Bonjour à tous!
Pouvez-vous me dire quelle est la ville la plus proche du parc des glaciers pour prendre l'avion?
Il me semble que c'est moins cher d'atterrir à Seattle plutôt qu'à Vancouver. Peut-on louer une voiture aux USA et passer sans problèmes au Canada, puis revenir????
Je reviens d'un trip entre Yellowstone, Glacier, Waterton, Banff, Jasper, etc... retour par Seattle...
A vue de nez l'aéroport le + proche de Glacier serait Missoula situé à 250 km de l'entrée à West Glacier ou Kalispell situé à 40 km de West Glacier.
Et oui on peut très bien louer une voiture aux USA et aller au Canada (on l'a fait entre Jackson Hole et Seattle en passant les 2/3 du temps au Canada) mais il faut la rendre aux USA ! Et attention aux frais d'abandon (pour nous = 300$ + les taxes, aïe ! mais on le savait !)
@+
Vnoa
"A la liberté de provocation, répond la liberté d'objection"
"Les cons, ça ose tout. C'est même à ça qu'on les reconnaît"
"Le con ne perd jamais son temps, il perd celui des autres"
Carnet de Voyage: De Mile High City à Sin City (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada) -> voir mon profil
oui pour les frais les frais d'abandon... mais c'est variable... c'est précisé sur les devis... tu les payes sur places quand tu rends la voiture...
@+
Vnoa
PS/ Glacier NP est vraiment un superbe parc 😉...
"A la liberté de provocation, répond la liberté d'objection"
"Les cons, ça ose tout. C'est même à ça qu'on les reconnaît"
"Le con ne perd jamais son temps, il perd celui des autres"
Carnet de Voyage: De Mile High City à Sin City (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada) -> voir mon profil
salut Grisemote 😉
tu as aussi l'option d'atterrir à Calgary mais tout dépend de ton parcours
sinon aucun problème pour passer la frontière avec une voiture canadienne ou à l'inverse américaine, seulement avoir ses passeports en règle et quelques dollars en poche 🙂
Salut Vincent!
Est-ce que ce n'est pas plus cher de louer une voiture au Canada?
En fait, je me demandais si on pouvait crapahuter pendant un certain temps dans le coin du grand nord américain et du Canada (en incluant Vancouver), puis faire un arrêt sur le retour en Floride (et les Everglades!). Je ne suis pas encore très renseignée sur tout cela, ce ne sont encore que des rêves dans ma tête!!!!
Et pourquoi ne pas passer par Calgary? Tu fais la route sur Banff, puis la Kicking horse Pass et en route direction Golden par la 1.
En kilométrage c'est le plus court et la route est magnifique.
De Vancouver c'est pas simple et de Seattle encore moins.
Tu parles de Glacier Nat Park au Montana? A ne pas confondre avec le parc de Glacier Park au Canada 😉. A choisir entre les deux, celui du Montana est trois tons au dessus, qu'en penses tu? Surement mon parc préféré dans le Nord ouest américain.
😊 Je suis confus, je n'avais pas bien lu ton titre de topic, tu parles du parc du Montana, remarque cela ne change rien pour une arrivée sur Calgary, au moins tu pourras revenir au Canada pour retourner ton véhicule.
Salut Vilcanota, en fait j'espérais aller à celui que tu as tant vanté sur le forum, donc du Montana. Je vais donc étudier la solution Calgary.Pour le moment je ne dispose pas encore de documents sur ce coin là, donc je tatonne avec ma carte et ce que j'ai lu à droite à gauche sur le forum.
Merci bien, je m'y replonge!
Je peux te trouver des cartes qui vont bien pour GNP, j'ai ce qu'il faut.
N'hésite pas pour les tuyaux, ce parc est une pure merveille.
Pour les guides de randos, j'ai aussi ce qu'il faut, je te donne les titres ce soir.
Je confirme ce que dit Vilcanota (😉), le plus simple ce serait Calgary (et je confirme aussi que tu peux passer sans problème la frontière avec une voiture de location). J'ajouterai qu'une fois à Calgary, pourquoi ne pas remonter d'abord sur les Rocheuses canadiennes qui sont aussi une pure merveille, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper...
