Where should I go next for a 3-night US or Canada trip focused on nature or a theme?

Our Pacific Northwest is a long way away to only spend 3 nights.

That being said, if you're on a longer trip to the Olympic Peninsula, I would stop off to spend some time in Port Townsend, an historic seaport, as well as Sequim, a nearby town. Further along the road is Port Angeles which is said to be the headquarters for visiting the Olympic National Park.

Quebec City might be a good place for a short trip. I have not checked out what can be done in just a few days, but whenever I make it there, I plan to have enough time to also visit Montreal.

Kelly- you might look into the Thomas Dambo trolls. It seems like something that might appeal to you as a theme. They are all over the US but you could focus in on one or two areas such as Maine or Iowa. They are made out of all recycled materials and each one has a message for us. I have seen 20 of them so far and am looking to see more in February and September next year.

March is not a good time to visit Yosemite due to unpredictable weather. May will have cool nights. Late September will find the waterfalls being just a dribble because summers are very dry.

Coastal California and Redwoods could be rainy and foggy in March and foggy in May.

Late September would be a great time to visit the redwoods.
Definitely check the weather if you decide to visit either parks.

I also vote for Redwoods in September.
Also, can you stretch the 3 nights? For going further with flight, you might want to add an extra day.

We love South Lake Tahoe for weekend family trips (but I am 3-hour away by car) especially mid-September. I have a young teen. We like to stay near Heavenly Village but away from casinos. Lots of hiking options and the beach. Fun restaurants around for the family. I feel it has a little bit of everything for everyone. Not as crowded as August summer break, but still warm during the day and crisp air at night.

You can find good prices with a cancellation option through Expedia (my go-to).

I know north Tahoe is also popular and near Reno airport, I just don’t have personal experience to share.

Our Pacific Northwest is a long way away to only spend 3 nights

True. Also, the natural attractions on the Olympic Peninsula are both scattered inconveniently and also quite a distance from your landing/departure point (SeaTac airport) - a fact that has stymied many a plan for a quick zip out there and back. The roads are not big (they’re mostly two-lane) and the going is often slow (traffic and slow logging trucks). On any trips out to the Peninsula, driving eats up many hours (ferries can eat up even more - especially in summers when you may have to wait in line many hours).

Be careful about describing how much actual, usable time on the ground you will have (wherever you choose to go). Hopefully your “3 night trip” does not include flying from/back to Atlanta…because otherwise a “3 night” trip could yield just one full day (and a trip out-and-back to Olympic National Park is not really an option with one full day…I it takes at least half a day to get there, the same to get back).

Wish you well and good travels whenever and wherever you choose.

Hello

I live in Austin, Texas which is a wonderful city (except for the weather). So much to see and do.

You mentioned March and in March we have the huge SXSW Conference:
https://schedule.sxsw.com/search/event

It would be great if you could buy a badge

In November, we have the Texas Book Festival:
https://texasbookfestival.org and it is great

November weather is usually nice, our fall. March, we never know about the weather.

I would advise against coming here in the summer which lasts about 6 months unless your really like 100 degree weather. I guess that Atlanta also has long hot summers.

If you come for SXSW, your older child would probably want to tag along..

Olympic is great but as others have said, a difficult one to do in 3 nights due to distance from the Seattle airport, and I wouldn't go in March. That said, the cool thing about it is the diverse landscapes and ecosystems within a reasonably compact space: subalpine; rain forest; old growth forest; rugged coastal. Throw in a few lakes, too. The roads are indeed narrow, and can be a slow go if behind someone pokey, as there are sometimes few places to safely pass. We stayed in Port Angeles - to be closer to Hurricane Ridge and the Elwha - and Forks, for the beaches and Hoh rain forest. Hiked some of Lake Crescent on the drive in between. Yes to Port Townsend: spent a chunk of a day there en route to Port Angeles and did an interesting self-guided walk of some of the historic buildings. This might be helpful:
https://enjoypt.com/wp-content/uploads/2015-PT-walking-map.pdf

Some of the beaches involve some moving gingerly over massive piles of driftwood to get to the shores, and you do need to pay attention to the tides. Still, the beaches were our favorite parts as we live far from the ocean, and I was entranced by the pink, orange and purple starfish, anemone and other sea creatures to be seen at low tide.

