San Francisco to Seattle
Dec 23rd, 2008, 03:13 PM
#1
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San Francisco to Seattle
Has anyone traveled from San Francisco to Seattle, Washington? If so, can you recommend a time frame and stops we should make. We are planning to take a cruise to Alaska from Seattle and thought we would drive up the coast and explore the coastline before our cruise. What should we do in Oregan and how long should we plan to stay in San Francisco? Is it possible to see the Red Wood trees on this trip or would that be too far out of the way. We would also like to stop in Napa Valley.
Thanks! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Dec 23rd, 2008, 03:18 PM
#2
Before you can decide if this is practical - you need sort of an idea how much time you can spend on the drive up. Are you talking about a few days, or a week or more??
Many people drive SF > Wine country > Mendocino > the north coast CA redwoods > Oregon coast > Seattle -- but that is their whole vacation. They take a week or 10 days - or more. It isn't a 2 day drive -- and when you add time in SF, Napa/Sonoma, and the coast it could easily fill 2 weeks.
When is the trip?
Many people drive SF > Wine country > Mendocino > the north coast CA redwoods > Oregon coast > Seattle -- but that is their whole vacation. They take a week or 10 days - or more. It isn't a 2 day drive -- and when you add time in SF, Napa/Sonoma, and the coast it could easily fill 2 weeks.
When is the trip?
Dec 23rd, 2008, 05:57 PM
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Yes, when? And how much time can you spend? You can easily do it in two days, with an overnight in Ashland OR, but what's the point in rushing?
Having done it up and down a bunch of time, let me suggest to take a minimum of five days.
Day 1: Do a winery - pick one from the many fliers and such that you’ll come across once you’re in the area, near Petaluma or somewhere along the highway 101, doesn’t have to be Napa itself, good wines are all over. Then make sure you go by the Armstrong Redwood park - awesone!
www.russianrivertravel.com/parks-armstrong.htm
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450 - 363k
Then drive to the ocean where the Russian river ends, Jenner, and stay at the River’s End - www.ilovesunsets.com/ and have a scrumptious gourmet meal before spending the night in one of the exquisite cottages.
Day 2: Drive along the coast to Fort Ross, and drive down around from the visitor center to the actual Fort - imagine yourselves being taken back by, oh, 200 years or so. Watch out for Indians and - yes - Russians! Visit the little chapel in the far right corner, the Russian inscriptions on the bell will bring home the meaning of “Russian River”.
www.mcn.org/1/rrparks/fortross
Now it’s time to make tracks: Follow Highway 1 (the curvy coast road) - not fast but glorious, then after Point Arena and Flumeville turn inland, to Boonville and along 253 to the Highway 101, the freeway.
Keep at it, you should get to Eureka or thereabouts before you turn in.
Day 3: It’s decision time; depending on how you feel about mountain driving, and the weather etc. Either take 299 to Willow Creek and take a left towards the Klamath Mountains, to join interstate 5 just north of Yreka, or take 299 to Willow Creek and stay on 299 to Redding.
The second variation means going back a bit, sort of, but then you have the fast 5 - in an hour you’ll be in Weed (!) - the name is worth getting off at exit 747 and a stop for a t-shirt at the liquor store on the left along S. Weed Blvd, just before the overhead arch at Main St. on your right. Turn left at the lights in front of the grocery store and you get back onto the 5.
An hour later you’ll be in Ashland. Good place!
Day 4: Drive north along the 5 to Myrtle Creek, just before Roseburg, and get off the 5 at exit 112, towards the ocean, first along Old Highway 99 S then turn left at Rd 42 (NW Douglas Blvd).
You’ll join the 101 just north of Delmar. Stay on it. Pick your lunch spot and your turn-outs for ocean views and such, it's the famous Oregon Coast, and turn inland past Lincolnville to take nr. 18 becoming 99W to Portland. Stay the night.
Day 5: Drive to Seattle - on the way you have the option of taking exit 60 to Toledo Vader Rd East to Toledo and head for Mt. Rainier, and to Seattle from there, or take any other scenic detour route that the map or guidebook suggests to you.
