American West Travel Itinerary - Trip Planner: Places and Seasons

Some of the popular areas where we specialize, have extensive knowledge, and heartily recommend:

• Arizona travel. All areas of the state, including Grand Canyon (North Rim and South Rim), Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park, Lake Powell, Route 66, Indian Country (Monument Valley and other sites), Phoenix and Tucson. Photo, right: Visit southern Arizona at the right time, and you may see a scene like this.
  
  Best seasons to visit:
  
  • Northern Arizona - late spring and early fall, hot in summer
  • Inner Grand Canyon - spring or fall, extreme heat in summer; best time to hike: April-May or September-October
  • South Rim of Grand Canyon - open all year, cold and sometimes snowy in winter
  • North Rim of Grand Canyon - open mid-May to about mid-November, nice in summer
  • Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon - all year, somewhat chilly in winter, hot in summer
  • Southern Arizona - late fall to spring (can be chilly December-January), extreme summer heat
  
  
• Black Hills of South Dakota. Featuring Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Deadwood, and nearby Badlands National Park. Also, many excellent lesser-known attractions in this area.
  
  Best season to visit: summer
  
  
• California travel. All areas of the state. Extensive information on the Central California Coast from San Diego, north to San Francisco, and up to the Oregon border. Includes most beaches, San Luis Obispo area, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Monterey/Carmel, and the Bay Area. Know many of the less well-known, off-the-beaten-path attractions. Very knowledgable of San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles wine country. Also, all national parks in the state.
  
  Best seasons to visit:
  
  • Southern California coast - all year, can be rainy in the winter
  • Central California coast (including Bay Area) - all year, can be cool and sometimes very rainy in winter
  • Northern California coast - spring to early fall
  • Southern California deserts - late fall to early spring (can be chilly December-January), extreme summer heat, rarely rains
  • Mountains - summer - winter skiing in some areas
  
  
• Colorado Front Range. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Springs area (Pikes Peak and other attractions).
  
  Best season to visit: June through September, skiing in winter
  
  
• Southwest Colorado. Mesa Verde National Park, Ute Mountain, Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, San Juan Skyway route.
  
  Best seasons to visit:
  
  • Durango and high country - June through September
  • Mesa Verde - late April to late October
  • Skiing in winter
  
  
• Glacier National Park, Montana and adjacent Waterton Lakes in Alberta. Very complete knowledge of both parks.
  
  Best season to visit: late-June to mid-September (facilities have limited seasons)
  
  
• Las Vegas Loop (Grand Circle). Popular trips starting and ending in Las Vegas. Features Southwest Utah parks, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Route 66, and Hoover Dam. Can be extended to Monument Valley, Four Corners, etc.
  
  Best seasons to visit: late spring or early fall (mostly very hot in summer - North Rim closed in winter and Bryce Canyon limited in winter due to high elevations)
  
  
• Four Corners. Area where four states meet: Southeast Utah, Southwest Colorado, Northeast Arizona, Northwest New Mexico. Noted for prehistoric sites (cliff dwellings, ancient pueblos, rock art) and colorful canyon country.
  
  Best seasons to visit: late spring or fall (generally hot in summer and cold in winter)
  
  
• Utah Canyon Country. Utah national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches), Grand Staircase - Escalante, Paria River, extensive Zion Narrows, Scenic Highway 12, prehistoric Anasazi and Fremont sites, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Four Corners, Dinosaur / Flaming Gorge Country.
  
  Best seasons to visit: late spring or fall (generally hot in summer and cold in winter); hiking Zion Narrows: late June or early September
  
  
• Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Jackson, Wyoming. Also, all major routes across state. Very complete knowledge of both parks and surrounding areas.
  
  Best season to visit: late-June to mid-September (facilities have limited seasons), skiing in winter
  
  

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