WEst Coast WINTER holiday - 5 weeks driving.

Old Apr 7th, 2014, 05:41 PM
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WEst Coast WINTER holiday - 5 weeks driving.

Hi, I am very new to this site and the whole idea of posting a message.

I read, with great interest, the posts made by Shanek on his family trip down the PCH of West USA.
We too are a family from Australia (my husband Jon, my two sons Ryan(10) and Luke (9) and me, Kym) doing a driving trip of 4 weeks, starting in Seattle and ending in Los Angeles. I would like to give you some details, and would so appreciate any advice that can be offered. My biggest dilemma is my unfamiliarity with which roads are passable in the north-west areas in winter, so therefore, what we can realistically get to.

We arrive on Dec 20th into Seattle, and hire a car to drive out to the Wenatchee area (Leavenworth to be precise) where we are staying for 5 days over Christmas - to give my sons their first white Christmas (hopefully!).
The next date I need to give is Jan 23rd, when we fly out of LA for Australia. Between then, is the big road trip. I am aware that we will experience a lot of snow in Washington, and really, my main focus is on a trip down the beautiful coast to LA, with a week in Vegas added in, so we can see the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon.

Is it possible to get to Yosemite in winter, and would we be able to do that by crossing from the Wenatchee area. I figure we will then have to double-back to begin our trip down the coast. I have travelled by road from San Francisco to San Simeon and was so totally blown away by the beauty of the coast. It became the driving force behind my plans to take my family over and repeat the experience.

My sons are young and very active, so we would like to visit theme parks, but also national parks and places that have some historical significance that they would find interesting.
Also, do you think i will need to book accommodation before we set out, as this creates a whole new thing to consider. At the moment, we are not locked into any particular dates where we have to be at certain times, but this would clearly change if I had to pre-book accomm and decide ahead of time, how long to stay in certain places.

I have been researching this trip for almost 6 months, I actually booked our 'cabin in the snow' in November of 2012! But, please forgive me any errors i have made or will make in future posts, about where places are and the distances/roads etc that are involved in getting there!
You are an amazing group of people, giving up your time and energy to answer questions from total stangers. But, it is very appreciated.

REgards, Kym
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 05:57 PM
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Kym again. WE are actually driving for about 3 1/2 weeks, not five. That is our total time away.
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 06:21 PM
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There may be some delays, but you will be able to get around. Ask your car rental company about chains for the ice and snow.

Here is a possibile itinerary: From Leavenworth drive to Maryhill on the Columbia River and then on WA-14 to the bridge at Hood River Oregon. Cross the river and continue to Multnomah Falls and the Historic Columbia River Highway. Spend the night in Portland. Drive to Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast and then down the coast to Brookings, the redwoods in Northern California, and on to the Sonoma and Napa Valleys and San Francisco. Take a detour to Yosemite and then drive Highway 1 from Monterey to Malibu--there is much to do along the way including the Hearst "Castle" in San Simeon. Los Angeles has Hollywood, studio tours, great museums of all kinds, Venice Beach, etc. and in the LA vicinity are theme parks of all kinds. South of LA is Orange County with its many piers, surfers, etc. and then San Diego with more theme parks, a great zoo, and beaches.

Welcome to America, and enjoy.

HTtY
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 08:29 PM
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I hope that you luck out and have a little snow in Leavenworth.
http://leavenworthchristmaslighting.com/
Coastal Washington and coastal Oregon are quite temperate. Snow on the coast is quite rare.
Try to get to Crater Lake via the south entrance if you want to see a beautiful place with snow.
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 05:16 AM
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One thing to keep in mind is that it will be the rainy season in California and to have a plan in case it's pouring while you're traveling. This is especially important along the coast - saying around Redwood National and State Parks. Areas there get 100 inches or so of rain yearly and almost all of that rain is during the winter.