Et si tu veux avoir une idée des Grandes Plaines, des longues herbes qui ondulent sous le vent, du ciel immense, tu peux aussi faire un tour au Dinosaur provincial park à l'est de Calgary (http://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/71). Ce qui est sympa c'est que tu peux participer aux fouilles en t'inscrivant avant. Les enfants adorent ça.
pour y etre reste qques jours en juin 2007, je confirme que ce parc est fabuleux, et surtout le matin au lever du soleil. et en plus peu frequenté . et j'ai prefere le coté est .
pour l'aeroport, seattle et vancouver sont tres loin et nous ne savons pas quel est ton projet . ensuite (sous reserve du prix et des correspondances) la plupart des villes moyennes aux alentours ont des aeroports . cf kalispell ou whitefish . plus loin, missoula, polson ...
à +
philippe du lot
Merci, je viens de m'acheter le GDR Canada, je te demanderai les documents quand nous aurons fait un choix, ce sera plus facile. J'accepte bien entendu ton aide qui me sera très utile!
Pour reprendre le fil, comme le dit Philippe, la partie Est est la plus intéressante surtout à Many Glacier. De là tu as un camping si tu fais ce genre de "sport" où bien le lodge si tu ne regardes pas à la dépense.
Ayant fait les deux je préfère le camping et cela n'est pas une question de fric, ben oui des fous y en a partout, mais attention ici c'est la règle du "first arrived, fisrt served", donc il faut être assez tôt le matin pour trouver une place qui ne manquera pas de se libérer.
Un conseil, suffit de regarder les petites étiquettes qui sont accrochées aux piquets de chaque emplacement pour connaitre la date de départ et d'attendre à cet emplacement. Autrement le rangers qui a la charge du camping pourra te dire quels sont les endroits qui vont se libérer.
Question hiking, tu seras au paradis des randonneurs, ici tu peux rester une semaine voir plus sans faire les mêmes sentiers, par contre tu découvriras des coins sublimes, avec très peu de monde sauf sur les sites comme Grinnell Lake, Iceberg Lake, Swiftcurent Pass, etc, etc.
La bible du coin c'est : Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks de Eric Molvar aux éditions AFalcon Guide, voici le site :
Tu trouveras des cartes aux entrées Ouest ou Est du parc, et aussi des topos guides pour les randonnées.
De Lake Mc Donald jusque Ste Marie tu passeras par la célèbre "Going to the sun road" à faire en partant tôt le matin car nombreux stops en route et aussi beaucoup de monde, la Logan Pass se situe à 2900m et là haut, il ne fait pas chaud.
Bon pour les détails j'attends d'en savoir un peu plus sur ton projet sinon je vais noircir VF de commentaires
Juste un petit conseil supplémentaire, tu seras au pays des grizzlis, mes amis, et tu risques d'en rencontrer sur les sentiers mais si tu suis les précautions d'usages, tu ne risqueras rien.
Bonne soirée.
Nous c'est camping, nous aimons être au milieu de la nature et autour du feu de bois à se la jouer "cow boys"!
En ce qui concerne les ours on serait ravis d'en voir, mais cela dit je ne voudrais pas que ça pose de problèmes avec les enfants. Nous sommes habitués des précautions dans les campings et pour le pique nique puique nous avons dormi à Yellowstone et Yosémite, mais nous n'en avons jamais croisé sur notre chemin, ce qui me semble plus périlleux (mais en même temps très alléchant😉!)
Bon je garde toutes tes informations sous le coude, merci bien!
Ne t'inquiète pas pour les nounours, ils auront plus peur que toi et en plus vous serez cinq personnes, donc c'est sans crainte. Dans le Montana ils sont petits, enfin plus petits qu'ailleurs, bon OK quand on les regarde de loin 🤪.
Au camping il y a ce qu'il faut pour monter la nourriture dans les arbres.
J'ai hâte de revoir les géants de Katmai en été prochain.
j'ai eu la chance en juin, au yellowstone, de trouver sur la route à 20 métres devant nous une ourse grizzli et 2 oursons . je peux t'assurer que nous sommes descendus de la moto fissa pour aller s'abriter derriere une voiture . car c'est quand meme un gros morceau .
mais grand souvenir et des photos .
