10 Year Anniversary Trip

[GunsAreFun]

Let’s see if you Roksliders can beat ChatGPT.

The wife and I are looking to take a trip in June (probably early June) for our ten year anniversary. We prefer avoiding crowds…not looking for total isolation just don’t want to be in a tourist trap with shoulder to shoulder people or lines of cars. We will be renting an AirBnB but may camp a night or two if we drive. Would like to be close to some nice hikes up to a few miles and maybe opportunity for some other activities like kayaking or rafting. Would also like to be decently near a town with restaurants so we don’t have to cook every meal.

Wherever we go, we will probably be traveling on the weekends and doing most of the exploring during the week.

Been looking very briefly at Olympic National Park but open to other suggestions. I’m ok for settling for those places that might not be as majestic as the big name spots (Yosemite, Yellowstone, Banff, etc.) for something quieter like a Yoho vs Banff. Alaska isn’t off the table but don’t even know where to start there.

Will be flying or driving from Missouri so if it is past Colorado/Wyoming, proximity to an airport is important.

And…go!

 

[Nickziegler]

My wife and I had an anniversary trip to jackson hole mid October. It was the slow time of year so it was very nice. I'm sure June could be quite busy there but there is plenty to do. It's a beautiful place

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[180ls1]

Southern UT and some of the lesser known attractions, possibly dip into northern AZ.

 

[GunsAreFun]

Southern UT and some of the lesser known attractions, possibly dip into northern AZ.

There is quite a bit of stuff down there. Any specific recommendations?

 

[180ls1]

There is quite a bit of stuff down there. Any specific recommendations?

Yeah that's the "problem." My wife and I have done it 3 times together and we see something new every time. From the big stuff to the small stuff and everything in between. We generally hit the big/main things we want to see and there is ALWAYS smaller stuff along the way that can be added in or dropped.

I wont post it publicly but if you commit to it I know a really cool spot by Bryce to camp, shoot me a PM and I'll let you know.

 

[tony]

Southern UT and some of the lesser known attractions, possibly dip into northern AZ.

GF and did a month in Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah in that order, a big circle. Flew in and out of Vegas rented a car.
Off memory stayed outside the Grand Canyon park in a little spot near by in yurts.
Went to GC, antelope canyon, walnut canyon, sunset crater, waptui, Navajo national monument, monument valley going into Utah.
Colorado we stayed at the lodge at mesa verde park,
Utah - no order , Canyonlands, Zion, arches, Bryce, cedar breaks, capital reef, Kodachrome basin (state park), grand escalante staircase. Stayed outside Cannonville in yurts again in an area we were told was an old ghost town. Just like the cowboy movies , wasn’t much left of it. If I remember we were on the backside of Bryce.

I know I’m missing spots and I’ll add them as I remember them.

Rent a car, plot a route and head out. Our respective kids are grown and gone so we don’t have children to worry about.

Heck Vegas is fun. Rent a car, go to the dam, some of the parks. We’ve done that a few times.

Every one wants to move to Colorado Montana Wyoming. Man I’d take south Utah in a second!

 

[MuleyFever]

Dude, you are asking where to go in the entire country. Way too many options with vastly different features. Pick a region or desires and ask again.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Kauai

 

[Steve O]

Mount Rushmore

 

[aks]

Kauai

I second this. Or another island, even Oahu(but dont stay in Honolulu).

You can get a good hike in the morning time. Get a nice bite to eat for lunch. Then finish your day at the beach.

 

[rookieforever33]

The big island of Hawaii is possibly the best place to go any time of year. I was amazed when driving across from Kona to Hilo to see snow capped mountains in February. Beach days, volcanoe national park, goat and pig hunting. Awesome

The train ride "wilderness express" from Fairbanks to Anchorage was phenomenal. Spend a couple nights at each stop and enjoy.

I live in the center of the US and have traveled to every state by motorcycle or car. Map out big loops and loosely plan a route, then be flexible enough to change it. Every night at the hotel plan where to head tomorrow. This works best with an old school atlas.

Nobody ever told me how beautiful Vermont and New Hampshire were. Or Capital Reef Park. Or the Road to Escalante. Or 14A. I spent boring hours on the road with good friends and loved ones, then found something awesome to share forever.

 

[Phaseolus]

I know you asked about the States but you can fly to The Cook Islands and get a stay at a 4 star Hotel for less than you can go to Mexico. Or, you can upgrade to a five star. The Cooks Islands are self governed but are in association with New Zealand. They are beautiful Polynesian Islands without the French. They speak English and use the New Zealand dollar. You can drink the water. The only downside is that it is a 13 hour flight, from LA.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Kauai

Kauai is fantastic!


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[GunsAreFun]

Wife said no to Hawaii.

 

[RockAndSage]

Let’s see if you Roksliders can beat ChatGPT.

The wife and I are looking to take a trip in June (probably early June) for our ten year anniversary. We prefer avoiding crowds…not looking for total isolation just don’t want to be in a tourist trap with shoulder to shoulder people or lines of cars. We will be renting an AirBnB but may camp a night or two if we drive. Would like to be close to some nice hikes up to a few miles and maybe opportunity for some other activities like kayaking or rafting. Would also like to be decently near a town with restaurants so we don’t have to cook every meal.

Wherever we go, we will probably be traveling on the weekends and doing most of the exploring during the week.

Been looking very briefly at Olympic National Park but open to other suggestions. I’m ok for settling for those places that might not be as majestic as the big name spots (Yosemite, Yellowstone, Banff, etc.) for something quieter like a Yoho vs Banff. Alaska isn’t off the table but don’t even know where to start there.

Will be flying or driving from Missouri so if it is past Colorado/Wyoming, proximity to an airport is important.

And…go!

If you really want your mind blown with some genuinely majestic experiences, get an AirBnB in Arcata, Eureka, or Ferndale, on California's northern coast. Alaska Airlines has flights right into Arcata. It's in the heart of the Redwoods, the hikes are magical, there's plenty of water stuff to do, and the food can be excellent.

There are few people up there at any time of year, though summer has more travel. It's relatively remote from major airports, and the drive from any of CA's population centers is many hours, so it's a bit self-limiting in terms of how many people go there. If not for Alaska Airlines flying in there, the drive just wouldn't be worth it, given your parameters. But it's remote enough that it's pretty much "off the beaten path" unless you really want to go there. Which makes it an excellent place to enjoy that time of year. It's a small logging town in the middle of logging country, with one of the most liberal universities in the country stuck in it, so there's a very wide range of people, and a broad selection of cool little shops, cafes, places to eat, museums, and local attractions.

In particular, be sure to make a day-trip to Ferndale if you don't actually stay there - it was the heart of a dairy empire at the end of the Victorian period up until just before WWI, and has one of the biggest concentrations of Victorian mansions anywhere, in a little village that's unbelievably picturesque, in a lush valley on the coast tucked into the middle of the redwoods.

 

[wytx]

Saratoga, Wyoming
Neat little town, great Western feel, good food and nice places to stay.
Great fishing, and Snowy Range right there for hiking.
Heck, Brush Creek Ranch might make her real happy.