Long story short... my wife was injured 12 years ago and is slowly losing her eyesight. She suffers extreme pain and photophobia (light sensitivity) from radiation burns to her eyes and that continues to get worse with time. She spends 99.5% of her life inside our home with special lighting and window blinds.

Once a year around the equinox we try to do a trip so she can see things she has never seen, and may never see again. The logic is on the longest days of the year the sun is overhead longer and she is sheltered in the 4runner with the tinting and shades I've installed. I also have an awning so we can picnic on cloudy days or under shady trees. We try not to travel east in the morning or west in the afternoon to avoid direct sunlight and harsh reflections off cars, but that's hard to do. Late starts or early finishes are required depending on direction of travel. She has a movable light blocker in her hand to deal with errant sunbeams and I have a big black umbrella to get her into hotels or wherever. She wears sunglasses that allow 2% light transmission and no, we can't travel at night. Headlights and interior lights are like painful lasers in the dark.

Two years ago we did Montana and Yellowstone. Caught a break and it was cloudy and rainy much of the time. We actually got to get out of the rig and walk around a little. We even got to fish a few places. Last year we did Glacier and up into Canada, but hit sunny weather the whole time. Enjoyed the Going to the Sun Road views and the wildlife she could see from inside the runner, but the trip was very tough on her and set her back a bit. It's a price she is willing to pay for the experiences and memories.

Here's where you folks come in. I'm hoping to hit the road in a few weeks on another adventure and looking for suggestions. Hopefully we can catch some wet spring weather...but I know we can't count on that. It's hard to plan more than a couple weeks out because we never know what her pain level will be due to other influences, but we're going to make a try at it.

So, knowing all of the above. Knowing we're in the Portland, OR area. Knowing that wildlife and mountains are her favorite things, toss me a couple ideas. I like to keep the trip around 7-8 days and don't like to drive the same road twice. I've been kicking around Yosemite, but not sure what she could see from the 4runner if the sun was beaming. Would it be worth it? Other suggestions?

Thanks in advance for the input.

The lava caves aka Ape Caves near Mt St Helens are cool to experience. Underground Tour of downtown Seattle. EMP museum, Boeing Flight museum and Pike Place market in Seattle are worth seeing. Mt St Helens observatory is a great stopping place. However, check the weather for your wife. Sunny days may be too intense for your wife?

In Montana, I would recommend the Louis and Clark caverns.

Thanks! She loves St. Helens and climbed it the year before she was burned. I took her on a helicopter tour of the mountain for her birthday last year and they made special considerations for her. Making sure to keep the bird pointed away from the sun and keeping her in the shade. Very cool tour.

We have to avoid places with direct lighting or extreme contrasts, like lit caves or most public places. Camera flashes are deadly too, or cell phones, or those kid's shoes that light up. Low flat light is the best. You'd think living in the rainy northwest would be perfect.

Safest bet is places we can see from the runner. Then if it's cloudy we can hike or whatever...

Thanks again.

You could try to hit SoCal during June gloom. LaJolla, Calsbad, and SanDiego all experience the weather phenomenon. I'm not sure if the gloom extends down into Mexico very far.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Gloom

We've decided to make a run to Whistler, BC. Exchange rate, wildlife and mountains tipped the scales in that direction...

Definitely check out Whistler/Blackcomb. Awesome hiking and they have the lift running to get you to the top. Vancouver is actually really cool. There are indoor/outdoor markets (can't remember the name of the island) but it's similar to pike place in seattle. Sea to Sky highway is a work of art on it's own. And the views are great up there. I hope it goes well for both you and your wife. You guys sound like you make a good team

I can ask my sister if she has any other suggestions. Also, Shannon Falls is a MASSIVE waterfall just south of Squamish

25 years now!

We're booked into a place in Bellingham, WA the first night, then Whistler, BC on an open-ended stay. Sounds like there are some 4x4 trails in the area and plenty of other things to do. Long range forecast is for clouds and rain...hopefully that will be the case and we can get out like normal folks. We own plenty of GoreTex.

It sounds like the drive up out of Vancouver is beautiful. Looking forward to seeing that.

I have a new Canon 100-400 that will need testing out on some critters and I might even pack a fly rod or two. Never know when a fly fishing emergency might pop up. Should be a fun trip.

Have a ton of Fun! My sister lived in Bellingham for about 5 years and I lived there for 9 months. Lots of fun things around there to do even. If you like Ice Cream. Mallards downtown is delicious and all homemade/local everything, and they have a farmers market Saturday mornings. Moonshine distillery is pretty good, and they've got a few microbreweries as well. Depends on what y'all like!