<b>Day 12 - Loong drive. First stop at Hot Springs for the Mammoth Site. Then onwards down to Colorado (eventually) - through Denver and overnight at the Quality Suites at Evergreen Parkway (near Golden).</b>
ARE YOU NUTS??!

Are you talking about Mammoth Hots Springs in Yellowstone from Deadwood. That in itself is 10 hours. Then onto Colorado? Another 6+ hours. You might want to break it up a little bit. The west is a lot bigger than you think. Montana alone is bigger than the entire UK

Hi jlaughs

Yep, you've got it totally! I'm sure that NYC and Chicago, for example, will be nice - and I'm actually not one for loafing around, but it will be a nice rest and we'll probably all have blisters by then!

Yes, I understand that you want us to see lots of California - but we have seen some lovely places in the past - Yosemite, San Fran, Sequoia NP, LA (if you can call that lovely - we loved Santa Monica though) - but this desire for PS is strictly for the private pool and a rest!

As you can tell, I'm still working on these plans. As it happens, I have had an offer of the rental of a studio room, in the Malibu Hills, with its own private pool, for 2 nights. Shall I go for that instead of PS? It would mean our son would have to sleep on a mattress on the floor - but the climate will be better. I don't like to ask the indelicate question of whether the view is still green or whether it is scorched ...

LOL - no, dba - &quot;Hot Springs for the Mammoth Site&quot; - that's just a few miles south of Hill City, where we're staying! So, from there to just south (west?) of Denver. 387 miles. Certainly long enough - but, although I do confess to being nuts - I ain't that nuts!!!!

But I have been to Mammoth Springs, Yellowstone. We saw a moose in Montana in 2006. We got really excited!! That night, we stopped off in Fort Benton for the night, on our way to Glacier NP. We had a room with no window! :) But, who cares, when you wake up in the morning and the Missouri's outside the door?

I would probably pick Malibu that time of year but I think it depends on how big the studio is. It sounds like it might be a little cramped for 3 adults. Also when you say the Malibu Hills, how far are you from the ocean? The studio has a private pool but unless the pool is heated it could be a little cool for swimming especially if you get the marine layer from the ocean.

As far as the scorched, I would probably find a way to ask that question. But I will tell you that I live in an area of San Diego that had extensive fire damage last October. With all the rain we had this year, even the burn areas are very green. Yes you can still see some scorched trees and if you look under the greenery, you can see the burnt earth but everything right now is pretty green. The problem is by June the hills could be turning brown again. If you did stay in Malibu, you'd be able to visit Universal Studios-just want until rush hour is over to head out.

A house with a pool for relaxing in Palm Springs doesn't sound all that bad to me. And, you mentioned the Aerial Tramway. My understanding is that it will be cooler up there, so take your morning swim, pop up to the top of the mountain, come back down and take a nap, then take your evening swim!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much there actually was to do in Palm Springs (and I included the surrounding area in that). There are some good restaurants, some good shopping, Coachella Valley Preserve. If you want to go there, I don't think it is as dire as it's been made to sound.

And don't skip the Great Plains as someone suggested! The Black Hills are pretty amazing, and have to be completely different from your neck of the woods.

Someone mentioned the Architecture Boat Tour in Seattle. Really and truly, try to do this. Try to take the one that will take you up the Chicago River as well as out on Lake Michigan. You get such an incredible perspective of the city.

Have a wonderful time, your trip sounds great!

I have very mixed feelings about whether to recommend you stick to your Palm Springs plan or change to Malibu. Palm Springs would be more out-of-the-way than Malibu, but you can be certain that you'll have warm temperatures to be able to take advantage of that pool. Malibu would be more &quot;on the way&quot; to San Diego, but would also be more &quot;iffy&quot; to use your pool with June Gloom and the marine layer along the coast. I'm not really sure what you mean when you say that the climate will be better in Malibu. If you mean not as hot as PS, then that's true. But, if your goal is to take advantage of the pool, I might opt to go where I know, for sure, it will be warm enough to use it.

Btw, glad you loved Santa Monica. I was born in SM, grew up in SM, have worked in SM for the past 27 years and my parents still live in SM. Needless to say, I'm glad that you have a good impression of my &quot;home&quot;. :-)

Many thanks to all, again, for their suggestions and thoughts.

OK, Universal Studios and Malibu are out. Palm Springs is still in. :) Yes, people have different ideas about this, but we reckon there will be PLENTY to keep us occupied for a day and a bit, even if we don't stay by the pool (or in the AC'd house!) We have cut the stay to 2 nights though and added a third night to San Diego (I was really cross because I hesitated too long and the cost of the rooms went up quite a lot overnight - I booked the extra night anyway, but will keep checking back and cancel and rebook if necessary).

As for Death Valley .... having given it a lot of thought, we think we might now skip it, as it's a long way to drive there and back, for just a quick glimpse out of the car windows. We are thinking, after Las Vegas (I have tried so hard to dump that too, but hub and son are adamant that the one night stop stays ...) anyway, after LV, we thought we might drive down, via Hoover Dam and, maybe, Oatman (suckers for places like this!) to Lake Havasu City (I know, just a bridge and it also will be HOT - but it looks kinda cool, with lots of water here and there!). Maybe we will stay 1 night, maybe, 2. Then we can drive to PS via Route 62 and take in a loop of Joshua Tree on the way.

jlaughs .. we were only in LA for a couple of nights, staying on Sunset Strip. We had a very quick look at Hollywood (because son is a movie freak) and then escaped to Santa Monica and Malibu! It was at Santa Monica that I first dipped my toes in the Pacific Ocean! :) Lovely place - very relaxed.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I like Palm Springs. Granted I've only been there in spring when the weather is near perfect. Joshua Tree is a very cool park, and save one splurge dinner for LG's Steakhouse in Palm Springs...it's very good and makes me think of the old Hollywood stars going out on the town.

You have an unplanned day in Chicago; strongly consider a Frank Lloyd Wright architectural tour. You can see some of his best work there.

Otherwise the trip sounds great! Have fun.