But if that doesn't work, have you been to either San Antonio, Texas, or Santa Fe, New Mexico? You could do either in 3-4 nights. You would make a "Mission Trip" for S.A (there are 5, including the Alamo) plus visit the wonderful Briscoe Western Art Museum + take a stroll along the River Walk.
https://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/index.htm
https://www.visitsanantonio.com/things-to-do/san-antonio-missions/

Santa Fe: a lot to see/do including some interesting drives out of the city, such as to Bandelier National Monument. A theme could be some of the area's historic adobe churches; I'm a sucker for those and their interesting traditional Santos: a folk art form unique to New Mexico. It's possible you've already been there tho?

https://feralchatsblog.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/holy-dirt-the-adobe-churches-of-northern-new-mexico/

Hello,
If you choose the Maritimes (Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island), aim for September rather than the spring. The weather is too unpredictable in May. Early to mid-September is glorious. Three days would be tough to see PEI and the Bay of Fundy properly; perhaps you can stretch it to four? You'll likely fly into Halifax and drive to PEI. It's about three hours from Halifax to the Confederation Bridge. Definitely book your fully refundable accommodations way ahead. September is high season.

Quebec City is a wonderful choice. Tons of history in the city itself (not to mention incredible food). You could easily spend three days there.

Dartmouthgirl

The Canadian Rockies, was fantastic. That includes Lake Louise, Banff, and Jasper.
Take a cruise from NYC or Boston up toward Maine, Nova Scotia and to Quebec City.

Not to start a debate, but for you to personally consider and possibly lead to a smaller search window. If you have health issues, have you looked into what travel medical insurances will even cover you? Even for only a few days, the consequences of no insurance may be more than you bargained for. Thus making Canada possibly an area you defer until health is stable or no longer active treatment.
Also, there are few places in Canada where March is pleasant. Maybe Victoria or Vancouver. There will be some flowers but still winter so grey and damp. Early May gives a few more options but is in a seasonal transition for much of the country. In my city of Ottawa, many trees still don't have leaves on them until mid May....same with areas east of there. But late September is more feasible. There was a time that many tourist places, particularly if run by Parks Canada, close early September long weekend, so you want to check Ann of Green Gables house hours before planning dates.
The other sad thing is that later booking for many of Canada's prime tourist spots for short visits are eye-wateringly expensive for lodgings. They are either high tourist demand locations, or popular for conventions and conferences driving up hotel prices even more. (Vancouver, Banff, Quebec City, Halifax and Montreal are all busy conference cities).
I spent a week in San Antonio and I can see that being worth a few days. It has the River Walk and Alamo.

I love Utah’s national parks, and Salt Lake City is a very fun city to visit. If you’re at all interested in genealogy, they have the Family History Library there that has a plethora of materials on that. But the city itself is a lot of fun with some good shopping and interesting sites. Plus, it’s very scenic, with the mountains in the distance.

If you flew into Salt Lake City, you could drive down to Moab and stay there and easily visit Arches National Park and Canyonlands. Moab is a wonderful place to stay, and I just love that town. It is a bit of a drive from Salt Lake, though; around 4 hours if memory serves me correctly. But there are some wonderful scenery along the way, especially as you make your way south.

I concur getting to the Redwoods and S. Oregon is not going to be easy with such a short time frame, especially since there aren't any super direct flights to that region from ATL. Same for Yosemite, even with an RV rental to get a good campsite you need to reserve at least 6-9 months in advance, it's brutal out west relating to campground reservations. Not impossible but definitely not a spur of the moment thing to do.

Earlier this year I did a four night trip to New Mexico in February that might suit your "me time" options. I flew into Albuquerque, rented a car, saw some things in ABQ, drove to Santa Fe and did things around there, then dropped the car back in ABQ to fly home. There were outside and inside options even in February, March would be even better for the outside stuff. PM me if you want the full itinerary.

Also, I can't imagine what a challenge it is to plan with your health situation. Brava to you for developing so many stellar options to act on when you are feeling up to it.

To all - thanks so much for these amazing tips! A bit of background/clarity on my current style of travel. I do chemo every 2 weeks, and usually spend the first 7-8 days of each cycle feeling rather rough, so I aim to travel on days 10-13 when I feel reasonably normal, with a "catchup day" on Day 14 before I start it all over again. However, I can roll the dice a bit and travel days 9-13 if a trip necessitates 4 nights. Traveling as someone with cancer does carry its own set of constraints and issues, but I make a daily, conscious choice for mobility, ability, and living the life I want to live, even when it's a bit scary to do so. :)

@CanAmCherie, thanks for the tips! I had dabbled in planning for Olympic with my daughter and I did find that it needed 4 nights at least due to drive time, not just 3. Port Angeles was definitely in our sights.

@Katiecem - the trolls do look so interesting! I'll look for a map of all their locations and see if they coincide with areas or sights that I haven't done yet.

@Diane - thanks for the suggestions about the best times to visit your neck of the woods. I love May travel out west - I adore the cold nights and pleasant days. (Coming from ATL, it can already be in the 90s in May so it's a welcome respite!)

