Where would you suggest a person travel out west if they've never been out west before?

[dfh]

I've never had the urge to go out west until now. I don't know why, maybe its me getting older and wanting to see/experience more. One of the first places I plan on traveling when I get on the road is out west.<div><br></div><div>So, for all you experienced travelers, where would you suggest a newbie go and see for the first time? I know I could google known tourist traps, but I'm really interested in those out of the way spots that are overlooked. The more out of the way the better, when I get going, I don't plan on taking major highways, I want to go as back road as I can and as slow as I can journey.&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></div>

 

[rattlesnake joe]

<p>Go to Cody Wyoming and see the museum.&nbsp; Oklahoma too for the Cowboy museum.&nbsp; Custer's last stand would be in thar too.&nbsp; But for down right western history, don't forget Roswell New Mexico and Rachel Nevada.</p>

 

[dfh]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going to check those out. I totally forgot about Cody, which is silly because I have an artist acquaintance who is based out of there half the year:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.karchnerwesternart.com/" target="_blank">http://www.karchnerwesternart.com/</a>.&nbsp;

 

[Guest]

Wow, that guy is an amazing artist! <br>I would just start researching the things you are interested online and put together your trip starting with that. The west is freeking huge! If someone on here can remember the name of Mar's travel blog it would be a good one to research....she traveled the states for 3 years in a Class C and I have never seen someone turn up stuff to see better than she.<br><br>One place I don't think you would be disappointed with is Harold Warp's Pioneer village in Mindon, NE....I think everyone should see it once. They have a little campground there too...<br><br>http://www.pioneervillage.org/<br><br>Actually I don't care much for most tourist spots but instead explore natural places and there is no shortage of those to see. That is really what the west has to offer.&nbsp; If you haven't been out west you really should camp on the Pacific ocean, you should camp in real mountains and the desert....a few camps out beyond the highway on BLM land will be an experience you will never forget. Watch the ants for a couple days...just chill. <br><br>Consider some time in Mexico....if only the Baja Peninsula. It has beaches you will never want to leave...<br><br>Oh man,&nbsp; I could go on forever...<br>Bri<br>

 

[SoulRaven]

I would start with the library, read up on the history of the West and then make plans to see these historic areas that interest you... So much colorful history here out in the West...<br>

 

[mockturtle]

Depends on when you're going.&nbsp; If you're going now, I would recommend the national parks in UT before it gets really busy [and hot].&nbsp; Same with the Grand Canyon.&nbsp; As things heat up, I'd head up the Oregon coast and into WA.&nbsp; Oregon has, in addition to their spectacular state parks, a plethora of NFS sites that are free or very reasonable.&nbsp;&nbsp; WA has quite a few, too.&nbsp; <br>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<A href="http://www.cochisestronghold.com/" target=_blank target=_blank>http://www.cochisestronghold.com/</A><BR><BR>You used to be able to boondock, lots of spots.&nbsp; We would go into the camp to potty and get water.&nbsp;If anyone goes, let me know if you can still boondock.<BR>We would take a back mountain road into Tombstone, just leave out camp for a night or 2. There are some real nice saloons, a good biker bar and friendly people for a tourist town.&nbsp; Was sitting at&nbsp;an early morning campfire and a family of Javalinas came in and just sniffled and suffeled&nbsp;and tore up the ground a bit looking for food.&nbsp; They seemed unaware we were even there.&nbsp;Saw dead ring-tails on the roads. Don't know how they would manage to get hit, there was hardly any vehicles there. Last trip was 6 years ago.&nbsp;<BR><FONT color=#00ff00><B>Dragonfly&nbsp;</B></FONT><BR>

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;I second southern Utah. The more popular national parks are crowded but the area is big enough to get out in the boonies. Here's a link to a tour for a basic idea of the trip - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fiveutahparks.com/nationalparks-itinerary.html">http://www.fiveutahparks.com/nationalparks-itinerary.html</a><br><br>&nbsp;Other than that just drive and see where it takes you. Any of the national parks ,off season for the big ones , any time ,weather permitting, for the smaller ones. National forest are great too. We especially like northern California ,inland ;southwest New Mexico and Colorado west of the Rockies.<br><br>

 

[dfh]

Thanks for all the really great ideas&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif">&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>One thing I&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;have in mind is traveling RT 66 for a while, but I know that only last for so long. I've got a good list now to start with for either before, after, or during that trip.</div>

 

[akrvbob]

There is what is called the "Grand Circle'" You can start anywhere but since you are coming from the east I will start at Mesa Verde (I'm going to adjust it a little from the traditional Grand Circle)<br><ul><li>Mesa Verde NP ==&gt;</li><li>Take 550 (The Million Dollar Highway) in Colorado from Durango, up to Silverton, Ouray and finally Ridgeway. (the John Wayne film "True Grit" was filmed in and around Ridgeway. ==&gt;</li><li>Arches NP and Canyonland NP: Take the back roads over to Moab utah.</li><li>Capital Reek NP==&gt;</li><li>Bryce NP==&gt;</li><li>Zion NP==&gt;</li><li>The Wave (Vermillion Cliffs NM)==&gt;</li><li>Monument Valley==&gt;</li><li>Canyon De Chelly NM==&gt;</li><li>Petrified Forest NP==&gt;</li><li>Grand Canyon NP&nbsp; <br></li></ul>You could spend everyday of the rest of your life exploring Utah, Colorado and Arizona, and never see it all or get tired of it. Bob<br>

