2 Days · Young Families
Sawtooth Valley (Stanley, Ketchum), Idaho
Turquoise Water, Small Feet: Two Gentle Days in the Sawtooth Valley
2 stops
2 Days · Couples
Sawtooth Valley (Stanley, Ketchum), Idaho
Granite and Glass: Two Days Among the Sawtooths
4 stops
2 Days · Couples
Gila Wilderness (Silver City area), New Mexico
Stone Rooms & River Song: A Two-Day Escape into the Gila Wilderness
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Sawtooth Valley (Stanley, Ketchum), Idaho
Granite and Glass Water: Three Slow Days in the Sawtooth Valley
6 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Twin Falls area, Idaho
Canyon Light & Thundering Water: 3 Days Above the Snake River
6 stops
2 Days · Couples
Superstition Mountains (Apache Junction), Arizona
Desert Legends & Golden Light: 2 Days in the Superstition Mountains
3 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Gila Wilderness (Silver City area), New Mexico
Ancient Rooms & River Light: A Family Weekend in the Gila
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Sedona (vortex sites), Arizona
Red Rock Stillness: Three Slow Days Among Sedona's Vortex Peaks
4 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Superstition Mountains (Apache Junction), Arizona
Golden Gulch & Desert Legends: A Family Weekend in the Superstitions
2 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Gila Wilderness (Silver City area), New Mexico
Stone, Water, and Sky: Three Slow Days in the Gila Wilderness
3 stops
2 Days · Couples
Sedona (vortex sites), Arizona
Red Rock and Quiet Fire: Two Days of Vortex Light in Sedona
3 stops
2 Days · Young Families
White Mountains (Greer, Alpine), Arizona
Pines, Water & Wildflower Air: Two Days in Greer & Alpine
3 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Sedona (vortex sites), Arizona
Red Rocks & Little Legs: A Family Vortex Adventure in Sedona
3 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
White Mountains (Greer, Alpine), Arizona
Pines, Still Water & High Meadows: 3 Days in Greer and Alpine
3 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Superstition Mountains (Apache Junction), Arizona
Rust Peaks & Golden Boardwalks: 3 Days Among the Superstitions
4 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Petrified Forest NP (Blue Mesa), Arizona
Stone Forests & Painted Skies: 2 Days at Petrified Forest with Little Ones
4 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Carlsbad Caverns NP, New Mexico
Underground Wonders: 2 Days in Carlsbad Caverns with Little Explorers
3 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Park City (off-season), Utah
Silver Streets & Summer Ridgelines: Three Slow Days in Park City
5 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Saguaro NP (Tucson, Rincon Mountain District), Arizona
Saguaro Sentinels: Three Slow Mornings in the Sonoran Desert
5 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Carlsbad Caverns NP, New Mexico
Underground Cathedrals: 3 Days at Carlsbad Caverns
6 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Petrified Forest NP (Blue Mesa), Arizona
Stone Forests & Painted Light: 3 Days at Blue Mesa
6 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Kartchner Caverns SP (near Benson), Arizona
Cool Stone, Small Steps: 2 Days Underground at Kartchner Caverns
3 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Kartchner Caverns SP (near Benson), Arizona
Stone Cathedrals: Three Cool Days Underground at Kartchner Caverns
5 stops
2 Days · Couples
White Sands NP (evening/early morning), New Mexico
White Sands After Dark: Two Days of Golden Dunes and Desert Stars
5 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
White Sands NP (evening/early morning), New Mexico
White Light, Soft Sand: 3 Days at White Sands for the Golden-Hour Traveler
4 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Saguaro NP (Tucson, Rincon Mountain District), Arizona
Saguaro Sentinels: A Slow-Paced Desert Adventure for Little Explorers
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Clearwater River Region (Orofino, Kamiah), Idaho
Slow Water, Deep Woods: Three Days Along the Clearwater
3 stops
2 Days · Young Families
White Sands NP (evening/early morning), New Mexico
Glow on the Gypsum: Two Days of Dunes with Little Ones
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Idaho Panhandle (Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint), Idaho
Alpine Light & Lake Water: 3 Days in Idaho's Panhandle
6 stops
2 Days · Couples
Saguaro NP (Tucson, Rincon Mountain District), Arizona
Saguaro Light: Two Desert Days for Two in the Rincon Mountains
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Moab area (beyond national parks), Utah
Red Rock, Slow Light: Moab Beyond the Parks
4 stops
2 Days · Couples
Carlsbad Caverns NP, New Mexico
Underworld and Twilight Wings: Two Days at Carlsbad Caverns
6 stops
2 Days · Couples
Kartchner Caverns SP (near Benson), Arizona
Stone Cathedrals and Desert Quiet: 2 Days at Kartchner Caverns
5 stops
2 Days · Couples
Petrified Forest NP (Blue Mesa), Arizona
Stone Forests & Painted Light: 2 Days at Blue Mesa
5 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Yampa Valley (Steamboat Springs), Colorado
Chairlifts, Waterfalls & Warm Pools: Two Easy Summer Days in Steamboat
3 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Columbia River Gorge (OR side), Oregon
Mist, Moss, and Little Legs: A Family Weekend in the Gorge
4 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Flaming Gorge (UT side, near Vernal), Utah
Fossils, Red Rock & Turquoise Water: 2 Days in Flaming Gorge
3 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Nine Mile Canyon (near Price), Utah
