I think this trip is going to grow into a 6 month visit !!
LOL thank you all. I am making lists like crazy, looking at maps and figuring things out.
Anyone want to Pup sit? I think we will definitely have to leave him behind (shhh..don't tell him) ((&))
I think we are going to make Ashland a trip on it's own. Not on the way somewhere but a long weekend or weekend to see something or hear something..this is going to be more of an old fashioned Road Trip..shades of Easy Rider lol...
You are all very kind to contribute so much, thanks again!

Hi, Scarlett!

Another piece to add to your planning puzzle:

You cannot drive south from SF to Santa Cruz on Highway 1. A portion of the road is closed - from Pacifica to Montara.

You could go down on I-280 to Highway 92, cut over to the coast and retake Highway 1 at Half Moon Bay.

This subject came up on another thread and I just thought you might want to add this piece to your trip planning.

easytraveler

This is my second post, the first got swallowed up in cyberspace!

>>You cannot drive south from SF to Santa Cruz on Highway 1. A portion of the road is closed - from Pacifica to Montara.<<

Do you know how long it will be closed, Easytraveler? We were planning to drive from San Francisco to Monterey in a couple of weeks.

Lee Ann

The Devil's Slide area is closed indefinitely. Take 280 to 92 over to Half Moon Bay.

No word on when the road will be openned - the road bed was damaged, so it will be awhile. No worries though, just cut over to Hwy 1 at Hwy 92. That is a nice little road over the mountain.

Besides Devil Slide be aware if you are travelling on I-80, once you cross the Carquinez Bridge (that spans from Vallejo to Crockett going south) the first two right hand lanes are closed on I-80 do to an mudslide. So try to avoid that area during commute time if at all possible. I haven't heard how long it will take to correct this situation.

Scarlett, you will need a year! And I don't think dear Pup will allow that, do you?

Seriously, I have had so many road trips between the SF/Bay Area and Portland..all beautiful trips. As well as from the SF/Bay Area to S CA.

If it is possible I would strongly suggest the month of September. The children are back in school and the weather will be so lovely.

We never had every moment and every nightly hotel planned which made it more fun but I know that doesn't work for everyone.

Hi, Lee Ann1

The others have answered your question very well!

It's not a very long stretch of Highway 1 that is affected, so you will not be missing too much.

The closure is just such a pain in the tutu for local residents!

Just stay out of Placer Co., Sweetie because "Sheriff Ed's House" in Auburn isn't big enuff for the both of us and I'm sure we'd wind up there! \/

Will you be swinging by Clovis' Friday Farmer's Markets? :-?

from portland either take the 5 to L.A. and the coast back. stop in Bandon, OR to relax for a few days and stay in a new vacation rental. bandon beach vacation rentals. www.bandonbeachrentals.com

Bandon, OR is a great spot. My DH and I stumbed upon it 20 years ago, and have been back a couple times since. We really need to get back, it's a great OR coast spot.

>>Will you be swinging by Clovis' Friday Farmer's Markets?<<

There's a farmer's market in Clovis? Hmmmm... :-? I'll be about an hour northeast of there...

Thanks for the Hwy. 1 information, everyone. It sounds like it won't be a problem to miss that stretch - for us, anyway, not the poor locals!

One more week and we'll be in California - I can't wait!

Scarlett, you've gotten a ton of great suggestions; LoveItaly's idea of waiting until at least September is wise.

Lee Ann

If you go later on in the year, another road to scare someone on is Tioga Pass. You could return from Southern CA via Rte 395 and cut thru Yosemite on the way back up to Portland.

It is a bit scarier going downhill (Yosemite first then 395). However then the return northbound on US1 won't be on the dropoff side.

Hi
I have had trouble posting on here because of Java or something ... anyway-Thank you!! for more ideas!
LoveItaly, Aug is now the month we are aiming for a trip for Buenos Aires. So Sept would be too difficult so what I am doing now is getting my routes mapped out, stops along the way, and presenting it all to the Yankee. He will get excited, horrified, or both and say what he thinks would be a good time to take this Road Trip. I think it has been long enough for us to forget what a Real Road Trip is like
I am thinking we will forget LA and just go to maybe Santa Barbara at the farthest..it would be so nice to be able to just keep going
Spend the winter in Mexico? lol....
Where are those winning Lottery tickets when you need them?
So...thank you all veddy much and whenever you think of something we cannot miss, I will be listening ...

