Amy_Hoff

We are a family of 3 (child is 9 and very well traveled). We love to go on road trips. This June we are planning on flying into Seattle and driving down to San Fran then over to Las Vegas. We have 3 weeks to do this and plan on staying in each place for 2-3 days. We love to sight-see and take pictures. We also love to find cool places to eat. Our must see list is: Downtown Seattle, St Helen, Redwood Forest, Portland, Napa, San Fran, Yosemite, Las Vegas (been there before), Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon.
I am looking for advise on where to stay, things not to miss, and unique places to eat. THX!

happytrailstoyou

You might want to consider Mt. Rainier instead of (or in addition to) Mt. St. Helens. The Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast are two additional attractions that would be good to include in your itinerary.

HTtY

spirobulldog

I would start with the Grand Canyon first and end in Seattle. The longer you can wait for the north, the better(warmer and thawed out), the faster you can go to the Grand Canyon the better(cooler).

Grand Canyon- El Tovar or Bright Angel. Have a meal at El Tovar. See Sunrise and Sunset. Personally, I like Bryce and Zion better than the GC. Unless you doing some serious hiking down into the canyon, then 1 night is probably enough there.

I really enjoyed Mt. St. Helens, but the real Jewel is Mount Rainier--Fantastic. Probably best though in late July and all of August when flowers are blooming.

I would suggest seeing a bit of Olympic National Park and San Juan Islands. Your didn't mention Crater Lake, The Oregon Coast, and Columbia River Gorge.

June is a great time for Yosemite. Your already several months to late for reservations there.

I like Point Reyes(just north or San Fran). I also like the coast from Monterey to Hearst Castle(or even further south).

We spent 13 days in Washington and 12 days in Oregon. That wasn't enough. What I'm trying to say is, that you might want to reconsider and just do Washingon/Oregon or Nevada/California--There is that much to do in each over 3 weeks. Either place would be fantastic.

Here's what I like about Redwoods
James Irvine Trail connecting with Fern Canyon. This starts at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and ends at the ocean. Absolutely the best hike in Redwoods and very very few people do it. You will see a lot of people in Fern Canyon, but no very many go all the way--amazing. For something shorter, consider the fantastic drive into Stout Grove. Something to keep in mind--The National Park is made up of 3 State Parks-somewhat unusual. Just a bit south of Redwoods is Patricks Point State Park--See Agate Beach and also go tidepooling at one of the other beaches.

Yosemite--Maripossa Grove(I like the Redwoods better, my all time favorite though is Sequoia National Park which is south of Yosemite), see The Valley, Take the shuttle to Glacier Point, then hike down Panorama Trail connecting with The Mist Trail back to the valley, See Tuolomne area, Sunday Brunch at The Awahnee, Hetch Hetchy.

janisj

Have you booked your accommodations in Yosemite yet? That is the very first thing you should do. It books up months ahead. Yosemite Lodge at the Falls is the best option in the Valley. If you can't get in there (a possibility even this far in advance) try Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal just outside the park. They have a pretty liberal cancellation policy so you can book there and then keep trying for a cancellation at Yosemite Lodge.

As for the rest of your itinerary - the Redwoods are primarily on the northwestCalifornia coast so would be after Portland and the Oregon coast.

Where are you flying out of - Las vegas?

Three weeks sounds like a long time, but it really isn't for that much territory. You have enough time to hit all those places but just factor in that Seattle > Portland > the Oregon Coast > the N CA coast/Redwoods, Napa/Sonoma (not really much of a destination for children) > SF > Yosemite >Las Vegas > the Grand Canyon is almost 2,000 miles and 35+ hours driving time. So you are spending about 6 full days just in transit (Counting 6 hours 'car time' plus meals as average for a family road trip trip).

spirobulldog

HTTY and I were thinking a lot alike. It just took me 10 times as long to say it.

Amy_Hoff

Thank you for your responses. janisj - we are planning on flying out of vegas. I was hoping to do a day trip from vegas to the grand canyon. Any help with where to stay along the way would be great!

happytrailstoyou

Happy New Year, spirobulldog!

HTtY

tomfuller

You can see some great Coast Redwoods at Muir woods not too far north of the Golden Gate Bridge (SF).
To avoid a drop off fee on the rental car you might want to fly to Seattle (or Portland) and rent a car for the northern part (Oregon and Washington). Turn in the rental car and fly or take Amtrak to Sacramento California. Rent another car to see the parts of California you want to see. Turn in the CA car and fly to Las Vegas. Car rentals are cheaper in Las Vegas.
Good luck on getting the Yosemite reservations when you want them.

janisj

IMO, the trees in Muir Woods are absolutely no substitute for the national/state parks on the north coast. Muir Woods is lovely but it is small and gets very crowded (they even have to close it to visitors because the the parking lots fill to capacity). The main reason it gets so much 'play' is because it is on the doorstep of a HUGE metropolitan population so is easy to get to. The parks up the coast are a totally different animal.

