Another Great American Roadtrip
 

Last summer took our 4 kids and explored 17 national parks and monuments thru California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah & New Mexico. Looking for the same type of experience this summer in the Pacific Northwest. Thinking about starting in Denver and finishing in Seattle and hitting as much as we can in between. Any suggestions/recommendations? Also, choice to go in June or August - which one? Thanks for your help!!!

If you go in June plan to be in Portland Oregon for the rose festival. In Portlasnd is the nation Rose Test Garden near Portland zoo. They have a wonderful Japanese Garden also. In downtown Portland they have a Chinese Garden we went to both and compared the similarities and differences it was great.

Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier.

I don't know if you want to go into Canada, but the Canadian Rockies are awsome! Wateron, Jasper, Banff, Yoho.

Utahtea

I wold take June over August, although it still might be very cool in Yellowstone. I would also recommend Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument (drive down to the juntion of the Green River and Yampa River and camp there), the rain forest of Olympic National Park and the museum in Neah Bay, Mt. Rainier.

Utahtea, I've started working on next years trip-- Glacier NP up through Jasper, but I hadn't heard of Yoho. Where is it and what is there?
Incidently, there is now info about the Canada National Park pass posted on the Canada forum.

ronkala,

Yoho National Park is west of Banff. If you look at a map of the area, it's on Canadian Hwy 1 just west of Lake Louise over the Kicking Horse Pass. Make sure you take the side road to get to Takakkaw Falls!

Also in the area, west of Banff on Hwy 93 is Kootney National Park.

Utahtea

Thanks again Utahtea, I found them and will include all.

Would suggest Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument north of Portland. If your kids like airplanes, Boeing offers tours of its Everett, Wash plant where the 747 and 777 are made. If you want great wildflowers, July in Mt. Rainier area is a good bet.
If you stop at any of the National Forest trailheads you will need either a NW Forest pass or a Golden Eagle Passport. If you have a National Parks Pass this will not cover the BLM or Forest Service fees. Check out www.fs.fed.us/r6/r6nf.htm for all national forests in the Pacific NW. Also explains the differences in the passes. If you want to make campground reservations check www.reserveusa.com/.