If you go inland to areas in the Sierra Nevada such as Yosemite - which is absolutely gorgeous in the winter - you'll need a backup plan in case roads are closed due to snow.
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 08:23 AM
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>

That's a delightful idea (I'm in Seattle). I hope you have a wonderful time. Sorry can't help much with the specifics of your driving trip other than to say it sounds like a fantastic time.
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 04:40 PM
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Thank you for your replies. We are going to hope and pray we don't get rained out! I am a teacher so our Summer holidays are over Christmas so any extended holiday has to be taken then . I knew it was the wet season but ... No choice sadly! Otherwise, all my photos will have us in raincoats!!
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 06:43 PM
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I live in California and really I do not consider December to be our rainy season. For us it usually starts raining around late January - April. We are in a severe drought right now so not much rain at all these past years. Do not let the thought of 'rainy season' scare you off. The rain is pretty sad here compared to other places.

Your trip sounds great. Don't miss the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey. The kids will love it. The redwoods in Northern Ca are not to be missed.
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 07:08 PM
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Thank you Michele_d, that gives me encouragement. We are sooo excited about the trip and I have been planning it for 2 years. It is just lovely that it is this year!! Finally. May I ask, would I get to Yosemite from San Francisco or is it higher up than that?

I have heard so much about the redwoods and they are most definitely on our itinerary. I have made a note about the Aquarium in Monterey. sounds great.
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 07:19 PM
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I would really love some help with planning which route to take. We begin in the Seattle area and fly out from LA. We would like to include the entire West coast between those 2 destinatinos, but also add in the drive to Yosemite (snow/roads permitting)and to Vegas. We would like to do a helpicopter ride out to the Grand Canyon as a day trip. Also, Monument Valley sounds worth driving through. I am not really sure how to inclue all this in one trip without doubling back at some stage. We are on the road from Dec 27th to about the 18th of Jan, where we will plan then on spending a week or so in LA to see all the attractions there.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Of course, any suggestions about how long to spend in places or whether to try for a new city/town every 2 days would be great too.
Thanks everyone,
Kym
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 07:24 PM
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The coast can be rainy (mountains snowy) and don't forget that the daylight hours are very short, so don't over-plan.

I would folloy HTTY's general itinerary, with the proviso that you build in a couple of just-in-case days in the event you encounter really awful conditions, like an ice storm in the Columbia Gorge, or one of the rare, but quite paralyzing, snowstorms in Seattle or Portland that can occur at that time of year. Also understand that most hire/rental car companies will not allow tire chains, so that will also severely limit your access to mountainous national parks. Stick to the coast when possible.

It can be wet on the coast, but also quite glorious. Here are some snapshots from a trip we took from Seattle to southern California in January of last year.

Southern Oregon coast

http://gardyloo.us/20130116_27a.JPG
http://gardyloo.us/20130116_84HD1a.jpg

California redwoods (car for scale)

http://gardyloo.us/20130117_57a.JPG
http://gardyloo.us/20130117_51a.JPG

Monterey aquarium (a must-see for the kids)

http://gardyloo.us/0118-6a.JPG
http://gardyloo.us/0118-4a.JPG

Monarch butterflies, Pacific Grove (Monterey)

http://gardyloo.us/20130124_155a.JPG
http://gardyloo.us/20130124_187a.JPG

Big Sur

http://gardyloo.us/20130119_61H1a.jpg

Elephant seal colony, San Simeon

http://gardyloo.us/20130124_7a.JPG
http://gardyloo.us/20130119_90a.JPG
http://gardyloo.us/20130119_121a.JPG

Mission Santa Barbara, 1826

http://gardyloo.us/20110205_8a.JPG (pic taken 2011).
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 07:54 PM
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WOW!! Amazing pics! I hope you have put them into a calendar!
Thanks for your input. I do remember reading somewhere about not putting snow chains on rental cars, so that will definitely rule out Yosemite I should think. What a shame.
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 10:40 PM
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Don't rule out Yosemite. It is a must do!
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 10:50 PM
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Is there a way to do Yosemite in winter, given we will have a rental car and be unalbe to apply snow chains?
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 05:54 AM
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It depends on when the first big snowstorm happens in Yosemite.
You won't need chains to get to the south entrance of Crater Lake. They keep it plowed even with a rotary plow if required.
If you can get there on Saturday or Sunday, try to tske the Ranger led snowshoe hike. http://www.nps.gov/crla/parknews/ran...ional-park.htm
Expect the hikes to resume sometime in December 2014.
Expect the coastal area to be rainy and blustery although you could luck out and have nice weather.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 09:51 AM
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<We would like to include the entire West coast between those 2 destinatinos, but also add in the drive to Yosemite (snow/roads permitting)and to Vegas. We would like to do a helpicopter ride out to the Grand Canyon as a day trip. Also, Monument Valley sounds worth driving through.>

