Barbara

Tee hee, that's because the bugs are so big, they call them "wildlife".

wildblueyonder

Many thanks, Orlando_Vic! If the wildlife doesn't fly into my hair or bite me, I'm happy with it (I guess should stay away from the alligators!)
Both hub and I are tempted to take a risk, as it would be different for us. It's just the humidity that's the big downer.

emalloy

Gardyloo has given you some good advice. I would not want to make the trip without seeing the Grand canyon but if you spend an extra day you could hit the north rim from Bryce and then loop back and do the Death Valley/Tioga Pass to California thing.

Your kids are so lucky to go on a trip like this.

kgh8m

You've got a lot of nice suggestions. Just remember that younger people do not need as much time in any one place as you might, so it might be easier to get more stuff in, if you're up to it. 4 days in Vegas is way too long. And while I think that hitting the national parks to take in the wide variety of the really awesome sights this country has is great, some of the suggested itineraries do not feature the ability to focus on the things that YOU really like about the U.S. Which is my way of saying, I guess, go to more than Vegas, LA and SF with the parks interspersed. For a couple that hasn't spent much (any?) time in this country, those are great places, but I think a trip outside of those areas might provide a nice balance. No offense, but California's big cities just aren't all that representative of the U.S. (though I adore San Francisco and the PCH) - and I cringe to think that someone would come to LA and might form an opinion about the US generally. If you can swing it, try to get a dose of something outside of those 3 large cities and the roads in between.

suze

I would skip Florida entirely, especially that time of year.

Why not do primarily the California coast, with a side trip to the Grand Canyon? That's gorgeous country. Includes beaches. And you can go to Disneyland/Universial Studios in LA to fulfill that request. Even add Las Vegas if they really want to see it. That would still be plenty for a two week trip. Plus you could save a bit by needing less airfare by not trying to squeeze in the Florida portion.

wildblueyonder

Thanks for the further suggestions!
emalloy - no, I can't take them to the US without showing them the GC (although, to be honest, I think other parks - eg Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, Yellowstone - are more impressive).
suze - the California coast might feature to one degree or another - it's just that it is so similar, in a way, to what we have in Europe - and (with great respect) I don't think the beaches are as nice. I want to show them the vast open spaces, the desert, the wildlife. Florida is still a possibility (and is on my 'option 1(a)' of 5 options I'm playing with! The airfare difference is negligible if you stick it all on one trip.
kgh8m - oh my goodness, yes, I so agree! I hadn't thought I'd given too much emphasis on the cities. 4 nights in Vegas is not really 4 nights 'in Vegas', but in a rental house - maybe used as a base for DV and GC also - don't know yet. It's just that you can pick up really cheap 4-bedroom rentals with nice pools in Vegas and this would make a nice starter to the trip - family time, if you like. And we have no problem with overnight stops - but I think our son and dil might, having not done road trips before. I could be wrong though, so need to discuss it with them. I'm also toying with the idea of postponing the trip to the following May/June - purely because of the longer daylight hours. Another thing I need to discuss.

Options are, at the moment, like this!

1 (a) Fly to Vegas (3 or 4 nights, depending on minimum stay) - Zion (2) - GC - Phoenix/Tucson area (2) Fly to Tampa - 3/4 nights Fort Myers/Key West, 3/4 nights Orlando/Cocoa Beach area.

1 (b) As above, but flying into San Fran (1 or 2), driving to Yosemite and then to Vegas via Death Valley and continuing as 1 (a)

2 (a) LV (4) - Zion (2) - GC (1) - Phoenix area (2 or 3) - Yuma (or other overnight stop to break journey) - LA (2) - Yosemite (2) or Yosemite (1), Sequoia (1)- San Fran (2)

2 (b) LV (4) - Zion (2) - GC (1) - Phoenix (2) - Yuma (1) - LA (2) - Pacific Hwy Stop (1) - San Fran (2)

2. San Fran (2) - Lake Tahoe (2) - Yosemite (2) - Death Valley (1) - LV (4) - Zion (2) - GC (1) - Phoenix (2)

All are more or less 16 or 17 nights, as nothing really worked with 14. You notice I'm not giving up on my night or two at the Camelback Inn!

dfr4848

I'll also say the bugs in FL are not really THAT bad - especially along the coasts with the sea breezes. They're certainly not going to attack and carry you away to some unwanted destination (like Vegas or Disney World!!)

