Just home from 14 days on the road with my family. What an incredible experience. I love visiting new places and sharing the beauty of this country with my children. Nothing makes me happier than inspiring them to spend more time exploring our world. We visited 3 states on this trip with over 2,200 miles clocked on the road, many more on the water and through trails. The only thing I’d change about the trip is time, I wish we could have taken another week to deepen our love for the Pacific Northwest.
I’ll write more about a few of the highlights, but I wanted to share our itinerary with you in case you are thinking about a family road trip yourselves. And by the way, if you haven’t been to a National Park lately, go. Go now. I haven’t seen one I wasn’t blown away by, ever!
Day one – Lake Tahoe to Lassen National Park, CA
Day two – Klamath Falls to Mt. Hood via Crater Lake, OR
Day three – Mt. Hood to Seattle via Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls
Day four + five – Seattle, WA
Day five-six-seven-eight – Whidbey Island, WA
Day eight-nine-ten – San Juan Island, WA
Day ten-eleven-twelve – Olympic National Park
Day twelve-thirteen-fourteen – Portland, OR
Day fourteen – Home
I’ll be back soon with more information on where we stayed, what worked (and what didn’t) trails we hiked, places we ate and as many helpful tips for taking a big road trip with 3 kids as I can offer. Just as soon as I finish sorting through all the photos. I easily took twice as many photos as miles we travelled! And surprising most were on my DSLR which hasn’t happened while traveling in a while. Happy trails.
My husband and I visited the PNW last week and had such a great trip. We’d been to Washington on a previous trip so this time we explored Oregon- mainly the coast. We did stop to check out some of the falls in the Columbia River Gorge.
How fun Tonya, we may have crossed on the highway!
We are trying to organize our own Pacific Northwest road trip! Your itinerary already sounds like something I would have didn’t days on,.. Your next posts will be invaluable to me! We are thinking about 14+ days and maybe flying in a little closer like start in Seattle -end in Portland or round trip from Portland,…Looking forward to hearing all the details.
Good idea! Cutting out the drive from CA would have freed up a few more days in OR and WA for us.
I have a general plan for us now-we start in Portland,.. Travel the coast up to Olympic Natl Park, then on to Whidby and San Juan Islands. Then circle around the cascade loop to lake chelan and fly home from Seattle.
17 days.
We have mapped out 5 days in Olympic and only 4 in the islands. So I am most interested in your experiences there. Where you stayed,.. Highlights and things to avoid.
Of course anything you share is much appreciated. My girls are adventurous 11 & 14 year olds experienced natl park kids—into nature. (Thank you!)
We loved Lake Quinault Lodge, many gorgeous hikes nearby and of course coastal beaches. We enjoyed our time in the canvas tents at Lakedale Resort and would have loved more time to explore Lopez and Orcas Island. Check out Snug Harbor on San Juan as well. Deception pass is beautiful with hikes to the beaches. Miss it all.
We just went to Seattle last May, and that is a gorgeous place to go hiking. When comparing it to Southern California, I would much rather live up in Seattle because I love that gloomy, chilly weather.
Thank you!
So I was thinking 2 nights at quinalt lodge (rainforest can tour and a hike or two) then on to one night at kalaloch (?) exploring beaches and go to Hoh, then on to 2 nights up by Crescent Lake? (If I can find a good place at this late date.)
Any “don’t miss” experiences to share for the northern end of ONP?
Will get to islands next,…
Stay at Crescent Lake lodge!