican, chinese, etc. Then give you the street address and phone # and then tell you how many miles you are away from it and guide you right there.

Same for motels, Airports, city services, Parks, points of interest, or any street address in the entire country you want to type in.

Trust me. I drive three or four states away, go right to the address and never open a road map.

If you cant buy one, borrow one. You will not regret it.

Gene

If you're looking for something "off the beaten path" drive I-70 between Green River and Salina, Utah. Unless civilization has set in since the last time I went through there, it's 110 miles with no services, absolutely nothing. I once saw an abandoned miner's shack on the side of a mountain in the middle of the stretch. I've been through it several times since, and haven't even been able to find that again.

Some rather spectacular scenery, but if you're looking for amenities, forget it. There aren't any.

Have to agree with skycarp, especially about Bryce. There are bigger places to visit but none can compare to Bryce. Only God could ever make a place so beautiful. Monument Valley and Arches at Moab Utah are also a must see. Been there s
everal times and its always a new experience.
Joe

287 is pretty much open road all the way after you leave FT Worth. Watch out for the cops in Decater and Bowie. Not much else out there until you hit Whichita Falls. Past there is is open country. A few truck stops along the way. Nice smooth road the last time I was up there last year.

Gene,

Good advice on the Tom Tom--does it require some sort of subscription service sign-up or not?

I think they still have a Golden Carroll in Vernon on 283 south I think it is. Not much else out there in the way of food except the normal stuff. Big Tex is the place to go when you get to Amarillo. Just don't break down between Wichita and Amarillo. Whole lot of nothing out there,but the people are nice and willing to help. But as I said the road is very smooth and open. Most of the towns are off the highway.

Don't go out I-20. Last time I was out there. Heavy road work going on.

No subscription or service fee. When you buy it, you can take it out into the parking lot and have it working in 15 minutes. I did and I am damned computer illiterate.

I suction cup mine up near the rear view mirror. That helps shade it. Depends on the car. The suction cup wont stick to those little black dots they use for shading around the mirror though. Need to move to clean glass.

Another neat feature, if you are 50 miles let say from a town, you can enter that town in as "near ______" Then it will pick up all the food shops, restraunts ,etc in that town also.

You can zoom in and out. Once you get the hang of it, you get it at the right setting to where it shows the names of upcoming cross roads, plus you can see a curve in road and know way in advance how sharp the curve and to which direction.

The newer Garmins may be flatter, mine is like an old fashioned computer monitor, but the flat ones will fit in your pocket, purse or backpack. The battery lasts all day on mine.

finally, when you buy one, try to go with a model or brand that has a fresh "update" I bought my Garmin and within 6 months there was an update available but for $69. I skipped the first update and it still does 95% of what you need. Then did update, but think next time I'll just buy new.

Above all have fun, but this thing may save some frayed nerves and arguments with the spouse over being lost or missing an exit!

Gene

Kevin, The American Quarter Horse Assa. Headquarters/and Museum There in Amarillo is a darn good look see.
Also The Panhandle Plains Museum @ Canyon,Tx 10 miles south is top notch a very complete history of the High Plains In all retrospect. From the first inhabitant the indians/ buffalo. Early farming, the Dirty Thirtys all the way to present times.
If I had to pick one of the above 2 mentioned I would go to Canyon, Tx. also while you are there go visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park out east of Canyon, Tx. If you can put it in your schedule....for sure while at Canyon. Go see the Musical Drama TEXAS there in the canyon most every evening in the Summer.
It is the second largest canyon in the nation second to the Grand Canyon!
Also @ Lubbock, the Windmill Museum is well worth the time to drive down and stop and go through.
OK Bozeman Tractor Salvage is just rock throwing diatance from the Windmill museum. If youy are looking for parts while you are out and about!
If you have a School age child that will be looking a for a college in somewhat short order Take a drive by or stop and visit.....You will be hard pressed to find a nicer or better campus than Texas Tech University.
Kevin If you want to hollar, to visit, are ask question about Texas my # is 512-577-3837.
Hope this helps
Later,
John A.

Read an article recently where they did a gps survey and decided that the four corners marker is really more than a mile away than the real four corners. It mentioned all the people who thought they were at the corner but have been fooled all these years.

For my vacations on the road, it's hard to plan motels so I go on the fly. Motel 6's are reasonable just for a night's stay and moving on. Super 8 is on their summer rate and a little pricy but not as bad as some of the other chains. Best think is to pick up these coupon books for truckers and others found at rest areas and restaurants. They have some good deals in those. I've stayed at motel 6's that were twice as nice as some the chain motels that were double the price and then had plywood mattresses. Just don't stay at the Pony Express motel in St. Joe, Mo.

Keep your AAA and AARP cards handy and always ask for discounts. Sometimes I'll look and realize I left the cards at home but a little nice and fast talking can usually get me the discount. Super 8 asked for my AAA card and I didn't have it and she really wanted it but after I asked what other motels will take it even if I forgot the card, she relented and gave me the last room with a discount.

Suction cup is OK, but I prefer to just invert the screen on mine and set it where I can still see it, meaning down in front of the console.
NEVER leave it where thieves can see it, including be sure and hide the power cord also. Put your lighter back in the hole.
The problem with suction mount, if you leave the mount up, they will break a window to try to find it. Even if you pull the mount down, it leaves a ring where the cup was. They are very observant of that.
I am 2 for 3 of the GPS units we gave the kids for Christmas being stolen. They thought I was nuts when I told them the above advice, but I still have mine, they don't. Youngest boy listened, he still has his. DOUG