If you can spare an extra day, spend it in Portland!
Having done it up and down a bunch of time, let me suggest to take a minimum of five days.
Day 1: Do a winery - pick one from the many fliers and such that you’ll come across once you’re in the area, near Petaluma or somewhere along the highway 101, doesn’t have to be Napa itself, good wines are all over. Then make sure you go by the Armstrong Redwood park - awesone!
www.russianrivertravel.com/parks-armstrong.htm
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450 - 363k
Then drive to the ocean where the Russian river ends, Jenner, and stay at the River’s End - www.ilovesunsets.com/ and have a scrumptious gourmet meal before spending the night in one of the exquisite cottages.
Day 2: Drive along the coast to Fort Ross, and drive down around from the visitor center to the actual Fort - imagine yourselves being taken back by, oh, 200 years or so. Watch out for Indians and - yes - Russians! Visit the little chapel in the far right corner, the Russian inscriptions on the bell will bring home the meaning of “Russian River”.
www.mcn.org/1/rrparks/fortross
Now it’s time to make tracks: Follow Highway 1 (the curvy coast road) - not fast but glorious, then after Point Arena and Flumeville turn inland, to Boonville and along 253 to the Highway 101, the freeway.
Keep at it, you should get to Eureka or thereabouts before you turn in.
Day 3: It’s decision time; depending on how you feel about mountain driving, and the weather etc. Either take 299 to Willow Creek and take a left towards the Klamath Mountains, to join interstate 5 just north of Yreka, or take 299 to Willow Creek and stay on 299 to Redding.
The second variation means going back a bit, sort of, but then you have the fast 5 - in an hour you’ll be in Weed (!) - the name is worth getting off at exit 747 and a stop for a t-shirt at the liquor store on the left along S. Weed Blvd, just before the overhead arch at Main St. on your right. Turn left at the lights in front of the grocery store and you get back onto the 5.
An hour later you’ll be in Ashland. Good place!
Day 4: Drive north along the 5 to Myrtle Creek, just before Roseburg, and get off the 5 at exit 112, towards the ocean, first along Old Highway 99 S then turn left at Rd 42 (NW Douglas Blvd).
You’ll join the 101 just north of Delmar. Stay on it. Pick your lunch spot and your turn-outs for ocean views and such, it's the famous Oregon Coast, and turn inland past Lincolnville to take nr. 18 becoming 99W to Portland. Stay the night.
Day 5: Drive to Seattle - on the way you have the option of taking exit 60 to Toledo Vader Rd East to Toledo and head for Mt. Rainier, and to Seattle from there, or take any other scenic detour route that the map or guidebook suggests to you.
If you can spare an extra day, spend it in Portland!
Dec 23rd, 2008, 06:22 PM
#4
do keep in mind that DalaiLlama's itinerary does not include any time in San Francisco - so adding 3 days in the city brings you up to 8 full days . . . .
That's why I suggested you first need to decide how much time you can devote to the trip.
That's why I suggested you first need to decide how much time you can devote to the trip.
Dec 28th, 2008, 05:21 PM
#5
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Thank you for your replies! I think we will take 7 days driving up the coast (including at least 3 days in San Franciso/wine country). My hubby and I are pretty adventurous and can usually squeeze as much as possible into short trips.
I'm so clueless about the area and know there will be a ton to research.
I'd like to spend as little as possible on lodging but want a save/clean spot. Any recomendations? I appreciate your advice!
Is crater lake a possible stop?
Thanks again!
I'm so clueless about the area and know there will be a ton to research.
I'd like to spend as little as possible on lodging but want a save/clean spot. Any recomendations? I appreciate your advice!
Is crater lake a possible stop?
Thanks again!
Dec 28th, 2008, 05:28 PM
#6
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I forgot to mention that this trip will be around the 2nd week in July. We are trying to catch the cruise to Alaska the 3rd week. Nothing is set in stone so we can alter it if we need to.
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