considering west coast trip

[sack]

the wife and i are thinking of driving from washington to california this summer before the oil companies make it impossible. anyone have experience in this regard? nothing like local knowledge of the areas, thank!

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

It's a beautiful drive but I would imagine it would take you forever to make the Highway 1 drive. We too the trip from Mendocino up to Oregon along the coast, spectacular scenery.

 

[Infinity]

We traveled from San Diego to N. Oregon in our motor home. We were away for 6 weeks from August to mid September 2005.

I guess you are driving a car down so I cannot give any recommendations for Motels / Hotels. Most RV parks are situated on the coast, you will not find better accommodation over looking the ocean.

This is a beautiful drive with amazing scenery. Fantastic sea food restaurants, shops and people. If you like sea food, this is clam chowder and crab heaven. BUT, I have to warn you, this coast is always fogged in during the summer months and I mean ALWAYS! We couldn't take the 60 degree weather after a while and left the coast for central Oregon. A few miles E of the coast the temp goes up to the mid 80's.

You may want to consider renting a motor home for this trip, it will probably cost you less than motels / hotels. This will give you the freedom to come and go as you please and will arguably be the best vacation you ever have.

Brian

 

[sack]

wow! don't know what i was thinking about, i was under the impression that i could drive from seattle to san diego in about 8 to 10 days. thanks for the info, we'll have to change our plans a bit. suvs are more my style , and staying in hotels, wifey likes it like that. thanks for the advice!

 

[Putz Mulligan]

The trip is possible in a matter of days depending on what you want to see and do.

It's true that going "inland" will assure warmer temperatures but you will miss the amazing coastal drive.

Suggestions:

Redding (Jack's Grill)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Lake Tahoe
Yosemite :thumbs:
Napa Valley/Sorrento/Calistoga (wine, spas, more wine) :thumbs:
Sausalito
San Francisco/Berkeley/Oakland (food, alcatraz, fisherman's wharf, Coit tower, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, ball parks, hotels up the ying yang........and restaurants, could spend an entire week here) :thumbs:
Santa Cruz/Monterey/Carmel (Big Sur, golf, Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Cambria Pines/Hearst Castle (sick layout, Willy Randolph had too much money and not enough time) :thumbs:
San Luis Obispo (micro brews, college town)
Santa Ynez, Solvang (wine, food, movie Sideways local, mini Scandinavia)
Santa Barbara (shopping, food, nice downtown bar local on State Street, the Queen of the Missions, the wharf, beach art show on Sundays, the California version of the Riviera....and romantic) :thumbs:
Los Angeles (Hollywood, Dodger's Stadium, Rodeo Drive, too much stuff to list)
San Juan Capistrano
La Costa Resort
Del Mar
San Diego

You would be hard pressed to do all of these in an eight day period but you could hit some big areas.

That should whet your appetite!

Good luck with it.

Charlie

 

[sack]

The trip is possible in a matter of days depending on what you want to see and do.

It's true that going "inland" will assure warmer temperatures but you will miss the amazing coastal drive.

Suggestions:

Redding (Jack's Grill)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Lake Tahoe
Yosemite :thumbs:
Napa Valley/Sorrento/Calistoga (wine, spas, more wine) :thumbs:
Sausalito
San Francisco/Berkeley/Oakland (food, alcatraz, fisherman's wharf, Coit tower, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, ball parks, hotels up the ying yang........and restaurants, could spend an entire week here) :thumbs:
Santa Cruz/Monterey/Carmel (Big Sur, golf, Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Cambria Pines/Hearst Castle (sick layout, Willy Randolph had too much money and not enough time) :thumbs:
San Luis Obispo (micro brews, college town)
Santa Ynez, Solvang (wine, food, movie Sideways local, mini Scandinavia)
Santa Barbara (shopping, food, nice downtown bar local on State Street, the Queen of the Missions, the wharf, beach art show on Sundays, the California version of the Riviera....and romantic) :thumbs:
Los Angeles (Hollywood, Dodger's Stadium, Rodeo Drive, too much stuff to list)
San Juan Capistrano
La Costa Resort
Del Mar
San Diego

You would be hard pressed to do all of these in an eight day period but you could hit some big areas.

That should whet your appetite!

Good luck with it.

Charlie

i'm drooling already, thanks!