San Francisco is an iconic city( and the perfect place to start your road trip adventure). There are plenty of non-negotiable sights to see: the Golden Gate Bridge, the twists and turns of Lombard Street, the famous sea lions of Pier 39 and the vintage cable cars that scurry up and down the hills. But, truth be told, you could check all these off in a half-day— opt to spend a few days here so your family can really dig into the charm of the city with leisurely visits to Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz Island and the California Academy of Sciences. Keep up your energy between points of interest with a quick sundae pitstop at Ghirardelli Square.
Compared to San Francisco, the pace of life in Portland is quieter— much of its charm lies in the many parks, microbreweries and art scenes. There are countless ways to make a day here: You could enjoy a bookstore-crawl, stopping at cute cafes, coffee shops and food carts along the way. You could get lost in the scents and colors of the Portland Rose Garden, or soak in the moss-covered vegetation throughout Forest Park. Go treasure-hunting at any of the many antique stores or challenge the family to some pinball at Ground Kontrol Arcade.
Cradled by water, mountains and evergreen forests, Seattle is the perfect ending to your Northwest road trip. Seattle Center contains scores of can’ t-miss moments— the Space Needle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Museum of Pop Culture, to name just a few— but don’ t lose sight of the lessprominent gems the city harbors. Forage the makings for the perfect picnic at Pike Place Market, then head over to Gas Works Park for a leisurely lunch( and maybe some kite flying). Check out the Seattle Aquarium to gaze in wonder at over 10,000 marine creatures, or maybe head over to Constellation Park for a hands-on marine biology lesson with ample tidepooling.
Can’ t-Miss Detour: REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
Redwood National Park, an ancient preserve of the world’ s tallest trees, sits roughly halfway between San Francisco and Portland. This is a must-see sight; the wonder that will spread across your kids’ faces when they gaze up at these jolly green giants is more than worth a few additional hours on the road.
FAMILY VACATIONS MADE EASY · 69