Vacation / Travel

#727
#727
T-TownVol said:
I have stayed there and it is nice......Hotel Xcaret just opened late last year and is on the Xcaret property.......
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Oh, ok. We enjoyed our stay there. The place is huge and it's very hot. had monkeys come to out balcony every night. Xcaret is nice, we just spent a day there but could have spent much more time. Highly recommend swimming in the cenotes.
 
#728
#728
SaluteToTheHill said:
Oh, ok. We enjoyed our stay there. The place is huge and it's very hot. had monkeys come to out balcony every night. Xcaret is nice, we just spent a day there but could have spent much more time. Highly recommend swimming in the cenotes.
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Guests at Hotel Xcaret get free and full access to all 5 or 6 of the parks, even get to eat free while in the park so you do not have to pay or go back to the hotel to eat. You can do all the parks as much as you want for free, even the shuttles are free for the guests......I can't wait.....
 
#729
#729
T-TownVol said:
Guests at Hotel Xcaret get free and full access to all 5 or 6 of the parks, even get to eat free while in the park so you do not have to pay or go back to the hotel to eat. You can do all the parks as much as you want for free, even the shuttles are free for the guests......I can't wait.....
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If I went back I would probably just stay at Xcaret. The Occidental is nice but I would recommend anyone going to prepare for the heat. I've been to the Riviera Maya 3 times and the heat stood out each time. I don't know why it seems so much hotter there, I've been all over the Caribbean. I swear hell has an exhaust vent somewhere along that coast, lol. The Occidental has no where to get away from the heat except your room and who wants to stay in the room. All the restaurants and shows are open air. Didn't mind that much at first but after a couple days I was sick of being hot. Not a huge deal, I mean you expect Mexico to be hot but something to consider. If Xcaret has a couple restaurants and a bar with some AC I would definitely chose that.
 
#730
#730
Most of the table service restaurants there are inside as well as a few of the bars.....even the dinner show is inside......they do have some outdoor dining/bars as well......the heat is why we are going in Sept, you get a little of a break....
 
#733
#733
tumscalcium said:
BC and Alberta is where it’s at. Love Banff.
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If you had two weeks to spare, Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks, Mount Assiniboine and Mount Robson Provincial Parks, as well as Kananaskis Country and Glacier National Park (Montana) would make a tremendous loop trip.
 
#734
#734
UT_Dutchman said:
Me to tc, I've only been in the winter, but have been looking into a late summer trip this year. Got 2 weeks off back to back, may just hit up Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Can't decide.
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How flexible are you within that time frame? If you could nudge it toward the last two weeks of September or the last week of September and first week of October, you would hit the area after most tourists have departed and during the peak of fall foliage, as well as the rutting season for elk. Let me know if you would like more detailed info.
 
#735
#735
Volosaurus rex said:
If you had two weeks to spare, Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks, Mount Assiniboine and Mount Robson Provincial Parks, as well as Kananaskis Country and Glacier National Park (Montana) would make a tremendous loop trip.
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Oh yes. I grew up in Eastern Washington. I made the most of the entire NW, including Canada. Skiing/snowboarding all over, lakes in the summer.

I miss it.
 
#736
#736
Volosaurus rex said:
How flexible are you within that time frame? If you could nudge it toward the last two weeks of September or the last week of September and first week of October, you would hit the area after most tourists have departed and during the peak of fall foliage, as well as the rutting season for elk. Let me know if you would like more detailed info.
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The problem there is football season, I have so many people who come in for the games that I hate to take off then. You have definitely peaked my interest in that time frame though.
 
#737
#737
Ive never been anywhere in the northwest but have been meaning to soon. Need to visit Seattle before it turns into Detroit
 
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#738
#738
UT_Dutchman said:
The problem there is football season, I have so many people who come in for the games that I hate to take off then. You have definitely peaked my interest in that time frame though.
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As a rabid fan of Big Orange football for 51 years, I fully understand and empathize with that consideration. On the other hand, several of the premier national parks have experienced an unprecedented spike in visitation during the last few years, specifically during the traditional summer season. For example, visitation to Glacier exceeded one million for a single month for the first time in history.

I know that many will consider it heresy, but I have missed at least a couple of Florida games because it falls during what I consider to be a fleeting but, by far, the most spectacular time of year to be in the Rockies. Admittedly, weather can be iffy; it can be cool, crisp and clear or it can be cold, rainy or even snowy. Here are just a few images to give you a feel for what a Rocky Mountain fall is like: Sneffels Range Autumn | San Juan Mountains, Colorado | Mountain Photography by Jack Brauer, chief mountain fall colors blue sky | Tony Bynum Photography - People - Life - Land and Autumn Photography in Glacier National Park. - ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ The Hole Picture • Daryl L. HunterThe Hole Picture, as well as Aspen Alley Photograph by David Halter and Autumn Photo Shoot, San Juan MountainsThe Hole Picture. If that whets your appetite, you might want to take a look at the hiking thread. I have over a hundred posts in that thread; most of them pertain to the Rockies and much of that information pertains to fall conditions and premier routes and destinations therein.
 
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#739
#739
golfballs said:
Ive never been anywhere in the northwest but have been meaning to soon. Need to visit Seattle before it turns into Detroit
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Seattle is a very clean, green, beautiful city. I was there very briefly for business a couple of years ago and wish I could have spent more time.
 
#741
#741
Has anyone been to Riviera Maya in the last few weeks? Wondering if beach erosion is currently making some areas less desirable. Mostly concerned with PDC, Tulum, Morelos.
 