@Joy - thanks for the idea about South Lake Tahoe! I've eyed it for years for skiing purposes but could never find a good nexus of affordability, flights, etc. Never thought of that area for a warm weather trip but will definitely check it out for May. (I realize beaches would be out in May.)

@David - thanks for the realities of driving and logistics (pun intended, the "log"istics behind logging trucks!)

@bostonphil7 - thanks for the tips! I had not considered SXSW but after looking into it a bit, my 20-year old would probably dig it as she has an interest in the film industry. I don't mind hot weather as I am well used to it in Atlanta, although I must admit you Texans have us slightly beat on that front. :)

@Kate - thanks for the tips on the Pacific NW and Texas! The mission-focused trip sounds quite interesting; I'm definitely going to explore that further.

@darthmouthgirl - thanks for the tips about September and booking ahead. I just had a friend who did PEI last week and her pictures looked glorious.

@geovagriffith - glad to hear that Lake Louise, Banff, and Jasper are awesome. What did you do there? I'd LOVE to do a Canadian cruise, but unfortunately, cruising presents one of those "inflexible cancellation policies" type situations that I'm trying to avoid. Most cruise lines require payment in full 90-120 days in advance, and many insurance policies will only give you a "future cruise credit" instead of a cash refund. In my case, I have to also pay for the "cancel for any reason" rider as well as find a policy that allows previously diagnosed medical conditions.

@MariaF - you bring up good points about insurance in Canada. It is possible to find trip insurance coverage, even with a pre-existing condition like cancer, but it's pricey. This is typically why I plan things so late, because it is less likely that my health would change dramatically within 3 weeks of booking (but I'm not naive enough to think that bullet-proofs me). Question - for Quebec in March, would it still be snowy and ski season? I'm not opposed to a snowy getaway!

@Mardee - I've been to SLC several times, but always as a place to start/stay for skiing, not as a destination in and of itself. Do you have any opinions about March being a good or bad time for Moab, Arches, or Canyonlands? When we did Zion, Bryce, and Grand Escalante, it was freezing in Bryce and roasting hot in Zion the 2nd week of April.

@CL - sounds like from you and others that I need at least 4 nights for Pacific NW. Will def consider it. Yosemite may not be feasible unless I can find refundable accommodations. I have been to Albuquerque but have not made it to Santa Fe; I hear it's lovely! Yes, navigating travel with health issues does require some additional planning, but I prefer to view it as I'm thrilled to be healthy enough to still do it, even in a modified or shortened context. I have not traveled any less since I was diagnosed, but I did have to change my style of planning (I used to be a big pre-planner and would book things like a year in advance). It's been good for me to learn to be more flexible, ha! The Lord has been so good to me all throughout my diagnosis and I don't take my continued ability to travel for granted, not one bit.

I'm glad that you have been able to continue traveling despite your cancer. I loved San Antonio-the Riverfront is lovely at night. You probably won't be able to book at the last minute, but you should at least check the Kalaloch Lodge in Olympic National Park-it feels like you're at the end of civilization. Santa Fe has some interesting museums. I found LA/Hollywood to be underwhelming-I liked San Diego much better. Greenfield Village near Detroit is quite interesting. Last year we did a trip for me to check off some more states and at first I thought Indiana wasn't much, but then I found out about the Indiana Dunes(state and national parks) and they are stunning. I just checked the Anne of GG National Park website and it's open May 1-Oct 31.

Have you ever been to the Kearney/Gibbon Nebraska area for the Sandhill Crane migration? It's hard to describe how amazing it is , even if one isn't a huge bird person. Seeing 200,000+ of any species is something also could see Whooping Cranes (we saw 4 one year amongst the cranes).

It's typically highest in mid to late March.

Kelly,
We took a four day tour of the Canadian Rockies from Vancouver, It was a bus tour with about 30 people on the bus, but the tour was great.

As for your issues with cruises, we have done 21 ocean cruises and only had 1 cancelled. We did get a generous refund to use on another cruise, which we did with no issues.
We have purchased cancel for any reason for group tours, never tours. We did it because of the specific tour. Cost was about 10% of the tour, but worth it.

