Travelling the US in autumn ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Travelling the US in autumn

Replies: 58 - Last Post: 06-Nov-2009 03:15 Last Post By: mrpenney

jump to

1
2
3
4
Next ›

Posted
26-Oct-2009 03:10
by: bogrunberger

Posts: 11
Registered: 07/08/04

Travelling the US in autumn

My wife and I are planning a trip to the US next autumn, probably around september - early october. At that time our daughter will be about 14 months old and we'll obviously have to take certain considerations because we'll be travelling with a toddler.

Now we've been to the US two times before and we know a bit about the areas - primarily California and the south west. But we've never been to the US in autumn, and at first we just thought "New England", but later we found out that New England is over crowded in autumn and further more pretty expensive, so we have pretty much ruled out that as an option.

We've thought about some different places - Utah, Oregon, Colorado - but to be honest we don't really know anything about theses places: What is there to see, how are the accomodations etc.? The main thing we wish to do is experience Nature in all her glory. We love the American national parks and state parks, and we will definately want to visit a few of those. But at the same time we need to take care of our little baby! She'll not be a fan of hiking or camping and since neither of us want to drive around in a RV we think about just renting a large truck and simply overnight in the back of the car for one or two nights in a national or state park.

So where do we want to go? We simply don't know, so all suggestions are most welcome. I really hope to get an eye opener and get some cool pieces of advice from some experienced folks out there. :-)

Posted
26-Oct-2009 04:21
by: mrpenney

Posts: 3,146
Registered: 19/08/04

1

She'll not be a fan of hiking or camping and since neither of us want to drive around in a RV we think about just renting a large truck and simply overnight in the back of the car for one or two nights in a national or state park.

This sounds like a nightmare. You know your kid, but most toddlers get really cranky if they spend too long in any vehicle, regardless of the size. And you propose sleeping in the back of a truck (or SUV or van)? Plus, it gets COLD at night in autumn here--you don't want to spend those crisp autumn nights in an unheated car. Get a full-sized sedan for your driving only, and do your sleeping in motel rooms. You'll thank me later.

--M.

Posted
26-Oct-2009 04:48
by: jamesdenver

Posts: 1,076
Registered: 09/03/05

2

I agree with above. The best part of a road trip is finding a nice small town restaurant, and roadside motel with hot shower.

Colorado has plenty of colors in the fall with the changing aspens, (hurry before the bark beetles eat them all.) Central Colorado (highway 285 corridor) and Roaring Fork Valley offer great fall colors. A few years back I drove from Santa Fe, (NM) north to Taos and into southern Colorado and it was amazing.

If you're passing through ski towns like Breckenridge, Vail, etc you can find some good pre-season deals on lodging. If you are car camping (cold as mentioned,) or staying in motels you should treat yourself to one nice place and surprise your wife with a spa package in one of the towns I mentioned.

James Van Dellen > My Travel and Denver Blog

Posted
26-Oct-2009 05:15
by: windy

Posts: 2,309
Registered: 05/07/00

3

I'm also unclear why you're ruling out New England. Because hotels in Boston any NY aren't cheap?

I was in NY 10 days ago and froze at night sleeping indoors. Weather in October is cool at night most of the time. It's not appropriate for camping with toddlers.

There is a TT board devoted to traveling with children. The Western national parks are lovely in the fall.

Posted
26-Oct-2009 05:17
by: montereyjack

Posts: 2,312
Registered: 05/02/01

4

In the old days our family would put the rear seats down in our station wagon, pad the area with mats and pillows, and that is where the kids would be for our long road trips. Now you have to be responsible and tie the kid into a safe baby seat. Oh well.

I'd try out some backpack type baby carriers, so you can take short trail hikes in parks and other scenic places to extend your ability and your child's ability to enjoy more out there.

The northwest mountain states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho offer many miles of beautiful places for you. September and October are beautiful. The national and state parks in these states are spectacular and unique. The autumn colors depend on elevation and temperature and can most often be seen in October.

Where are you coming from? Probably renting an SUV style vehicle or family van would work. A pickup truck with a camper with bed over the truck's cab would be ideal, but difficult to find to rent I think. Something like a Subaru station wagon would work well, though the three of you could not sleep inside it.

You will want to sleep in motels and have hot showers most of the time. You can carry some camping and picnic supplies for enjoying and extending your time outdoors. There is more "Nature in all her glory" out here than you can imagine.

Posted
26-Oct-2009 06:00
by: Usher73

Posts: 2,102
Registered: 10/06/05

5

Come to Michigan.

Deep Breath of Fall Colors

Upper Michigan is especially beautiful.

Welcome to The Great Waters of the Michigan Eastern Upper Peninsula (UP).

Posted
26-Oct-2009 08:07
by: windy

Posts: 2,309
Registered: 05/07/00

6

Beautiful pics usher. Where's the best place to fly to to explore the Upper Peninsula? Milwaukee?

I've been wanting to get to the area near Georgian Bay, Ontario since I first saw pictures of it, and this is reasonably similar/nearby.

Posted
26-Oct-2009 08:11
by: nickymwhite

Posts: 2
Registered: 26/10/09

7

Hi bogrunberger,

Have you thought of taking the kids to Yosemite National Park, California during Autum?

I just returned from Yosemite, and believe it is one of those places everyone must see once. The park is around a 4- 5 hour drive from LAX, and is best done during the week mid morning to beat that horrible LA traffic in LA!

