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06-16-2014, 06:40 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ankeny, IA
Posts: 210
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Pointers for an epic journey?
My wife and I are planning a two week sightseeing trip through the Intermountain West this August, and I'd love to get input on friendly airports, scenic routes, good places to stay, and fun things to see.
Our general route will take us from our base in Iowa around the northern end of Yellowstone, south through Utah to the Grand Canyon, and then east through the Four Corners area, and then back home.
While the flight itself and the major attractions will be fun and memorable, I hope to discover some out-of-the-way places and meet some new friends along the way.
Oh - and I'd like to find cheap gas, too.
Any tips from VAF'ers in that part of the world?
M
Last edited by foka4 : 06-16-2014 at 06:41 PM.
Reason: Typo
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06-16-2014, 07:09 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
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Colorado Springs was very friendly for a large airport.
Pikes Peak and the Air Force Academy are well worth a visit.
We also liked Main St. in Ft. Collins - the inspiration for Main St. USA at Disneyland.
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
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06-16-2014, 07:11 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRTS
Posts: 1,798
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Take a right at Wyoming and see anywhere northern Idaho!!!! Sand Point if you need a specific spot. 
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Next?, TBD
IAR-823, SOLD
RV-8, SOLD
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06-16-2014, 07:40 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 193
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Cottonwood, AZ, to see Sedona area from the air...
was a great stop. Also, Cortez, AZ was a good location for touring the four corners area by car and RV(9), if you can work those in.
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06-16-2014, 08:22 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 367
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Epic
There are so many places to visit out here. I would think that Leadville, CO would be on your list of stops. At least so you can get the "Highest Airport" certificate. Deb and I like to go to Salida, CO for lunch at the Country Bounty restaurant. In fact we just flew there Sunday with friends. It's just down the road from Leadville. I personally like Telluride, CO the mountains are spectacular, it would be a great overnight, but it is expensive.
Yellowstone is Awesome, we have only been there once and we really need to get back there again soon. That's a required stop.
Keep in mind that mountain flying requires your utmost attention at all times, is unforgiving and even flying in the morning you are most likely gonna get beat up...  If you've never flown in the mountains, it would be wise to get some training/reading in before you head this way.
Those are a few of my Colorado faves. Looks like you already have some great sites picked out. There's just so many places to visit out west, it's going to be hard to pick. 
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Scott Mills, Front Range, CO
N339A - 1900 Hours!! since 9/11/05
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Airport Landings
"In order to discover new lands one must have the courage to lose sight of the shore." Andre Gide
"Never feel sorry for a man who owns a plane" Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) in The Edge
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06-17-2014, 04:50 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Martinsville, IN
Posts: 2,326
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I used Airnav a lot on my trip out west and back. Reading other's comments was helpful in deciding where to land. In all the airports I landed at, I only had one experience that was less than desired. I met a lot of great people and all the other FBO's where fantastic.
Enjoy the trip. I would extend a little further west to Oregon and down the central valley of CA. The route past Mt. Shasta is pretty amazing and I could spend two weeks just traveling around Oregon.

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Randy Pflanzer
Greenwood, IN
www.pflanzer-aviation.com
Paid through 2043!
Lund fishing Boat, 2017, GONE FISHING
RV-12 - Completed 2014, Sold
427 Shelby Cobra - Completed 2012, Sold
F1 EVO - partially completed, Sold
F1 Rocket - Completed 2005, Sold
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RV-6 - Completed 2000, Sold
Long-EZ - Completed 1987, Sold
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06-17-2014, 05:20 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
Posts: 5,862
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The red rock area near Sedona is not to be missed if you are near the Grand Canyon. Do some ridge soaring and see some spectacular scenery. If you look close you can see some prehistoric ruins of camp sites in the rocks where people lived. Alison you can land at Sedona and take a crew car into town for lunch. It is great scenery, a great and nteresting airport, and fuel stop.
Pictures just don't capture the raw beauty of this area, but this is a good attempt.

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RV-7 : In the hangar
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Last edited by Geico266 : 06-17-2014 at 05:32 AM.
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06-17-2014, 09:49 AM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by foka4
Our general route will take us from our base in Iowa around the northern end of Yellowstone, south through Utah to the Grand Canyon, and then east through the Four Corners area, and then back home.
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We recently did a trip to AZ and southern UT---------- you may get some ideas from this writeup. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=113382
At the very least, fly over Monument Valley.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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06-17-2014, 12:58 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Prescott Valley/Chandler AZ
Posts: 351
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Winslow AZ
After all of the amazing scenery on your trip you might want a change of pace.
Try the Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport and the La Posada Hotel.
http://laposada.org/
The hotel is a restored 1929 railway hotel and the airport was an important stop for Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) in the 30's and 40's.
Plus, you can always stand on the corner!
__________________
John Morgensen
RV-9A N946PM 600+ hours since 2013
Nevada/Arizona
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06-18-2014, 08:15 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ankeny, IA
Posts: 210
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Thanks
Thanks for all the tips so far. It's exactly the type of input I'd hoped to get from this group! I'm having fun researching all of the recommendations.
M
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