hallihope

My family and I are going to spend time in California this summer. We have never been. The plan is to arrive in San Francisco and spend 3 nights. then we will rent a car and we have 5 possible 6 days to drive up the coast to meet more family in Astoria, Oregon before spending our last 2 or 3 nights in Seattle. Astoria was only chosen because I asked my family member where Goonies movie was filmed and she said Astoria - so she is going to meet us there for a night before we move on to her house for a visit. Seemed like a cool place to see. I want to see the redwood trees - hope to stop at Muir woods on the way out of San Francisco, but also see Redwood national forest. Any suggestions on a route to take and sights to see. This is probably a once in a lifetime trip and I have never been to the west coast. One sight my husband wants to see is VooDoo Donuts in portland, oregon - so does anyone know of other things to check out there that would make it worth our effort to go out of the way?? I appreciate any input anyone may have.
Thanks
hallihope

voyager61

Congratulations on your first trip to the west coast. It might be helpful to know what kinds of things you enjoy doing while traveling. There are beautiful natural sights on the entire drive, and some fun tourist spots. If I were making the drive and not sure if I would get back, I would stop in Napa Valley for wine tasting, Redwood National Forest for sure as you indicated, Portland/Cannon Beach, and Mount Rainier National Park, before arriving in Seattle, where Pike Market, the Space Needle, seafood meals, and a ferry ride to Winslow on Bainbridge Island are favorites.

In Portland, I like the excellent little restaurants and safe and walkable downtown area...good art museum too.

If you have 5 or 6 nights, you could do something like this:

San Francisco, 3 nights
Redwoods 1 night
Portland, 1 or 2 nights(see Cannon Beach/Ecola State park on
way from Portland to Astoria)
Astoria, 2 nights
Mt. Rainier, 1 night
Seattle, 2 or 3 nights

Shanti

If you are going to Redwoods National and State Parks I would skip Muir Woods which gets crowded. Muir Woods is nice but the redwood parks further north are fabulous. You could also go through Humboldt Redwoods State Park on your drive up north.

A couple possibilities in California include the Marin Headlands, Point Reyes National Seashore, Mendocino, Mendocino Botanical Gardens, and the redwood parks.

I haven't been to Oregon or Washington in ages so can't really comment on that part except that the Columbia River Gorge is really nice.

Drive up highway 1 from San Francisco until it rejoins 101 north of Ft Bragg.

NorthwestMale

Hi, speaking of filming... be aware that the original Twilight movie was filmed a great deal in the St. Helens, Oregon area. There are several backdrops from the movie there in St. Helens, chief among them is Bella Swan's house.

Don't know if you're into Twilight, but it is just 32 miles from Portland to St. Helens... and 67 miles from Astoria to St. Helens.

I went to Voodoo Doughnut several weeks ago... still very trendy and very happening, but the doughnuts are a bit pricey, so don't buy too many dozens. (They're rich, too, so maybe buy fewer than is your impulse)

kawh

when he goes to voodoo to get his must-have (but not all that.. sorry) donuts, you can go up the block to stumptown coffee... the beans are a great present to bring back to family and friends. my husband and i have a tradition where he goes to voodoo, while i wait in line at mothers for a real breakfast... delicious and fun to sit at the bar and watch the real pros make bloody marys and such at lightning speed. you will love portland... try to spend a night there if you can.

the drive up the coast from the bay area is just amazing.... very, very slow, but you will fill yourself with redwoods and coastline. or if you do go near napa, you could take a detour to calistoga, if you are fans of thermal water.

i assume you are fans of classic junk favorites... so if you drive up the freeway, you will have a couple of opportunities to stop at the coffeeshop chain 'elmers' which has one of the best german pancakes ever!

hallihope

Wow! Thanks so much for all the information. This is my first time to use this website. I have never used a forum before. Its so great to get info from people who have actually been before. I will definitely think about spending the night in portland now thanks for info on voodoo donuts. As far as my interests - we know we want to see a lot of the natural sights like the redwoods and coast - we just didn't know if there is a better route to take. Like - we want to drive up the coast but don't know if its worth it to take highway 1 all the way up. AFter a few hours of seeing the coast driving is it all the same and could we benefit by taking a faster route to get somewhere cool a little farther inland. I'm going to spend some time today looking up all the places you all mentioned. Thanks for the heads up on Muir woods. My aunt went there and said how beautiful it was is why I was going - and on the way out. I don't know anyone who has been to the redwood national forest so wasn't sure how it was. The Sequoia national forest is south of Sanfrancisco and seems massive in size to any of the others. Was hoping the redwood natl in the north would be worth the stop. My main things I want to see are redwoods, ocean and just any natural scenery - love outdoor beauty. My children are 9 and 11 - so hopefully they can enjoy it too. we will probably skip napa valley because of having the kids - seems like it wouldn't be a kid thing I need to see where Mt rainier is and check it out. Thanks so much voyager61 for the itinerary - just the kind of thing i'm looking for. One question I do have is - highway 1 looks pretty desolate on the map - are there places to stop along the way? hotels/gas/restaurants/shops?? places to get out, park and just look or get on teh beach? I picture it a scary windy road on the side of a cliff the whole time - but beautiful to see? mapquest says 10 hours taking highway 1 to where it joins fort bragg at 101. long time if nothing in between. might want to stay overnight half way somewhere. thanks again for all the input. This is so nice to have.