 

[kwest]

<p>Southern Utah is a pretty amazing place but I also&nbsp; love the northwest. I'm planning on doing the PCH from San fran up to Astoria one summer. the Oregon coast is amazing. Theres also Crater lake and all the big Volcanoes along the Cascades, three sisters, hood, st helens, and rainer. i've done alot of backpacking in that area, its great(Only in the summer though, winter gets a bit wet)</p>

 

[dfh]

Arizona, but only in the winter months. july and august are intolerable hot.<br><br>Got to hit Las Vegas, and the grand canyon. do you like lakes? lake meade, lake mohave, lake powell and lake havasue(stay out of the water on this last one)<br><br>I really like the fed parks up in southern utah, Mesa Verde ahhhh... come on folks help with the names of them, .........<br><br>when you get to kingman, drop me an email and I'll find you free spot!<br><br>

<div><br></div><div>Thanks! I'm wondering if its any worse than FL in July and August? Its usually between 80-90 with 100% humidity. I've never been in dry heat, I just don't know how to compare.</div>

 

[dfh]

There is what is called the "Grand Circle'" You can start anywhere but since you are coming from the east I will start at Mesa Verde (I'm going to adjust it a little from the traditional Grand Circle)<br><ul><li>Mesa Verde NP ==&gt;</li><li>Take 550 (The Million Dollar Highway) in Colorado from Durango, up to Silverton, Ouray and finally Ridgeway. (the John Wayne film "True Grit" was filmed in and around Ridgeway. ==&gt;</li><li>Arches NP and Canyonland NP: Take the back roads over to Moab utah.</li><li>Capital Reek NP==&gt;</li><li>Bryce NP==&gt;</li><li>Zion NP==&gt;</li><li>The Wave (Vermillion Cliffs NM)==&gt;</li><li>Monument Valley==&gt;</li><li>Canyon De Chelly NM==&gt;</li><li>Petrified Forest NP==&gt;</li><li>Grand Canyon NP&nbsp; <br></li></ul>You could spend everyday of the rest of your life exploring Utah, Colorado and Arizona, and never see it all or get tired of it. Bob<br>

<div><br></div><div>This is excellent, thank you!</div>

 

[dfh]

<p>Southern Utah is a pretty amazing place but I also&nbsp; love the northwest. I'm planning on doing the PCH from San fran up to Astoria one summer. the Oregon coast is amazing. Theres also Crater lake and all the big Volcanoes along the Cascades, three sisters, hood, st helens, and rainer. i've done alot of backpacking in that area, its great(Only in the summer though, winter gets a bit wet)</p>

<div><br></div><div>I've really never heard much about Utah until coming to this site. Thanks so much for the info!</div>

 

[robear]

Thanks akrvbob,<br>That's a great trip plan for us that are coming from the east!<br><br>

 

[robear]

As a kid I went to Carlsbad, NM<br>and saw the bats... it was so cool !!<br><img src="http://rvtripsdabkowski.com/sitebui...d/batflightcomingoutofcavern.jpg.w560h372.jpg"><br><br>

 

[Rollin]

I've been to quite a few places on this earth but this is one place that really sticks out in my memories....&nbsp;Stanley, Idaho.

 

[dfh]

Arizona, but only in the winter months. july and august are intolerable hot.<br><br>Got to hit Las Vegas, and the grand canyon. do you like lakes? lake meade, lake mohave, lake powell and lake havasue(stay out of the water on this last one)<br><br>I really like the fed parks up in southern utah, Mesa Verde ahhhh... come on folks help with the names of them, .........<br><br>when you get to kingman, drop me an email and I'll find you free spot!<br><br>

<div><br></div><div>Thanks! I'm wondering if its any worse than FL in July and August? Its usually between 80-90 with 100% humidity. I've never been in dry heat, I just don't know how to compare.</div><p>

</p><br>I'm at 3500 feet elavation, so the july temp usually gets up to about 106 in the shade, I've seen it up to 120 on lake meade. &nbsp;thing is in the sun you will burn red in 12 minutes. It doesn't cool off at night, so you can expect it to be 96 to 98 degrees which makes sleeping w/o air cond. just about impossible. August is what&nbsp;we call the monsoon season, it rains, sort of. one minuted barrels of water come down, then the temp goes up to&nbsp;at least 100.&nbsp;I live here so we always think of july and august as indoor months. march to july 1 are boating months and sept and oct are&nbsp;good boating months too!&nbsp;I love it here...... Been in florida in october, rain and humidity were ok! <br>

<div><br></div><div>I'm really unfamiliar with elevations.. I've lived in Ohio and Florida, both of which are really flat. How high can you go so that summer is&nbsp;relatively&nbsp;comfortable? Is that possible?</div>

 

[dfh]

As a kid I went to Carlsbad, NM<br>and saw the bats... it was so cool !!<br><img src="http://rvtripsdabkowski.com/sitebui...d/batflightcomingoutofcavern.jpg.w560h372.jpg"><br><br>

<div><br></div><div>Awesome!</div>

 

[blars]

Lava Beds NM (good if you like caves) is woried about some bat deises that is present in eastern US bats.<br><br><br>