à +
philippe du lot
pour glacier NP : many et st mary sont 2 parties grandioses .
à +
philippe du lot
moins gros je pense compte tenu qu'il s'agissait d'une femelle .
mais le tableau était enchanteur, d'autant que nous avons pu l'observer pendant 1/4 d'heure y compris donnant la tetee aux oursons .
felicitations pour la qualité de la photo .
malheureusement pour moi les seules photos réussies sont souvent celles prises par les flics .
à +
philippe du lot
Oui, je comprend, moi qui rêvais de voir des éléphants dans le camping, en Afrique, quand il y en a eu un de plus de 3 mètres qui est venu, j'étais à pied, je suis partie aussi me cacher un peu derrière la voiture!!!!!
Bon, je note les parties grandioses de glacier NP, merci!
Je suis retournée voir ton site que je connaissais dès que tu l'as construit, avec les ours. IL a drôlement progressé, extrêmement bien construit, c'est une vraie mine d'or!
Bon, il va falloir activer sur les photos du parc des glaciers, please!!😉
Oui oui, mais le seul hic c'est qu'il me faut les scanner car elles sont en argentique, ben oui je n'avais pas de numérique à l'époque et je manque de temps pour faire tout ça 😕 Mais j'y pense, d'ailleurs je vais te passer quelques clichés sur ce post.
J'essayerais aussi de mettre qq photos après notre passage début septembre dans ce superbe parc ! (pas vu d'ours à Glacier mais à Waterton 😛... )
Je te mets (en anglais, sorry mais je traduirais si tu veux) ce qu'on a fait sur 2 jours :
McDonald Lake Turnout North Mac Donald Road => Mac Donald Creek Trail --> Mac Donald Falls (0.25 mile) Stop at the Moose Turnout, just beyond the end of McDonald Lake Upper Mac Donald Creek View Mount Cannon View Avalanche Creek area and a hike along the Trail of the Cedars. Red Rock Point View Heaven’s Peak View Avalanche View
Logan Pass : Hidden Lake Trail (1.5 mile)
Stop at the turnoffs along the way down to St. Mary Lake
St. Mary lake: stop at the turnouts at the end of the lake for a view of 100-foot Virginia Falls across the valley. From the Virginia Falls turnoff or Sun Point => some short hikes. One is a fork that leads to Sunrift Gorge where a steep, paved path leads to an overlook with windswept pines and views of Baring Creek cascading over slickrock.
Another trail continues around to the end of St. Mary lake and leads to St. Mary and Virginia Falls. There is an excellent view of St. Mary lake as the trail rounds the lower end of the lake over a bluff. The trail continues to St, Mary Falls and then over a bridge at the base of Virginia Falls.
Sun Point and Goose Island View (1.5 miles from Sun Point)
The Narrows, is where the width of the lake is just a quarter mile across. (short path to the lake for some outstanding views.)
Many Glacier-> sentier pour Iceberg Lake (rando vers Swiftcurrent pass --> stop au 2ème lac)-> sentier Grinnel Glacier (on peut aussi traverser le Swiftcurrent Lake et le Josephine Lake en bateau)
Enjoy !
Vnoa
"A la liberté de provocation, répond la liberté d'objection"
"Les cons, ça ose tout. C'est même à ça qu'on les reconnaît"
"Le con ne perd jamais son temps, il perd celui des autres"
Carnet de Voyage: De Mile High City à Sin City (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada) -> voir mon profil
superbes photos sans conteste .
dis moi, tu es naturellement doué pour la photo ou tu payes les ours pour poser ?
à moins que tout simplement je sois nul ?
je n'ose pas montrer mes photos et en plus je en sais pas les mettre en consultation.
bye
philippe du lot
à l'att de grisemote : j'espére que tu penseras à nous quand tu sera à glacier NP !
Malgré le fait que l'aéroport le plus proche soit Kalispell (MT), je confirme ce qui est dit plus haut : le plus simple est à mon avis Calgary (AB).
De là descendre sur le Montana, sans oublier au passage de visiter Waterton NP, qui est le pendant Canadien de Glacier NP.
