3 week family of 5 going west

[Redlox]

We are starting from MO and heading to Seattle south to CA, through Vegas and then back home. My son is a dinosaur nut, so will be looking for those attractions. What are some other reasonably priced (free) things to do see on the way? Thanks for any info!

[Syv]

South Dakota - Mount Rushmore,
Badlands National Park,
Hot Springs "Mammoth Site"
Deadwood - cemetery has Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hitchcock (I think I have the names right).

Wyoming - Yellowstone National Park,
Grand Tetons National Park

Montana - Glacier National Park

Colorado - Rocky Mountain National Park,
Dinosaur National Monument

Washington - Mount Ranier National Park,
Mount St. Helens,

Highway #1 along the Oregon coast to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Redwoods National Park,

California - Yosemite National Park,
Sequoia National Park

Vegas / Arizona --- Grand Canyon National Park

If getting into southern Utah at all,

ZION and BRYCE national parks are two of my favourites. Your child would enjoy the half-day horseback ride down Bryce Canyon. (reserve in advance)





- You buy a $50 national parks pass at the first one which gives you entry to ALL of the parks and expires in one year.
- www.nps.gov/parks.html
- good campgrounds at all of the national parks as well to save on lodging fees if you are into camping or RV at all.


Also look at the Fodors website. Their forums are much more active than this one and you get very quick informative helpful responses. www.fodors.com/forums/