Could you do Seattle for a few days and then a multi-day trip to the san juan islands plus a day trip or too to Mt Rainer or North Cascades NP? That does not seem like too much to plan in advance. For Seattle, I highly recommend the Embassy Suites -- it is near the ballpark, walkable to lots of stuff and has a nice rooftop pool and has laundry.

Anonymous wrote:I think you should just stay with your Seattle idea and other than maybe the hotel and car, have the kids plan the rest. You can probably wing most of it. Maybe do o the ferry to the islands instead of the park. Make it a leisurely trip.

Daytrip to Mt. St. Helens
Night in the San Juan Islands with whale watching or kayaking
Museum of Flight
Boeing Factory Tour
Food Tour - Pike Place Market
Can't remember your kids' ages - Museum of Popular Culture
Tidepooling
like history? Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit

+1 for Curacao

Could also consider Puerto Rico

Since you want a low key Caribbean vacation, Aruba or Curacao would be perfect, as they're outside the hurricane belt. For Curacao, all you have to book ahead is a hotel and a rental car. There are many small peaceful beaches to explore and snorkeling from the beach is wonderful. Food is top notch too.

I think you should just stay with your Seattle idea and other than maybe the hotel and car, have the kids plan the rest. You can probably wing most of it. Maybe do o the ferry to the islands instead of the park. Make it a leisurely trip.

Go to San Francisco for 5 days and then head over to South Lake Tahoe for 5 days.

SF
- Rent bikes and head over the bridge and back with a stop at Ghiradelli Sq for sundaes at the end
- Visit Alcatrez (do the late afternoon to evening tour)
- Watch the sea lions and street performers on the pier
- Wander around Chinatown, Little Italy, etc.
- Go around the city with Dylan's Tours
- Go see the street murals
- Go to Golden Gate Park (Science Center, gardens, music, windmills)
- Go see a comedian or music performance

Tahoe
- Hiking
- Paddleboarding
- Mountain biking
- Ziplining
- Summer activities at the ski resort
- Magic show

Anonymous wrote:Chicago with a side trip to Green Bay with some Great Lake views?

We are also hedging our bets and I'm a big worried about where Canadian wildfire smoke will hit. The year we went to Seattle, it was very bad, but it depends on weather patterns the week of your vacation.

Grandparents are in Milwaukee so we’ve done this trip and up to Door County many times

Noted re wildfires.

Chicago with a side trip to Green Bay with some Great Lake views?

We are also hedging our bets and I'm a big worried about where Canadian wildfire smoke will hit. The year we went to Seattle, it was very bad, but it depends on weather patterns the week of your vacation.

Aruba or Curacao.

Alaskan cruise

San Diego?

I think we would love a low key Caribbean beach vacation - maybe at an all inclusive but not required. But August? Hurricane season?

Do you want a beach or city vacation?

Vancouver has both. Quebec is always lovely.

Staying in the US? Budget?

I always have rolled my eyes at people who post looking for vacation/travel ideas because I have a long list of places I'd like to go. But, I'm stumped for this August. We've been doing a lot of outdoor adventure related trips as a family (DH, me, DS13, DS15) and we generally love them - Maine last summer, skiing in CO this past spring, Southern Utah National Parks the spring before) - but one kid has asked for something different. I'm having trouble thinking of a city that I'm excited to go to in August with the kids. I booked flights on miles to Seattle thinking we could spend some time in Seattle and some time in Olympic National Park - but the planning logistics have me exhausted. Both DH and I are super busy at work and are dealing with caregiving for elderly parents.

Long story short - where should my family go for 7-10 days this August that requires relatively little planning on our part?