From Phoenix, AZ to Calgary, Canada

What are the ';must see';s and ';must do';s for a trip with children from Phoenix, Arizona to Calgary in Canada? We were thinking of taking the route through Utah (Zion NP), Idaho, Montana. We have about two weeks.

From Phoenix, AZ to Calgary, Canada

Be sure to see Glacier National Park, in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, in Alberta. If you happen to hit Calgary while the Stampede is on, this is a very worthwhile stop also. The Calgary Stampede is the largest in the world, and it is on the second and third weeks of July each year (It starts this Friday).

The Rockie Mountains (Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper) are a must-see while in the Calgary area.

If you place this same post in the Alberta forum, you will get a lot more details on things to see %26amp; do in and around Calgary.

Happy planning!

- CG

From Phoenix, AZ to Calgary, Canada

To camping Girl- Thanks ! We have friends in Calgary that will take charge while we%26#39;re there. It%26#39;s the way up that we%26#39;re curious about...

Your tips are great.

Is your two weeks one way or round trip? You%26#39;re covering a lot of beautiful ground. Have you seen any of the national parks between your starting point and destination? Are you interested in hiking or just sight-seeing? If you live in Phoenix, I%26#39;m guessing you%26#39;ve already done the Grand Canyon. So beginning with Zion, I%26#39;d consider the following from south to north: Zion, Bryce National Park, Scenic Byway 12 (Escalante Petrified Forest, Calf Creek Falls hike and unbelievable scenery), and Salt Lake City in Utah; Craters of the Moon, Sawtooth Mountains (Redfish Lake has hiking, paddle boats, a beach and horseback riding for the kids), Salmon (for white water rafting) in Idaho; then Glacier National Park in Montana. If you let us know what you%26#39;re specifically interested in doing/seeing, we%26#39;ll be able to give you more specific suggestions. But a great trip anyway you slice it!

Thank you very much for your tips. we are intrested in views and activities for the children (we have a 6 years old and a baby 1 year old). We would like to break the the driving with the car and make it up to Calgary in 4-5 days from Phoenix.

You do realize that it is 1600 miles going via freeway without any detours to see the sights, don%26#39;t you? Forget doing it in 4 days. It can be done in 5, but you won%26#39;t be able to see much, and your kids will have to do so much sitting that they won%26#39;t be happy campers. Adding a few hundred miles will give you access to a few extra possibilities:

Day 1 - Phoenix to Springdale (spend the evening walking to the Narrows in Zion or some other short trails like Emerald Pools) - 400 miles, 6 hour drive

Day 2 - Springdale to Salt Lake City (more of Zion in the morning; in SLC take the tram or the Alpine Slide at Snowbird) - 307 miles, 4 1/2 hour drive

Day 3 - Salt Lake City to Stanley, Idaho via Craters of the Moon and Sun Valley (walk through an underground cave at Craters of the Moon) - 400 miles, 7 hour drive

Day 4 - Stanley to Whitefish, Montana (Big Mountain chairlift is fun if open) - 400 miles, 8 1/2 hour drive

Day 5 - Whitefish to Calgary - 288 miles (you%26#39;ll have to add more to go through Glacier National Park)

You%26#39;ll have to pick and choose on what you%26#39;ll stop to see. I don%26#39;t envy you the decision. But good luck!

Hi

Imho doing this sightseeingdrive in 5 days with 2 kids is fools endeavour, Sorry.

I will add some things to Dudleycath%26#39;s itinerary.

Day 1: Takes at least 3 extra hours to see Zion.

Day 3: Road is slow and winding at places and visiting Craters adds at least 2 hours.

Day 4: First part slow but beautiful. From Missoula to Whitefish many roadworks and very slow driving. From Whitefish to Big Mountain and the chairlift ride, add at least another 2 hours.

Day 5: You should not miss GNP but again. It takes a lot of extra time.

DC gave you a great route but not in 5 days.

Tet{:o)-

I%26#39;m really not ADVOCATING doing this in 5 days... just trying to help 3monkeys get an idea of what%26#39;s ahead of them. If I were doing this route myself, I%26#39;d add another week to the round trip.

To Dudleycath and Tet14

Thanks to both of you!!

We have about 8 days to reach Calgary, and after a couple of days there we still have time to visit some places on our trip back (about a week). What do you think - can we go to Yellowstone or is that totally out of our way? Is there anything to do in Idaho Falls? We were thinking to leave Glacier for the return.

With the additional information you have supplied, I%26#39;ve come up with a suggested itinerary for you. It%26#39;s an ambitious trip particularly with small children, but there are so few fast north-south routes in the Rockies that your choices are limited.

Day 1 - Phoenix to Springdale (Zion)

Day 2 - enjoy Zion all day (side trips could include Cedar Breaks or Bryce, but you have a very long road ahead, so you might want to stay out of the car today)

Day 3 - Zion to Salt Lake City

Day 4 - Salt Lake City to Stanley, Idaho (Redfish)

Day 5 - enjoy the Sawtooths - paddleboating or horseback riding for the kids, playing on the Redfish beach, etc.

Day 6 - Stanley to Whitefish, Montana (there%26#39;s an awesome carousel in Missoula that the kids would love)

Day 7 - Whitefish through Glacier National Park, ending at Many Glacier or East Glacier

Day 8 - end in Calgary

Return trip:

Day 1 - Calgary to Great Falls, Montana - 325 miles

Day 2 - Great Falls to West Yellowstone - 264 miles

Day 3 - enjoy the day in Yellowstone National Park

Day 4 - take a float trip in Grand Teton and end in Jackson, Wyoming - 100+ miles

Day 5 - Jackson to Salt Lake City - 300 miles

Day 6 - Salt Lake City to St. George - 302 miles

Day 7 - end in Phoenix - 434 miles

Whew! I am assuming you are going when weather is not a problem, but there is always seasonal construction to consider. I can%26#39;t think of anything in particular in Idaho Falls that you need to see unless you%26#39;re interested in the Mormon temple there.

Hi Dudleycath. Didnot mean you were advocating it at all, just a bit worried (Im a grandpa with grandkids the same age)about the kids and the long drive. Sorry íf I gave you the impression. Probably it%26#39;s my poor english......

Cheers

Tet