Q We’re going to America for four weeks in September, and want to visit northern California, Oregon and Washington state, but we can’t find much information on stuff to see, other than the Napa Valley. If we fly into San Francisco, is there a good route to follow from there?

Michael Wilton-Cox, Cambridge A Well, it’s almost 400 miles from San Francisco up to Oregon, and there’s plenty to see. Once you’ve crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and headed north, there’s the dramatic headland at Point Reyes National Seashore, then Sonoma, in the Napa Valley wine region. Dine at Thomas Keller’s restaurant, the French Laundry (www.frenchlaundry.com ), in Yountville, and take the historic Napa Valley Wine Train day trip (www.winetrain.com ).

Next, head back to the coast and the cute Victorian town of Mendocino. It looks like New England because it was built in the 1850s by migrating New Englanders. Stay at the Heritage House (www.heritagehouseinn.com ), which has stunning ocean views and superb doubles from £150. Next up is the Redwood National Park (www.nps.gov/redw ) - a sequoia sanctuary where giant trees can top 370ft and live for two millenniums. The cable-car ride above the canopy there is fun (www.treesofmystery.net ; £6.80).

Cross into Oregon and visit Roseburg - an ideal base for the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway. This terrific 170-mile loop, also called the Highway of Waterfalls, weaves through the Cascade mountains and passes the mirror-like stillness of Crater Lake.

Continue north along the Cascade range to Bend, and hit the coast for the historic settlements of Tillamook, Cannon Beach and Astoria, before crossing into Washington state and visiting Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument (www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm ). Just north is Mount Rainier (www.nps.gov/mora ), where you can inhale the great outdoors in the shadow of this 14,000ft peak. It’s worth spending a few days in Seattle before you fly home.

For help with the perfect itinerary, contact North American Travel Service (0161 834 8844, www.northamericantravelservice.co.uk ), which has a four-week fly-drive from £1,192pp, including flights from London into San Francisco and back from Seattle, and car hire; two weeks start at £972pp). Budget on about £80 a night for a room.Or try Complete North America (0845263 7100, www.completenorthamerica.com ) or American Sky (0870 907 9605, www.americansky.co.uk ).

Q I’m trying to fly back from Milan to London City airport, but I can’t find any flights on a Saturday afternoon or evening. Can this be right?

David Richardson, London

A Yes, it is. The airport, which opened in 1987, is just six miles from the City of London, and sited in the densely populated East End. As it has grown, strict limits on the number and pattern of flights have been negotiated with the local council. The most unusual aspect of this agreement is that it gives local residents a break from aircraft noise by closing the airport for 24 hours from 12.30pm on Saturday. There are also no flights scheduled to land or take off before 6.30am and after 10pm. For details, visit www.londoncityairport.com .

Q My husband and I are going to a wedding near Salzburg at the end of August. Where can we go nearby to extend this into a holiday? We’re thinking boutique hotels, beautiful scenery, swimming and good food.

Harriet Cookson, London

A An hour from Salzburg, you’ll find the pretty Alpine village of Bad Gastein and the delightful Hoteldorf Grüner Baum. It has 80 smart, tastefully rustic rooms in a 70-acre private valley, an indoor and outdoor pool, and a good restaurant, and backs onto the Hohe Tauern National Park (www.nationalpark-hohetauern.at ), which is great for trekking.Just up the valley are the Gastein caves, where water known for its healing qualities bubbles to the surface. Nearby are a golf course and a Shiseido spa that offers progressive Japanese treatments as well as more traditional Austrian and Tyrolean ones.Seven nights in August start at £740pp, half-board. Book through Small Luxury Hotels of the World (00 800 525 48000, www.slh.com/grunerbaum ), at www.hoteldorf.com or with Made to Measure (01243 533333, www.mtmhols.co.uk ).

You could spend the last few days a 45-minute drive away, on the shores of the Zell am See (www.zellamsee-kaprun.com ), a marvellously scenic lake. The resort town of the same name has the Mavida Balance Hotel and Spa. There are 47 rooms, with great balconies, and it has a snazzy restaurant and a lakeside club area for swimming (00 43 6542 5410, www.mavida.at ; doubles from £173, B&B).

Q I want to take my husband and two children (aged nine and seven) to a Greek island. I don’t mind which one, but I am looking for a villa with a private mooring so we can hire a motorboat. We are happy to pay for a larger property if this will get us what we want.

Mary McGrory, Cheltenham

A A Greek-island villa with motorboat sounds like the perfect holiday, but finding one isn’t easy. There are few villas with a private mooring and even fewer with a reputable boat-hire company nearby. The best options are in northeastern Corfu, which has several secluded bays and beaches, with pretty little harbours in which to drop anchor for lunch. There’s a good boat-hire company based at Kassiopi. The following villa companies can arrange boat hire. The price will vary on the size of the vessel, but expect to pay £200-£500 per week.

Villa Katerina is near the popular little harbour resort of St Stephano, tucked away high above a secluded beach. It sleeps up to six and has a stunning infinity pool. The mooring is just a couple of minutes’ walk away down some steep steps. A week there starts at £2,640 for four, including flights from London, transfers and maid service, with CV Travel (020 7401 1026, www.cvtravel.co.uk ). The company has villas with boat hire on nearby Paxos, too.

Alternatively, right on Corfu’s Avlaki Bay is the Avlaki Beach House. It’s a bright, spacious property with a nice pool, and you can anchor a boat in the shallow waters in front. The villa sleeps up to 10 and starts at £2,350 for a week, excluding flights. Book with Meon Villas (0800 783 1410, www.meonvillas.co.uk ). EasyJet (www.easyjet.com ) flies to Corfu from Gatwick.

Got a travel query? E-mail quickfixes@sunday-times.co.uk

TIP OF THE WEEK “If eating out at the food market on the Djemaa el Fna square, in Marrakesh, the magic number is 14. The stall does only fish and chips, but they’re to die for (and worth the 20-minute queue)” Paul Goodyer is the founder of Nomad, the one-stop travel shop