Okay,
I think it's either going to be the Vegas, Bryce and Grand Canyon thing or the Coast of California. These have all been such great ideas and I really thank you. Yes, I am from the east coast. 40 years old and never been out west, can you even believe it!
By the way, am I correct in saying that you only need one day for the grand canyon?

I just wanted to give another opinion about SF. Others have said it is lost on kids, but I disagree. I always enjoyed spenting time in SF as a child and a teenager as did my cousins and friends. It's a very fun city with lots to do. Summertime is pretty foggy - the hoter it is inland, the foggier it gets on the coast - but I don't really think that is a deterent to visiting. I'll take a foggy day with temperatures in the low 60s over a hot humid east coast summer day anytime - but that's just me.

Agree with previous posters that SF is not the best place to visit with kids. As far as the weather is concerned, even though it is warmer maybe 30 or 40 miles inland than right on the coast, the heat in California is dry. Nothing like the humidity of the east coast. In fact, coastal weather in San Francisco, for example, is rather humid and accounts for the fog sticking around. Southern CA and Las Vegas would be my pick for a vacation out west.

You Definitly have to come out West! Here is a list of the future desired vacations I would like to take within the U.S.:

California Coast
San Fran to San Diego (Which I have already booked!)

Las Vegas
(FUN,good food, entertainment, Hoover Dam nearby & close to Grand Canyon and Utah attractions)

Yellowstone

Alaska
(Cruise and Land tour)!!!

Hawaii
(Self explanitory)

East Coast Drive
(you've probably already seen but it's in my list!)

New England Drive
(In the fall, stay at B & B's)

Seattle
(head up to Canada while there)

Arizona
(Tucson where I lived for half my life, Phoenix, Grand Canyon)

Colorado
(Denver where I live now, Summit County, Rocky Mountain Natl Park)

Utah
(Moab, Bryce which is pretty even driving near it on the Highway)

I pretty much want to see everything so I could go on!

How do you feel about driving and how much time do you have?

I'd fly to Denver and rent a car. Spend the day in Breckenridge and drive the next day to Grand Junction. The next day through Utah to Zion and the next day on to Vegas. From Vegas I'd drive to Grand Canyon and spend the night inside the park. After sunrise the next day I'd head for Monument Valley then back into Colorado. Do Mesa Verde the next day then spend the night in Pagosa Springs. Make your way back to Denver from there.

I know it seems like a lot of driving but you'll see beauty that will take your breath away - and there's plenty for your kids to do at each stop. We did almost this same route a couple of years ago when my kids were 13 & 15 but we went on to California and Mexico too. I was really worried they'd be bored but in 2 1/2 weeks I didn't hear one complaint. Have fun ;^)

Big_Money_D - I think you're talking about the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, on UBC campus. Unless you're talking about the Royal Museum of British Columbia in Victoria which is more of a natural history museum.

Also, the term for "Native Americans" in Canada is "First Nations". "Aboriginal" is used, but not as often.