Sorry for being so broad but my wife and I are looking to take a five day relaxing trip. We are thinking about heading west. We live in New York. We want to go in June. We will be flying on points and using our Marriott points for lodging. We are just starting the research process so we are looking for some suggestions just to get the wheels turning.
Our biggest requirement is gorgeous scenery. We want to be surrounded by it. We want to sleep late. Maybe some spa stuff. We don't want to walk for miles and miles. We don't want scorching heat. We don't mind renting a car and driving to more beautiful scenery. Neither of us have been to to the western part of the U.S. in our adult lives.
As a starting point we were just throwing out some ideas: Montana, Wyoming, Napa, Washington State ( maybe Seattle too ), Vancouver, Banff etc. Any ideas and itineraries would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

You definitely won't have scorching heat in MT or WY or Banff in June. You're more likely to run into rain and cool temps and snow in the higher elevations.

Jackson, WY has beautiful scenery. Maybe look at Whitefish, MT for more beautiful scenery. Banff is also gorgeous. I'm not sure you could use your Marriott points in any of these three places, though.

Of all the gorgeous parts of WA state, I can't think of any that have a Marriott. I can't remember any in the towns near our national parks, on the San Juan Islands or in any other spectacular location--lodging is more along the lines of b and bs, inns, national park lodges, etc. So, I think it might be more productive to look at the list of Marriott locations, figure out what the best locations are, and narrow it down from there.

Marriotts appear to be in towns where there are businesses. I looked up Marriotts in Canada, Washington and Oregon and none are as close as you should be to your goal of spectacular beauty. You really should see the glaciated mountains of the west, which are jaw-dropping beautiful.

For spectacular areas: Banff NP in Canada, Mt. Rainier, WA; Glacier NP; and Yellowstone NP. Also Oregon Coast.

I'd go for Banff, but am not sure of the conditions in June. I'd save those Marriott points for another vacation and stay at L. Louise. (maybe spend one night at the Marriott in Calgary when you fly in) You'd be right there in the middle of things, surrounded by gorgious scenery, with lots of options. It would be the trip you are dreaming of.

Mt. Rainier will be too snowed in in June.

I just tried this, and I think it will work for you to identify where you MIGHT be able to go and use Marriott points. Go into the marriott website. Input your dates and the state, number of people, and the brands you're interested in (I used only Marriott, JW Marriott and Renaissance). Type in your rewards number and check the box that says you want to use points for your stay. It'll give you a list of all available hotels, some of which will be of no interest to you (for example, the Bakersfield, CA Marriott, but some of which might, for example, the Laguna Hills Marriott or the Coronado Marriott).

Sgny, you should come here to Monterey! We've got a great Marriott downtown with views of Monterey Bay. You don't have to walk for miles and miles...unless you want to. The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, which is a block away from the Marriott, runs along Monterey Bay for 18 miles, and boy, does it ever get tempting to walk the whole thing!

The Marriott is centrally located; there's a number of breakfast, lunch and dinner places within a couple of blocks. Monterey also has barely any traffic, so driving is easy.

From the hotel it is only an hour drive to the heart of Big Sur - and the drive is one of the top scenic drives in the world. There's redwoods, waterfalls, and amazing sea cliffs. That's not the only scenic spot, either. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is called "The Greatest Meeting of Land and Sea in the World," and there's tons of other gorgeous coastal and inland parks. (And, of course, 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach.) See here: http://www.seemonterey.com/tourist-a...rey-california

Three area spas (Post Ranch Inn and Ventana in Big Sur and Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley) were rated as some of the top spas in the U.S. in this month's Conde Nast Traveler.

It is never ever hot here in June; in fact, I'd strongly suggest you bring a sweater.

One warning: the U.S. Open will take place here from June 14-20, and it will be very difficult to get a room that week. But we're beautiful the rest of June, too!

Full disclosure: I work for the local visitors bureau - but I came to work here because I fell in love with the area! I have lived all over the United States (Boston, Atlanta, DC, NY, LA), and I've never lived anywhere this beautiful. I used to travel all the time, but now I've found a place that I never want to leave.

