We lived near Seattle growing up. We took a car trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teuton. Have great memories of that trip!

Road trips in New Zealand are awesome. The country is only the size of Colorado, but is very geographically diverse. On the South Island, it's very easy to find a free place to park a camper van for the night.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone hear report on NPR on National Parks tonight? Kids don't have long car trips. As a result, they lack an understanding of the landscape and history. I remember cross country camping trips. Didn't realize I was part of a declining experience. But then, my kids have flown to CA numerous times, but never driven cross country. Add that to my list of parenting fails. Really bothers me they don't want to go. Think we missed the age window now.

Would like to hear or read that report. Can't find it -- was it on NPR or a another public station show?

Anyone hear report on NPR on National Parks tonight? Kids don't have long car trips. As a result, they lack an understanding of the landscape and history. I remember cross country camping trips. Didn't realize I was part of a declining experience. But then, my kids have flown to CA numerous times, but never driven cross country. Add that to my list of parenting fails. Really bothers me they don't want to go. Think we missed the age window now.

We've done some great trips out west wherein we flew in but then drove hundreds of miles. Among the best: Alaska-- including Denali, McCarthy, Fairbanks, etc. and Utah/AZ-- all of Utah's national parks plus the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Locally-- This was just a long weekend, but so varied and fun: DC to Fort Frederick State Park, then Cumberland (C & O Canal visitor center, watch steam trains), then camping at Ohiopyle State Park (waterfalls! Natural water slides! Fossils!). Then Fort Necessity and a couple of scenic overlooks on the way home.

From the DC area? Loop up into Boston, through New Hampshire, a night in Montreal, camping in Canada (Algonquin Park), back through Niagara Falls and home.

From other parts of the country? Rented an RV in Alaska and put 3000 miles it. HIGHLY recommended.

I only remember one really good car trip....I have taken many, and most were horrible...Parents fighting...kids fighting....etc.


One really good one, though...as an adult, my then GF and I flew to Denver and spent two weeks going from park to park in the Rockies...Rocky Mountain, Teton, Yellowstone, and Dinosaur National Monument....

Ireland. It is a beautiful country.

We did an RV trip from Baltimore to Niagara Falls with stops in Cooperstown, Woodstock, and Corning. It was great.

Several years later, we flew to California, rented a Seabring convertible, and drove the PCH from San Fransisco to San Diego, with long stops in San Luis Obispo (for Hearst Castle) and Los Angeles.

Anonymous wrote:My family drove an RV out west one summer for three weeks when I was in hs. We visited a bunch of national parks- Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon and more. We also stopped in Denver and Las Vegas. It was my first time out west and it was amazing.

We did a similar itinerary when I was a teenager. Great trip. So much geographic diversity along the way.

My family drove an RV out west one summer for three weeks when I was in hs. We visited a bunch of national parks- Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon and more. We also stopped in Denver and Las Vegas. It was my first time out west and it was amazing.

Up to Quebec and Montreal with stops in Boston and a drive through Vermont. Wish we had stayed in Vermont! The parks were beautiful there.

East coast to Disneyland. (The one in California.)
We learned so much about this great big land, and how big it is. I don't remember how long we were gone but it seemed like forever.

Isn't Niagara way out of the way?

I will never forget my family taking a driving trip from Delaware to Prince Edward Island Canada (before there was a bridge across to the island). The scenery was beautiful, the island so idyllic, and the hours in the car just terrible. We made stops at Niagara and Cooperstown New York. Among other spots. It would have been easier to fly, but I do think the car made it memorable. I had a strong understanding of how far north we went. And to this day this trip still stands out as one of the best. Any car trips you highly recommend?