CA / AZ / NM
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- DaveO
I am planning a road trip at christmas with my lady, and we want to explore some of the south west. We will probably fly into LA from New York on the 26th of December and drive to palm springs to have a couple of days there.
Then the plan was to explore some of the california desert then maybe drive through Arizona to Phoenix or Tuscon, then to Alburqurque to get a flight homw.
My question is, is it actually worth it to do all that driving for those two states? Or should i just hang out around the Californa desert and fly back out of LA?
- JSK0
At least go to Palm Springs
- mikotondria30
Sedona and the high desert round there is nice, grand canyon country. Phoenix is 100 miles x 70 miles of the same thing, the same 10 designs of store and apartment complex and house. Repeated. x 1million. Good weather though, if you like the heat.
You could drive 10 to phx then north, nice to watch the change in climate/environment, grand canyon is awesome.
- DaveO0
Palm Springs, palm desert, 29 palms and joshua tree are all on the list. Maybe then go north through death valley and come back out of san francisco or something. Anyone done a dive like that?
- shellie0
I'm partial to Temecula because it's not that far from San Diego and there's over 20 wineries in the country there. Hot air balloon rides over the desert with crazy views of the nearby mountains.
- SteveJobs0
i've done this drive, though it started in texas and ended in la. and i've actually done it twice. ehh.. nm is pretty boring imo. i'd reverse the trip and spend the rest of my time in la, personally. actually, since i've already done the drive, i'd just stay in la and visit adjacent cities.
- fresnobob0
Palm desert and 29 Palms are pretty much nothing to see but exactly what you'll be driving through, desert. Joshua Tree is better because of the rocks and Pioneertown, but still, eh. Death Valley is awesome, though. If you want to experience "desert" go there. (Also maybe see the film "Zabriskie Point" before you go.)
If you do Death Valley, you could probably take the 190 around the back, go through Death Valley, and then come out on to the 395 and go up that way. (Also, if you have access to a 4wd car, it'll make Death Valley way more awesome.)
Off the 395 is Lone Pine, where they filmed tons of old westerns and you have a great view of Mt. Whitney. A little ways north of Lone Pine is the ancient Bristlecone Pine forest, which I highly recommend. Most of the oldest trees in the world grow here, some are even older than the pyramids. Then, you'll get to Mammoth where there are lots of lakes (and skiing, if you want), then Mono lake where you can see sea monkeys in their natural habitat (lol, its true though) and also volcanoes. I'd say then go through Yosemite, but in winter the road is closed most of the time. You could head over to SF from like Lake Tahoe or something. Also, coming down highway 1 from San Francisco is a pretty drive.
- Chief0
We did Flagstaff/Grand Canyon last Thanksgiving. It was gorgeous but freezing. I can only imagine it's colder in late December but that area is amazing, especially covered in snow. I say do Flagstaff instead of Phoenix then hit up Santa Fe if you want to see New Mexico.
Hwy 395 is pretty amazing too like fresnobob suggested. Mammoth is a zoo around Xmas though, just so you know.