On June 1st (give or take a week) I'll be leaving from Kansas City headed West. I'm only in the first stages of planning this trip, so I figure it'll be easier to change things now, rather than closer to June 1st. Any comments or tips of my current plan would be greatly appreciated. So, here we are:

1. Kansas City headed West through Kansas (I70)
2. Head North towards Rocky Mountain N.P., CO (exploring Roosevelt Nat. Forest, Long's Peak, Lava Cliffs, Tundra Nature Trail, Grand Lake, Trail Ridge Road)
3. Head South towards Colorado Springs, CO (exploring Garden of the Gods, Collegiate Peaks)
4. Head South on 25, quickly exploring Capulin Volcano, NM (worth it?)
5. Head West towards Taos, NM (a necessary stop; my parents live there)
6. Head South towards Sierra Blanca, NM (worth it?)
7. Head North West towards Durango, CO (exploring Million Dollar Hwy between Durango, Silverton, Ouray, and exploring Mesa Verde Nat. Park)
8. Head South towards Shiprock, NM (worth it?)
9 Head West towards Canyon de Chelly, AZ (exploring Spider Rock)
10. Head North towards Monument Valley, AZ (exploring Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods)
11. Head West towards Page, AZ (exploring Lake Powell)
12. Head South West towards Grand Canyon, AZ (exploring various points)
13. Head South towards Meteor Crater, AZ

From there, depending on how we feel, we might drive to LA to see my brother, but there wouldn't be any stops along the way to LA from AZ, I imagine (except Death Valley and Dante's View, perhaps?)

I realize I have a lot of stuff here, but it's planned to be a rather long trip (3 weeks). I still have tons of planning to do, but as for a general route and ideas of places to stop and check out, let me know what you think. The general purpose of this trip is to sort of get re-aquainted with nature, hence all the parks and scenic places. If there are easier, more natural, more scenic, or lesser-known spots along this route that you guys feel would be more worth my while, don't hesitate to tell me.

Again, any info or help of any kind is greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

-Darin