U.S. Travel Location Suggestions?

I was finally given permission by the wife to take a 7 day photo related trip in July of this year. The only conditions are that I can't spend too much money, can't buy new equipment for the trip, and that I stay within the continental United States. I would like to focus on nature photography and landscapes.

I currently live in Florida. I was hoping to travel to two different places for a day or two with the purpose of taking pictures. I have been considering Santa Fe, New Mexico, maybe Yosimite or Grand Canyon for nature photography. I have never been to these places but have always been drawn to the images I have seen in magazines and online sites.

I am not really interested in a guided travel tour because the prices are a bit too high and I would be limited to one place in order to stay within budget.

In the past I have been to New York City, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Gettysburg, Savanah, most of Florida, most of the cities and states on the eastern U.S., so I am hoping to go somewhere west or midwest.

Any destination suggestions as well as points of interest and decent/picturesque hotel suggestions are welcome. Hopefully I can book the air fare, hotels, and car rentals in time before the prices go up.

If Santa Fe is already on your list, then it would be a good candidate. There's plenty in and near SantaFe and Albuquerque, plus the area. There's a back road between the 2 towns called the Turquoise Trail that has a lot to photograph along the way. Many times in the year, there are balloonists in Albuquerque - not just for the Balloon Fiesta in October. There's also Sandia Peak - very scenic.

Yosemite.

If you were driving, and this was a photo trip, I'd just pick a route and go...no plans, take some smaller hwy's and relish the unexpected.

Since you're not, no advice..except-Have Fun!

Yosemite is always a good choice -- though this July will not be a good one for the falls...they are peaking early, but will still have something in them in July, just not a whole bunch. It will be crowded (try not to hit it on the week-end), but the drive up to Tioga Pass will get you out of the more crowded Valley and into the cooler high country -- as beautiful as the Valley, but without the AA Icons.

You might want to give the Grand Canyon a miss. You might get lucky and get a good thunderstorm, but for a quick visit, you'll just get the same views that the other 10,000 visitors per day are getting with their digital cameras from the various rim look-outs. A combined visit to Bryce and Zion, and even Capital Reef would provide a more varied landscape. But if you never have been to the Grand Canyon, it is an incredible sight.

Bryce is at a nice high elevation -- something you'll appreciate in July. I was out that way this past July -- it was well over 100 F degrees at the lower elevation Arches National Park, but reasonable at Bryce. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is 7000' so it will be more in the 80's. The North Rim has less people and is at 8000', it is greener and cooler.

Have fun!

Vaughn

My vote would be New Mexico

Just got back from a 21 day trip from Toronto to Pasadena and Back
10,000 km in a car with Laura and our trusty dog Barney.

I loved every inch of the way and we met hundreds of wonderful people in every State we crossed *16 in all to be precise*
I would base my decision on what you want to see in front of your lens.

Montana-Utah -Colorado-New Mexico- Texas- I cannot think of a more beautiful corridor to spend months photographing.
But I will give you a suggestion .
Find a nice location in Mid New Mexico and do day trips North , South, East and West.
*we were in Rio Ranchos and can say this would be my starting point.*

Another vote for the Eastern Sierra in California. Go in to San Francisco (or Oakland... just as convenient, but cheaper), get your rental car, and drive up over the Sierra. Go around the NORTH of Yosemite on 108. This will take you through the Stanislaus National Forest, which has some spectacular vistas in itself. 108 will bring you out onto 395 which runs down the Eastern Sierra. You'll pass right by Mono Lake, Bodie will be an easy visit. Also in the area is Lundy Canyon, which is a spectacular example of high alpine meadow, complete with beaver dam lake.

Continue on down 395 through Mammoth Lakes - Devils Postpile is a worthwhile visit, although you'll be there in high season and won't be able to drive in yourself. Continue on south on 395, down to Bishop. Pay a visit to Galen Rowell's gallery in town, and if you're so inclined, stop by the Bureau of Land Management's office and visitor center (in the middle of downtown) and ask for a map to go visit the petroglyphs. They'll make you sign for it because they try to limit knowledge of how to find the things to reduce the possibility for vandalism.

