Western Trip

     Last blog we talked about Stage One of my Ultimate Vacation: The Eastern Trip.  It would provide at least three months to fully enjoy examining the National Parks throughout the eastern states as I had outlined in that blog.  Now we want to consider Stage Two: a journey through the western states which is going to include Alaska.  Since Hawaii is our 50^th state and is way out in the Pacific it will be considered as part of my Ultimate Vacation: Around the World Trip!

     Let’s look at the western journey.  Since it involves less states to travel through we can arrange some additional visits.  However, it does require some extra driving.  We would start off by leaving Colorado and heading south into western Texas.  Since our Stage One trip only skimmed the eastern part of Texas this trip would include a more extensive excursion into the central and western portions of the state.  We would then travel into New Mexico and head into Arizona, turning north we would go into Utah and Idaho.

     After this we would turn south going into Nevada and go for the southern portion of California.  We could take our time as we planned on how we traversed the trip north through California as we headed into Oregon and Washington.  We would journey into British Columbia (Canada), into the Yukon territories and make our way into Alaska.  Our travels then would bring us back through the Canadian territories through Alberta (Canada) while entering the United States in Montana, continuing this journey through Idaho.  We would continue southeastward traveling through Wyoming and re-enter Colorado on the western side of the state before heading home.

     Although having allowed forty-five days for this trip the time frame is always flexible depending upon the places we desired to see.  We could always add additional days if the stopping points became more necessary for our enjoyment.  Remember time is not the factor for this trip and neither is the cost.

     For many people making this trip a stop at the Grand Canyon in Arizona would probably be a given.  However, instead we’re going to visit the Petrified Forest National Park.  Here we can see the largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, the multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert and stare back into some 225 million years of history in old fossils.

     And at least one of the locations we would have to stop at would be Joshua Tree National Park.  Although my son is named Joshua, it was for the Bible character and NOT the tree.  However, we would have to make the stop, possibly at night, to view the rich cultural history and surreal geologic features of this fascinating area.

     And just for me we’ll have to visit Cascades National Park in Sedro-Woolley, Washington: jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn this complex.  Who wouldn’t want to make a stop here and indulge in the beauty that it has to offer?  After we have made our way into Alaska the choices become somewhat difficult.  This area is truly a vista of adventure and awe-inspiring sights.  At least one of the areas I would choose is Kenai Fjords National Park.  At the tip of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age still lingers.  In Kenai Fjords, glaciers, earthquakes, and ocean storms are the architect.  Ice worms, bears, and whales make their home in this land of constant change.  Native Alatiiq use these resources to nurture a life entwined with the sea.  What a marvelous area to visit and “look back” into the pages of history.

     When going through Moose, Wyoming after re-entering the United States we would have to make a visit to Grand Teton National Park.  How wonderful our adventure of taking in the majestic mountains, pristine lakes and extraordinary wild life within this area.  Some four million visitors per year visit these attractions and I would look forward to adding my name to that list.  Even after getting back into Colorado we may have to visit some areas on the western side of the state.  Would it be the Black Canyon at Gunnison or Mesa Verde national park in Mesa Verde?  We’ll have to spend more time on making that decision!

     After reviewing this trip and considering the possibility of visiting a few more different places (or perhaps staying a little longer at some that I have chosen) this trip may have to be extended beyond the original forty-five days that I thought it might take.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"If you could control the weather ---

you'd have a better job and be making more money!"