Kelly,
Some good suggestions and advice given. My two cents for a 3 day trip (3 days on the ground).
North coastal California, driving, but in short legs...Mendocino toward Oregon border (Crescent City Ca) is beautiful and would suit the time frame, except flying into and out of the area would entail some driving (Santa Rosa Ca?), so I don't think it would work for a three day trip.
Quebec needs more time, especially since you are coming from Atlanta. To me the travel time is a bit much for only 3 days there.
Of all you mention two places stand out to me for a three day trip with interesting things to do and see but without stress or long drives and with great scenery. I would go in May or Sept. if possible. March may still have snow in Santa Fe or Tahoe, but who knows anymore? I w
Santa Fe is a great choice. It offers way more than Albuquerque IMO, although I like Albuquerque too. Stay at the Inn of the Governors right near the plaza and the Cathedral of Saint Francis. Easy walk to the Plaza and all it offers. We spent 4 nights there and would happily return. To do: Drive to Museum Hill to visit the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. On the way there or back, stop in for a brief look at Loretto Chapel. This is all in town and doable in one day, and not very far to drive to (10-15 minutes). Another day drive to Los Alamos for the history there re the atomic bomb development and the terrific Bradbury Science Museum. We went in the morning and drove back from there after lunch , by way of Bandolier National Monument to see the cliff dwellings (I didn't climb up to them, but it was a pleasant place to stop, and you could see them well enough from the short valley trail. We took another day to drive to Taos by the high road and visited the Taos Pueblo. (Not the town. For us that was too touristy, but it did have lots of art galleries if that is of interest to you.) We enjoyed exploring the actual Pueblo, but it is where people live according to their culture, so it is not just a walk-in. Very much worth it to learn about Pueblo culture. We drove back to Santa Fe by the low road, which goes along the Rio Grande (yes, that Rio Grande, but closer to its origins). Both on the way up and back there are other things to see. (We flew into and out of Albuquerque where we picked up the car, but Santa Fe is just an hour away from there.) I think it is a great trip for your time frame, and not a long flight from Atlanta, IMO.

Lake Tahoe area. If you go there, hotels are easy to find almost always, especially in Reno. Easy drives in the area are to Virginia City and Carson City and the Donner Party Memorial, plus, of course, the beautiful lake and forests around it. Three days is a good time. (Boat rides and casinos are available also.) Our daughter lives not far away from South Lake Tahoe, and goes fly fishing in the many lakes and streams in the area year-round (except right after snowfall).

Do you have any opinions about March being a good or bad time for
Moab, Arches, or Canyonlands?

I'm not answering this for Mardee but as a fan of Moab (will be there for our 5th time for 4 days mid next month) I think March would be a great time to go! Temps should be moderate, and crowds should be lighter. You do want to avoid Easter weekend + the annual Jeep Safari as it's a big deal and Moab will be really busy. I imagine hotels may already be booked up, too. Here's the March 2027 schedule of bigger events:

https://ultimatemoab.com/events

There are easy hikes in Canyonlands - you'd be visiting the Island In The Sky unit - with stunning panoramic views (looks like a Grand Canyon in the making) and Dead Horse Point State Park is along the way. Easy hikes there too and some great views. Both have nice visitor centers but no food so pack your lunch along.
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/islandinthesky.htm
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse-point/

You can pick and choose your hikes at Arches. Some of the short/moderate hikes are really easy. Nice visitor center but no food here either so ditto on the lunch plan.
https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

I can recommend a few hikes in both parks with a little better idea about your abilities? Or spend some time with the websites and ask about those you find most interesting?
Over to our Mardee!
PS: When we fly specifically for Moab and select other locations, we go in and out of Grand Junction, CO.

Jet Blue has great flight to Boston. I know you said PNW but we really enjoyed Boston Cape Cod Plymouth Martha’s Vineyard Nantucket. Too much for your trip but you could pick some of that. Just food for thought… happy travels!

Summer slow travel fly/car: Consider the Berkshires with Stockbridge, Lenox, the Edith Wharton estate, Norman Rockwell Museum, Tanglewood, art museums, and yep, mountains & nature.

You mentioned Philly. The Brandywine Valley at the DE-PA border is another 3-day region with history, art, and gardens; however, March and Summer wouldn't be when I would go. Possible mud season in March, no flowers in bloom, and it can get toasty in the summer. Still a great region to visit if your months are flexible.

Yes, it is often still snowy in Quebec in March, but it depends on where and what year. Our school march break is often early/mid March and we call it 'Mud Season'. Also, this year's heavy el Nino impact is forecasting more freezing rain and milder winter. Quebec City is hilly and old town is steep either cobblestone streets. In icy conditions that won't be fun. In February, they should Quebec Winter Carnival (starting Feb 5,2027) if you can consider that. It is the largest winter festival in the western hemisphere.

Another fun place to visit in Canada is Parc Omega which is a drive-thru safari park in Montebello, Quebec. They even have tipis and rustic cabins you can stay in. We stayed in a tiny cabin. We couldn’t hear the wolves, but in cabins closer to where they feed the wolves, I have heard that you can hear them. We went in early December when it was snowing and fed the deer huge carrots when they came up to the car. I have a whole new appreciation for these amazing creatures. They are beautiful! We also saw bear, wolves, elk, wild boar and more. There is a place in the park where you can walk around and get ice cream or hot chocolate depending on the temperature outside, and interact with some of the animals there. The snow covering everything in December made it absolutely magical!