C'est ce que je viens de faire fin août. 😉
La frontière se passe très facilement au port d'entrée de Chief Mountain. Par contre attention à la période où tu voyages car ce poste frontière ne fonctionne que l'été.
La route panoramique "Going to the sun" qui traverse Glacier est elle déjà fermée depuis mi septembre. Ce genre de "détail" est aussi à prendre en compte.
Maybe you should be a little more afraid of me than you are right now.
Je prépare une quatrième "expédition" aux states car j'adore les grands parcs nord américains. Je retourne donc a yellowstone, grand tetons avec cette fois la…
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En juin, j'aimerais faire l'itinéraire Seattle-Ile de Vancouver-Jasper-Ban... des Glaciers-Yellowstone... Hol Je n'ai aucune idée du nombre de kilomètres que…
Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?
We're leaving at the end of June and will be driving the route between Buffalo and Cody. We’ve already booked our accommodations and a rodeo in Cody, but during the day, we’ll be driving between the two and I’m unsure about the itinerary.
Which route do you think is the most pleasant, interesting, or scenic between:
- The northern route via Highway 14 with Sheridan, Lowell, etc.
- The southern route with Highways 16/20/14, passing by Loaf Mountain Overlook, Powder River Pass, Ten Sleep Canyon...
We’ll be in a car, so we should be able to drive on any road.
Thanks for your input!
I’m almost done planning our September road trip. After our 3-night visit to Sequoia, we’ll have a stopover night in Coalinga (to break up the drive). We’ll be staying two nights in Monterey and would like to stop along the way to visit one side of Pinnacles National Park. We’re torn between the West entrance and the East entrance, and we’d like to do a short hike of no more than 2 hours since we don’t want to arrive too late in Monterey.
This park is split into two distinct zones with no connection between them, and the mileage from Coalinga to Monterey is pretty much the same for both. Which area do you recommend visiting—east or west? And which route is the most scenic?
I’ve spotted two short hikes:
- East: Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
- West: Balconies Cliffs Cave Loop
Has anyone been there, or do you have another hike to suggest?
Thanks in advance, and have a great afternoon!
Marcalamar 🙂
After our first trip as a young couple to the West in 2007 (yes, that doesn’t make us any younger!), we’re planning to go back in 2028, but this time as a family of four! (We have two boys who’ll be 5½ and 13 years old in the summer of 2028.)
Our plan is to combine a few big cities (SF and LA, maybe San Diego) with national parks and state parks, mostly!
Ideally, we’d like to leave at the end of June and head back to France around July 19–20, so we can enjoy the first week of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Since we already did the "loop" in 2007, there are must-see places we absolutely want to revisit—and especially share with our kids: Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and above all, the Grand Canyon, which is still the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on Earth!
On the other hand, some places didn’t leave a big impression on us for various reasons, so we’re not making them a priority: Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, for example.
We’re planning ahead, but might as well be smart about it😏
Do you have any tips for a fun and doable itinerary over about 20–25 days with kids, without rushing?
Hi everyone! 🙂
Just a quick question about King Canyon and Sequoia National Park.
Before our night in Miramonte, we plan to visit King Canyon. The next stop will be two nights in Three Rivers to explore Sequoia National Park. I wanted to go all the way to Roaring River Falls on the King Canyon Scenic Byway and then turn back to head to Miramonte. Since we’re coming from Oakhurst, Google Maps says it’s 300 km and 5 hours of driving. Since we also want to hike to see the sequoias (Big Stump Area and Grand Grove) before tackling the King Canyon Scenic Byway, the timing’s going to be tight. How far do you recommend going before turning back to miss as few points of interest as possible on the King Canyon Scenic Byway? Thanks for your advice, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone!
After years of hoping, waiting, planning, then changing, saving, and searching for the best possible route... we're FINALLY off this summer for a 5-week road trip in the West.
I had planned a trip to Colorado in 2021 but canceled due to COVID, so with time passing and my eldest’s high school graduation approaching fast, I figured it was now or never!
Anyway, the itinerary has been modified and extended to please everyone (I’m no longer the only one making decisions!!)
