Even though I had a difficult time placing these vacation spots in any particular favorite order, there was no doubt Yosemite would be number one. It really is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Recommended things to do and see:
Best Campground: Upper and Lower Pine Campgrounds. Always very well maintained and clean. Level sites and gorgeous views, right along the Merced River. Each site has its own bear box for food storage.
Hiking: Mirror Lake, Bridal Falls, Yosemite Falls. All easy and accessible hikes.
Leave the car behind. Yosemite has a great shuttle service that drops you off at many trailheads and no worries about parking, which is always a premium in Yosemite.
More Adventurous Hike: I recommend driving to Glacier Peak and taking the eight-mile hike to the valley floor. The hike is manageable, mostly downhill, but bring plenty of water, as there is none available on the trail. At one point, the trail splits and you can continue to hike up to Half Dome (when accessible). The trail spits again near Nevada Falls, and I suggest the Mist Trail, but expect to get wet in the spring. Not interested in hiking, Glacier Peak is still a must see. However, if not interested in an all-day hike, at least hike up the Mist Trail seeing Nevada and Vernal Falls.
If not camping, I suggest staying at Curry Village or House Keeping. Curry Village has a pool, showers, services, and Ranger Lead Evening Program. House Keeping has showers and laundry. Reservations need to be made months in advance for all sites in Yosemite. If looking for a less crowded campground, I advise Wawona Campground, which is nestled among the trees and the South Fork of the Merced River. Be sure and see the giant Sequoia trees at Mariposa Grove while there.
The best time to visit Yosemite is late spring/early summer. We usually visit sometime around Memorial Day Weekend when the falls are at their fullest, although the monoliths are beautiful year round.
2. Yellowstone (Wyoming)
Although I have been there many times, I have only seen a small fraction of this great park.
Things to see and do:
Old Faithful Geyser, Norris Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pot, Mud Volcano, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Falls and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Most of the hikes are easily accessible and on boardwalks or paved pathways, but still plenty of lengthy trails for those who enjoy longer hikes.
Best Campground: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Nestled in the trees, plenty of services available, has a nice newly remodeled visitor center, showers and laundry, too.
Honorable mention: If you have the time, I suggest heading south and visiting the Grand Tetons, the town of Jackson, and going white water rafting on the Snake River.
Mad River Boat Trips
Best Campground: Jenny Lake (first come, first serve and fills up fast)
3. Canadian Rookies (Alberta)
Things to see and do:
Enjoy mountain peaks, glaciers, ice fields, lakes, glacier feed rivers and streams, waterfalls, canyons, and abundant wildlife. Visit the four parks; Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay. I highly recommend in Banff to take a dip the pool at Upper Hot Springs, ride the Sulphur Mountain gondola, or enjoy lunch at Lake Louise, and in Jasper, take the Terra Bus to the Athabasca Glacier or drive the Ice Fields Parkway.
Best Campground: Tunnel Mountain Campgrounds
I have to admit I was eight months pregnant the last time I was in Banff, so I did not do any hiking, but there are plenty of trails in and around all four parks.
4. Crater Lake/Oregon Caves (Oregon)
Things to see and do:
Crater Lake was formed after an ancient volcano, Mt. Mazama, collapsed onto it self and filled up with water. The lake is the deepest blue I have ever seen, and is the deepest fresh water lake in the United States. In the summer months usually after July 4th to Labor Day hike the Cleetwood Cove Trail for a boat tour around the lake. I suggest the longer tour with a stop at Wizard Island, a cinder cone volcano near the west end of the lake, hike to the top, and have lunch on the rim of a volcano. The hike to the lake and back to the rim road is pretty strenuous, although not much longer than a mile, but has several benches along the trail for rest breaks.
Another fun trek is hiking to The Watchman, an active forest fire lookout (manned by volunteers) which has one of the most amazing views of the park.
Best Campground: Mazama Campground in the park (reservations a must during the summer months). Outside the park I recommend Diamond Lake Campground.
After visiting Crater Lake, continue heading south, stopping at Oregon Caves National Monument. The National Park Service provides a 90-minute cave tour for a fee.
Honorable Mention: Redwood National Park. Located just south of the Oregon Caves, on Hwy 101 on the Californian coastline, where you’ll find a large old growth redwood forest and the world’s tallest trees.
5. Glacier National Park (Montana)
Glacier is Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks, alpine meadows and spectacular lakes.
