Non UK Glacier NP/Lake Louise/Jasper NP/Crater Lake NP/Seattle/etc... - Help me choose locations

[Matt.]

I have a road trip coming up next month with the following stops:
- Mt Rainier NP
- Glacier NP
- Lake Louise/Banff NP
- Jasper NP
- Seattle
- Olympic NP
- Crater Lake NP
- Monterey/Carmel (maybe Pinnacles NP)


Can anyone help with location ideas for any of these places?


Thanks!

 

[julianhj]

My wife and I are planning the Lake Louise/Banff/Jasper section in a year or two, so I'd be very interested to hear any recommendations for those.

Of the rest, I've only visited Monterey and Carmel before - I can recommend travelling just slightly further south to Big Sur - it's beaches are amazing, Pfeiffer Beach and McWay waterfall in particular. Bixby Bridge is enroute, and very well-known. The fog coming in from the sea can be spectacular when viewed from above on the Pacific Coast Highway. Are you after accommodation recommendations too, or have you already booked that?

 

[Matt.]

Accommodation is all booked.
This isn't my first US trip so PCH is one i've done before.

My US trips:
1. Yellowstone NP > Grand Teton NP > SLC > Capitol Reef NP > Bryce Canyon NP > Zion NP > Death Valley NP > Mammoth Lakes > Yosemite NP > San Francisco > Carmel > PCH > Santa Barbara
2. Washington DC > Pittsburgh > Indianapolis > Chicago > Badlands NP > Rocky Mountain NP > Colorado Springs > Great Sand Dunes NP > Black Canyon NP > Ouray > Mesa Verde NP > Moab (Arches NP + Canyonlands NP) > Monument Valley > Page > Grand Canyon NP > Laguna Beach (Joshua Tree NP)

Then this one:
3. Seattle > Mt Rainier NP > Glacier NP > Banff NP (Lake Louise) > Jasper NP > Seattle > Olympic NP > Eugene > Crater Lake NP > Carmel (Pinnacles NP)


Each trip 4 weeks long. Each a lot of driving

 

[julianhj]

Wow, they are some epic trips. I've done a few of those locations a few times, mainly for the photography potential. Are you travelling with others? How have you arranged transport? I'd be keen on some of the one-way trips but the fees from the car hire firms seem very steep.

 

[Matt.]

I always go on my own as it seems the easiest way to do these kind of trips. I rent cars and drive everywhere which doesn't actually end up costing too much really. Mostly just a boring car for 90% of the trip and then something fun at the end (Challenger R/T and Corvette so far!).

I usually go and see sports too. Last time i did the Indy 500 then an NBA playoff game (same day as the 500!), an NHL playoff game, and baseball. This time i'm going to see the Ducks play college football.

It's amazing fun. I'd recommend it

 

[Lydnian]

Hi
Lake Louise/Banff NP - Maligne Lake, Lake Louise itself (photographed to hell but it's iconic! Just get away from the tourists who don't step far from the hotel), the old road between Banff and LL (wildlife pops out of the undergrowth!), Bow River side walk in Banff, especially by the Falls). Plan at least a day to drive from LL to Jasper. The scenery is magnificent - (we had to cut short because we were stopping so frequently, head to Jasper for the night and then return the next day!) - Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Athabasca Glacier, Medicine Lake.
Enjoy!!