How much can I do in 3 months (with 4 kids)?

You may find this page from the NP site of interest. You can find a lot of useful info like this around the site. Glacier is still on my 'to do' list and would love to travel the GTTSR, but if I had the time available [like you] and if the weather [forecast] wasn't too bad, I would certainly head that way, road open or not. The place looks truly amazing and I am sure you will find so much on the way in and out of there. We travel by RV and generally in Oct/Nov and love it. Yes, it can get cold, yes you run the risk of some disruption, but when the snow covered mountains glisten in the sun against a blue sky and there are no crowds to be seen, it more than makes up for it ! With elevation you can go from nightime temps below minus 10F to daytime temps of above 90F in a day or two as we did between Bryce canyon and Death valley. [That's why layered clothing is a must.] Starting out in Denver on the 5th would give you a chance of getting to Glacier in time and by remaining open to change and getting up to date weather forcasts you could make choices from on the road as mentioned above.

If you have the time [and inclination ;-) ] here are two such trips that cover a lot of the west where you might pick up some tips and get a little insight. Click here and Here.

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Originally Posted by wanessa

A bit longer than 3 months but don't really need to rush back to Australia until January to get settled in before school starts.

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Vanessa, are you aware of the 90 day limit stay, on the visa waver program? Do you have visas to be able to stay more than 90 days? I'd hate you to do all this planning, and then find on arrival in LA, that you will not be able to stay as long as you would like.

Lifey

Thanks Southwest Dave

thank you for that link! It really made me feel much better about including Glacier in my trip. It sounds amazing and I can't wait to get there.

Dear Lifey, we have our visa interview next week when we get back to Australia (we currently live in Hong Kong but are leaving after 7 years) I have definitely left it a bit late but I have so much going on so fingers crossed!

Vanessa

Oh my goodness, Vanessa, you deserve a medal.

You mean to say, you are in the middle of packing up and organising moving back to Australia..... after seven years? And planning and researching an extended trip to North America? And all, with four young children!!

What else can I do to help?

Lifey

Hi Lifey and everyone

Sorry I have been out of touch, we moved back to Australia and haven't had access to the net.

Out trip has changed slightly since I first posted. We started to worry that the trip was too long for the kids so decided to reduce the USA part of the trip to 3 months and then go skiing in Canada - something we were always doing at the end. Then we found out Canada is included in the 90 visa (oops!) so we are hanging around in Sydney in a hotel for a while so we can still catch some hopefully good snow at the end of our trip and instead of flying up to Canada we are going to Lake Tahoe.

I realize I am getting late for parts of Glacier and Rocky Mountain National Parks but am trying to be flexible due to out new timing issue ( and not too disappointed) and am just going to go to them anyway and see how we go - I would love to say I will do them next time but not sure there will be a next time, not for a while anyway.

Thank you so much everyone for your great advice - will definitely let you know how we go ( not to mention ask for your advice along the way!)



Vanessa

That must be something new, Vanessa. But then, so much has changed in the last 10 years. In Sept 2001 I went over the border into Canada, Vancouver, and managed to get another 90 days.

Mind you, I am not surprised. It was common to go over and after ten weeks or so, spend a week or two in Canada, and then get another 90 days on return to US. Yeah! much has changed.

Hope your new itenary works out well. It would be really helpful for other travellers, especially those, who like you, will be travelling with children, if you could take some notes (and photos) and post a report, either as you go, or on your return. Actually, some of the children may like to have their say as well. I for one will be most keen to read a report of your trip.

Lifey

Have a great time! Last year we took our 5 kids (youngest only 16 months) on a 8 week trip to the US. 5 of those weeks we hired a car. It was a great experience and very easy to organise. I have travelled a lot and I think the US is the best place in the world to take a large family. Everything is so big; cars, roads, hotels, even meals.. Personally I couldn't think of anything worse than driving an RV around, they are just so big and well hotels are pretty cheap. We just bought an electric steamer and an electric fry pan and cooked our evening meals in our hotel room. That said I have never driven an RV before, although I have driven a 9 seater van around the UK and that felt like I was driving a bus. So long as our hotel had a pool then our kids were happy.

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Originally Posted by chironbe

Personally I couldn't think of anything worse than driving an RV around, they are just so big and well hotels are pretty cheap. .

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Choosing an RV is rarely a cheaper option than a car and Motels, [unless you are a larger group] it is something that some find to be an enjoyable and rewarding way to travel. This should be the main factor when deciding what's 'best', and then see if you can afford it. ;-)

As we always say around here, RV'ing is a personal 'Lifestyle' choice and not for everyone, it is the same reason we don't do 'Best route' or 'Best attraction'. One persons pleasure, is another persons poison as the saying goes.

Hi Lifey,

I will definitely post a report at the end of our trip, I am sure reading about our mistakes along the way will be very entertaining!

Hi Chironbe,

Its funny, I am more excited about the RV than just about any other part of the trip, having said that I have never done anything like this before and really have no idea of what we are getting ourselves into. Alot of people look at us like we are mad when we tell them so maybe they know something I dont!

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Originally Posted by wanessa

... having said that I have never done anything like this before and really have no idea of what we are getting ourselves into.

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Vanessa, that is what I like best about your plan. You are prepared to go out there and make your own discoveries of what you like and what doesn't work for you and your family.

As mentioned above, I could not imagine driving one of those monsters. But then, this is about your trip, not mine, nor the above poster's. How dull it would be if we all liked the same and did the same. I can see one of two outcomes....

Fantastic, can't wait to do it again. Or Never again!

Lifey