Things to see and do:
Do not miss driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Weeping Wall is like nothing I have ever seen. Last time we visited, this road was under heavy construction and the park service advised all visitors to take advantage of the free shuttles. I also highly recommend visiting Logan Pass and Lake McDonald. With 700 miles of hiking trails there are a ton of hikes available from short day hikes to backpacking adventures.
Best Campground: St. Mary Campground (because it's the only campground I have stayed at, so can't compare it to the others).
Honorable mention: If you brought your passports, head on up to the Canadian border and visit Waterton Lakes National Park. I highly recommend seeing Cameron Falls and Red Rock Canyon.
6. Oregon Coast (Oregon)
Not much competes with the Oregon coast, from Astoria to Brookings and everything in between.
Things to do see and do:
Fort Clatsop—a replica of the fort the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery built for winter camp.
Tillamook—just like the Chamber of Commerce ad reads; “Welcome to the land of cheese, trees and ocean breeze.” Be sure and stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory, take a tour, sample cheese and of course have a bowl of Tillamook Ice Cream.
Devils Punch Bowl—an ocean carved bowl at Otter Crest.
Devils Churn—a narrow opening on the shoreline with waves crashing into the rock walls. Great hikes and tide pools.
Cannon Beach—Haystack rock and the needles.
Seaside—a popular resort town, with plenty of antique stores, shops, art galleries, and activities for both young and old.
Depoe Bay—boasts the world’s smallest harbor.
Oregon Dunes--the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America.
Best Campground: Beverly Beach. A popular campground near Newport, reservations are available and highly suggested.
7. Olympic National Park/Mt. Rainier (Washington)
Things to see and do:
Lake Quinault and the Quinault Rainforest—a temperate rainforest with Western Red Cedar, Spruce, and Hemlock. A good and accessible hike can be found at the south end of the lake.
Hoh Rainforest--Hall of Mosses is a short, popular trail near the visitor center and highly recommended.
Sol Duc Falls, Madison Falls, and Marymere Falls—all three are short, easy, round-trip hikes to beautiful waterfalls.
Hurricane Ridge—Breathtaking views of the Olympic mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca. Numerous trails and walks to enjoy here. Winter offers skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
For those Twilight fans, don’t forget to visit the small town of Forks along Highway 101.
Best Campgrounds (Olympic National Park): Kalaloch and Lake Crescent
Mt. Rainier is the tallest mountain in the Cascade Range. I recommend the Nisqually Entrance (open year round) and stopping at Longmire to visit the museum then onto Paradise. Paradise is famous for its glorious views and wildflower meadows. In the winter, we enjoy tubing there. Beyond Paradise is Mirror Lake, stop for a portrait of the lake reflecting the mountain. If visiting the east side of the mountain I recommend Ohanapecosh for a three mile round trip hike around Silver Falls and also Grove of the Patriarchs Loop (1.5 miles round trip). Travel further up the road (only accessible in the summer months) and be sure to visit Sunrise (highest peak reached by vehicle in the park). The views are breathtaking.
Best Campground: (Mt. Rainier) Ohanapecosh
8. Bryce Canyon/Zion (Utah)
Things to see and do:
I recommend sightseeing using the scenic drive, which provides access to 13 viewpoints over the amphitheaters.
Lots of hikes from easy to moderate to strenuous.
I thoroughly enjoyed a two-hour trail ride to the canyon floor and back up to the rim, winding through rock formations and hoodoos.
Best Campground: (Bryce) Only two campgrounds and they are both good sites; North Campground and Sunset Campground
Zion National Park is located southwest of Bryce. I recommend a shuttle ride on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive followed by hiking the Riverside Walk Trail.
9. Victoria (British Columbia)
Arrive to Victoria via the ferry from Port Angeles, Washington. I suggest leaving the car behind, because the wait time can be extremely long. Plenty of parking around the terminal, and most hotels and B&B’s are short walking distances from the Victoria terminal. I just love the old world charm of Victoria, hanging baskets, and love window-shopping (with an occasional purchase, of course).
Things to do and see:
Have afternoon tea at The Empress Hotel, charter a boat and go whale watching, take a tour bus to Butchart Gardens. If there on a Saturday evening in the summer, the park puts on a great firework show.
10. Columbia River Gorge (Oregon)
Things to do and see:
Drive the scenic Historical Columbia River Highway stopping at Larch Mountain, Multnomah Falls, Crown Point, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horsetail Falls. On a clear day, Larch Mountain will not disappoint with views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helens.
Continuing down I-84, cross the Sam Hill Memorial Bridge to the small town of Maryhill, Washington, and stop and see a replica of Stonehenge, a memorial to World War I soldiers and sailors.