The park has some wonderful things for the whole family to experience, and it looks like a wonderful place to visit in Autum, if you go to Google, type in Yosemite in the images section you will see what I mean, the park does not dissapoint!!

nic :-)

Posted
26-Oct-2009 08:20
by: nutraxfornerves

Posts: 10,666
Registered: 09/06/01

8

All 50 states require that a child of that age be in a child safety seat. You can bring your own (if it complies with state laws) or rent one from the car rental company. So whatever vehicle you rent, you will have to verify that it can accommodate a child safety seat. Not all RVs (including vans) are set up so that a child safety seat can be properly anchored. This is usually only possible in the front passenger seat of an RV. You'll have to talk to the RV rental company.

Nutrax
The plural of anecdote is not data

Posted
26-Oct-2009 09:36
by: Usher73

Posts: 2,102
Registered: 10/06/05

9

windy,

You can fly to Green Bay or all the way to Marquette, but you'll be changing planes in Chicago, Milwaukee, or Minneapolis.

There's plenty to see and do across the UP. I'll post a list when I have more time.

Posted
26-Oct-2009 11:20
by: windy

Posts: 2,309
Registered: 05/07/00

10

Thanks!

Posted
26-Oct-2009 12:17
by: trekker502

Posts: 3,584
Registered: 25/06/07

11

I agree with jamesdenver, #2, the autumn colors along the route between Santa Fe, New Mexico, through Taos and then into Southern Colorado are really spectacular. I have been spending the last two days photographing! There are hundreds of tourists from all over the world here in this region now to see the autumn colors -- I just bumped into someone whom I had not seen for almost 20 years yesterday on vacation here.

There's a place where I travel when I want to roam, and nobody knows it but me. The roads don't go there and the signs stay home, and nobody knows it but me. ....

Posted
26-Oct-2009 14:32
by: penfold389

Posts: 3,629
Registered: 26/04/02

12

OP, consider the weather.

I am in Denver, Colorado right now i.e. late October and there is some snow and rain and pretty cold when the wind blows.
A week ago in Chicago, Il, it was raining, again with chilly wind, it was not ideal for an outdoor holiday.
Parts of Montana had a bit of snow while I was in Seattle.

You got about a year to do more research on weather.
Good luck.

"It don't matter to me."

Posted
26-Oct-2009 17:53
by: bogrunberger

Posts: 11
Registered: 07/08/04

13

Hi everybody and thanks for your comments!
About sleeping in our car:
I can see that some of you think this is a horrible idea, and it would be if we wouldn't be prepared for the cold nights. But we are: We're used to cold weather, coming from Scandinavia, and we'll be bringing warm sleeping bags and sleeping mats. In short, we won't get cold and of course we'll only be camping where it's responsible: We won't camp if it's freezing, or the park is closed, or we're not near running water and other people.
Mostly we'll be sleeping in motels, but for that special occasion we might want to sleep for one or two nights in our car if it's necessary.

jamesdenver:
Sounds beautiful. I'll look more into Colorado! Thank you for your comment, James!

windy:
I'm not ruling out New England entirely, but I've read a bit about going there in autumn, and as far as I can see it's crowded in New England in autumn, which means higher prices, booking hotels in advance and having a hard time finding quiet spots. Maybe I'm wrong but this is just what I've heard, so please correct me if I'm totally off.

montereyjack:
Thanks for your comment. We're coming from Denmark, Europe, so we'll be renting the car and a baby seat as well.
Thanks for the tip about the backpack carrier! I'll look more into that, 'cause it sounds exactly like the thing we need for short hikes. And we'll look more into Colorado and the other states you mention. Thank you for your advice!

usher73:
Looks beautiful! Thank you for that!!

penfold389:
That's good to know. I've been trying to find some seasonal weather charts covering all of the US but I'm having a hard time finding some good ones. Most just tell you how much overall rain fall an entire state gets and that's not very useful. You wouldn't happen to know where to read more specific about the weather in the US, would you?

Edited by: bogrunberger

Posted
26-Oct-2009 18:26
by: montereyjack

Posts: 2,312
Registered: 05/02/01

14

It is late October, so a little later than you are thinking for your trip, but try watching the weather patterns on This

1
2
3
4
Next ›

Subscribe to the latest messages in this branch.

Your Recent Threads

Announcements

Merry Christmas and Happy...
Posted By: VenessaP -- 24-Dec-2009 18:13
How would you improve Thorn...
Posted By: VenessaP -- 09-Dec-2009 17:01

Latest Community News

	Speaking in Tongues Messages: 67,304 Last message posted at: 27-Dec-2009 13:32
	On Your Bike Messages: 29,553 Last message posted at: 27-Dec-2009 09:05
	Travel Tech Messages: 28,289 Last message posted at: 27-Dec-2009 12:52
	Kids To Go Messages: 25,960 Last message posted at: 27-Dec-2009 09:09
	Like a Sore Thumb Messages: 22,559 Last message posted at: 23-Dec-2009 20:21
	Trekking & Mountaineering Messages: 22,088 Last message posted at: 27-Dec-2009 08:05
	Travel on a shoestring Messages: 21,070 Last message posted at: 27-Dec-2009 10:40

Destinations

USA: Destination information

The USA is home to several of the world's most exciting cities, some truly mind-blowing landscapes, a strong sense of regionalism, a trenchant mythology, more history than the country gives itself cre... more »

See » | Map »

Shop Online