California

California is the most varied fortnight you can plan in the USA. In a single loop you can stand under thousand-year-old redwoods, wake to fog rolling over an alpine valley, ride a cable car through a world-class city and fall asleep to Pacific surf. That range is the appeal, but it is also the reason California rewards a slower pace than families expect — the Pacific Coast Highway is a destination in its own right, not a transfer between the interesting bits.

The coast is the emotional heart of the trip. The stretch through Big Sur and Monterey is slow, winding and spectacular, so treat the driving itself as an activity: pull into the signposted vista points, let the kids spot sea otters and elephant seals, and never plan a long day of miles on this section. Coastal weather is famously mild year-round, which makes it a reliable place to bookend hotter inland days.

Yosemite is the counterpoint — granite walls, waterfalls and meadows that stop children mid-sentence. The valley floor is flat and stroller-friendly, with easy paved loops to Lower Yosemite Fall and Mirror Lake that deliver huge views for very little effort. In summer the park runs a timed-entry reservation system, so check the current rules well ahead and build your arrival around them rather than hoping to improvise at the gate.

San Francisco needs its own plan, because an RV is a genuine liability in the city. Rather than crawling through downtown, park the rig at a campground outside the centre or an RV-friendly site and come in by public transport for the day. The hills, cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge and the sea lions at the waterfront are all easy wins with children, and you will enjoy them far more without worrying about a low bridge or a tight turn.

String it together with an eye on rhythm: a night on the coast between the longer inland drives keeps everyone happy, and alternating a big-scenery day with a slow beach or pool day prevents the whole family from burning out halfway. Give California two weeks if you can — it is a loop that punishes rushing and repays patience.