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#742
#742
Volosaurus rex said:
As a rabid fan of Big Orange football for 51 years, I fully understand and empathize with that consideration. On the other hand, several of the premier national parks have experienced an unprecedented spike in visitation during the last few years, specifically during the traditional summer season. For example, visitation to Glacier exceeded one million for a single month for the first time in history.

I know that many will consider it heresy, but I have missed at least a couple of Florida games because it falls during what I consider to be a fleeting but, by far, the most spectacular time of year to be in the Rockies. Admittedly, weather can be iffy; it can be cool, crisp and clear or it can be cold, rainy or even snowy. Here are just a few images to give you a feel for what a Rocky Mountain fall is like: Sneffels Range Autumn | San Juan Mountains, Colorado | Mountain Photography by Jack Brauer, chief mountain fall colors blue sky | Tony Bynum Photography - People - Life - Land and Autumn Photography in Glacier National Park. - ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ The Hole Picture • Daryl L. HunterThe Hole Picture, as well as Aspen Alley Photograph by David Halter and Autumn Photo Shoot, San Juan MountainsThe Hole Picture. If that whets your appetite, you might want to take a look at the hiking thread. I have over a hundred posts in that thread; most of them pertain to the Rockies and much of that information pertains to fall conditions and premier routes and destinations therein.
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The iffy weather sure throwed us a curve on our Grand Toton/Yellowstone trip in mid Sept last year. One week before, or one week later would have been perfect. I still loved it of course, but we lost a lot of planned time and activities because of that freak storm just sitting there for four days.
 
#743
#743
Glacier Park... last year.

Took the family and visitors into the park last July, went to some favorite spots, could not park the car. Had to have the BIL drive in circles at Logan Pass while I conducted a short tour of the area for some photos.

Went to Many Glacier... somewhat out of the way and on a rough azz road the last 4 miles or so. But when I arrived, no parking there. So, I just dropped the crew off at the Lodge and drove back out of the area until I found the first empty spot on the highway and decided to see how desperate the Park is for parking ticket revenue. No ticket issued on my return.

Seems like all National Parks are experiencing a windfall of tourists... and that has many consequences on the parks. But, seems like times are good and folks are getting out there, so that is good!
 
#744
#744
NEVolFan said:
Glacier Park... last year.

Took the family and visitors into the park last July, went to some favorite spots, could not park the car. Had to have the BIL drive in circles at Logan Pass while I conducted a short tour of the area for some photos.

Went to Many Glacier... somewhat out of the way and on a rough azz road the last 4 miles or so. But when I arrived, no parking there. So, I just dropped the crew off at the Lodge and drove back out of the area until I found the first empty spot on the highway and decided to see how desperate the Park is for parking ticket revenue. No ticket issued on my return.

Seems like all National Parks are experiencing a windfall of tourists... and that has many consequences on the parks. But, seems like times are good and folks are getting out there, so that is good!
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Yep, visitation has absolutely gone through the roof in the last few years. I saw that, for the first time in history, Glacier received 1,000,000 visitors in a single month last summer. ‘tis another reason I prefer to visit Glacier in late September.

To your knowledge, has all of this impacted visitation to the North Fork area, particularly up around Kintla Lake?
 
#745
#745
NEVolFan said:
Glacier Park... last year.

Took the family and visitors into the park last July, went to some favorite spots, could not park the car. Had to have the BIL drive in circles at Logan Pass while I conducted a short tour of the area for some photos.

Went to Many Glacier... somewhat out of the way and on a rough azz road the last 4 miles or so. But when I arrived, no parking there. So, I just dropped the crew off at the Lodge and drove back out of the area until I found the first empty spot on the highway and decided to see how desperate the Park is for parking ticket revenue. No ticket issued on my return.

Seems like all National Parks are experiencing a windfall of tourists... and that has many consequences on the parks. But, seems like times are good and folks are getting out there, so that is good!
Click to expand...

That is why the shoulder seasons are so great...even if the weather is iffy. Just curious..was your visit on a weekend? I know you live there and know the ends and outs probably like I do for the GSMNP. I know when to go and when to do something else.
 
#746
#746
Volosaurus rex said:
Yep, visitation has absolutely gone through the roof in the last few years. I saw that, for the first time in history, Glacier received 1,000,000 visitors in a single month last summer. ‘tis another reason I prefer to visit Glacier in late September.

To your knowledge, has all of this impacted visitation to the North Fork area, particularly up around Kintla Lake?
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The numbers for the Smokies are nuts.
 
#747
#747
Yup... even tougher to get to areas, like Bowman, Kintla are getting more looks... but not so bad as main areas of the park. Once the tourists arrive it does not matter what day you go into the park.. its the same regarding crowds.

Before they restricted the launching of boats at Apgar 2 years ago, I would try to back down the ramp, and had to stop a few times to get out and find the parents of the kids playing on the ramp. It just got to be a pain trying to work a rig around all the traffic and tourists, and that is one lake I just loved to fish.

Off season is a great time to go for sure.
 
#749
#749
Got engaged in March and am scouting areas for our honeymoon next fall. What does everyone recommend as some top spots. Hawaii is definitely high on our list right now. No Mexico, been there and it was okay but not spectacular. Bahamas is nice but would rather go somewhere we both haven’t been. We’ve been to..
Bahamas
St Thomas
San Juan
Cancun
Turks and Caicos
 
#750
#750
Grudenator said:
Got engaged in March and am scouting areas for our honeymoon next fall. What does everyone recommend as some top spots. Hawaii is definitely high on our list right now. No Mexico, been there and it was okay but not spectacular. Bahamas is nice but would rather go somewhere we both haven’t been. We’ve been to..
Bahamas
St Thomas
San Juan
Cancun
Turks and Caicos
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Bora Bora
 
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