Without knowing the size and abilities (or the intended airports) of the OP, I'd have to go with the suggestions of 172. I love my -12 but a 350 mile trip is a major event: I infrequently see 90mph (granted, climb prop, big tires, fat pilot, etc) on the ASI and I'd anticipate a 4 hour trip for 350 miles, even without addressing weather / wind issues. Similarly, I'm a decent sized guy, relatively limber for 60+, but I have to follow a process to get into my -12...less of a process to get out, but still it ain't easy. Lots of room in the -12 but one runs out of legal GW at some point.
If a bush plane is not needed and the 172 doesn't fit the bill for some reason, I'd suggest the tri-pacer...gets a little closer to fitting the mission. My wife loved to fly in the -12 earlier, but nowadays, if she doesn't want to do anything that precludes her from spending time with the GK's....and that includes flying in the -12. And...even in a nice, wide -12, have to agree with Stewart, the only knitting would likely be a barf bag. Right, wrong, or otherwise, a barf bag was always in the pouch for the rear seat passenger to use. Hard to make any sort of comparison, but my -12 seems to get hit pretty hard in thermals or other sorts of turbulence.
FWIW, I'm still trying to see my way clear to get a 180/185/possibly Maule in addition to the -12 because of: 1) the -12 is darn slow for any trips over 100 miles or so; 2) real seats for more than 1 passenger would be good; and 3) a little more legal GW / Useful Load would be beneficial. If one's mission is primarily to go on 350 mile trips to see the GK's, as great as a -12 (or the Supercub) is, I'd suggest something else.
