New York christmas 2013... the plans begin

[Anne_Aus]

So I have spent the past month slowly piecing together things for my next trip, I am still not 100% sure of all the dates and locations.

It will be a quick trip only a month (working within school holiday constraints and a wedding I wouldn't miss for the world). But here is my rough plans:

Sydney - New York
Having Christmas in NYC on my own (one thing that I go from being excited about to really unsure about, though I think I would regret not going more than not having a good Christmas in NYC)

New York - Bozeman Montana

Spending some time in West Yellowstone, exploring the park, seeing old faithful. I am wanting to do some snowmobiling and possible some snow coah tours, explore the wolf and grizzly discovery centre.

Bozeman - LA
Spending NYE in LA, a podcast I listen to on a weekly basis and have done for the past 3/4 years does a live NYE show, so hoping to be spending it watching that.

LA - NYC
Meeting up with a friend and spending a week in NYC, its her first time in NYC and I am looking forward to just doing a few different things from last time.

NYC - Orlando
Meeting up with more friends in Orlando, plan so far to do Universal and possibly some shopping (its a quick 2/3 day trip so no Disney this time round )

Orlando - Jamaica
Going with my 3 other friends to an event called back to the island - its a music event, and the thing that kicked off this whole trip planning (was planning Africa instead)

Jamaica - Toronto
I wanted to see Niagara falls but I looked into day trips from NYC and wasn't a fan of the time schedule or the price tag, so decided I would just go to Toronto for a few days, see Niagara and some of Toronto

Last stop Hawaii - this was a last minute decision and only because Hawaiian air is the cheapest option for flights, so it seemed to make sense in my head to spend a few days by the pool before returning to real life.

The only part that is super locked in at the moment is NYC - Orlando - Jamaica sector and I am hoping once I finalise dates and finally book the flights the rest will fall into place.

I know it seems a long way to go across to the west coast just for 2 things, but Yellowstone was a big pull for me doing this trip and initially when I started planning I wasn't doing Christmas and was flying direct into LA so made much more sense at the time.

[PrincessInOz]

Sounds like another great trip in the planning. Looking forward to this ride and seeing Yellowstone.

[Minniemum]

Can I sign up for your trip? You're going to see some beautiful scenery, have fun snowmobiling and listen to some great music at "back to the island". What more could you want?

[Anne_Aus]

Thanks ladies for some reason this trip has been stressful to sort out I think its the lack of information I am finding on yellowstone in winter.

Hoping to book my flight today and that it will make me more comfortable.

[PrincessInOz]

hope you got your flight booked.

[Anne_Aus]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

hope you got your flight booked.

I just booked, I feel so ill right now, but I know its a good thing it is what I am telling myself anyway

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by Anne_Aus

I just booked, I feel so ill right now, but I know its a good thing it is what I am telling myself anyway

It's all good.


Congratulations!

[Anne_Aus]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

It's all good.


Congratulations!

Thanks now the fun part really begins

[Minniemum]

Woo hoo! Congratulations on making it real.

[Andona]

Sounds like such a good trip!

I'll be particularly interested in the Yellowstone segment - we've been there in September and loved it so much we're determined to go back for the winter season some day. We stayed in the Snowlodge and had a light fall of snow the day we left - would just LOVE to experience the place in the real winter

Hope your planning goes well

Andona

[Anne_Aus]

Thanks Ladies!! I have calmed down a little today and am feeling really positive about it all.

I am now moving onto the yellowstone section of the trip. It isn't a long time in yellowstone just a quick trip (4 nights). I have been looking at my options and not sure if I will get to stay in the park or not.
I have a good deal with three bear lodge which includes 2 days snowmobiling and one day in a snowcoach tour. Its located in west yellowstone so just outside the parks entrance.

There is only 1 company you can go through to stay at lodging inside the park and they only go on certain days ect so its becoming a little problematic to try and work it all out, especially when all the sites require you call for inquiries not email. ( grrr time difference)

I have hit the dilemma though of the airport shuttle only runs twice a day in Winter months, so I either have to leave at 9am to make an afternoon flight out, or at 5:30 and stay the night. So thinking of leaving at the 5:30, grabbing a room close to the airport and doing an early morning flight out so I don't spend a whole day in transit.
It does mean one less day in Yellowstone but since I don't depart till 5:30 I still have the whole day to explore and thinking maybe wolf and grizzly center that day

[zanzibar138]

Congrats! Sounds like an awesome trip! And I nearly fell off my chair when you said it was only a short trip, just a month... I call 3 weeks a long trip

[Anne_Aus]

Originally Posted by zanzibar138

Congrats! Sounds like an awesome trip! And I nearly fell off my chair when you said it was only a short trip, just a month... I call 3 weeks a long trip

Haha sorry last time I had 3 months so in comparison it seems short and trying to fit everything in makes it seem like that also

[Marlea98]

We stayed at Kelly's inn at west yellowstone and it's opposite the grizzly centre plus very close to the park entrance. The grizzly centre is a must! They give the bears old Christmas trees to play with and it's so much fun. The static displays inside on poaching etc is thought provoking. The wolf enclosures is separated by a heated building with massive windows so you literally come face to face with the wolves. We spent hours there.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

[Anne_Aus]

Thought I would update. I booked my package for Yellowstone I am staying at three bears lodge and I got a package deal which is 2 days of snowmobiling including one day to old faithful and also includes a day on a snowcoach to the canyon inside yellowstone.

I also managed to book my accommodation in Toronto and am slowly piecing together what else I want to see there other than a day trip to Niagara, ice hockey hall of fame and cnn tower are now on that list