New Mexico Travel Forum

Travel ideas for a teen, 40-something, and 60-something - all female
Posted: Wed December 10, 2008 03:54 AM UTC

I am thinking of taking my 16yo daughter, and 67 year old mother on a trip someplace warm over the winter. It is just going to be a weekend getaway as my daughter is in school. Here are our varied requirements:

* I like the outdoors...really want to go to the southwest. Love national parks.
* Highs at least in the 60s
* my daughter likes the glitz of the big city...I need to include some excitement for her
* my mother can't walk too much, so I'm thinking road trip

Any ideas or am I in a dream world?

mmyerspa

5 replies

[Reply]

Re: Travel ideas for a teen, 40-something, and 60-something - all female
Posted: Wed December 10, 2008 05:46 AM UTC

How about a Las Vegas / Death Valley combination. Las Vegas gives you the big city and Death Valley gives you the national park and warm weather. They are less than 3 hours apart by car and it is an easy drive between the two. Your daughter will be restricted in terms of which parts of the casinoes she can enter in Las Vegas, but there is still plenty to do and see without gambling. The scenery and wide open spaces in Death Valley are amazing to see and something we highly recommend. Feel free to visit our Death Valley page for further info.

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mikelisaanna

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Re: Travel ideas for a teen, 40-something, and 60-something - all female
Posted: Wed December 10, 2008 01:54 PM UTC

How about a combination of Phoenix, Tucson and Sedona? There are Red Rock Loop drives you can do in Sedona (go especially near sunset). In Tucson, you can drive through the Saguaro National Park to see the huge cactus. You can also walk a bit in the park as much as your mom can handle. Dawn is beautiful, and the trails are flat. The landscape driving from each place is also interesting, and it's not too long of a drive, in case your mother can't sit in the car too long.

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madamx

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Re: Travel ideas for a teen, 40-something, and 60-something - all female
Posted: Wed December 10, 2008 02:26 PM UTC

I think the Tucson-Phoenix-Sedona thing is your best shot.
Tucson is a bit of a hiker's paradise, with hiking trails leading into the wilderness only about 10 miles from Downtown. And the area is surrounded by either national park or national forest. If you do come here, be sure to visit the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, the Tucson Botanical Gardens and the San Xavier del Bac Mission. All are musts, IMHO.
Your daughter should enjoy Scottsdale. They have the newer "Waterfront" area that's full of shops and upscale restaurants, all of which is adjacent to the upscale Scottsdale Fashion Square. Great nightclub scene. Also be sure to visit the Heard Museum in Phoenix.
Sedona is just beautiful. Something really special about the red rocks. You won't find anything like that anywhere else. Try to do a pink jeep tour while there.
Tucson is ~100 miles (1.5 hours) from Phoenix. Sedona is ~100 miles (1.5 - 2 hours) from Phoenix.
hth

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bocmaxima

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Re: Travel ideas for a teen, 40-something, and 60-something - all female
Posted: Thu December 11, 2008 03:35 AM UTC

I totally love all of your tips!

I thought of Vegas, as there's Valley of Fire, Mt. Charleston, and Red Rocks closeby, but hadn't thought about Death Valley. Not sure why I didn't think of it, as this is my absolute favorite national park.

I did a road trip in Arizona a couple of years ago, and it was a blast. However, I only did a drive-by of Sedona (what was I thinking?!?), so this might be a great option. Also - we're flying US Air out of their hub in Philadelphia (frequent flyer miles), and Phoenix is another one of their hubs, so flight options should be plentiful.

Thanks again for your help. Lots to think about...

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mmyerspa

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Re: Travel ideas for a teen, 40-something, and 60-something - all female
Posted: Thu December 11, 2008 07:42 PM UTC

LA ?

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