Our family of six will be taking a driving trip from Texas to the California Coastal Redwoods and back in early June. Our plans include going out on Route 66, doing everything from museums to beaches to hiking, and a return through the Rockies. It should be a total of ten to twelve days. I am looking for a capsule wardrobe plan that will work with every climate we encounter (we've never been, don't know what to expect). I also want to adapt my plan to use with the kids, ages nine to fifteen. (p.s. This will be the oldest kid's Make a Wish trip to celebrate the end of her Hodgkins fight last year. She wants to see the big trees!) Any suggestions for what to pack would be greatly appreciated.

Since I have six people and we all need clothes, I want to start making smart purchases now to get prepared for the big trip. The kids grow so fast, and my own appearance has not been high priority for the past year. I have given away all the things that don't fit and have almost nothing but school spirit shirts left! Help!

I grew up in Southern California and made trips out to Morro Bay, which is in central California, and also to San Francisco. Despite having beaches and being summer, expect it to be cold. The SoCal beaches tend to be a lot warmer. Otherwise, the wind blows in off the sea in a steady gust; water's always cold. I went back a few years ago and was shocked at how cold it actually was. Not like snow, freezing temperatures cold, but that wind ... I don't know how I went into the water. The adults are in wetsuits, and the kids are, well, kids. Because it is on the coast, the air will be very damp. So you'll want something that's warmer and waterproof. Probably take along something for scratchy throats. When I went back, I alarmed my father because I started coughing and my sinuses kicked in. Wasn't used to that much dampness, and I'm in Washington DC. Also, summer tends to get fog. Thick, heavy fog. Lots of dampness in the air--your clothes can get wet from the fog.

My son is tall, thin, and leggy, and it was sometimes a wild ride to keep him in pants that fit. He wore shorts most of the time. Even when it is chilly, shorts usually do, if you have warm socks and jackets and hats. I would concentrate my money on good hiking boots that fit well; nothing spoils your day faster than bad boots. An outfitter can help. And leave budget for souvenir T shirts! I say it again: have some flattering hats or scarves for all the pictures you take of each other. I hope you have a wonderful time.

Hi baryj1. I actually just got back from a road trip to California and Las Vegas. I'm Australian (southern, cooler part) so it was a big trip for us and we did a lot of the things you mentioned you will be doing. I can't help with the weather conditions in June but I was there at the end of Feb and first half of March. We were lucky and the weather was very pleasant to us having come from summer. I took mostly mid weight clothing and things that could be layered easily. The desert (Route 66) nights were cool and required a mid weight jacket but a light sweater or cardigan did the trick for the rare cloudy days. I lived in jeans, linen joggers or walking shorts with tees or light blouses mostly. Changing scarves and jewellery gave my outfits a bit of spice. I did pack a lightweight coat and gloves and beanies for a visit to Yosemite NP and Sequoia NP but we couldn't go because snow chains were required and we had a rental RV that forbade them. Once we got back to the coast we drove from Santa Cruz (got to visit the nearby Henry Cowell State Park for my redwood fix) back down to LA, via Monterey, Morro Bay and Santa Barbara. We found the sea breezes cool, a bit like we are used to at home, but not exactly cold. However, the further south we went the more fog we encountered and that tended to mean it got colder some days and nights. For footwear I had a pair each of walking shoes, ballet flats, ankle boots and sandals. My walking shoes and some new Crocs slides I bought on the trip got the most wear. Hubby lived in shorts and polo tops most days and jeans and shirts when it was cooler. He had a light jacket and a sweater for warmth when needed. He only needed two pairs of shoes, one pair of leather loafers for going out and the lace up walking shoes he wore 95% of the time. I hope that helps a little and that you and your family have a fabulous trip, as we did. We loved the people and places we found.

Baryj1 - congratulations to your oldest child's success of beating Hodgkins! I'm a California native, and lived in both southern and northern California all my life. Everything the previous posters have recommended is fine. The weather in June in SoCal is moderately hot and usually overcast, no rain. A light sweater or hoodie is fine. NorCal beaches you will want a light windbreaker over a hoodie. It will still be very chilly and can get damp. Wind picks up around 4pm. If you visit Monterey or San Francisco, you will experience afternoon fog, nights and mornings can be cool. Whatever footwear you choose will be fine. Bring and use sunscreen especially your cancer survivor! The sun is more harsh in California, can't speak for the Rockies. Enjoy your trip - what a wonderful gift for you all.