Longboardsteve

I love almost everybody! The one exception is my wifes French cousin who is from Paris (need I say more) and who is coming to visit for two weeks in August. I have been given permission to take my 10-year old son on vacation for two weeks while she is visiting. I am thinking about a meandering trip in Northern California and Southern Oregon that would involve some motels near the beach, B&B's and maybe even some camping. I need ideas on what to do and what to see. I have already seen San Francisco and Napa areas hundred of times and have been to Yosemite. We are thinking about starting in Sacramento and going to Carson City to Shasta Lake to Coos Bay down to Eureka and Bodega Bay and then back home to Los Angeles. With two and half weeks of driving and no real restrictions, what are the "must sees" and "you can't miss" ideas on this adventure in North California and Southern Oregon? Key note: We will be driving a jeep, we are beach people, and my son is a great driving partner (logging miles will not be an issue) and a real adventurer including camping.

beachbum

In no particular order:

1. Virginia City
2. Lake Tahoe
3. Crater Lake
4. Jet Boat trip on Rogue River
5. Dune buggy ride on dunes (best) just south of Florence or (2nd) just north of North Bend
6. Redwoods
7. One-two day whitewater trip on Rogue

Okay, it's not ten, but it's probably more than you could comfortably do in 10 days.

Alice

We did the jet boat (mail boat?) trip on the rogue and while it was great, I thought the rafting trip looked way more fun!

razzledazzle

You do know about the possibility of summer fog along our magnificent North CA coast, yes ? OK, then...
From SF, North along Hwy 1:
Above Mill Valley, tour the Panoramic Hwy for stunning views of the Pacific.
Hike a trail on Mt. Tamalpais. Stroll Stinson Beach to Bolinas Lagoon for sand dollars. At Pt.Reyes go out to the lighthouse, prowl Limintour beach,
kayak in Tomales Bay stop for oysters
at Johnsons or Hog Island. In Bodega Bay catch a wine tasting at Gourmet au Bay. In Jenner dine at the River's End
for excellent food and the view of the confluence of the Russian River and the Pacific ocean is stunning. Now if you want to see some serious redwoods you could go inland on Hwy 116 to the Armstrong Woods OR wait until you get up to the Humboldt Redwoods near Garberville. Back on Hwy 1 enjoy
a gorgeous drive through the Sea Ranch, Gualala, Pt.Arena and Elk. Time Elk
for brunch at Queenies and wander down the road a bit to soak up the views
from the Greenwood Pier Inn. At the junction of Hwy 1/128 you could turn right and enjoy some of the wineries of the Anderson Valley. Continue on Hwy 1
through Mendocino and Ft. Bragg.
At Leggett you join Hwy 101. You could take this up to Garberville and take the turn to Shelter Cove for a taste of the Lost Coast. And Eureka is as far as I've been. We go inland on Hwy 299
and enjoy the spectacular Trinity Alps
and the fun little towns of Lewiston and French Gulch. A stop or night in Redding go see the Sundial Bridge-it's
marvelously lit at night.
Happy Planning!
R5



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Author: Andrew
Date: 05/30/2005, 10:50 pm
Get the Oregon Coast tour map from AAA to help you figure out where on the Oregon Coast you might actually want to stop. There are lots of places.

Andrew




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Author: Scarlett
Date: 05/30/2005, 10:51 pm
Fabulous razzle!
I will save that for myself!



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Author: beachbum
Date: 05/31/2005, 11:20 am
Usual stops along the Oregon coast include a jetboat ride up the Rogue River from Gold Beach, sand dunes around Honeyman State Park just south of Florence, Haceta Head lighthouse, Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Three Capes drive starting near Hebo and ending in Tillamook, Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park. Those are the usual stops, though there are many others worthy of your time.

If you're looking for magnificent scenery, Ecola State Park is a must. We were there a couple times this past weekend; I'd forgotten how spectacular the scenery really is there.

If you're a golfer, stop at Bandon Dunes, worth a look even if you don't have a chance to play.



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Author: HowardR
Date: 05/31/2005, 01:48 pm
Thanks to all of you. Keep 'em coming!



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Author: HowardR
Date: 06/01/2005, 04:15 pm
Any more suggestions?
Another question: Usually, we make hotel/motel reservations in advance. However, since we may not lock up our final itinerary before we go, can we chance it at the last minute when it comes to finding accommodations along the way?



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Author: beachbum
Date: 06/01/2005, 04:22 pm
You've not mentioned when you're planning to do this trip, but if it's during the summer, without reservations you will be limiting yourselves to lesser known/desireable places.



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Author: HowardR
Date: 06/01/2005, 06:01 pm
beachbum, it is this summer. Thanks for the advice, which is what I suspected. (Hell, I was in a lazy mood and didn't want to do my usual planning!)



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Author: justme22
Date: 06/02/2005, 07:31 am
stayed in a relaxing place in trinidad califoria, way north. had a place with a hot tub for relaxing after busy touristy days. check out the area.