Shanti

101 will get you from point A to point B. Except at the very southern end where there are some nice views of the bay, there isn't much scenery. Well, parts of it are flanked by a redwood hedge but it's purpose it to get you north or south. The southern end of it (up to past Santa Rosa) can get ridiculously congested during rush hour. However, it will not be as fast as if you drove up Interstate 5 - which is less scenic for most of the way (but you eventually get gorgeous views of Mt Shasta).

If you look up close on, say, Google maps, you'll see lots of state parks and small towns along the way on 1. Parts of it are rural but it is by no means remote. But it will definitely take you more time and I'd plan on more than ten hours because you will want to stop along the way.

kawh

if you end up zooming up hwy 5, you could stop at ashland (if the kids like theater) or head over to crater lake for a night or two. it is a lovely drive over, and kids find that lake impressive, when not much scenery impresses. (however, we were there last summer in early june, and there was still lots of snow... so depends on how late in the summer.)

as i said before... that coastal drive is very slow... but it's certainly beautiful. i did it all the time with my family, growing up, and even as a kid felt like it was something special. it really doesn't all look the same because you go from redwoods to other evergreen to very rough coast... and there are amazing sand dunes too which are very attactive to kids!

sunbum1944

Here is a link to driving the Oregon coast- it is not that desolate- lots of stops along the way

http://www.oregoncoasttravel.net

The area between Coos Bay and Florence is not very scenic as 101 is lined with trees so you don't see much. The area between Florence and Lincoln City is breathtaking - don't just do a drive by though- be prepared to stop and enjoy.

Also the south coast around Bandon is very beautiful.

Astoria is an OK town with lots of history but I think there are places that much more quaint and interesting.

The sand dunes around Florence are interesting- you could do a dune buggy ride to get the feel of how expansive they are.

Enjoy

aprillilacs

I second the suggestion to skip Muir Woods and focus instead on Redwoods National Park in the far north. Another option not far north of San Francisco is Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, with lovely redwoods as well, as FAR less crowded than Muir Woods.

Calif. Hwy 1 does take a long time but is oh-so-worth it. (Again, I am seconding Shanti's spot-on comments.) Amazing scenery, and no scarey cliff-hanging drives to speak of. Stay overnight along the way if you'd like a break. Plenty of small stores, etc., to stop at for provisions.

Interstate 5 is relentless and boring until you get to Shasta, and then it becomes boring again. Unless I am pressed for time and want to get from SF to central Oregon quickly (9 hours), I always choose to go up 1.

hallihope

Thanks so much everyone i really appreciate it. I'm thinking we will drive up 1 and stay somewhere between san fran and redwood natl forest. then - just need to find a good place. WE are going to be traveling from july 10-21st so i'm sure we will need reservations. I've always been a oh we will find somewhere to stop when we feel like it - but I don't want to take a chance on having no where to stop. There is so much to see - I wish we could go up 1 and drive back down 5. I have decided cannon beach, oregon is a must. The dunes in florence are probably going to be great with the kids too. Thanks so much for all the info. kind of wanted to see crater lake but i think i'm going to have to pick between that and driving up coast. If anyone knows a good place to spend the night kind of half way between san fran adn redwood natl. that would be great. Can't thank everyone enough for all the great ideas!

sunbum1944

Here is a fun place to stay in Oregon- you could stay in a yurt- the deluxe ones have indoor bathrooms and a small kitchen

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/inde...Page&parkId=83
It is situated on a small lake- but the downside is that you would have to provide your own linens- sleeping bags, towels etc so maybe that would not work.
You would have to make reservations ASAP!

My favorite Oregon beach is at Heceta Head ( also known as Devils Elbow)- just north of Florence so be sure to stop there. Great place for the kids, trails up to the lighthouse, caves to explore, good place for a picnic lunch.

A place that I enjoyed staying in California is the Trinidad Inn- in Trinidad- nice, clean, kitchens in some of the units and BBQ's for guests to use- continental breakfast was provided- good place to stay with kids I think- even a tree house.

sunbum1944

link to the dune buggy rides

http://www.sandland.com

kawh

when i was a kid, i also really, really liked the 'sea lion caves.' they are near florence, oregon, if you are going to that area.

driving up to the national forest from s.f. -- this is one case where you will probably want to wing it. see how late a start you get, how many stops, whether you come across something you love... there are so very many towns you can stop in to stay... and you just won't know how long you want to take to drive it. i would plan out most of the other nights, but leave that one open.

hallihope

This is awesome. so many things to do. Sounds like Oregon has more to do than California. thanks so much - keep it coming

sunbum1944

By the way- there is a VooDoo Donuts in Eugene too- just in case you come this way. I have never actually had one- but I see people getting on planes with a box to take home sometimes.

hallihope

thanks!