Advice/Help please

Hi All

I am looking for a bit of advice/help. We are a family of four from the South Island of New Zealand in the dream/and find out phase of a trip to the USA in mid 2011. Yes I know this is a long way out but the last trip took us two years to save for and 18mths of planning. We have two kids who at that stage will be 15 and 13 (both boys). We had a wonderful trip last year (2008) that took in the California coast from LA – Monterey, Sequoia and Yosemite, Owen Valley, Grand Canyon, Zion %26amp; Bryce Canyon, Page including Antelope Canyon, Route 12 (Utah), Capitol Reef, Goblin State Park, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Arches and Canyonlands and finally up through to the Rocky Mountains.

As you can see from that itinerary we like the open spaces, lots of wildlife (which disappointingly we did not see a huge amount of last year), unusual geological formations and great scenery – husband is into photography in a big way. We are not keen on crowds or cities. We are not the sort that will tramp (hike) for three hours to get to a place but will happily ‘walk’ for about an hour or so if it is something special. We love the national and state parks and last year we did six weeks of our seven week trip in a 28ft RV. We would be happy to do this again – but this time we would only have a maximum of 4 weeks for the RV bit. One of the big things we learnt last year is not to load up our days to much – so we would be looking at travelling less distance also.

I have looked at several areas around the USA including the New England area, and the ‘South’ but keep coming back to the Pacific Norwest. What I want to know from the Forum is what makes this area special and what would be the “MUST SEE” places. I will be posting this in the Oregon, Washington State and British Colombia forums as those are the three areas I am interested in. I have to sell this to the family (esp. the hubby) as it is a long way to go for a ‘holiday’ and it has to be different to anything we will see here in New Zealand.

Thanks in advance.

Yours

Kiwi (Mum for the 4kiwitravelers)

Advice/Help please

Here are a few must see in the Pacific Northwest

Oregon:

The Oregon Coast - best from north to south

The Oregon coast dunes

Crater Lake

The Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood Loop

Newberry Crater and the Bend area

Washington:

Mt. St. Helens

Mt. Rainier National Park

Olympic National Park

North Cascades National Park

Seattle (Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Project, Pike Street Market)

San Juan Islands

British Columbia:

Victoria (Burchart Gardens, BC Museum)

Vancouver Island - many options

City of Vancouver - Capiliano Canyon Suspension Bridge

Here are websites:

www.experiencewa.com

www.traveloregon.com

www.hellobc.com

Advice/Help please

Hi Kitters - thanks for that - that is exactly the sort of information I am looking for.

regards

Kiwi

Some for the coast:

http://www.oregoncoasttravel.net/

http://www.spectacularoregon.com/

http://www.nwcoast.com/lighthouses/oregon.asp

beachconnection.net/news/52507539oregon_coas…

Hi Half-Brit

Thanks for the links - will add them to my list for research.

regards

Kiwi

Hi Kiwi!

I think you are making an excellent decision to spend time in the Pacific Northwest, it is the most beautiful part of the US in my opinion!

My spouse and I got to enjoy your wonderful Country last year. We spent a couple days in Christchurch and are in love with your city! We would love to plan a trip again to New Zealand, as most of our time was spent on the North Island, and not the South.

Enjoy your trip to the US and you will have an enjoyable time wherever you decide to go!

Hi Funtotravel

Good to hear from you - glad you liked it here %26#39;downunder%26#39;. I am sure you will appreciate as one who has come a long way to see a place how important it is to get it right - you only get one chance and as I am trying to accomodate 4 different people it is a bit of a juggle.

Yes you will have to come back and see more of the South Island - it is the best one - but then I am biased as I was born here!

regards

Kiwi