• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Grand Canyon and Things to do on our drive back to Florida

xnavyss

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
143
Reaction score
4
Points
228
Location
Crawfordville, FL
Hello All.

Looking for advice and suggestions.

We live in the Tallahassee, Florida area. The middle of May, we will be flying to Las Vegas and will rent a car to drive home. We plan to spend about 2 days in Vegas ( we have never been there and do not gamble much ) then plan to drive towards the Grand Canyon.

This is where the advice and suggestions are especially needed.

What would you suggest for the Grand Canyon. How much time should we allow. Where would you stay ?

Anyone aware of any Discounts ???? Trip is already going to be expensive.

If you had about 10 days ( we can be a little flexible ) - What would you do, and what would you see ?

What return drive would you consider and where would you stop for the day or two.

We are both in our middle sixties. I am in fair health so no strenuous walking. Some days restrooms are very important.

We normally leave a hotel about 9:00 in the morning and like to be back in a hotel by about 5:00 in the afternoon. About 400 plus miles a day.

Thanks

Joseph SERPICO

( Proud Military Veteran and Retired Navy Submarine Sailor )
 

ottawasquaw

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
313
Reaction score
60
Points
238
Hmm..can't address the 400 miles or discounts, but you will have a lot of choices. Maybe 1 day in LV, then on to Boulder City to tour the Hoover Dam? Williams, AZ will be your closest accommodations for the GC, but many people stay in Flag which is not much further.
There are many natural wonders along the interstate heading East to ABQ - Walnut Canyon, Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest. Continuing East, it depends on your interests and what you would like to see.
If you haven't seen this part of the country, you might want to slow down and add a few days.
 

DaveNV

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
22,003
Reaction score
29,217
Points
1,348
Location
Mesquite, Nevada
Resorts Owned
Free Agent
+1 for slowing down and adding a few days.

Start with a good map, and route the trip home. Interstate 40 follows a lot of the old Route 66. There are many things left over on side roads and such from those days that are worth seeing. Lots of stuff in Arizona and New Mexico before you even get to Texas. Cut down through New Orleans and drive along the Gulf to Florida. Way too much to see for that short a period of time.

Dave (Retired black shoe 20 year surface sailor here. Mainly Carrier Navy, and a tour on a forty year old Tender.)
 

Jimster

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Messages
2,427
Reaction score
110
Points
423
Location
Crystal Lake, IL
i would suggest you stay in williams and take the train to the gc, it is the gc rr. they also have a package with the hotel there and it is very nice and it has a nice breakfast buffet, it is not real cheap but consider it is 60 miles to the GC. There is NOTHING and I mean nothing between Williams and the GC. So if you drive is 120 miles round trip and its boring. On the train you get to relax, have a snack included, they have a singing cowboy etc.

Once you get to the gc you have about 3 hours. But the GC is a big hole. Unless you plan to take a trip down it, all you will see is a big hole. Admittedly its nice but 3 hours is enough. They you relax and take the train back.

On the way to Williams you can and should stop at the Hoover Dam. From the GC there are lots of sites along the way as mentioned above- meteor crater, painted desert, etc.

WHile in Vegas there are two or three days of things to see. See the lions at the MGM-go when they give a show-its free. Try the stratosphere tower for a great view. Mandalas Bay has a very nice aquarium-not cheap. the pirate show at Treasure Island is free and worth a peek. Ever been to In and Out? There,s one off the freeway. Circus Circus is enjoyed by some with free circus acts and expensive games. Of course, there are the many shows at the casinos. Check out some of the Vegas websites for a full list of things to do and performers availabe when you are there.

Many people love New Orleans for the way back. Personally i wouldn’t go a foot out of my way to go to a very filthy city. Unfortunately, been there done that. there are many options for the way back depending how you chose to go. if you go south early you could go to carlsbad caverns but then you will go through West Texas and that will give you new meaning to deserted-keep your gas tank full. It can be 50 miles between gas stations.

Here is the website for the gc train from Williams

https://www.thetrain.com/
 
Last edited:

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
28,461
Reaction score
17,213
Points
1,299
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
There is much more to Las Vegas than just gambling. Shows, Mt. Charleston, the Old Mormon Fort, Fremont St. Experience, come to mind. Why not head North after GCNP, and check out some of the Utah parks, like Zion & Bryce Canyon. Then head East over the Rockies into Colorado. You could cut southeast then across the Texas /Oklahoma area. Arkansas leads to Tennessee and you could decide whether to continue east, or from Nashville area to head south though Chatanooga and Georgia on your way home. Buy yourself a big paper map book, and maybe a Lonely Planet Guide. It would have eateries suggestions, 'cause you'll get darn tired of fast food. Consider joining a hotel 'frequent visitor's card. Like Holiday Inn or Choice Hotels so you can arrange a bed by smart phone and still get a discount.

Have fun. Everyone should launch a road trip once in a while.

Jim
 

cowboy

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
293
Reaction score
102
Points
403
Location
Bastrop, texas
I would spend very little time in Las Vegas, see Hoover dam, Zion, Brice, north rim Grand Canyon, antelope canyon, 4 corners area, Durango Colorado, Carlsbad caverns, Alamo, plantations in La.
 

JudiZ

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
349
Reaction score
317
Points
423
Location
Southern New Hampshire
+1 on Jimster's train suggestion for the Grand Canyon. We have done it both ways - driven and taken the train - and the train is absolutely preferable. I thought we would never get to the GC by car and it was boring and tedious. The train was relaxing, fun and afforded a nap if one cared to. The motel in Williams is clean and serviceable and the restaurant there is nice. There are some kitschy shops as well so it makes for its own little stop on the trip.

We have never done the southern route so I have little else to recommend by way of your journey but it sounds like a great trip!
 

silentg

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2005
Messages
6,185
Reaction score
3,260
Points
649
Location
Central Florida
Resorts Owned
Fitzpatrick's Castle Holiday Homes,
Enchanted Isle.
Is any part of your trip going to be at a timeshare? There are some nice ones in Las Vegas!
Silentg
 

xnavyss

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
143
Reaction score
4
Points
228
Location
Crawfordville, FL
Is any part of your trip going to be at a timeshare? There are some nice ones in Las Vegas!
Silentg

Thanks Everyone. Please continue with the advice and suggestions.

No, no timeshare.

Thanks

Joseph SERPICO

( Proud Military Veteran and Retired Navy Submarine Sailor )
 

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
28,461
Reaction score
17,213
Points
1,299
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
I know you're hot on Grand Canyon, but if you aren't going to actually hike-even an hour or two, to get the feeling that you are actually traveling back in time and seeing a part of the earth that has been hidden. You can see the layers that have been built up over millenia. But if you're just going to have a lunch at the top of the rim and see some folks on mule back filing down a trail, it's just a hole in the ground. You'd probably enjoy the 'Dam Tour' at Hoover dam. Btw start early if you're going to do that. Visitors are taken in the order of their sign up, and the elevators just hold a limited number. It can mean a loooong wait.

Jim
 

AnnieBets

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2017
Messages
198
Reaction score
117
Points
154
I spent a couple of days at Grand Canyon. Watching light change at sunset and eagles catching thermals during the day was fascinating to me. Similar light at sunrise supposedly but I never got up that early.
 
Top