Continue on down 395 through Lone Pine, and pay a visit to Manzanar, the WW II internment camp where Japanese-American citizens were rounded up and confined for the duration of the war. Depending on your time and interest level, you can go on from there to Death Valley. Wind up your trip in LA, and fly home from there. If you want to visit the petroglyphs and/or include Death Valley in your visit, I strongly recommend renting something with 4 wheel drive and high ground clearance. There will be roads that range from "might get stuck if I'm unlucky" to "will get stuck unless I'm highly skillful, even IN the 4 wheel drive".

Most any of the above suggestions should result in a successful photo expedition. But, can you change your timing to September?

The problem with any of the major NPs in July is the crowds. It's prime family vacation time and places like Yosemite, Grand Canyon etc. will be packed.

Also, remember, NM and AZ will have hot temps so if you go then, be prepared.

Have fun.

TheFlyingCamera said:

Another vote for the Eastern Sierra in California. Go in to San Francisco (or Oakland... just as convenient, but cheaper), get your rental car, and drive up over the Sierra. Go around the
...
you want to visit the petroglyphs and/or include Death Valley in your visit, I strongly recommend renting something with 4 wheel drive and high ground clearance. There will be roads that range from "might get stuck if I'm unlucky" to "will get stuck unless I'm highly skillful, even IN the 4 wheel drive".

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Excellent suggestions! - Add Bristlecone Pines in Inyo National Forest. It is outside Big Pine and near Manzanar.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grba/Bristlecone Pines/bristleconepineprometheus.htm
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/bristlecone/index.shtml

Utah is not expensive. I did the following in less that two weeks: North Rim Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, Kodachome Basin State Park, Capital Reef, Valley of the Goblins, Arches, Canyonlands, Natural Bridges, Mexican Hat, Montument Valley, Navajo Monument, and South Rim of Grand Canyon.

New Mexico: Santa Fe, Toas and the surrounding area.

TheFlyingCamera said:

...
you want to visit the petroglyphs and/or include Death Valley in your visit, I strongly recommend renting something with 4 wheel drive and high ground clearance. There will be roads that range from "might get stuck if I'm unlucky" to "will get stuck unless I'm highly skillful, even IN the 4 wheel drive".

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I do a lot of offroading and I echo this. The routes that I suggested do not require 4 wheel drive [a stock street vehicle can do this], but you will find it more enjoyable and you can see more things in a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Steve

TheFlyingCamera said:

Another vote for the Eastern Sierra in California.
<snip>
Depending on your time and interest level, you can go on from there to Death Valley.

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Death Valley in July?! We drove across the Valley in late July 06 at about 8pm. Though I had the air conditioning on and the sun was not shining directly on my side window, the window was still too hot to touch. I saw a couple photographers along the road waiting to go hiking to the dunes for the last light of the day -- it looked like they were melting.

Now if one timed it with a full moon, that would be awesome. Otherwise, one is risking death, literally, to photograph there during daylight hours in the summer. One possibility would be to photograph along the base of the eastside of the Sierras (Alabama Hills, etc), then as night fell, drive over to Death Valley for a full moon experience.

One could spend a lifetime photographing the East Side. Increadible!

Vaughn

Ok, ok... those destinations are nice, but pretty predictable. If you want to see some great landscapes, and gorgeous waterfalls, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is just the place. It's gorgeous!

Michigan has a great website www.michigan.org and you can even find hotels & other accomodations. Our rule of thumb is to "stay local" whenever possible, and there are tons of nice, small, older hotels up there that bend over backward to make your stay a nice one.

So, if you want something different than hot sand... check out the UP.

The issues I'd have are that much of the area you'rd like to photograph is too hot and many of the places that aren't too hot might well be too busy.

The best compromise I can think of ( and I've photographed happily there in July myself) is the Banff/Jasper area in the Canadian Rockies. Now I know that isn't in the USA , but it isn't much of a stretch; contains an obvious two centres (Banff/Lake Louise and Jasper townsite) and enough to do to make it interesting, and I don't from recall think it would be any more expensive to be there than most parts of the USA. Also I think you might have difficulty getting affordable lodging in Yosemite at that notice, and staying outside the park-well its just not where you need to be for the best photography, is it.

