1499

With Colorado,Wyoming,Montana,South Dakota,Oregon,Washington and California in mind, what state would provide the most? Not really interested in shopping. We want to see all we can in about 18 days. We have two teenage boys 19 and 15.

John

VERY large area. What are your interest?

MmePerdu

And when, what month, do you plan to be traveling?

happytrailstoyou

Yes, it depends very much on when you will travel and what your interests are.

Why are you not considering Arizona, Utah, or Nevada which fit nicely with California?

HTtY

Gretchen

You could do a nice tour of several and give your children a taste they will want to repeat when they are on their own--this to me is the best role for parents--give them the travel bug.
That is a LOT of states and much to see within many. Suggest you look at them, put a pin in the map of what you might like to see and see where that leads you.
You don't say where you are starting from, if you will fly to a western destination and rent a vehicle there, etc. If you visit/stay in national parks, those reservations are often made a year in advance.

marvelousmouse

Most of those states have enough to keep you occupied for the full 18 days. I mean, if you're looking at visiting ALL of those states, I think that 18 days would be mostly driving. Where are you from and have you done any driving in the west?

Aside from that, a lot depends on your interests. My hiking bucket list for Colorado and California is probably long enough for my life time. My list for South Dakota, on the other hand, barely justifies spending 3 days there...

NorthwestMale

Well, the answer is clearly "California", but all here probably already knew as much.

With both the highest point in the Lower 48 and the lowest point in the Lower 48, California simply has a wider range for nearly everything.

You've got the ocean, the mountains, and the man-made wonders of L.A. and Hollywood, just for starters.

So the answer to the OP's lone question is obviously "California".

DebitNM

A little cutting down is really necessary.

Oregon,Washington and California could be done, if you pick 1 city in each state. Seattle, Portland and LA or San Diego or San Francisco.

OR

MT, WY and CO.

Are you renting a car to get from place to place or are you flying?

In re-reading the OP -- Were you looking for several states or just one?? If just one - CA or CO.

starrs

"Colorado,Wyoming,Montana,South Dakota,Oregon,Washington and California "

All are good choices.
My favorites are Montana and Wyoming, although I love Colorado and California is great too. I like Washington. The time of the year makes a huge difference.

If this is for one 18 day trip, I'd fly into Denver, spend a couple of days in Estes Park and see Rocky Mountain NP, on to Cheyenne, WY for an overnight (and more time if you go in July during the Stampede). On to Jackson WY and see the Tetons and then YNP for 10 days combined. That's about 13 days. The extra 5 days depends on what you find interesting. On to Glacier NP and fly out of Kalispell? If so, add an overnight in Great Falls. Back to Colorado for more of those Rockies and fly out of Denver? On to Salt Lake City to see that area and then fly out of SLC?

So many options for those 18 days. Good luck deciding!

1499

Ok, everyone has given some great advice, thank you. I failed to mention we are leaving June 13 and be back by July 7. That's 24 days and I said 18 minus the 6 days of driving.Our interest are mostly site seeing and a little hiking and a guided freshwater fishing trip somewhere. We don't like big cities. We enjoyed the ride, no flying. We would lie to narrow down our selection of states to have more time.

bbqboy

I'm biased, but why not just come see us in Oregon and Washington?
You'll never be gone from crowds in California.