Non-Beach US Summer Vacation Ideas - Kids 10, 8, and 7
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Anonymous
Don't remember. I checked out more books than I actually read. And I didn't read a full book - more like the relevant sections. I read when my kids are at their activities (karate, basketball, etc.) and I'm waiting for them. Or we'll read in bed together (They read their books, I read my book, so it's like we're reading "together" just not the same book/words.) The books gave me ideas, which I ran by TripAdvisor at lunch (during work) and then DCUM Travel Discussion forum. Going to the Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives website for ideas was quick. I like planning out restaurants if I know we'll be in a certain location and there's something "not to be missed." All the internet stuff can be done in bits and pieces - lunch hour over several days (even weeks), etc. Actually meals are the last thing I plan. Locations (for a multi-city trip) and hotels are first. One thing I learned last year is there are a TON of DCUM people who have lived in Northern CA. You could probably get them to plan out an itinerary for you. 
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Anonymous
| We did the Alaskan cruise from Vancouver and it was a great time. Vancouver is awesome for kids also. I'd also recommend Lake Tahoe. In the summer the weather is perfect, and there's tons of hiking and biking and great scenery. We've also enjoyed Maine. |
Anonymous
Would you mind sharing which cruise company you used? Did you do a round trip or one-way? |
Anonymous
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We have done:
1. Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons Wonderful! Actually have done this one twice and am ready to do it again. 2. Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Santa Fe 3. Yosemite, Bass Lake, Sequoias 4. Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise Glacier 5. Adirondacks, multiple times. Lake George and Lake Placid Gorgeous. 6. Lake Champlain and Vermont |
Anonymous
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oh, and I forgot something else, because I haven't done it yet but can't wait….
Vancouver, British Columbia (BC) to Calgary, Alberta (AB). You hit Banff, Lake Louise…you can hit Jasper, too…the Icefields… You can drive it, or there is a train called The Rocky Mountaineer…..with dome cars….AWESOME! I have done it as a teen…so, so beautiful… and I'm the PP who talked about Zion and Bryce and yes, although I was thinking about hot temperatures when discussing Grand Canyon, I think I was too wrapped up in memories to recall that Zion (and possibly Bryce) might be too hot also in the summer, so good catch to another PP. Check out the temps for anywhere you go. For sure, yellowstone/grand teton/glacier NPs won't be too hot…neither will this Vancouver-Calagry road trip… Oh btw Calgary is FAMOUS for its annual stampede. Don't know when that is (quick goodle search will tell you), but you could fold that in as well. Or do Calgary and then toddle down south to Glacier or Yellowstone... |
Anonymous
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I'm a new Pacific NW poster. HIGHLY recommend!! I lived in Seattle for several years and have traveled throughout the Washington and Oregon area. Spectacular scenery and Seattle and Portland are really fun cities. You really have everything: ocean, lakes, mountains, islands, wine country, great microbrews and wonderful food!
I always tell people that August and September are the best times to visit - you are pretty much guaranteed great, sunny weather. It's usually really nice in July too, but Ive also seen 50 degree, rainy weather in July in Seattle. |
Anonymous
| Fly to burlington vt and rent a house near lake Champlain for a few nights. The area in and around (Stowe and Burlington itself). Then drive the two hrs up to Montreal. So MUCH FUN. LOTS to do with kids there. |
Anonymous
| PP on the Alaskan cruise here. We used Norwegian Cruise Lines, which we liked. I hear Royal Caribbean is good too. I'd avoid Holland, they're not very kid-friends, and I didn't get the sense that Celebrity was either, although it's nice. Carnival is too mass market (at least for me). We went round trip and then spend a few days in Vancouver afterwards. Wish we had spent more time in Vancouver; we love the Pacific Northwest. Also Seattle and Portland. |
Anonymous
OP finally back. Life intervened but I am starting to get more serious about planning this trip. We are thinking between 14 and 18 nights in California, with the following rough itinerary: 1. Fly into San Francisco and stay there for 2 or 3 nights. 2. Drive to Yosemite and stay for 2 nights. 3. Hit Kings Canyon on the way to Sequoia. Stay in Sequoia for 1 or 2 nights. 4. Hit Lake Isabella on the way to Death Valley. Stay in Death Valley for 2 nights. (side note: Can anybody comment on whether Furnace Creek Inn is worth the expense?) 5. Hit Mojave National Preserve on the way to Palm Springs. Spend 1 night in Palm Springs and visit Joshua Tree. 6. Los Angeles for 3 or 4 nights. 7. Ventura for 1 night. Visit Channel Islands. 8. Monterey or Carmel for 1 night. 9. Back to San Francisco for 1 or 2 nights. Fly home. Would love feedback. I have done some preliminary internet searches for hotels within the parks and it looks as though things are still available. Am hoping to book sometime in the next week. |
Anonymous
| OP here with a bump. Any feedback is welcome. |
Anonymous
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what would you do in LA? To me, LA is pretty "meh". San Diego is so much better, but I know that's additional driving time. You could spend a week in San Diego and not do everything.
Once you return to SF, I don't know if you really need 2 nights there, but it might depend on your flight time the next day. If you do 2 nights in Monterey and have an afternoon flight from SFO, you have plenty of time to get back to the airport. I'd vote for more time in Monterey than the second stint in SF. I'd do 3 nights in Yosemite. It's really incredible there. And HUGE. In fact, I'd make your first SF leg 3 nights (not "2 or 3"), then Yosemite for 3. And drop the last SF leg. Go to SFO straight from Monterey. There is a 3 pm (ish) flight from SFO to IAD on Virgin. (Last year, we went from Big Sur to SFO, no problem, got there plenty of time for the 3 pm flight.) |
Anonymous
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Near Big Sur: Andrew Molera State Park (meadow, eucalptus Monarch butterfly grove if there are still around that time of year, bluff and long wild beach), Pfieffer Beach State Park (natural bridges, small ravine type beach with nice scenery) and for redwoods Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park all good places to get out and hike for an hour or two. JPB has a lodge that might be cheaper than other Monterey area hotels, in a redwood forest.
The aquarium in Monterey is justly famous. Also just driving around there in the area of Pebble Beach and 17-Mile Drive. The whole drive between Morro Bay and Half Moon Bay is amazeballs. I am not a big fan of LA. Lots of people love it, and feel like they have to see the beach and Hollywood landmarks, but it's smoggy and trafficky and so...many..wannabes. Ugh. |
Anonymous
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In Yosemite - check out Tenaya Lake/Tuolomne Meadows as well as the Mariposa sequoia grove. If you do that you could skip Sequoia National Park, but if you go, make sure to hike to the top of Morro Rock, and walk the Crescent Trail to Tharp's Log. Unfortunately the LA smog is quite evident.
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Anonymous
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In Big Sur:
Definitely check out Pfieffer State Beach. I think this is the one 15:58 recommended. Our 9-year-old even commented on the beauty there. (Made me happy to hear!) http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lpnf/recarea/?recid=10918 |
Anonymous
| I'd skip Death Valley in the summer. It's pretty far away from everything and very hot! |