Northwest Travel from AZ - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Acorn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Northwest Travel from AZ

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

What do you want to see in those 3 weeks. It takes us about 6 weeks to get from Mesa to Seattle each spring. Then we spend the summer in cooler (relatively) weather before taking another 6 weeks to get back to Mesa for the winter. Is there a reason to only do 3 weeks?

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with Barb's thought, that's a long trip in a short time.

Also, be aware that depending on the snow levels in the Sierras and Cascades, many of the sites you might want to visit may still be not be accessible due to snow.

In CA, in addition to Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are definitely worth a visit, however, be prepared for cold temps in Sequoia at 8000 ft elevation, May is chilly.

As you head north, Mt. Lassen is also great, but in May is iffy to drive through depending on when the road might open. Same with Crater Lake in OR, great place to visit, but I'd go in July, not June. Both of these parks opened the roads very late this year due to much higher than usual snow levels.

WA - I'd visit Mt. Rainier and Mt. Saint Helens, Olympic National Park, etc.

ID - Hells Canyon is great if you want to try any rafting! Sawtooth Mountains are beautiful, but May can still be cold, again depending on snow levels from the previous winter. Craters of the Moon is a fascinating place to visit.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

It may not interest you, but if you were near Craters of the Moon in Idaho, Arco, Idaho isn't very far away and is near EBR-1, which stands for Experimental Breeder Reactor-1. That was the very first nuclear facility for generating electricity. The initial test of EBR-1 was to light three light bulbs, when then went on to provide all the electricity for the facility. EBR-1 is now a museum of sorts and interesting. Later, I think they did EBR-2, which provided electricity for Arco.

Terry

Acorn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for your responses -- and good ideas! We've decided to concentrate pretty much on Idaho and Yosemite. It's always nice to talk with folks who have been there!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Along I-84, there is a lot to see in the way of interesting sights. Some things, such as the Minidoka Japanese Internment Camp monument is a ways off of the interstate, but is worth seeing and reading up on the history. Also, there is Malad Gorge State Park that is literally crossed by a bridge on I-84. South of Mountain Home, ID is Bruneau Canyon, which is much more interesting than the Bruneau Dunes State Park.

If you want to see more, the following link will take you to my Idaho photos at my Smugmug site.

Idaho Images

Minidoka Japanese Internment Camp is under my Museums and Historical folder at Smugmug. It is at the following link.

Museums and Historical

Sorry, I don't have any images for Yosemite.

Terry