Now you are trying to do too much IMO. That would leave you one week for the drive down the coast from Seattle to LA which is not enough time. One week in LA. And one week for Yosemite, Vegas, Grand Canyon daytrip and all the driving to get there and back. The West Coast is huge and a lot of miles are involved. I personally would concentrate on Washington, Oregon and CA. There is enough to do there for months on end.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 10:22 AM
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Let me offer one additional thought. While Leavenworth is fine for your Christmas stay, the drive from Seattle over Stevens Pass in late December can be pretty hairy, especially for people who might not be familiar with winter driving conditions, and who might be jet-lagged and driving on the "wrong" side of the road to boot. In the rain. Or the snow. Or in the dark.

Instead, consider flying into Wenatchee (EAT) and driving to Leavenworth from there. Return flights (say 20-26 Dec.) from Seattle are around US$160, but it would save over a day's (unpleasant) driving, and being on the east side of the Cascades (same as Leavenworth) the chances of nasty driving conditions would be lessened. It's a very easy (30-40 min.) drive from the airport to Leavenworth, and a short-term car hire from EAT would probably be cheaper on a day-to-day basis than from SEA.

Then fly back to Seattle and start your road trip here, without worrying about holiday-weekend traffic, skiers trying to get to/from the slopes, or lousy weather on busy mountain roads.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:21 AM
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Ditch the helicopter trip, the trips from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon take you to tourist trap Grand Canyon West (ripoff and expensive). You can drive to Grand Canyon and stay overnight, it is really to far for a day trip (5 hours each way), or if time does not permit, take a fixed wing plane to Grand Canyon South Rim. Have a great trip.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:56 AM
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Kymjon, just want to make sure that Washington's weather has been conveyed accurately to you:

(nobody has mis-communicated our weather, but it hasn't been ideally clarified for somebody likely seeing a 'flat' map from across the world)

SO, using this map: http://www.bentler.us/western-washin...s/default.aspx

The entire length of the Cascade Mountain Range (within Washington) should be expected to be prohibiting, for reasons of winter snow. The main, most reliable east-west passage through those mountains is Interstate 90, which is kept mostly bare when not immediately impacted by winter weather.

The very best and most scenic routes from east-to-west tend to be closed for most or all of the winter months.

The Olympic Mountain Range, to the west of Seattle, is generally snowy all winter as well... (not that I sense you to be heading there).

The areas in between the two, and including much of the path between Vancouver, Canada and Vancouver, Washington (Portland, Oregon) don't often get snow at all. (highest elevations in Seattle might get snow on 4 or 5 days in a typical winter) (more in the outlying areas)

So as you have laid-out your dates quite suitably, it seems reasonable to anticipate your being able to get over to Leavenworth between Dec. 20 and Christmas. There is no other way to sensibly plan than to create a back-up idea in the event you can't get from Seattle to Leavenworth for a day or two, due to weather. (You might land and find Seattle paralyzed (mostly by fear{ours, not yours}, rather than the actual amount of snow on the ground) and then find it necessary to stay in the Seattle area for a day or two before trekking east toward Leavenworth).

Upon your later departure from Leavenworth, for pure winter scenery, I don't think that the path toward the south is too much better, or worse, on the west side of the Cascade Mountains vs. the east side. And if you know that the weather IN those mountains is bad, then it would be sensible to stay east and not have to pass through them.

The worse the weather is anticipated to be, the more you will focus on Interstate 90 as your best chance for getting across the mountains in either direction. And just THAT drive alone, for people not used to snow, will be quite enough to gain the full effect.