Here’s our final route:
Day 1 - 7/12/2026 - Brussels / Los Angeles
Day 2 - 7/13/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 3 - 7/14/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 4 - 7/15/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - 7/16/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - 7/17/2026 - Los Angeles / Kingman
Day 7 - 7/18/2026 - Kingman / Grand Canyon
Day 8 - 7/19/2026 - Grand Canyon / Page
Day 9 - 7/20/2026 - Page
Day 10 - 7/21/2026 - Page / Monument Valley
Day 11 - 7/22/2026 - Monument Valley / Durango
Day 12 - 7/23/2026 - Durango
Day 13 - 7/24/2026 - Durango
Day 14 - 7/25/2026 - Durango
Day 15 - 7/26/2026 - Durango / Glenwood Springs
Day 16 - 7/27/2026 - Glenwood Springs
Day 17 - 7/28/2026 - Glenwood Springs / Moab
Day 18 - 7/29/2026 - Moab
Day 19 - 7/30/2026 - Moab
Day 20 - 7/31/2026 - Moab
Day 21 - 8/1/2026 - Moab
Day 22 - 8/2/2026 - Moab / Vernal
Day 23 - 8/3/2026 - Vernal / Grand Teton
Day 24 - 8/4/2026 - Grand Teton
Day 25 - 8/5/2026 - Grand Teton / Cody
Day 26 - 8/6/2026 - Cody / Yellowstone
Day 27 - 8/7/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 28 - 8/8/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 29 - 8/9/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 30 - 8/10/2026 - Yellowstone / Salt Lake City
Day 31 - 8/11/2026 - Salt Lake City / Bryce Canyon
Day 32 - 8/12/2026 - Bryce Canyon / Zion
Day 33 - 8/13/2026 - Zion
Day 34 - 8/14/2026 - Zion
Day 35 - 8/15/2026 - Zion / Las Vegas
Day 36 - 8/16/2026 - Las Vegas
Day 37 - 8/17/2026 - Las Vegas / Los Angeles
Day 38 - 8/18/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 39 - 8/19/2026 - Los Angeles / Brussels
Day 40 - 8/20/2026 - Brussels / Home
We’ll be alternating between house swaps, motels, and campgrounds. I’ve booked all the accommodations (except the campground at Bryce since sunset bookings open only 14 days in advance) and the first activities, as well as the most touristy ones.
I’m currently putting together my day-by-day roadbook and having some trouble planning certain days, like in LA or Las Vegas. Choosing hikes isn’t easy either—it’s tough to decide!
We’re really excited but could definitely use your help with choices and optimizations!!
Hello.
I’d like to travel along I-15N from San Diego to Las Vegas with my mom, who’s 67. We’ve explored Northern California and the California Coast over the past two years and now want to continue through the desert.
There are several attractions along the way:
- Mormon Rocks
- Desert Discovery Center and visit the Old Woman meteorite
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave Desert
- Mojave National Preserve
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Silverwood Lake
My mom has back issues that prevent her from hiking or walking on trails with elevation changes. Is it possible to visit these places by car, or are the routes flat enough?
I’d love for her to experience the desert with an itinerary adapted to her condition. I’m also open to other points of interest that aren’t mentioned. We have 3-4 days for the trip, so we’re not in a rush—just want to explore.
I’d love to take a road trip and visit Nova Scotia. I’d appreciate some info on the best cities to see and the most interesting spots. The trip should last about 10 to 15 days, staying in hotels or motels. Thanks in advance!
We’re being relocated to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
We’ll be taking the flight from Nantes to Montreal and then from Montreal to Saint Pierre.
Could you recommend a hotel near the departure terminal that allows dogs?
Hi,
My 16-year-old son is flying to Grand Rapids with other kids his age. There’s a layover in Detroit. There’s no unaccompanied minor service available. Is it pretty easy to navigate Detroit Airport to catch the connecting flight to Grand Rapids (domestic flight)? There are several of them who speak English well.
Thanks for your replies,
Good evening, everyone! 🙂
Just a few last questions to wrap up our Lake Tahoe visit plans.
**Parking:**
We’d like to walk to Eagle Falls and then Eagle Lake. I’ve spotted two parking lots that seem close to each other and give access to the trailhead. Where and how do we pay for entry to Emerald Bay State Park and Inspiration Point?
