# Please give us some pointers for our South-West USA road trip and tell us we're not crazy... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 20, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651 "2017-03-20T21:50:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/101 "2017-04-04T05:50:23Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I don’t see it mentioned yet, so I’ll recommend getting a “America The Beautiful” [National Park annual pass](https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm). Cost is $80, which will save you some money vs. paying for each individual park’s entrance fee. Does anyone know the site that’s shown at the top of that page? Alcatraz, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/102 "2017-04-04T09:25:19Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Does anyone know the site that’s shown at the top of that page? Alcatraz, maybe? Not Alcatraz, I’m almost certain. Perhaps Ellis Island? ETA: yes, I believe so. I just searched, Ellis Island’s Grand Hall. Images: [ellis island grand hall - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=ellis+island+grand+hall&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=imvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk5-7nvYrTAhVD72MKHdTmAcoQ_AUIBygB&biw=1024&bih=672) ETA2, especially this image: [ellis island grand hall - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=ellis+island+grand+hall&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=imvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk5-7nvYrTAhVD72MKHdTmAcoQ_AUIBygB&biw=1024&bih=672#imgrc=wCL2G57tBnWvoM:) ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/103 "2017-08-09T04:16:47Z")
OP here with a little update: We did the trip and are now safely back home - not having been eaten by bears in Yosemite, died of thirst in Death Valley and having successfully hiked out of the Grand Canyon (in less than 7 hours, I might add with some pride). Thank you again for all your thoughts. It was a fair bit of driving (although the worst part by far was the last day from Las Vegas to Los Angeles - how boring and hot can it get?), and we could not have squeezed in Arches and Monument Valley without going insane. Everything went pretty much as planned, but we’re pretty beat, and I’m very glad that I’ll have a little more time off work to relax from my vacation. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/104 "2017-08-10T01:58:52Z")
Thanks for the update, I was worried a bit about you-all. Now, please get some rest & enjoy the rest of your time off. I am glad that you came & had some fun. I am also very glad that you are alive & well. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/105 "2017-08-10T02:15:09Z")
Make sure to come back and take the time to do the Utah parks; I’m biased, but they’re the best! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/106 "2017-08-10T02:32:29Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > (although the worst part by far was the last day from Las Vegas to Los Angeles - how boring and hot can it get?) True. At least headed the other way you can quote Hunter Thompson as you reach Barstow but in the other direction you count as a win if you are not facing wildfires and landslides as you cross the mountains into SoCal. And the bits near the NV/CA border are not even good-looking desert. Glad you survived, thrived, enjoyed and avoided overextending yourselves! And yes, best holiday is one where you need a bit more to rest from it. > [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Make sure to come back and take the time to do the Utah parks; I’m biased, but they’re the best! Gotta agree, they \*are \*outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/107 "2017-08-10T02:54:01Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > True. At least headed the other way you can quote Hunter Thompson as you reach Barstow but in the other direction you count as a win if you are not facing wildfires and landslides as you cross the mountains into SoCal. And the bits near the NV/CA border are not even good-looking desert. > > Glad you survived, thrived, enjoyed and avoided overextending yourselves! And yes, best holiday is one where you need a bit more to rest from it. > > Gotta agree, they \*are \*outstanding. This is a lovely, [delicious hidden gem](https://www.nps.gov/care/learn/historyculture/orchardscms.htm) at Capitol Reef; I was just there Friday to pick 30# of apples that don’t grow too many other places in the world. It was an amazing change of scenery down there in Color Country. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/108 "2017-08-10T17:06:14Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > but we chose this park not for its ambiance, but for the amazing coasters. It’s pretty much the only thing in the LA area we’re really excited about (sorry, LA dopers!). This line cracks me up, big time. I’ve lived in L.A. my entire life and I always tell tourists that come into my bar that L.A.'s overrated for tourism but underrated as a place to live. (Depending on where in L.A. you live, of course.) My wife just recently suggested I go to Magic Mountain by myself. Haven’t been in 20 years because nobody in my family likes thrill rides. May have to take her up on it. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651/109 "2017-08-10T18:01:17Z")
just to let people know Disneyland is another hour in a half from magic mountain (which is in Valencia) and an hour from la its self (Anaheim) … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-us-some-pointers-for-our-south-west-usa-road-trip-and-tell-us-were-not-crazy/782651.md?page=5)