(FYI - the south face of Mount Rainier is the snowiest place on earth where regular measurements are recorded ... but again, the "Interstate 5 corridor" between Seattle and Portland is easily passable on all but a very few days each year.)

(Here's a precipitation map for the west coast of the USA: http://www.skimountaineer.com/Cascad...cipMap.Med.gif - most north-to-south travel is in the green areas along that "Interstate 5 corridor" )

So, December 27 - Jan. 18 for making your path from Washington State down to Los Angeles...

Good to have several days on the ground to acclimate and figure out what time zone/hemisphere you're in, before driving off toward the south.

If weather keeps you to the east of the Cascades for your path toward Oregon, then indeed, as was mentioned earlier, take in the Columbia Gorge and press on toward Portland via Multnomah Falls, etc.

IF the weather permits passage from Leavenworth back to Seattle, then you probably owe it to yourself to spend a couple of days (here)... as it wouldn't be right to have flown into Seattle from so far away, and not spent any time (here).

Upon reaching the Portland area along Interstate 5, you should probably invest the time to see Multnomah Falls from the western approach, and at least gain a sense for The Columbia Gorge. (read at glaciallakemissoula.org for more understanding of the Columbia Gorge).

Were it summer, or at least not the dead of winter, the Oregon Coast would be a natural, but in this case you might head that way mainly to avoid possible weather delays/problems in far-southern Oregon and northern California too.

For extremely-southern Oregon weather/driving concerns along Interstate 5, familiarize yourself with Siskiyou Summit, which is the area of main concern with regard to the challenges of driving Interstate 5 from Seattle to California.

While Portland, Oregon has been known to have worse winter weather than does Seattle (for less protection from ocean weather by mountains to the west), the path from Seattle to central Oregon along Interstate 5 is seldom more than gentle hills and valleys.

In the event of extremely forbidding weather where Interstate 5 meets the California/Oregon border, you would drive toward the coast and stay on the coast highway, which threatens with only wind and rain (each potentially severe) rather than stay on the inland path.

It probably isn't an outlandish move to consider crossing Oregon on the EAST side of the mountains, which would put you in close proximity to Crater Lake, but just keep in mind that getting back and forth from east to west, across the mountains, is a steady challenge.

So much depends on the weather, that to play it by ear upon your arrival isn't a bad idea. Shouldn't be any problem getting lodging on the fly during that period of time (though do make arrangements for New Year's Eve, just in case...)

Seattle and Portland, during your window, will either be rainy, grey, and chilly... or downright cold and sunny. (We could bet on the former, even from this far out)

I just... think that during the winter, to stay and make a go of both Seattle and Portland for a couple of nights each is likely to afford more substance than might scenic treks out into the hinterlands which will be reduced in quality by rain or snow.

Northern California coast:... probably rainy, windy and grey in the far north, yet still rather scenic, especially considering you'd need to be taking that path to get where you're heading.

So what am I even saying/sensing:

Leave Leavenworth on the 27th...

2 nights in Seattle ???

2 nights in Portland (including New Year's Eve)

then YOU decide which path to take to the south... the coast, Interstate 5 (lots of green, and rain), or the east side of the Cascade Mountains (puts you near Crater Lake).

Maybe two nights between Portland and San Francisco.

San Francisco for 3 nights (slowly getting warmer, with less rain likely)

Then you leave San Francisco toward the south. Sounds for sure like you are staying on the coast for that, and with such a schedule you would likely have time to head inland at San Luis Obispo, and perhaps set your sights on Death Valley before going to Vegas.

See if the timing affords you the chance to drive to the Grand Canyon and back, from Vegas. (Las Vegas to Tusayan, Arizona = 4 hours, 270 miles, 432 km)


Hope this fills in at least a couple of blanks.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 12:02 PM
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LOL - I did my night-math wrong... If you left Leavenworth on the 27th, and first did 2 nights in Seattle, and then 2 in Portland, then New Year's Eve would be the next night after that.

It would still probably be more interesting to spend New Year's Eve IN Portland than in some remote spot in central Oregon.
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