dominicinco

I am starting a new job and am taking 6 days off beforehand to 'soak it all up' before not having any vacation time for a whole year. I live in Los Angeles and am planning a trip up the coast with the destination being Vancouver. I've driven up HWY 1 to SF many times before and plan to do so again in the future, so my itinerary calls for me to fasttrack my way past SF on the I-5 then take in all in from there, just not sure what to see. My gf and small dog will make this trip with me. Trip date is planned for beginning of September. We are into nature, farmers markets, outlet shopping, trail walking, local cusine, exploring big cities. Our budget is around $75 per night, I am thinking we can stay in clean chain motels that accept dogs like la quinta or best western (reading http://dogfriendly.com for ideas on places that accept dogs).

I would like some ideas on sites we can see on the way up to Vancouver. Should we take the I-5 or 101 once were past SF? I am guessing the 101 is more scenic but will take longer to get to Canada. Whats a good place to spend the 1st night if we start in the morning from LA.

Now that I am thinking about it, 6 days is not a lot of time if we want to stay a night in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. Thats our priority to see and stay in each city with nature/activities secondary. I know the Pacific Northwest has lots of nature/trails that I'd love to see, but I don't know how I am going to fit it all in. Any suggestions.

janisj

Depending on where exactly you are starting from, just the straight drive booking up I-5 like a bat out of hell all the way, LA to Vancouver will take about 25 hours. Add a few hours if this is over Labor Day weekend. So w/ rest stops and doggie stops and meals you have about 4 days worth of driving w/o any detours or sightseeing.

If your priorities are up north - then don't worry much about sites until you are near Portland. You could stopover the first night in Mount Shasta. It is a looooong haul from LA -- it will take all day to get there. But it is scenic and from there on northwards you can take it in easier/shorter bites.

janisj

Oh --I meant Mt Shasta is scenic. The drive between LA and Mt Shasta mostly isn't . .

NorthwestMale

If you live in L.A. then I doubt the ocean scenery will be particularly alluring to you, so that serves as a vote for taking an inland path.

I suggest taking "The Five" to Mt. Shasta, then veering to the east on Hwy #97, visiting Crater Lake, Bend, and then driving directly to the Columbia River at someplace near Biggs, The Dalles, or Hood River, and seeing the Columbia Gorge before stopping in Portland if you want.

Then straight up "The Five" again (while promising to NEVER utter "The Five" north of California). If time permits, take a detour at exit #68, south of Chehalis, WA... and loop around Mount Rainier on your way into Seattle.

As you go north on "EYE-5", consider a slight, scenic detour at exit #231 toward "Chuckanut Drive", which will afford decent water views and an easy reconnect with the freeway just south of Bellingham, WA.

Sounds like you're going to be delayed at the border no matter which path you choose but I'm mildly in favor of the "Truck Customs" crossing @ exit #275 barely south of the Canada border.

Vancouver itself is routinely named the most livable city in North America, and no other North American city consistently lands in the top 10 world-wide in that category.

Hopefully this will be a 100% positive step for you.

dominicinco

Thank you all for your replies. This is a shotgun vacation. Mt. Shasta is about a day drive with stops along the way. Then to Portland seems like another day, and onwards to Seattle/Vanouver will add one more day. I don't think I will have enough time to thoroughly enjoy the trip and take it all in. Unless I fly up but that defeats the purpose of saving money...time is money. I guess I will have to decide soon. On another note, I hear Mexico is nice this time of year, and a lot closer. =o)

tomfuller

If you decide you want to get off I-5 get off 5 at Metzler and take 99 to Fresno and 41 to Oakhurst for the first day.
Second day- Oakhurst to south entrance of Yosemite. Take the road to the right and see Mariposa Grove. From Mariposa Grove head on down into the Valley. Spend at least an hour seeing at least Yosemite Falls. From Yosemite head over 120 to get on Rt. 49 up through the gold country all the way to Grass Valley.
Route 20 west to Williams to get back on I-5. Stay somewhere between Williams and Mount Shasta. Third day goes around Mount Shasta and heads all the way to Crater Lake. Fourth day Crater Lake through Bend, Madras, Route 26 to Government Camp and Route 35 to Hood River and I-84 into Portland.
Fifth day can get you all the way to Vancouver or to Mt. Rainier NP.

janisj

That route would take more than 15 hours of driving just to get as far as Williams.

dominicinco said their priorities are staying in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. Can't see how taking nearly half of their available time just getting to the upper Sacramento Valley fits into those plans . . .

Gardyloo

I don't know how many times I've driven between LA and Seattle, but several dozen at least. I'd personally avoid the central valley, indeed I-5, as much as possible in early September - it can be super hot all the way from the Grapevine to Redding, then again hothothot in Medford and the Rogue Valley. And boring.

By all means blast up I-5 to the Bay area, then cut over to 101 (or better yet, SR1 north of SF, but that might slow you down unacceptably) up to the Redwoods and the southern Oregon coast. With six days I'd do something like this:

Day 1 - LA to north of SF via I-5 and I-580 over the San Rafael Bridge to US 101. If you get an early enough start, Ukiah is not out of reach on the first day; this will be the longest push, also the least scenic.

Day 2 - Ukiah (or wherever) to Brookings OR (or, alternatively, Crescent City CA) via US 101. Stop and visit numerous redwood groves between Eureka and Crescent City - Avenue of the Giants, Founder's Grove, Lady Bird Johnson Groves... they're all simply stunning - nothing like it elsewhere.

Day 3 - CC/Brookings to Eugene OR via US 101 to Reedsport, then SR 38 to I-5. Stop at umpteen gorgeous State Park beaches between the state line and Reedsport, then follow SR38 through the very scenic little Umpqua River gorge to I-5 and into the Willamette Valley. (Watch for elk roadside.)

Day 4 - early up and north on I-5 to I-205 north of Salem, then north on I-205 to US 26 and get to Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood around lunchtime. Then follow SR 35 to Hood River and then follow the "Historic Columbia Gorge Highway" (basically US 30) west along the Columbia Gorge crest into Troutdale and Portland for the night.

Day 5 - Up early and drive to Seattle (3) hours - see a little something of the city, but don't worry, if you're going to be in Vancouver it's dead easy to get to Seattle for a weekend, etc., so plenty of time to explore later.

Day 6 - To Vancouver.

This could be accelerated a little by pushing from CC/Brookings to, say, Cannon Beach, then crossing to Portland on the evening of Day 3. That would give you an extra day to hit the Columbia Gorge, or add Mt. St. Helens on the way to Seattle.

SAB

Good plan Gardy.