Digital Gee

Next week, my favorite web designer and I have the opportunity to drive from Seattle to San Diego, and no deadlines to meet. We can spend up to a week getting from one end to the other.

We plan to take the scenic (coastal) route from one end to the other. While we're keeping our itinerary spontaneous, if anyone has suggestions on things we should try to see or do while enroute, I love to hear your suggestions.

No cycling for a week, but I'll make up for that afterwards!

Yen

Since you'll be taking the coastal route, don't miss Big Sur.

Our favorite spot on CA coast is Cambria. Take a long walk on the boardwalk on Moonstone Beach and at the end you can search for and collect some nice stones on the beach and perhaps even see some elephant seals along the way. Eat dinner at the Sea Chest (arrive early and wait in line for the best seats) or the Sow's Ear. Drive up the coast a ways to Ragged Point for gorgeous scenery. In the other direction, drive along a shady road to Linn's Berry Farm. In town, check out Nit Wit Ridge and the old cemetary. Take a long walk along East West Ranch (which may be developed now -- when we were there in 9/06, it was a walking path overlooking the ocean). Down the highway a ways is the tiny town of Harmony that has a couple of interesting shops, a nice winery, and not much else. Hearst Castle in San Simeon (a short ride up from Cambria) is a very popular tourist attraction.

TruF 

Mendocino's nice for an afternoon. Hwy 1 from there to SF is lovely. Half Moon Bay has a sweet downtown. Also, Duarte's in Pescadero for their artichoke soup.

BengeBoy 

Gary,

There are two routes South from Seattle to Oregon -- one is straight down Interstate 5 to Portland, then over to the coast. A lot of people seem to hurry right down to Oregon, because the Oregon Coast is so spectacular.

However, the other -- more scenic route -- is to take a ferry from Seattle across to either Bainbridge Island or Bremerton, and then either head down the Hood Canal, or swing to the Northwest and make a big swing around the Olympic Peninsula...then from there head south toward Oregon. (Here's a route in Google Maps: https://tinyurl.com/6cghyk)


By coincidence, today I was out on the Olympic Peninsula (in a car) with my son working on his senior project (about ghost towns in the Pacific Northwest). Spectacular country....here's a couple of pics to convince you to take the scenic route (these were taken today):

Crescent Lake, Olympic Peninsula:





There's a lodge on this lake called Crescent Lake Lodge.

View from Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park (taken today)...this is about a 40 minute drive up from Port Angeles, Washington:






A couple of other places to consider on the Olympic Peninsula are (a) an old Victorian port city on the Northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, called Port Townsend. You can see Canada just across the water. and (b) Lake Quinalt, where there is an old Forest Service Lodge called Lake Quinalt Lodge where you can spend the night.

Also, I just drove most of the Oregon Coast a few weeks ago. It's got spectacular scenery, plus a fair number of ticky-tacky beach towns. IMHO the nicest town on the Oregon Coast is a place called Cannon Beach. Unlike many of the other towns on the coast, it's just off the main highway, so it has less of the touristy stuff.

If you like nautical stuff, there is a nice nautical museum in Astoria, Oregon, just after you cross the bridge into Oregon.

If you like history, you can stop at Fort Clatsop and see a recreation of the fort where Lewis & Clark spent the winter during their expedition. It's an easy 20-minute stop, just to see, right off the highway.

Another town we liked on the coast was Newport, Oregon. It has a *very* tacky tourist strip on the highway, but just two blocks off is a funky little business district that's being restored.

It has this restaurant, which we really liked:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...rt_Oregon.html

MrPhil

I had a wonderful night in Albion, California. Of course it was 25 years ago. Cannot really comment on current conditions.

Rober

If you don't want to do the entire trip along the coast, go over the Cascades from Eugene to Bend, then down to CA via Shasta and Weed. Stop in the Valley (anywhere south of Redding) for some olives (there are signs along the way). To avoid dreary Hwy 5, go east and through Chico to Sacramento, then to Stockton, then cut over to the Santa Clara Valley via the Pacheco Pass Road (be careful!) and to Gilroy. From there you can go south on Hwy 101 (stop for some great red wine at Three Oaks Vineyard in Morgan Hill) and go over the Mt. Madonna Road (turn off 101 in Gilroy or Morgan Hill) to Watsonville. From there, south to Monterey and Carmel, down Hwy 1 through Big Sur, and into Southern California via Santa Barbara, Malibu, and Santa Monica. From there, you're on your own. I'm a Northern Californian and I get lost beyond that point. Have a great trip!

Digital Gee

Thanks for ALL these wonderful suggestions! I can't wait for Monday, the day we leave!

The Smokester

If you end up doing 101, stop in Gold Beach, OR and take a Jet Boat ride up the Rogue River.

The Arcata Hotel in Arcata, CA is a funky place to stay...We had the two-room business suite with large brass bathroom, bath and shower there once. Sometimes there is jazz playing in one of the club/restaurants on the main square. It's where Humbolt State U is located so there is often pretty good entertainment.

Going south of Arcata and Eureka, don't miss the Avenue of the Giants. Redwood trees...Very romantic and peaceful. If you want an inexpensive place to stay and excellent food try the casual "Riverwood Inn" in Phillipsville, CA near the southern end of the Avenue. Loreene, the owner, is a great hostess. They often have superb entertainment on Saturday nights...Last time I was there they had Curtis Salgado singing the blues to an audience of less than about 100 people.

Artkansas 

I guess that means we won't be hearing from DG much this week.

John E

All good suggestions. I love the greater Mendocino area.

rae

If you are still checking in--- in the Arcata/Eureka area, we always enjoyed breakfast at the Samoa Cook House (in Samoa). Don't know if it still exists. We always did a little panning for gold while in the area... & there were several nice galleries in Arcata (I think); but it has been many many years since I was there.
Also, while on 1 south from San Fran, there is a beach called Jade Cove, which is a good place to collect (you guessed it ) jade nuggets.

Old School

DG has definitely left the building...

Hopefully he will submit a trip report (w/ pics) in a week or so for our mutual enjoyment and edification!

BengeBoy 

There was something on the radio here this morning in Seattle about a "dignitary" arriving at the airport, a "motorcade accompanied by a swarm of motorcycle police" and "a welcoming ceremony featuring the University of Washington marching band, the governor of the state of Washington and Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft. Howard Schultz, chairman of Starbucks, was on hand to serve coffee."

Must have been our boy...