And just to prove it's not All About Monterey, I'd also recommend the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Port Townsend is gorgeous and very scenic, with beautiful coastline and breathtaking mountains in the distance. (It's *almost* as beautiful as Monterey, but not quite. ;-) ) It's also very laid back. I don't know anything about their spas, unfortunately. You could even take a day in Seattle from there - just drive down to Bainbridge, take the ferry over and you're in downtown Seattle. Seattle's public transit system is so good you don't need a car.

My first thought was Seattle and the San Juan Islands, but there'd be no Marriott in the San Juans. Maybe one is in Seattle?

I live in Napa - definitely beautiful scenery, relaxed, lots of fabulous restaurants and many spas. And there is a Marriott's here.

Good luck with planning!

There is a Marriott hotel in Seattle on Westlake Avenue, near Lake Union.

Check out Coeur d'Alene Idaho. You would be right on a lake and the scenery is beautiful.

Also, Portland Oregon. You could drive to the coast for the day. There are wineries if you like wine. Go to Multnomah Falls up the Columbia Gorge.

There is a Marriott hotel in Seattle on Westlake Avenue, near Lake Union.

There are two Marriott properties near Lake Union in Seattle (fresh water, in the middle of the city.) One's a Courtyard, the other is a Residence Inn.

The third Marriott in Seattle might get closer to your sweet spot - it's on the central waterfront near one of the cruise terminals, a short walk or (free) bus ride to the State ferry dock from which you can take a ferry to one of the islands in Puget Sound or to the Kitsap/Olympic Peninsulas. Or, walk a block to an elevator that takes you up to the Pike Place Market. Or walk 1/2 a mile the other way to the (passenger-only) ferry to the San Juan Islands and/or Victoria BC. From most of the rooms you can see the Olympic mountains, silhouetted as sunset.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...tt-waterfront/

A little fancier probably, but the same idea - the Marriott Pinnacle in downtown Vancouver. Great city, great views from the rooms, and you can get out into the mountains badda bing - Whistler is a couple of hours, for instance, or the marvelous Sunshine Coast, or hop a float plane at Canada Place (2 or 3 blocks and you can fly to some island for an overnight...) http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...owntown-hotel/

Vancouver and Seattle are way easier to get to than Banff - nonstop flights from NYC. If you have AA points, splurge on Cathay Pacific's business class from JFK to Vancouver if you go that route.

Suggest Residence Inn part of Marriott on Lake Union (Eastlake), Seattle WA.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...wn-lake-union/

Ask for a lakefront room balcony so you can watch the float planes take off & land to San Juans..you might even want to take one for a day trip to Victoria, VAncouver IS Canada, weather permitting (bring passports). You are surronded by scenery, big water, mountaind fresh air and forrest everywhere.
http://www.kenmoreair.com/

No spa but I bet the Seattle Fodorites could come up w/one.

Easy to get too..
Fly into Seattle, p/u rental car.
Then drive to Pike Place MArket. Buy coffee at the ist Starbucks, stroll the market, p/u fresh salmon fillets, wine, vegetables fruit, cheese and take back to Res Inn to make your own salmon dinner..Res Inn has a reg size refridgerator and stove...p/u picnic items.
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/frameset.asp?flash=false

Drive to Mt Rainer 1 day, drive to Bainbrdge Is another day(on the ferry, if clear you will see snow topped Mountains everywhere) visit Olympic Penninsula... Sequim has a fabulous lighthous at the end of a long spit of Juan De Fuca & altho a tiny town , are known for the Dungenous crab, lavender farms and some wineries.
http://www.visitrainier.com/pg/home/...t-Rainier-area

http://www.olympicpeninsula.org/dest...visitor-bureau

http://www.visitsun.com/

no Oregon? You could have it all.

Vancouver, BC. Mountains just a few miles out with panoramic views of the sea and rivers, islands. Excellent public transporation, to the ferries to take you to Victoria which is a little bit of England, has a not-to-be-missed Natural History Museum and Buchart Gardens, which is one of the best public gardens anywhere. The rhododendrons will be in hi bloom in June. Day trips to Whistler if you want to see rock climbers at Squamish, waterfalls, glaciers, ride a rip line. Or to Harrison Hot Springs for a spa treat. Fantastic foods and restaurants. There are Marriotts in Vancouver and Victoria.