An alternative might be a flight to Portland OR, a day or so in the Columbia Valley then a trip down the Oregon coast and back on the fast inland route. Again I've done this in July and whilst I can't say it was quiet, it was by no means a zoo either.

Actually, outside Yosemite is highly interesting in itself, perhaps moreso from a photographers' standpoint as Yosemite itself has been over-photographed to death.

A coastal drive up from San Francisco on Route 1 through Point Reyes National Seashore and Humboldt County as far as Eureka would also be quite nice. There's a Redwood forest in Redwood National Park a short distance from Eureka. From Eureka, cut over to I-5, jaunt up into Oregon, and go see Crater Lake on your way to Portland for your return flight.

I don't think that the SW would be my pick in July. I think Seattle and a (silent shhh) trip across to Vancouver would be nicer. Plenty of all kinds of scenery.

TheFlyingCamera said:

A coastal drive up from San Francisco on Route 1 through Point Reyes National Seashore and Humboldt County as far as Eureka would also be quite nice. There's a Redwood forest in Redwood National Park a short distance from Eureka. From Eureka, cut over to I-5, jaunt up into Oregon, and go see Crater Lake on your way to Portland for your return flight.

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This is an excellent suggestion (I live in Eureka). Summertime is not the optimal time for the Redwoods -- too sunny and breezy, but the coast from SF north is wonderful.

Just east of Portland are the falls of the Columbia River Gorge, also. The trip you suggested would have a little of everything but the desert and its July heat.

Vaughn

Thanks for all the input! I hadn't taken into account the fact that many of the places I want to see are crowded in July. This could mean that I will be looking into other suggestions provided here other than Yosimite. Hotels close to the area I will be taking pictures of are important because (I assume) I will be shooting mostly at peak hours such as sunset or sunrise. The ideal scenario would be to get a hotel, preferably a bed and breakfast, near the area I will be photographing. If I'm lucky the town itself where the hotel is located might be picturesque as well.

So far I think Santa Fe is ranking near the top of the list ( at least for a two day visit). From nearby Albuquerque I would fly to some other location north or northwest, then back to Florida. My reason for not leaving the continental U.S. is because my passport is expired and I haven't had the time to renew it. Plus, I hear it takes a long time to get the renewed passport, not to mention it will probably cost much more to fly out of the U.S.

I am thinking of flying out on a Monday and returning the following Monday, 7 days total. I could probably squeeze in another day, but I am counting on doing as much as possible in 7 days. However, instead of going to multiple locations to cover as much as possible, I am hoping to focus on two, maybe three places total.

snegron said:

Thanks for all the input! I hadn't taken into account the fact that many of the places I want to see are crowded in July. This could mean that I will be looking into other suggestions provided here other than Yosimite. Hotels close to the area I will be taking pictures of are important because (I assume) I will be shooting mostly at peak hours such as sunset or sunrise. The ideal scenario would be to get a hotel, preferably a bed and breakfast, near the area I will be photographing. If I'm lucky the town itself where the hotel is located might be picturesque as well.

So far I think Santa Fe is ranking near the top of the list ( at least for a two day visit). From nearby Albuquerque I would fly to some other location north or northwest, then back to Florida. My reason for not leaving the continental U.S. is because my passport is expired and I haven't had the time to renew it. Plus, I hear it takes a long time to get the renewed passport, not to mention it will probably cost much more to fly out of the U.S.

I am thinking of flying out on a Monday and returning the following Monday, 7 days total. I could probably squeeze in another day, but I am counting on doing as much as possible in 7 days. However, instead of going to multiple locations to cover as much as possible, I am hoping to focus on two, maybe three places total.

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A couple of points just for general info:

1) If you send in for a PP renewal now - you should have your new passport by early July (estimate is to allow 10 weeks under the "normal" option and there is a more costly "expedited" option, too).

2) You do not yet need a PP to drive (or walk) into Canada (or Mexico) - only if you fly. So if you fly to the Northwest and rent from there you shouldn't have any problems. This will probably change eventually and a PP (or some special travel card) will be required for driving in but they keep pushing back the deadline. The PP requirement is not very popular given the amount of auto traffic b/w US and it's northern and southern neighbors.