As for all the various rental cars/trains/flights just to save a drop off fee . . . The air fares and/or train tickets will cost as much or more than any drop of fee, so you wouldn't save anything and very much complicate your itinerary.

5alive

In Seattle, you might want to do the salmon bake dinner and Native American story telling with masks. It is all in a Native American longhouse at Tillicum Village. You have to take a special ferry ride over to Blake Island state park. Not cheap, but my kids all loved it, and they were about your son's age.

http://www.argosycruises.com/tillicum-village/

happytrailstoyou

The Tillicum Village experience and other Argosy Cruises are often available on Goldstar for half price.

HTtY

5alive

That's well worth joining Goldstar.

Amy_Hoff

Has anyone stayed on Bainbridge Island? Considering doing this instead of downtown Seattle. We will have a car and dont want to pay high price just for rental car to sit. Any advice on the ferry?

HappyTrvlr

Bainbridge is very nice but I would stay in the city.

Gardyloo

<i>We will have a car and dont want to pay high price just for rental car to sit. Any advice on the ferry?</i>

Bainbridge is a lovely suburb, but unless you have a strong reason to stay there (free lodging, relatives...?) IMO it would be a poor location for those wanting to explore Seattle and mainland areas.

While downtown Seattle is quite easily visited on foot, I'm not one of those who suggest that visitors should abandon their cars here. Yes, parking charges at downtown hotels are high (but nothing like those in New York or San Francisco) but there <i>are</i> hotels that offer free or very inexpensive parking, even some close to the downtown attractions - the Maxwell Hotel on Lower Queen Anne, for example, or the Silver Cloud on Lake Union, or the University Inn and Watertown in the University District...

Seattle is a city of neighborhoods and sights where a car is a really useful thing, and of course if you want to see something outside the city - Snoqualmie Falls, maybe, or the Everett Boeing factory, or the Woodinville wineries - a car is essential.

Visiting with a child, the car also offers some refuge, weather protection, and a place to store things. In your OP you indicated you're coming in June; note that a local saying is that summer starts July 5th, so visiting Seattle on foot only runs the risk of getting wet from time to time. Not a tragedy, of course, but the car simply affords you flexibility to see other things, or go other places, if you're rained out.

I would stay in the suburbs only if you're planning to spend a lot of time in the suburbs; otherwise pick some place that's reasonably close to downtown, and even if you have to pay 10 or 20 bucks to park the car overnight, you might find the freedom of movement, and the chance to explore our wonderful non-downtown districts and parks, outweighs the expense.

Pintxos

U-District in Seattle is a great suggestion. Watertown or the District are two hotels with reasonable rates and less expensive parking costs. Silver Cloud on Lake Union has a great view but all the road construction on Mercer is a headache to drive through, especially if you are not familiar with the city. The Mercer mess, we locals call it.

Amy_Hoff

Where would a good stopping point between Portland and Sonoma? Wanting to take 2 days to make the drive down the coast.

Gardyloo

<i>Where would a good stopping point between Portland and Sonoma? Wanting to take 2 days to make the drive down the coast.</i>

Probably Brookings OR or Crescent City, CA. I'd shoot down I-5 to Drain, then SR 38 out to Reedsport, then 101 the rest of the way until you cut over to Sonoma from Santa Rosa.

Taking the Oregon coast from farther north will add considerable time to the trip; as it is you're looking at two very full days to appreciate the coastal scenery between Bandon and the CA state line, and then the redwoods between Crescent City and Garberville or thereabouts. An extra night would be ideal, of course.

clarkgriswold

For Seattle consider the Best Western Loyal Inn, nice location, fridge & microwave in the room, add just $10 to the quoted rates for the parking charge. Breakfast is included.

For San Francisco, hopefully you'll find availability at the Columbus Motor Inn or the Chelsea Motor Inn. Columbus is the better location of the two, parking is included at both. You won't have the kitchen that you found in Oakland, but you'll save the driving and parking hassles and can put those dollars towards eating out, so many terrific and affordable options nearby.

Amy_Hoff

Here is my trip...
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=4...&via=5&t=m&z=5