And yes, heat is heat. Even when it's "dry"!

wildblueyonder

Vegas and Disney World aren't unwanted, dfr - they're simply detested! (Haven't been to DW in the US, but the one in France was just awful ..)
I've gone off Florida! Nothing to do with the bugs or the sticky heat. I've got together an itinerary which, I hope, my son and dil will view as a 'trip of a lifetime'. In places, it's a bit of a gallop, but I hope OK. I need to ask them how much they can afford to contribute, as it's possible I'll only be able to pay for the flghts, car hire and some of the accommodation. And most of the places myself, hub and other son have been before - but I've tried to add in things/places we haven't done, to make it more exciting. OK, this is how it looks:

Day 1: Fly to LA - take a shuttle into LA - probably stay at the Renaissance Hollywood as that is close to Universal Studios, but also allows them to see the stars, hand prints etc. (And I collect Marriott points!)
Day 2: Take a cab and all day Universal Studios (hey, let's get it over with! Overnight Renaissace Hollywood.
Day 3: Pick up rental car. Maybe, instead of 2 cars, we can hire a mini van. There will be 5 of us. The rates are good and they (Alamo) do not charge more for dropping off at San Fran. To Palm/Desert Springs for an overnight. I've found the Marriott Esmerelda which, at the moment, has great rooms of $65. If that offer is repeated next year, that's where we'll stay. I've read about hordes of children and spongeBob, or whatever he's called - but if it's $65.
Day 4: To Phoenix, specifically the Camelback Inn to loaf around in the heat.
Day 5: My birthday! If we have any energy, a drive down to Tucson and around the Saguaro NP would be nice (not done either). Otherwise, laze around. Dinner at the Camelback (probably)
Day 6: To Cottonwood/Sedona. I fancy taking in the chuckwagon evening (not done this before!) and I can only find this one at Cottonwood. Overnight maybe at the LIttle Daisy Motel, Cottonwood or Southwest Inn, Sedona (budget places) - although this day and the next few, I'm unsure of.
Day 7: Grand Canyon. Not sure whether to stay in the park (last time, we stayed at the Kachina) or to spend 2 nights (nights 6 and 7) in Flagstaff or both nights in Sedona.
Day 8: To Page. I want to do the half-day float trip, so am unsure whether to spend one night here or two. My worry is over our luggage. If we spend only one night in Page, we will have nowhere to store our luggage once we've left for the trip. I haven't yet found a hotel in Page which mentions luggage storage.
Day 9: To Kanab. I had thought this would give us the opportunity (if we wish) to have a quick glimpse of Bryce. But, for the same luggage reasons as with Page, I think we might be better to stay in Springdale so we can take the River Walk or something. I have been to Zion twice but have yet to do any of the walks - shame on me.
Day 10: Via Zion to Las Vegas. 3 nights loafing around in a rental house. I've found lots of possibilities. Son and dil will be celebrating their anniversary at this time, so that'll be good. Must take in a show (not done that before!)
Day 13: Through Death Valley. Overnight either Lone Pines or Lee Vining (although I haven't found much cheap/decent accommodation there - I'd like to visit Mono Lake).
Day 14: Over the Tioga Pass (not done that before!) into Yosemite Valley. Not sure whether to spend night in Yosemite - or outside in Groveland.
Day 15: A question mark here. Another night in the Yosemite region so that we can visit Sequoia (my hub's favourite) or straight to San Fran?
Day 16: San Francisco. Probably the Courtyard Fisherman's Wharf as we won't have much time here and this'll be convenient for the trolleys (not done that!) and Alcatraz (not done that either!).
Day 17: San Francisco.
Day 18: Fly London from SFO.

What do you think?