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Author: GP
Date: 06/02/2005, 10:53 am
Hi HowardR

I agree with razzledazzle in that you should take highway 1 up the coast. 2 to 3 days from SF up to Ft Bragg. Then a day based in Garberville for the southern redwoods. (I would make a reservation at the bestwestern in Garberville the rest of the options in the area are not as good. Benbow inn is great but $$$$ Then I disagree with going inland at 299 (this is a nice trip) but the coast and redwoods north to Crescent city are far better than the inland route. There are the Smith and Klamath rivers, Big, Dry, Stone, Freshwater lagoons. Lots of redwoods. Base yourself in Crescent city for a day or two. You could maybe even stretch a trip to Crater Lake, via 199, 5 and 62. On this trip are you flying out of SF too? You would head back on 5; you can get there via 199 instead of backtracking to 299. Once you get to Humboldt and Del Norte counties you do not need reservations. I think on highway one from SF to Ft Bragg you might want to have some reservations. I you have more questions about the northern part of this trip let me know. I’m going camping in the redwoods this (June 3 and 4) weekend yea!

Have Fun
GP

happytrailstoyou

With 10-year-old boy in mind:

1. Highway 1
2. Ft. Ross Historic Park (for Russian History)
3. Mendocino (walk the headlands)
4. Redwoods
5. Crater Lake
6. Oregon coast light houses
7. Sea Lion Caves (north of Florence)
8. Rogue River Rafting
9. Cannon Beach
10. Ecola State Park

The last two may be too far north for your trip. If you've never been to Yellowstone, your son may be fascinated by what Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California has to offer. I recall a very pleasant hike to fumaroles and other oddities.

sunbum1944

I second the Rogue River jet boat trip- think a 10 year old boy would like that
and also the dune buggy rides - I took some kids on the dune buggy rides and they LOVED it!!
I might be a little nervous about taking a 10 year old on a rafting trip unless it was pretty tame

kimamom

I agree, Sunbum. The Hellgate Excursions do a great job. We'll be taking the Quick n' Scenic trip soon which we really enjoy. www.hellgate.com They leave from the boat docks at the Riverside Inn. www.riverside-inn.com ***kim***

GP

Longboardsteve

10 things in Del Notre and Humboldt County

Camp in Jed Smith State park
Drive the howland hill road
Hike the boy scout tree trail
Requa (Mouth of the Klamath river) over look
Jeeps can be driven on the beach at Clam beach and Somoa Dunes
Drive the loop from Ferndale to Petrolia to Bull Creek
Hike Bull Creek
Jump in the Eel river
Avenue of the Giants
Highway one from Leggett to Ft Bragg

Have fun
GP

jq

Are you sure your wife's cousin is up to all this???? Is your wife going too? If you are camping, you could probably get by without reservations, if you don't wait too late in the day to find one. We have gone all the way up the coast and only had one or two nights where we couldn't find decent priced motel until 9 pm or so. But this was in June, which is much less crowded than August.

jgg

The jetboat excursion is very fun, but I think your son might enjoy the rafting more. Our kids have done several day rafting trips since they were about 5 and 6.

If you make it up to Shady Cove near Medford you could rent your own raft and spend a wonderful day down the more calm Upper Rogue. Or you could do it with a guided tour and do some of the more rapidy areas. Either way I think your 10 year old will really enjoy it.

Be sure and buy those big squirt guns before you go. Others will have them and will be squirting you - it is the funnest part of the trip!!

my2cents

Everybody has such great ideas for your trip that I hesitate to add even more, but I think you should also consider Oregon Caves National Monument. DH and I absolutely loved it and so did all the kids on the tour with us.

If you decide to stay at in Fort Bragg, The Grey Whale Inn is a nice B&B. They have 2 rooms that are good for families -- Navarro and Westport.

Just outside of Eureka there is a pretty good KOA -- not rustic but it is convenient -- and the Samoa Cookhouse restaurant which is a fun, casual place with a set daily menu, good food and plenty of it; it's an historic icon around there.

capecodshanty

And, since Florence Or. is located almost equidistant between the Sea Lion Caves, and Hecata Head Lighthouse, both of which you son I'm sure would enjoy, there is a very nice, totally renovated motel called the River House in Florence, right on the river(Sanislaw,I think). Not expensive, locally owned, with balconies off the rooms-across from the Sand Dune- and walking distance to Old Town. We were pleasantly surprised.

my2cents

By the way, Longboardsteve, did you scrap the cross-country train trip w/son idea or is that for another year?

Orcas

I'm with 2cents. Don't miss the Oregon Caves National Monument. We loved it and so did out kids. There is a national park lodge at the caves, and it is good to spend the night and take the first ranger led walk in the morning, as there are lines later in the day for the cave walk. It's the largest marble cave in the world and full of stalactites and stalagmites. Who wouldn't love that? The surrounding forest is beautiful. Here's the website.

http://www.nps.gov/orca/

coolcamden

With a 10 year old boy, on a car trip? A GAMEBOY ADVANCE.

kimamom

And a DVD player! LOL It was invaluable on our 14 hr. car trip with my teenage daughter and her friend! ***kim***

nancytwo

One thing to keep in mind while driving higway 1 is the most scenic beautiful drive in August you run the risk of fog. You could have fog all along the coast. I had a friend drive from Mendocino - Santa Barbara and never saw the sun and he came from Scotland.