The Perfect Family Trip: West Coast Edition
We're back! If anyone has followed our other "Perfect Family Trip" installments, you will know that although we don't have years of full timing under our belts, we have done 5 other major summer road trips. NONE quite as epic as this one may be!!! But we need your HELP!
Background on how this trip developed.
First, we have a new to us Class A motorhome, all other trips were done with a truck and travel trailer. We never anticipated traveling as much as we have, and I believe/hope the advantages of a Class A will be appreciated.
Second, We have a 10 day Alaskan cruise leaving out of Vancouver, BC in the middle of our vacation window.
It would be epic enough to fly out to Vancouver and enjoy the cruise. However, we would like to tie our summer road trip into the cruise! Our schedule allows for 26 days before the cruise, 10 days on the cruise, and 20 days after the cruise. That uses up the entire window without wiggle room on either side.
My question to you before getting into the details is... Should we push or should we cut back?
I'm attaching a link to a very preliminary "Biggest Loop" option. I stumbled into RVparky.com and it seems like a VERY helpful tool.
https://www.rvparky.com/trip/6086298095321088
I know it will short change some attractions. I know there are 10 of 50 are 500 mile days. There is no rest built in, unless you count the cruise. I feel compelled to stuff the itinerary because the Pacific Northwest is such a drive that we will not go again with our kids.
Funny thing about cutting the loop smaller, is that it doesn't change total mileage all that much. Straight to Vancouver and back saves only a thousand miles at best. Plus, if we cut the loop too short, I have to start questioning the value in spending 3k in fuel and 10 days crossing the country.
First change I could see would be to cut out California and start on the Oregon Coast. It doesn't save much in miles, but it would allow to add days into attractions in the upper portion.
Since we have to get passports anyway and the Canadian Parks are relatively close, I really, really don't want to cut those.
I see many comment about running the kids ragged and bored. We have a real good handle on our boys opinion of this. They have already done 30k miles and over 250 days of Summer RV road trips with us and not once have they complained or become irritable. It's not one of our concerns.
Thanks for ANY input. Once we come to terms with the scope of the loop, we can dig in deeper to the attractions and length of stay at each. Got to get reservations started very soon!
Rolling Ragu
Background on how this trip developed.
First, we have a new to us Class A motorhome, all other trips were done with a truck and travel trailer. We never anticipated traveling as much as we have, and I believe/hope the advantages of a Class A will be appreciated.
Second, We have a 10 day Alaskan cruise leaving out of Vancouver, BC in the middle of our vacation window.
It would be epic enough to fly out to Vancouver and enjoy the cruise. However, we would like to tie our summer road trip into the cruise! Our schedule allows for 26 days before the cruise, 10 days on the cruise, and 20 days after the cruise. That uses up the entire window without wiggle room on either side.
My question to you before getting into the details is... Should we push or should we cut back?
I'm attaching a link to a very preliminary "Biggest Loop" option. I stumbled into RVparky.com and it seems like a VERY helpful tool.
https://www.rvparky.com/trip/6086298095321088
I know it will short change some attractions. I know there are 10 of 50 are 500 mile days. There is no rest built in, unless you count the cruise. I feel compelled to stuff the itinerary because the Pacific Northwest is such a drive that we will not go again with our kids.
Funny thing about cutting the loop smaller, is that it doesn't change total mileage all that much. Straight to Vancouver and back saves only a thousand miles at best. Plus, if we cut the loop too short, I have to start questioning the value in spending 3k in fuel and 10 days crossing the country.
First change I could see would be to cut out California and start on the Oregon Coast. It doesn't save much in miles, but it would allow to add days into attractions in the upper portion.
Since we have to get passports anyway and the Canadian Parks are relatively close, I really, really don't want to cut those.
I see many comment about running the kids ragged and bored. We have a real good handle on our boys opinion of this. They have already done 30k miles and over 250 days of Summer RV road trips with us and not once have they complained or become irritable. It's not one of our concerns.
Thanks for ANY input. Once we come to terms with the scope of the loop, we can dig in deeper to the attractions and length of stay at each. Got to get reservations started very soon!
Rolling Ragu