Just drive. You never know what you'll find. Sure, I'd back Pacific Coast Highway (I used to live there, in Guadalupe, and the Far Western in Guadalupe may be the finest steak house on earth). I loved the Gold County (Route 49) and a few of the missions, especially La Purisima (Lompoc) and San Antonio (on a military reservation north of San Luis Obispo, Fort Hunter Ligett I think). But then, I love the 'hand of man', not faux-wilderness such as Yosemite. It was pretty fake (well travelled, with good roads) when AA was driving around it; today, it's Disneyland until you walk 300 metres/yards from the car parks.

Cheers,

R.

Depending on WHERE you go out of this country, the cost of international travel is an even wash or maybe even cheaper than tootling around within the US. I took a ten day trip (lost almost 3 to flying time) to Singapore and Cambodia, that ran me $3K, air, hotels, meals and guide services included. I think my week in the Sierra cost me about the same - rental cars, hotels, and meals are a significant factor. You can also get inexpensive fares to Argentina (especially out of Miami- sub $1k for R/T nonstop to Buenos Aires). Once you're there, unless you insist on staying in a 4-star world-class hotel, you can find perfectly nice places to stay quite cheap - I had a room in a B&B near the chic-and-trendy neighborhood of Palermo SoHo for $40 a night. It was clean, safe, and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. I kid you not, the best steak dinner in your life will be had for $35 USD, tax, tip, salad, entree, dessert and beverage. You can get an excellent steak dinner for $10. I kid you not. Until you have had Argentine beef with Argentine wine, you do not know what you're missing.

New Mexico is wonderful

If you decide to hit the Sierras, you might try Columbia State Park...an old gold mining town that's been restored. Also, if Yosemite is a bit too crowded for your tastes, go a little south to Sequoia...higher elevation and a lot less crowded.

If you're camping or needing to stay in the park, you're too late for Yosemite unless you can catch a late cancellation. Try the reservation systems for both parks...

S

TheFlyingCamera said:

Depending on WHERE you go out of this country, the cost of international travel is an even wash or maybe even cheaper than tootling around within the US.

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It's got to be a fairly poor country, though, given the collapse of the US dollar. When I moved to France a bit over 4 years ago, I could buy a euro for around 90 cents. Now it's close to $1.40.

Cheers,

R.

Roger Hicks said:

It's got to be a fairly poor country, though, given the collapse of the US dollar. When I moved to France a bit over 4 years ago, I could buy a euro for around 90 cents. Now it's close to $1.40.

Cheers,

R.

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Yes, tell me about it. I've been watching the US dollar sink against the Australian dollar almost daily; I'm off to Australia again in September, so my trip is getting more expensive by the day.

July is hot in New Mexico and at the Grand Canyon--high desert country, you know. Also July is crowded in Santa Fe and Grand Canyon and, I'm sure, Yosemite. Summer is also a more expensive time of year to travel to all the places mentioned due to higher rates for lodging. Not to try to be discouraging, but these are factors to consider.

I love Santa Fe and all of Northern New Mexico. Among the choices given, I would choose that area. After sampling the food, art, tourists and commercialism in Santa Fe, you can hit the road and visit an abundance of interesting and photographically stimulating places within a 100 mile radius of the city.

Santa Fe is great. Also, further west in northeastern Arizona, US160 is spectacular for both scenic and people shots along the Navajo Trail. Get no closer to Phoenix than Verde Valley and Prescott.

I40 runs into California 58 at Barstow, a great place for modern railroad pictures as well as some tumbling down railroad buildings.

If you follow 58 further you come to US395 at Mojave and the eastern Sierras from the south. In between is the old Twenty Mule Team road and the Borax mine. This is higher desert and the temperatures are a bit more moderate, and it cools off a lot at night. Great sunsets.

Stay on CA 58 through the mountains all the way to US101 and you're close to several missions- San Luis Obispo (pretty but surrounded by downtown, a bit of a tourist trap), San Miguel (very UN-touristy, and right off 101) and San Antonio. You're also close to a very crowded Hearst Castle.