In 2000, a friend and I plan to fly to San Diego or San Francisco, rent a car, and drive to Seattle or Vancouver on Highway 1. We plan to take two weeks or so to do this. If anyone can help, please answer the following questions.

What is the best times of year to go in terms of traffic density and weather? (we don't need for it to be really hot, and in fact prefer to be in Ontario in July and August). Is spring a good time because of the blossoming of the fruit trees, or does it matter? What is the optimum month?

What are some good, realistic side trips? We have thought about a run to Vegas, the Grand Canyon, some parks etc, but are Canadian, and don't know what can all be fit in in the 2 weeks without driving like maniacs and not having time to stop and enjoy things.

What about accomodation? What prices are bed and breakfasts, and is there a guide that we can sort of book B and B's along the way?

Thanks a lot.

Rebecca: If you drive all the way up the coast on Hwy. 1 from San Diego to Vancouver, you will need every last bit of that two weeks and will not be able to take any side trips. I would say San Diego to San Francisco is easily a week right there. And the whole thing also depends on how long you want to stay in the major cities of San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver. Each of these cities merits at least 2-3 days apiece, especially San Francisco. Plus, driving distances on the coast are longer than they appear because you can't drive normal speeds. Hwy. 1 is mostly a 2-lane road, at least the part in California that we drove, and it can be very slow going, especially the Big Sur part (which is gorgeous!). It took us 3 very full days just to drive from LA to Monterrey in July, and I wouldn't recommend doing it any faster than that because otherwise you wouldn't really get to see much of anything.

I found the Frommer's California book extremely helpful in planning our trip up the coast last summer -- it lists all kinds of options including budget hotels and B&Bs, and never steered us wrong on accommodations, restaurants, or sights. Outside of the major cities you can definitely find accommodations under $100 U.S. per night. We paid $79 one night for a budget hotel in Cambria overlooking the ocean, with a pool, and around $90 in Pacific Grove on the Monterrey Peninsula. We actually found budget hotels to be less expensive than B&Bs in the areas where we wanted to stay.

Make sure you go to Hearst Castle in San Simeon -- it's incredible. Takes about 2 hours to tour but is totally worth it. Get tickets in advance.

If you want to avoid crowds, you should probably go before June or after August, when school is in session and family vacationers won't be around.

Lisa is right - that's a loooong drive with so much to see (and LOTS of traffic) don't even think about side trips or Vegas. Either do just San Diego to San Fran., or San Fran. to Seattle/Vancouver BC. (don't get confused with Vancouver Wa.)
In Sept. we spent a few days in Laguna, and even though it was after school started, still crowded, pricey, and lots of traffic any time of day up and down the coast where we were.

Give some thought to flying into LA and picking up Amtrak's Coast Starlight train for at least part of your journey. For the first several hours out of LA, you are travelling RIGHT along the ocean, (a much better, closer view even than Hwy 1 offers). Book a compartment and you have access to the first-class dining and observation cars (meals included). And train folks are all such aficianadoes and friendly. There are several good Coast Starlight websites (explore past just the one from Amtrak; there's also one set up by a train fan with great info/traveller testimonials.) There's also a Hearst Castle website, and you def should get advance tix. We did our West Coast trip in April last year, and had really great weather. Seems like most American B&B's run in the $100 range - that's quite a bit when you factor in the Canadian exchange. It's a beautiful part of the US; hope you have a great trip!

Hi, Rebecca,
Yes, you can make in two weeks "or so" (more time is better, of course.)

NOT counting stops or side trips, the drive from San Diego to Vancouver by way of the coast (either the southern part of Calif. SR1, San Luis Obispo to SF, or the northern part, SF to Fort Bragg, but not both, then US 101 as far as the Columbia River,) is around 35-50 hours - that's time on the road driving at a moderate pace but not breakneck. The catch is in the stops, side trips, sightseeing, food, gas, sleep, all those pesky details.

If it's your first time, I think I'd second the idea of starting in LA, not San Diego (sorry) and see some sights and get used to the car, before heading north. Then a day to the central coast (San Simeon is fine), up to SF the next day (nice views but except at Monterey/Santa Cruz not many people places) and stay 3 or 4 days in the bay area. Then a day up 101 to the Redwoods, another on the Oregon coast to the Columbia, then on to Seattle for some time, then Vancouver, done.
It's a lot of geography and by necessity you will miss much more than you see, but that's why second visits (and thirds, fifths..) are such fun.

For time of year, I'd recommend September, with the proviso that LA can be scorchingly hot in late summer (and early October, too), but the rest of the trip will be very pleasant. Save your spring trip for Oregon, Washington, and BC - tulips, apple blossoms, green wheat fields in the Palouse, big volumes in the waterfalls on the Columbia, really nice.
Happy planning.

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