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Hi All.
Myself and the family will be heading back over to the US for a few weeks at the end of October to visit some friends in LA, and also take a bit of a tour through some of the states we didn't spend much time in while we were living there.
The plan so far is LA from the 17th to the 21st, when we'll fly over to Salt lake city. Hire a car and then head on a week-and-a-bit whirlwind tour staying at such places as Idaho Falls, Yellowstone, Jackson WY, Grand Junction and then through to Ouray for a couple of days before heading back to SLC for a flight back to LA on the 29/10. Couple more days in LA before the big bird takes us back home.
Can anyone suggest anything that's a must-see for an Americana tragic like myself heading through these places that cant be missed? I spent quite a bit of time in the southwest but never really got into the mountains so looking forward to it!
1954 DeSoto Firedome 8 Club Coupe
While in LA I'd check out the Petersen Museum and if you are interested in drag racing don't miss the NHRA Museum in Pomona. Hope you have a safe trip.
Tim Mabry
The Lost Cause Garage
47 Suburban
57 Sportsman 4dr HT
Hi Ben, I would usually suggest doing Route 66 for a "bit of Americana" trip and a lot of visitors from other Countries do that. But, there is nothing wrong with your plan either. Especially for the fantastic scenery in that part of the Country. The Southern part of Utah is one of my favorite places in the U.S. and I highly recommend spending a day or two there if you have time. There are several National Parks in Southern Utah and I have never visited a National Park that I was disappointed in. Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP, and Arches NP are my three favorites in that area. Canyonlands NP and Capitol Reef NP are also interesting. You can check out these parks online. The drive on Route 128 along the Colorado River from Arches NP up to Interstate 70 is one of the most scenic I have been on in this Country. Just a few ideas for you to consider depending on how much time you have. Have a great trip.
While in LA I'd check out the Petersen Museum and if you are interested in drag racing don't miss the NHRA Museum in Pomona. Hope you have a safe trip.
Hi Ben, I would usually suggest doing Route 66 for a "bit of
Americana" trip and a lot of visitors from other Countries do that. But, there is nothing wrong with your plan either. Especially for the fantastic scenery in that part of the Country. The Southern part of Utah is one of my favorite places in the U.S. and I highly recommend spending a day or two there if you have time. There are several National Parks in Southern Utah and I have never visited a National Park that I was disappointed in. Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP, and Arches NP are my three favorites in that area. Canyonlands NP and Capitol Reef NP are also interesting. You can check out these parks online. The drive on Route 128 along the Colorado River from Arches NP up to Interstate 70 is one of the most scenic I have been on in this Country. Just a few ideas for you to consider depending on how much time you have. Have a great trip.
Thanks for the quick replies guys. We lived in LA for 4 and a bit years so have had the privelage of visiting the petersens and nhra museums quite a few times, and I was running an off-road performance workshop in simi valley so we spent a hell of a lot of time in the CA, NV AZ and UT deserts racing or just exploring. We spent a month each year in UT a few years ago 4wdin through the National parks on our way to Moab for the Easter Jeep Safari. Trekking through the canyons at Zion was amazing. On our way back to LA from Moab we headed down through NM to 4 corners and then followed Route 66 back to Santa monica (where we could). My wife got pulled over somewhere in the badlands on Route 66 (but managed to sweet talk her way out of a ticket 
)
Truth be told, as much as I love the desert and the south west we probably spent to much time exploring the close to home areas and not enough exploring the rest of the country! Apart from a short holiday in PA / NY we didn't really see much else of the country, so this trip we're trying to make amends and see a few more states
And I will finally get to Ouray. Everytime I was supposed to be there (for either the Fj Cruiser Summit or the Jeep meet) Id go out and break my rig and not be able to make it!
1954 DeSoto Firedome 8 Club Coupe
Ben,
About an hour north of Salt Lake City is the town of Ogden. There you'll find the Union Station - home to four museums. If you like guns and/or antique cars and/or trains and/or life in the old West, then you should plan on spending several hours in Ogden at the Union Station.
A couple of hours northwest of Ogden is Promontory Point. If you're into train history, then you'll probably remember that this is where the first USA transcontinental railroad occurred. There's a nice National Historic Site and museum at this location.
Over in Colorado, not too far from Ouray, but on the other side of the mountains, is the town of Telluride. This is another nice CO town to visit, and if you're into waterfalls, there's a very large one on the east side of town.
And if you have the chance while you're in the southwest part of CO, take in Mesa Verde National Park to see the clift dwellings.
Regradless of what you decide to do, I hope you have a good time.
Bill Noble
Ben,
About an hour north of Salt Lake City is the town of Ogden. There you'll find the Union Station - home to four museums. If you like guns and/or antique cars and/or trains and/or life in the old West, then you should plan on spending several hours in Ogden at the Union Station.
A couple of hours northwest of Ogden is Promontory Point. If you're into train history, then you'll probably remember that this is where the first USA transcontinental railroad occurred. There's a nice National Historic Site and museum at this location.
Over in Colorado, not too far from Ouray, but on the other side of the mountains, is the town of Telluride. This is another nice CO town to visit, and if you're into waterfalls, there's a very large one on the east side of town.
And if you have the chance while you're in the southwest part of CO, take in Mesa Verde National Park to see the clift dwellings.
Regradless of what you decide to do, I hope you have a good time.
Bill Noble
Bill, thanks for the info. I am a fan of all of those things so will make sure to check out Union station. Our first day is from SLC to Idaho Falls so we'll have a bit of time to spend at the museum as well.
Telluride is a big tick on the list, in fact I think the wife has actually booked our hotel there for the few days not Ouray.
Mesa Verde would be very interesting. Google is saying its a 1 3/4hr trip from Telluride, so I wonder if it would be doable in a day trip?
Thanks Bill!
1954 DeSoto Firedome 8 Club Coupe
With all of the interesting places to see, I did not see the Grand Canyon. Maybe it was assumed you already saw it?
Thanks Paul. The GC is one of my favourite places and we've been lucky enough to do both the south and north rims (and a misguided venture to that took us down some old dirt roads to the Colorado river) but unfortunately wont have time this trip. Its a bummer as when we left the US the bypass bridge hadn't been finished and I would like to see that.
1954 DeSoto Firedome 8 Club Coupe