**Viewpoints on the East Side:**
Are most of the viewpoints (Balancing Rock, Granite Cave, Bonsai Rock, etc.) right by the road, or do you have to hike to reach them?
**Donner Memorial State Park:**
Is it worth making a detour to Truckee to visit this park and the Truckee historic downtown?
Hi there. I'm shocked by the price of the Upper Antelope Canyon tour—$175 for less than an hour… You might say, "if you can’t afford it…" But the real question is whether it’s really worth it, because $350 for two makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off. For those who’ve done both Lower and Upper, can you tell me if the price difference is really justified? Thanks
Hi everyone! 🙂
As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th.
Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us.
We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.
Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Davis – overnight stop
Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen)
Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes
Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike
Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes)
Day 6: South Lake Tahoe
Day 7: South Lake Tahoe
Day 8: Mammoth Lake
Day 9: Mammoth Lake
Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road
Day 11: El Portal
Day 12: El Portal
Day 13: Oakhurst
Day 14: Miramonte
Day 15: Three Rivers
Day 16: Three Rivers
Day 17: Coalinga
Day 18: Monterey
Day 19: Monterey
Day 20: San Francisco
Day 21: San Francisco
Day 22: Departure
For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned:
Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2)
Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3)
Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4)
Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)
I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV?
Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?
That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
I’m a total USA addict. I’ve already done several road trips, including the East Coast and West Coast.
I’m here today because I’m planning to go back for another road trip on the West Coast. Possibly with one of my sisters and a couple of friends. It’s still just a plan for now, but I’m working on an itinerary in the meantime. Ideally, I’d leave in 2026, but I don’t have the exact dates yet—maybe April-May or September-October.
My last trip to the West Coast was in September 2014. We went for 2 weeks, but this time it’d be 3 weeks. What made me want to go back was simply a colleague who just left today. As I’m writing this, he’s on the plane. I’m so happy for him, but now all I can think about is going back.
Since I recently went to NY, I noticed that prices have really gone up. I assume the same is true for the West Coast? For 2 people over 3 weeks, what budget should I expect? We’re the type to watch our spending and find great tips.
I think we’ll arrive in San Francisco like the first time and leave from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Merci de me conseiller pour la réservation pour la plus belle vue faut il réserver une chambre dans l'hôtel ou choisir une cabane ?
Prendre le petit déjeuner ou pas ?
Que pensez vous du restaurant ?
Hello, if the off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts are still around 😉, I’d love some info on tackling these trails. I’m not super familiar with the rules, risks, or what to expect—I’m looking for firsthand experience from folks who’ve done it on their own once or multiple times.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a week-long family trip to NYC in October 2026. The focus is on museums and soaking up the New York vibe. I’ve been checking Airbnb, but the prices in Manhattan are through the roof. Since I don’t know NYC well, is it "wise" to look outside Manhattan? Any neighborhoods you’d recommend?
After our first trip to the West, we’d love to go back to see other must-see spots!
The stay would be from May 11 to 20, 2026—it’s short, but hey...
M11: Lyon to Las Vegas (overnight in Vegas)
T12: Route 66 – overnight in Grand Canyon (GC)
W13: Visit GC – overnight in Page
Th14: Visit Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend – overnight in Monument Valley (MV)
F15: Visit MV – overnight in Moab
Sa16: Visit Arches / Dead Horse Point – overnight in Bryce
Su17: Visit Bryce – overnight in Zion
M18: Visit Zion / Valley of Fire – overnight in Vegas
Tu19: Return flight
What do you think? Could we add one more night somewhere? We’re not big hikers, so we’ll mostly explore the parks using shuttles.
Also, we’re all set—passports are good. Do you think one classic Visa card and one premium Visa card will be enough for coverage?
Thanks so much for your feedback, and happy holidays!
Hi North America forum crew,
Just a little post that might interest some of you:
Travelers to the United States | Photo Now Mandatory Upon Entry and Exit | La Presse
I assume many of you already know, but the America the Beautiful annual pass, which was $80, will increase to $250 starting January 1, 2026.
So if you're planning to travel before the end of December 2026, it's in your best interest to buy your pass in December 2025, since it will still cost $80 and be valid until the end of December 2026 if you purchase it in December 2025.
