where to go in US in July? (1 Viewer)

sandrinhalee

bird happy

• Apr 8, 2012

• #1

Hi everyone,
I apologize if this isn't the right forum in which to post this question.

My parents, husband, and I are looking for a good place to vacation in July. They've all told me I can pick the place, and of course I want to go where the birds are. My parents don't want to go to Alaska though I would love to go there because they've already been. We live in California and have been all over so somewhere else would be nice.

Does anyone have any suggestions? It has to be a place that is not too hot and that has good scenery and things to do for non-birding family. My parents like hiking and scenery.

Thank you so much!
S.

 

Mysticete

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2012

• #2

July is kind of a tough period...most places in the lower 48 are are in the middle of bird breeding season or even past it depending on when in July you go, and it can be kind of slow.

Colorado/Wyoming might be good. The road up to the Tundra should be open in Rocky Mountain National Park, so Ptarmigan and Brown-capped Rosy-finch is possible. The prairies should also be full of longspurs and lark buntings.

 

ClarkWGriswold

Carpe Carpum

Supporter

• Apr 8, 2012

• #3

How about Yellowstone S?

Rich

 

ovenbird43

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2012

• #4

I second the suggestion of Wyoming/Colorado. For some more details on Colorado including Rocky Mountain National Park, check my thread http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=204959&highlight=colorado from my trip last June/July to Colorado.

I think another good possibility would be Maine. Good boreal forest birds, coastal birds (I'm not sure how long into the summer they run the puffin viewing trips, but check into visiting Machias Seal Island), not hot and plenty of non-birding activities available for your family.

 

Xenospiza

Distracted

• Apr 8, 2012

• #5

I liked Minnesota and (North) Dakota in July. Plenty of warblers in Minnesota (which should have some non-birding distractions), sparrows in Dakota (which did not seem like a place for non-birders to me). Scenery may be in short supply (unless you like tamarack swamps and prairie potholes), unlike mosquitoes. Not hot at all... in fact, it was just over 40 F on the fourth of July.

 

RobHynson

Well-known member

• Apr 9, 2012

• #6

While living in America a few years ago I went to Washington state for a week in July which was fantastic. July was surprisingly good for birds and we escaped the heat by heading to higher elevations. Scenary was magnificent too,

cheers,

Rob

 

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Apr 12, 2012

• #7

My wife and I are heading the Tetons in late June which I think would be a good destination to avoid summer heat and see birds and mammals and fantastic scenery. Of course, Yellowstone, with it's own specialized scenery, is right next door to the Tetons. I have heard that come July, the both parks get a good bit more popular (crowded).
Our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado was also in mid-summer and was very enjoyable both for birding, hiking and mammal watching.
When I review the other comments, I realize there's really no end to places to go in mid summer!

Steve

 

B

Brown Porter

New member

• Apr 22, 2012

• #8

You can't go wrong visiting a national park in July however, places like Yellowstone are so popular you have to make reservations early. Like now. Jackson, Wyoming is a great place for a base camp at the gateway to the Grand Tetons and only 75 miles from the south gate of Yellowstone. The whole area is between 5000-8000' and straddles the continental divide so you're going to see some very different birds than you get in California. And there's plenty of things to do and see besides birds. Bit of a hike from California but well worth it for all three of your generations.

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Apr 22, 2012

• #9

There are loads of good places to go, but southeast Arizona should be excellent in July.

 

J

Jim M.

Member since 2007

Supporter

• Apr 22, 2012

• #10

Andrew Whitehouse said:

There are loads of good places to go, but southeast Arizona should be excellent in July.

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sandrinhalee said:

It has to be a place that is not too hot

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Would not recommend SE Az in July for someone looking to avoid the heat, though I know it's somewhat cooler at higher elevations.

Jim

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Apr 22, 2012

• #11

J. Moore said:

Would not recommend SE Az in July for someone looking to avoid the heat, though I know it's somewhat cooler at higher elevations.

Jim

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Ah, didn't see that. Higher up I actually found it about as cool as most other places in the American west though. For somewhere cool and scenic, I'd probably head for the Pacific Northwest in Washington and Oregon. Birding may be a little slow in the forests but the coastal birding and the mountains should be really good.

 

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Apr 22, 2012

• #12

sandrinhalee said:

We live in California....

It has to be a place that is not too hot and that has good scenery and things to do for non-birding family. My parents like hiking and scenery.

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Given these facts, I'd sure go for Wyoming, focussing on Yellowstone. Good birding, good mammals, good hiking, good scenery.

 

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Apr 24, 2012

• #13

Brown Porter said:

You can't go wrong visiting a national park in July however, places like Yellowstone are so popular you have to make reservations early. Like now. Jackson, Wyoming is a great place for a base camp at the gateway to the Grand Tetons and only 75 miles from the south gate of Yellowstone.

Click to expand...

Since you mentioned camping, we found that camping in the Tetons is not reservable. Many of the less expensive lodges are already booked for late June when we'll be going. It is certainly not hot there. I think the average temps are mid forties lows to seventy degrees for the high. Good hiking weather!

We found SE Arizona to be a fine place to go in summer. In early August of '07, we camped at Reef Townsite Campground (7200 feet) and were cold in our sleeping bags for two nights. June and early July, before the summer rainy season, are suppoed to be the hottest months in that part of Arizona.

Steve