1 week summer trip

[Anonymous]

We are going to have one week this summer between sports seasons to take a summer vacation and we're trying to decide what will work best. It's really just the 7 days, so I'm trying to decide which will feel like we'll have time to do what we want. For the ones with significant travel, it's really just 5 days of sightseeing.

Would you do:
Seattle and visit a national park nearby?
San Diego and area, maybe a day in Joshua Tree?
Puerto Rico? How's the weather in early August?
London?

Family of four with teen boys. Mainly asking because we're used to taking longer vacations, like 9-14 days, so I'm having a hard time deciding what will work best for 7 days. Very open to other ideas. We're just brainstorming. We've done vacations in Maine, Bermuda, Norway, NYC, Bethany Beach, and have loved them all.

[Anonymous]

Seattle and highlights of Olympic National Park is very doable in a week. We did this in July in 9 days, but were visiting family and also tacked on Mt St Helens. It was a wonderful break from DC weather. You could do 2 days (plus arrival afternoon) in Seattle and then take the ferry over to ONP for 3 days (or vice versa). Or you could go to Mt Rainier for 2 days.

Joshua Tree is amazing, but will be VERY hot in August. Average high is 99 and there's no shade.

Flying to London in August is pricy, so I'd personally want to wait until I could spend more time there. Would also depend how your family deals with jet lag (my kids have a rough time adjusting which would mean we'd be leaving just as they got used to it.)

[Anonymous]

I'd go somewhere in New England. New Hampshire maybe, and do lake sports. I wouldn't go to London or Joshua Tree. Too hot.

Seattle would be fine.

[Anonymous]

I'd go to San Diego, do the zoo, see a Padres game, go to the beach, skip Joshua Tree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seattle and highlights of Olympic National Park is very doable in a week. We did this in July in 9 days, but were visiting family and also tacked on Mt St Helens. It was a wonderful break from DC weather. You could do 2 days (plus arrival afternoon) in Seattle and then take the ferry over to ONP for 3 days (or vice versa). Or you could go to Mt Rainier for 2 days.

Joshua Tree is amazing, but will be VERY hot in August. Average high is 99 and there's no shade.

Flying to London in August is pricy, so I'd personally want to wait until I could spend more time there. Would also depend how your family deals with jet lag (my kids have a rough time adjusting which would mean we'd be leaving just as they got used to it.)

Could also go to Seattle and San Juan Islands, did that a couple of years ago.and loved it.

[Anonymous]

Montreal and Quebec City
San Francisco
Ireland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montreal and Quebec City
San Francisco
Ireland

OP here, I like the Montreal/Quebec City idea. It would be nice to not change time zones.

Seattle is sounding fun too.

And thanks for the reminder that Joshua Tree is not a good idea in August.

[Anonymous]

Based on your list, I’d do Seattle or San Diego. But to be honest, if your summer is going to be that packed and busy, I’d pick a simpler trip with some chill out time since won’t everyone be worn out. I’d do the beach instead.

[Anonymous]

Olympic is my favorite national park but it is huge with a lot of driving, especially if you don't stay inside the park (and you are unlikely to be able to get reservations for park lodging at this point). and you need to get to some locations early to avoid long lines (check on whether you will need to make reservations to enter the park). With just one week and a busy summer, I might pick a more low-key option.

[Anonymous]

I did a week in Olympic National park and then a few days in Seattle. Seattle was my least favorite part of the trip.

[Anonymous]

I would consider Nova Scotia. Do-able if you target parts and not try to see all.