Hi Scarlett, Argentina! How exciting, good for you. I hope this works out!

Going to Santa Barabara is a good idea and I am sure you would enjoying going a bit further south on 101 one day to visit Old Town Ventura and maybe take the Hwy 33 road going east into the darling town of Ojai.

WHAT ?!?

R5

Ojai? is that near Fresno or Clovis? LOL
From what I read elsewhere, Fresno is located in Astoria Oregon ~chuckling~

My goal is LA but if we have to change that, Big Sur will remain in the trip...so I have no idea how far South we will keep going.
I think there might be a possiblity of a SF GTG but then, the Yankee might not want to be alone that day lol..who knew I married a Man of Mystery

MizScarlett, since pup already has long curley hair and there is no need for a wig, dress him in drag and buy him an airline ticket to South Carolina and the kitties and I will take good care of pup. He will bring less attention to himself if you buy a ticket in first class.

Scarlett~
My preference for beautiful CA coastline
is between SF and Mendocino. As iamq says the place to have the Yankee driving is between the Sea Ranch and Jenner-He-he.
It's not for ~gt;

Just above Mendocino, in Ft.Bragg, try to dine at Mendo Bistro (dinner)
and Chapter & Moon (lunch in the Noyo Harbor).

In Mendocino, my favorite is the Moosse
Cafe,(yes,Moosse). Just a tad south in Little River
I like Stevenswood for a grand meal (a la Zagat).

Continue down the coast and stop in Elk at the Greenwood Pier Inn-do check out their website-the views from the rooms are spectacular ! Their little gift shop in the garden is a fun place to browse -lots of interesting craft pieces. If you're hungry for brunch or lunch don't miss Queenies
Cafe. The locals are lots of fun.

As you continue south, there will be lots of places to stop and view spectacular (there's that word again,lol)vistas.

The drive out to the lighthouse at Point Arena is neat. (I'm a bit of a lighthouse lover.) Ask nicely and Scott may show you the condor's nests
on the cliff off the bluff. You must be very quiet.


When you get to Gualala, try to meet gualalalisa at the bar in the Gualala
Hotel-a bit of old CA here.

At Jenner catch the view at River's End www.ilovesunsets.com(and a meal if you can!)Do visit the beach at Goat Rock.

Not to long,now and you'll be in Bodega Bay.
The Yankee can check out the wine at Gourmet au Bay and the Seaweed Cafe is a must for a meal.

Journey on into Valley Ford and just south of town there's a fork in the road (now here's a tough decision),
do you hang a right to continue your travels south on
Hwy 1 to visit Pt.Reyes and Stinson or do you continue on and come to visit me
Mr R5 & the ?


It will be a fine road trip !
R5

Oh - a SF GTC is just too easy. I'd vote for a Clovis or, even better, a Fresno shindig. (and if those don't work, there is always Modesto)

Garlic Festival in Gilroy...July? Hot as balls but a unique opportunity to try any/everything garlic, from yick-yuck(ice cream, wine, candy) to traditional (pasta). Includes great live music. We camped at Casa de Fruta, approx. 25 minutes away, but there are closer accommodations (gilroygarlicfestival.com).

Train/balloon tour of Napa.

LA...check out the Monk's Guide. Eccentric places around town.

I moved from West LA a couple of years ago...If I had one day to spend in LA doing my favorites, it would be comprised of:
breakfast: Maxwell's Cafe (Culver City)
mid-morning: Rose Bowl flea market
lunch: Ye Old King's Head (Santa Monica)
early afternoon: Venice Boardwalk
mid-afternoon: On the Waterfront Pub (Venice)
Early dinner: sushi at Sakura (Mar Vista)
Still early but i'm already hungry after sushi dinner: C&O Tratorria (Marina del Rey/Venice) be there at 7:00 for the singing of "Amore"
Evening Music/Drinks: Belmont Short area of Long Beach