Plan My Trip: Carlsbad vs Flagstaff/Sedona vs. SoCal

[uintahiker]

I'm in the initial planning stages of another trip. I've got to decide where to go first. Here are my three options. All are a days drive away for me. Timeframe- we'd be gone for a week later this fall.

Option 1: Carlsbad, New Mexico. We''d hit up the Caverns, White Sands, Guadalupe Mtns, and whatever else you'd recommend.

Option 2: Flagstaff/Sedona. Get back to the mountains and some redrock, lots of national monuments up in the area, and whatever else you'd recommend.

Option 3: Southern California. The beach, tidepools, Sea World, maybe the Channel Islands National Park, the geoglyphs along the AZ/CA border, and whatever else you'd recommend.

I can't decide between them, so give me some compelling reasons on where you'd go and why you'd go there! I'm also up for places that I've gotta check out while I'm there, whether it's a great hike, awesome view, relaxing place to chill, or anything else.

 

[Laura]

What do you want to do? Personally I'd skip SoCal because I already live here (San Diego), but October/November is one of the best times to visit. The weather is picture perfect (not too hot, not too cold) the crowds have gone home (except for the 3 million of us who live here), you'll have the beach to yourself but the water will be about 62 degrees. The local mountains have nice hiking, great mountain biking, apple season is underway. Lots of places to relax here if that's what you're looking for. If you decide on San Diego e-mail me with what you'd like to do and I'll find it for you. I'll be in Kauai for the next week (yes, I lead a rough life) so I won't be able to answer until late next week.

Just curious, you have two nature oriented trips and one beachy/big city trip under consideration. If you're more into nature and hiking, have you considered visiting the Eastern Sierra? Spectacular hiking, most of it over 9,000 ft, and early October the aspens will be at their peak.

 

[Aldaron]

I really enjoyed Carlsbad:

http://www.edarnell.com/Trips/page76.html

Between those options, I would rather go to Carlsbad. I liked it because it was dramatically different from anything else...it wasn't just another beach, it wasn't just another mountain, it wasn't just another desert. A big cave is unique, and this one is particularly unique.

But, hey, any trip is a good trip!