Seeking Input - Planning a memorable drive for the family

[coachconverter]

OK, I'm hoping to take a few weeks off next year before my son starts school and looking to take a big trip out west, heading from Ohio to Seattle along the Northern routes, down the coastline and across through So. Cal, AR, etc, back up through St. Louis.

I know I want to hit the Badlands, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, basically all the tourist traps.  A real Griswald Family Vacation, including Wally World, I mean DisneyLand (and Legoland).

I'd appreciate hearing your suggestions, keeping in mind I'll be in a bus (35') and probably a small toad.

Thanks
Todd

If the good Lord's willing and creek don't rise - before this trip at least!

[Don4107]

While in the Seattle area head north a little to Anacortes WA and jump on the ferry with the toad to tour the San Juan Islands.  Visit San Juan Island itself and Orcas Island at a minimum, others if you have the time.  Absolutely beautiful. 

Take the loop road around San Juan and keep an eye (binoculars) out for killer whales.  Take the road on Orcas Island to the top of the park and see the castle like structure there.  When we did it in a small class C the boys fed crackers to deer out the window of the RV.

Good luck
Don 4107

[coachconverter]

Thanks, I'll look into that.  We have to go to Seattle to see the inlaws 

So I'll just plan on parking the bus in their driveway and headout from there.  Now, I just need to find a ladies pink houserobe, bunny slippers, grow a 3 day beard and starting calling myself Cousin-Eddie.  I'm sure their high-faleutin neighbors will love seeing me dumping the black tank down their sewers, while scratching my butt!!!

Sorry for all the Griswald references, I just can't help myself.

[coachconverter]

I guess I should have added that I'm looking to creat the best experience for a 5 year old boy's point of view, while the folks have fun too.  But mostly hands on, cool looking stuff.

I know I definitely want to see some old west towns, Mt. Rushmore, Yosemite or Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, etc...

More for dad, has anyone ever gone to the mothball fields, or boneyards for military and commercial aircraft?  I need to look into tours of such places, plus maybe a Minute Man Missile Silo would be fun.

[tekebird]

Yellowstone,
Big Sur,
Moterey aquarium

lots of kool not super touristy places areound too.

[skipn]

Todd,

    If you are going to hit Yellowstone you might consider Custer battlefield then a swing north for Glacier, Waterton, Banff etc then drop back down to the lower 48 into the Seattle area. We did that when I was about 9 and
I still remember it!

Skip

[Bob Gil]

The grand canyon is GREAT but i did not care for the south rim (it is built up into city of it's own and a big tourist trap) the North Rim is still uncomercailized.

When you leave there going into Colorado Mesa Verde is nice too.

[kyle4501]

When I kid, I hated it when dad would drag us along on those trips.  .  .  .  UNTIL we went to:

http://www.buffalobillmuseum.com/museums/

WOW
That was the turning point for me. I developed a whole new interest in history after the time spent in those museums. 

We're planning on taking a trip out there in a couple of years & we're looking at taking a "leave of absence" so we can spend more time & not be so rushed.


If you go to Glacier National Park, go as soon as the 'Going To The Sun road is open. There will still be plenty of snow & the scenery is amazing as the park wakes from winter slumber.     There are special tour buses you can take the tour because your bus will not make it past some spots on that road. You will question if your toad will in some spots! 

Yellowstone was awesome too.

Lake Louise (near banff ?) will leave you wishing you could just stay there.

[jjrbus]

Took a trip once went to the grand canyon, its neat and I am glad I went, but how many times can you say OH WOW!!! It is very hard climbing down the trals to the bottom it is even harder getting back to the top. 
Then I budgeted 4 days for Yellowstone. Big mistake could stay there a month easy. They say AZ is where God stopped to rest, then Yellostone is where he stopped to show off!!
You can take the little kid and the old kid on horse back rides. They had a chuck wagon dinner, they take you on wagons out in the woods and have a cattle drive type dinner, all kids of any age will love it.
Might want to catch a bit of RT 66 while you are out that way also.
I can ramble on more about other places, but I will leave room for others.

[white-eagle]

you ought to start at the roller coaster capital, best amusement park in america (by vote and review) in your own back yard in northern Ohio.  Cedar point is the number one coaster site, lots of campsites, big amusement area, etc

45 min from us if you get this way.

[Zeroclearance]

Coachconverter, is your avatar a picture of a Taylor EL MCI?

[HB of CJ]

Living in SW Oregon may give us an edge.  If you want to travel down the West coast from Seattle to San Francisco right along the ocean you will see some of the most beautiful stuff in the entire Federation.

Years ago we scheduled 7 days from Crescent City CA to San Franciso.  Ended up taking 20 days.  Every 20 miles or sooss there was something to see/stay.  Having kids will change what you want to do. 

[bobofthenorth]

Just to build a bit on what Don has already suggested, we love to take the route from Anacortes through Port Townsend onto the Olympic Peninsula and then go south and catch the ferry back into Seattle.  There's some of the most beautiful scenery in North America along that route.

On the way west Bonner's Ferry & Coeur d'Alene are don't miss spots.  The whole run down the west coast from Seattle is precious but it could easily take your entire time.  I'd give the coast a miss until you get to SF and then run down the coast from there to L.A.  I hate L.A. but if you end up there the south drive across to Yuma from San Diego (#8) is more attractive than #10 through Blythe & Q.  All I can say is you had best budget lots of time cuz there's lots to see and there's no way you'll have enough time for everything you'll end up wanting to do.  

[letz4wheel]

Will you take me tooo

[Dreamscape]

If you are in Oregon go to McMinville and see The Spruce Goose. http://www.sprucegoose.org/

That is one bird I want to see, and I used to live in Salem, go figure. Maybe my next trip to Vancouver WA.

If you do go, give us a report, please.

Paul