Stone Stories at Dawn: Three Days Among the Petroglyphs of Nine Mile Canyon
5 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Goblin Valley SP (near Hanksville), Utah
Stone Giants at Dawn: 3 Days Among Goblin Valley's Hoodoos
6 stops
2 Days · Couples
Smith Rock SP (Terrebonne), Oregon
Golden Rock, Slow Hours: Two Days at Smith Rock
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Smith Rock SP (Terrebonne), Oregon
Golden Rock, Slow Steps: 3 Days at Smith Rock
5 stops
2 Days · Couples
Flaming Gorge (UT side, near Vernal), Utah
Ember Cliffs & Still Water: Two Days in Flaming Gorge
5 stops
2 Days · Couples
Park City (off-season), Utah
Alpine Air & Amber Light: A Couples' Escape to Park City
4 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Hells Canyon (Riggins area), Idaho
Slow Canyon Days: A Family Introduction to Hells Canyon
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Columbia River Gorge (OR side), Oregon
Basalt, Mist, and River Light: 3 Days in the Columbia River Gorge
4 stops
2 Days · Couples
Hells Canyon (Riggins area), Idaho
Rim, River & Steam: Two Days Above and Below Hells Canyon
4 stops
2 Days · Couples
Moab area (beyond national parks), Utah
Slickrock & River Light: Two Days Beyond Moab's Parks
4 stops
2 Days · Couples
Wallowas (Joseph, Enterprise), Oregon
Granite Peaks & Quiet Water: Two Days in the Wallowas
6 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Park City (off-season), Utah
Meadows, Museums & Mining Tales: 2 Slow Days in Summer Park City
4 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Wallowas (Joseph, Enterprise), Oregon
Granite Peaks & Pebbled Shores: A Family Weekend in the Wallowas
3 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Yampa Valley (Steamboat Springs), Colorado
Alpine Light & Quiet Waters: 3 Days in the Yampa Valley
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Wallowas (Joseph, Enterprise), Oregon
Granite, Water, and Quiet Light: 3 Days in the Wallowas
6 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Smith Rock SP (Terrebonne), Oregon
Golden Rock, Little Feet: Two Easy Days at Smith Rock
4 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Moab area (beyond national parks), Utah
Red Rock & River Song: Two Easy Days Beyond Moab's Parks
3 stops
2 Days · Couples
Grand Canyon NP (South Rim vs North Rim), Arizona
Rim Light and Quiet Distances: Two Days at the Grand Canyon
7 stops
2 Days · Young Families
Grand Canyon NP (South Rim vs North Rim), Arizona
Rim Light & Little Feet: A Family Weekend at the Grand Canyon
5 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Grand Canyon NP (South Rim vs North Rim), Arizona
Rim Light and River Whispers: Three Slow Days at the Grand Canyon
6 stops
2 Days · Couples
Columbia River Gorge (OR side), Oregon
Mist, Basalt, and River Light: A Two-Day Escape Through the Columbia River Gorge
5 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Colorado Springs area, Colorado
Red Rock Light and Alpine Air: Three Days Above Colorado Springs
4 stops
3 Days · Active Retirees
Bitterroot Valley (Hamilton, Darby), Montana
Peaks, Wetlands, and Quiet Water: 3 Days in the Bitterroot Valley
3 stops
Showing 60 of 435 — see summer trips by state.
Summer travel in the American West and Mountain region offers families and adventurers alike an extraordinary range of experiences. This page features 30 itineraries across 21 destinations, from coastal escapes in California and Hawaii to high-country valleys, ancient canyons, and glacier-fed rivers. Whether seeking a single-day adventure or a four-day deep dive, travelers will find options suited to little ones, teens, couples, and multi-generational groups—each itinerary carefully designed to match the pace and interests of different family configurations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of landscapes and attractions are covered on this page?⌄
The destinations span diverse terrain: coastal areas like Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Oahu; underground formations at Carlsbad Caverns and Hovenweep; mountain valleys including the Sawtooth Valley, Bitterroot Valley, and San Luis Valley; river regions like the Clearwater River and Salmon River; and natural monuments such as Bighorn Canyon and Channel Islands National Park. From glaciers in Juneau to slot canyons and tide pools, the page offers itineraries across the West's most striking landscapes.
Are there options for travelers with very young children?⌄
Yes. The page includes multiple itineraries specifically designed for families with little ones, such as day trips and multi-day journeys in destinations like Los Angeles, Greer and Alpine, the Bitterroot Valley, the Clearwater River Region, Salmon and Challis, San Luis Valley, Billings, and Hawaii. Single-day options are also available for shorter family outings.
What lengths of trips are available?⌄
Itineraries range from one-day excursions to four-day trips. One-day options include experiences at Mendenhall Glacier, Santa Monica, Sawtooth Valley, Jackson Hole, Waikīkī, Anacapa Island, and Iao Valley. Most multi-day itineraries span 3 to 4 days, allowing travelers to choose based on available time and preferred pace.
Can couples find itineraries on this page?⌄
Yes. At least one itinerary is specifically designed for couples: 'Ice, Mist, and Endless Light: A Juneau Weekend for Two,' a four-day trip. The page also offers many other itineraries that can suit adult travelers and teen families exploring these destinations.
More Collections
Or see Summer Trips by state or browse weekend getaways in the West & Mountain.