To be livid that the US government shutdown has ruined my holiday?!

[Primadonnagirl]

...I haven't had a two week holiday in two years ( first world problem I know!) but I have been working really really hard lately in a very stressful environment and absolutely need a break...we have spent a fortune and a lot of time planning our dream holiday..but now we can't do half the things we want to do because the enational parks are closed..which means finding new accommodation etc...that in itself is annoying enough but we are tied into connecting flights so basically have to spend time and Money hanging around..which IS NOT how I wanted to spend my holiday!!!!!!I could scream!!!!!

Prima have you seen this: http://www.visitutah.com/national-park-travel-advisory/ 50 awesome alternatives in utah

link fail

OP, you could look and see if there are any tribal parks near where you are going - American Indian tribes are sovereign nations and they have some parks of their own which aren't affected by the shutdown. So you could go to places like Monument Valley, which is part of the Navajo Tribal Park system. More details here.

Also spare a thought for the people of DC. Because DC isn't a state, it's budget is linked to the federal budget like any other federal agency and it isn't supposed to spend any money during a shutdown apart from on police, firefighters and emergency medicine. They have a cash reserve this time round which is why trash collection is happening, but it will only last two weeks.

Statehood for DC now!

I think if you post whereabouts you are actually staying, you will probably find that MN will be able to help you with alternatives. We stayed in Las Vegas and drove out past the Hoover Dam towards Kingman (SR93) when we saw a sign for the West Rim, so we went for about forty miles along a dirt road and eventually ended up at the Grand Canyon. Pretty sure it was part of the Indian Reservation mentioned earlier. Road wasn't very good, we only had a saloon car, but we managed.

The Canyon de Chelly is also on an Indian reservation (probably should be calling it Native American, sorry). It is relatively close to Monument Valley. Also there are State Parks in the US - they would probably still be open. Feel sure you would probably be able to go for a boat ride on Lake Mead, too. We've only been back for a couple of weeks and, although it may be difficult for you, I am still feeling envious. We go most years to the South West US, let me know if I can help.

My family is directly affected by the shutdown, but still I do sympathize greatly with the OP. There are some good suggestions on here about alternatives. I hope you have a wonderful visit, OP.

BTW, American Indian is actually preferred over Native American by many American Indians, but either term is generally fine. American Indian is the only ethnicity we name with "American" first in the name, which is as it should be. All the rest of us have our origin named first as in Scottish-American, Anglo-American, Irish-American, Italian-American, African American, etc.

YABU. there are plenty of other things to do. It's a holiday not a life of death situation like that of some of the workers affected, who may not be able to buy food for their families.

Message www.tomatonation.com. There are some v. helpful Americans on there.

This is the site for the Navajo tribal parks. Little Colorado River Gorge Park is only just over 50 miles from Flagstaff (guessing you might be flying in there), and Monument Valley is about 200 miles.

AZ state parks are open: here.

Sedona is near Flagstaff too and is supposed to be pretty nice.

If you feel OK about telling us exactly where else you are flying, we can probably come up with lots more alternatives for you.

Sedona is stunning (was there about 18 days ago) - if you do go, try a Pink Jeep Tour; a fantastic trip. You should drive up to Flagstaff via Oak Creek Canyon, it's lovely. Feeling jealous again.

Scone - thanks for the information, I will try to remember that.

Thanks for all your kind words and suggestions!We have received full refunds from accommodation so that's good news. We have decided to do a road trip to Flagstaff, Scottsdale and Sedona and I'm really looking forward to it! Looks like we' ll get to see some "real" Arizona , a doable road trip because we need to get back to Vegas for our connecting flights. I've just decided to change my attitude and see it as an adventure! yee ha!

One of the guys I work with is doing that trip with his wife and 2 kids and he is very worried that the shutdown will ruin his trip too. I think he is going to in a weeks time. He's gutted for his family.

So sorry your trip won't be what you wanted but hope you have a great time x

Sedona is stunning! Sorry you've had to change your plans but I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24209622

Flagstaff, Sedona and Scottsdale will be a good trip OP.

I am in the USA and my first thought was how sad it would be for tourists not to be able to visit the Smithsonian so YANBU op. sorry your holiday is not going to be what you expected. Everything else is as normal though... no meltdown. A few folks we know are furloughed, but they will be ok - one thing we have seen time and again since moving here is that American help one another through hard times. There will be groceries offered, food pantries made available especially to those affected, communities may well help financially too. Neighbours care more about each other over here, even if complete strangers. we experienced it first hand when our father in law had a major stroke and the whole neighbourhood organized meal rotations and food baskets and chaufering. I have witnessed no meltdown, just a lot of anger that the whole country can be held to ransom by one man.

I'd also be livid.
We went in the summer for 3 weeks. The first time in years we could take enough time off and take our children a road trip. That was many years in the planning and a considerable chunk of money.

Monty, I think we are all informed and decent enough to realize there is a bigger issue at stake.

OP, there are many things you can do instead am sure?
Driving up and down and around California is great. There is sooooo much to see on the coast and inland.
If you are planning the Canyon from Vegas and stuck there, you can still make it to the hoover DAM and spend the day on lake Mead…..or drive down the Palm springs for a night or 2?

Oh and Sedona is stunning if you are going into the canyon from that end!

We learn something everyday!
Did not know that about DC!

Here is also good and won't be affected by the shutdown - www.meteorcrater.com/

Interesting information, FairPhyllis: so Washington DC can last 2 weeks and then the trash starts to pile up in the streets? DC is where all the politicians live (part of the year at least) so that explains why the longest government shutdown ever in the US was 21 days - they lasted 1 week with trash piling up before they finally cracked

Something makes me think we'll be seeing the same time frame again this time around...

Have a good trip, Primadonnagirl!

FSM
Which man do you think is holding it to ransom?

Avery Yes, strictly speaking DC is not supposed to be spending any money at all right now on anything that is non-essential, but the current mayor is so heartily fed up with DC being Congress's punching bag that he has just designated all city services as 'essential'. In past shutdowns trash collection has stopped immediately - they laid down a cash reserve this time because they guessed a shutdown would probably happen at some point in this Congress.

The especially neat part of this is that DC, being a federal district and not a state, has no representation in Congress. It has no senators and only one delegate in the House - who cannot vote. So basically nobody in Congress gives a shit about what happens to DC.

The official motto on DC licence plates is 'Taxation without representation'.