On Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:33:06 -0500, Panawe wrote:
Hi,

Advice please. I am planning a road trip (fly-drive from UK and stay in
hotels/motels) to the western US next year and I have a number of
questions.

I would like to go whale-watching and see Yosemite and Yellowstone Nat'l
parks (and others if feasible).

I don't like cities.

I am planning on 14 days, is this long enough?

Two or three years instead of two weeks would be a better start on this
project. g Pretty good intro to US National Parks:
http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

You've got some good advice, but I'd add a couple of spots to the agenda.
And I'd consider moving the trip back to September... most of the crowds are
gone and the weather is gentle.

Consider flying in to Seattle the do the loop out into the Olympic National
Park -- extraordinary views, and you'll be in a temperate rain forest.
Be sure to stop at places like Hall of Moss: http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/07...e-usa-36-pics/
http://susan-lynne-hamilton.suite101...a-usa-a122343/
http://www.sunset.com/travel/northwe...0400000050531/ http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/index.htm

From there, drive or fly to Yellowstone, which will take at least three days
to begin to see some of wonders there. There is a new documentary that
was recently aired on PBS here that you might want to see before visiting.
Here's the website with a clip of the program: http://www.aboveyellowstone.com/
And a slightly older program focusing on the geology:
http://www.pbs.org/programs/yellowstone/

If you drive, consider swinging by Mt. St. Helens national monument http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fs...ment-%2520Home and Ape Cave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ape_Cave then drop down to near Portland and take
the Columbia River Gorge scenic highway:
http://thecolumbiaexperience.wordpre...ge-waterfalls/ Multnomah Falls has been heavily "improved" because of the heavy
visitor load there, and it's certainly worth a stop, but my favorite easy to
get to falls is Latourell, just a couple of miles W of Multnomah, and an easy
stroll from a parking lot, but virtually unvisited.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latourell_Falls

Drive or fly back to the Yosemite area from Yellowstone:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
and don't miss Calaveras Big Trees (California state park) nearby
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551
http://www.google.com/search?q=calaveras+big+trees

Fly out of San Francisco after a visit to the Monterey aquarium (world
class!), S of the city, and to Muir Woods N of San Francisco (a different
species than the Big Trees of Calaveras)

If you've got some time stuck in the city of SF, then I recommend the
Exploratorium, a hands-on science museum, if you're so inclined. Another
world class site. http://www.exploratorium.edu/

Whatever you do, please, please be careful. The western states, especially
the national parks and monuments, can be deadly to people who don't think.
Wild animals are wild -- DO NOT APPROACH. There are cougars, bears, bison,
elk, deer, and they can all be deadly. Seeing tourists think about putting
their kids next to a bear or bison in Yellowstone was one of the scariest
moments of my first year in grad school, and the first time I seriously
thought there ought to be an open season on stupidity.

The terrain, in general, is rugged -- the areas you're thinking about are
all about the geology -- if you're going to get out of a direct line of site
of pavement, carry food, water, space blanket, rain gear and a fleece
jacket, even if it's 90 degrees out and clear as a bell when you leave.
Wear hiking boots, not sneakers or sandals. Rescue can be hours or days
away if a trail crumbles and you drop, or if you get lost or trip and
hurt yourself -- sample story he
http://www.kgw.com/news/trappedhunter-131374633.html and he
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Portla...126540013.html . Note that these are today's stories.

It's a rare week from April to October that there aren't at least two search
and rescue missions going on in the county I live in, just SE of Portland,
Oregon. When you do something stupid or just plain unlucky in unforgiving
country, you're not just endangering yourself, you're also potentially
endangering volunteer rescuers.

Rivers, lakes and streams in the Northwest tend to be very cold because
they are snowmelt. Cold water drownings are very common... the top few
inches of the water seems warm enough to swim, but you can very quickly get
chilled, lose muscle function, sink and drown in just a few minutes.
Note that during October you can expect water temps of 6-10oC.

At the seashore, be wary of sneaker waves that can knock you off your feet
and carry you out instantly, and logs in the surf or on the beach that
can crush you in an instant. http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/beach_tips.shtml

Hand held GPS devices can help prevent getting lost. Make sure someone
knows where you are when you head away from parking areas -- a traveling
companion or leave a dated and timed note on the dashboard of your car...
something like "two on north trail; expect to be back by 6 pm 10/1"
or register with a ranger station if that's available. Do not expect cell
service to be available in many, many areas.

DO NOT TRUST CAR GPS SYSTEMS FULLY to get you to your destination safely
in the backwoods... they don't distinguish between forest roads that are
barely traveled and often poorly maintained and a main highway. We've had
several tragedies and near tragedies in my part of the world from that,
notably the Kim family (google James Kim) or
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2...ch-rescue.html
Carry good maps (if you're a member of the RAC, I believe you have
automatic services from AAA, which has excellent maps and tour books) and
stay off the unpaved roads without local advice that they're passable.

Please know that I'm telling you about these sorts of hazards so you can
have a safe, fun, memorable trip, not to push you into joining an organized
tour group. Use your head, be safe, and please have a wonderful time.
Then come back next year and hit some of the sites in the SW states... also
wonderful.

Kay