This price increase only applies to non-U.S. residents.
Additionally, for those who planned to visit just one park, a $100 surcharge per person will apply to access a list of 11 national parks...
For example, if there are 4 of you in a car, you’ll have to pay $35 + $400,
which comes to $435 to visit one of the 11 parks on the list (I don’t have all of them... Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.).
Total madness.
The goal is to push people who only visit one park into buying the annual pass.
Last point: free entry days are over for non-residents!
Hi everyone, I’m traveling to Los Angeles and would like to rent a vehicle at the airport. However, I have a Boursobank Ultim deferred debit card, so I’d love to know if it’s possible for those who’ve experienced this recently. Thanks for the info!
I’m planning a week in S.F. in April 2026 and I can’t figure out how to tell the cable cars—of which I understand there are three lines—apart from the trams, which I think number seven. I can’t find their individual numbers or routes anywhere.
Could someone shed some light on this for me? Thanks in advance.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2026 full of amazing travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip through the American national parks starting from Denver in June 2026.
The price of the pass is jumping from 80 € to 250 € on January 1st, 2026!!!
Is it possible to buy the pass online before the end of the year to lock in the 80 € rate? If so, where and how do I go about it?
Thanks for your tips.
Arnale
I’m planning a road trip for July 2026 in northern Florida. Could you let me know if my itinerary makes sense?
Day 1: Orlando
Day 2: Amelia Island
Day 3: Amelia Island
Day 4: Tallahassee
Day 5: Panama City Beach
Day 6: Panama City Beach (visit to Destin)
Day 7: Crystal River (stop in Cedar Key on the way)
Day 8: Crystal River
Day 9: Anna Maria (stop in Clearwater)
Day 10: Anna Maria (St. Pete)
Day 11: Anna Maria
Day 12: Orlando
Day 13: Orlando
Day 14: Orlando
Day 15: Departure
We just finished 9 days in the American West and wanted to share our experience because we had an amazing time.
I know some of you might ask, why use an agency? Honestly, we didn’t really feel like doing all the driving and planning, especially since we didn’t know the area at all. And since our English isn’t great, having French-speaking guides was a big comfort.
We found Emmanuelle and Isabelle, and wow, they were fantastic. It was just the two of us with them, so it was a truly VIP, ultra-personalized experience. They treated us like royalty from start to finish. These two live in Las Vegas and know the region like the back of their hand. They told us they’ve spent over 15 years exploring every corner of the American West, and it really shows. Their knowledge of geology, park history, and local anecdotes is just impressive. It’s nothing like someone reciting a memorized script. They answer all your questions and really adapt to what you want to see or do.
What we really loved: the vehicle was super comfortable, and the little details made a difference—like snacks and even a homemade cake! Though, to be fair, we devoured the cake right away, so that counts.
Since they know the sites inside out, they took us at the right times to avoid crowds. So we could enjoy peaceful picnics at Grand Canyon viewpoints without being packed in with 200 people. Plus, on top of the must-see spots, they showed us some hidden gems that were absolutely stunning—places we never would’ve found on our own. They’re true locals who know all the best tips.
The service was really personalized. They adapted to our pace and preferences, and we could stop whenever we wanted to take photos. It’s the luxury of being in a small private group—you’re not just a number on a big bus.
In short, we really felt like we were traveling with friends rather than professional guides. Everything’s included in the price (hotel pickup, meals, park entries, etc.), so the value for money is fair.
We loved it so much that we’re already planning to come back next year to explore other areas with them. I think we’ve caught the American West bug—it’s all we can think about, and we can’t wait to return.
If you’re looking for a French-speaking tour with real personalized service and guides who know the region like no one else, we highly recommend them. We had unforgettable moments. They also design road trips for those who don’t want a guide. And they handled our hotel reservations in Las Vegas too. If you want genuine advice from friendly locals, we’re giving them a 200% recommendation!
I’m currently looking for well-located hotels near points of interest in the cities below. I’ve found a few, but the prices are really high.
Could any of you share some great addresses in the following cities?
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- San Francisco
Also, do you have a preferred airline for domestic flights? If so, which one?
