Trip up coast--NorCal, Oregon, Washington
I need ideas and suggestions for a 3 week trip I'm planning for my family, two adults and two kids, up the West coast this summer starting from the Sacramento area. We'll be in a 30' travel trailer. ...
Forum Discussion
I would recommend heading north on I-5 through Oregon and Washington, then turn left at Olympia and follow highway 101 to the north. When you are driving on 101, most of the highway is 2 lanes with an occasional passing lane. This means (especially during the summer) that you will be traveling as fast as the slowest motorhome that in front of you. I would consider 200 miles/day on 101 to be ambitious. The majority of highway 101 in Washington is inland, where the majority of highway 101 in Oregon is on or near the coast. There are plenty of interesting places to stop and visit in both states as your schedule and budget will allow. Following highway 101 from where it starts in Olympia, I would recommend the following places to visit:
1. Port Townsend (historic Victorian seaport)
2. Hurricane Ridge (near Port Angeles)
3. Lake Crescent
4. Forks (the town of Twilight fame)
5. Lake Quinault and Lake Quinalt Lodge
6. Ilwaco and Fort Canby State Park, then cross the Columbia river to Oregon.
7. Astoria and fort Stevens State Park (KOA is across the road if no spaces are available at the state park) Lewis and Clark slept here, visit their interpretive center at Fort Clatsop.
8. Seaside (arcades, mini golf, and rides for the kids, excellent beach )
9. Cannon Beach (high end shops and art galleries, scenic beach, excellent RV park)
10. Manzanita (good shops and restaurants, excellent beach, Nehalem Bay state Park is south of the town)
11. Pacific City (this is a busy beach: fishing dories launch from the beach, plenty of surfers, great brewery restaurant next to the beach, excellent RV park across the street from the beach)
12. Depoe Bay (world's smallest natural harbor, plenty of tourist shops)
13. Newport (interesting "old town" on the bay, great aquarium on the south side of the bay)
14. Florence (tourist shops in "old town", great sand dunes and dune buggy rides south of Florence)
15. North Bend/Coos Bay (make a side trip to Charleston, a quaint fishing village)
16. Bandon (world class golf: $$$)
17. Gold Beach (jet boat rides up the Rogue River)
18. Welcome to California!
I have rambled enough. If you choose to travel on 101, take your time and enjoy the sights.
Happy trails!
1. Port Townsend (historic Victorian seaport)
2. Hurricane Ridge (near Port Angeles)
3. Lake Crescent
4. Forks (the town of Twilight fame)
5. Lake Quinault and Lake Quinalt Lodge
6. Ilwaco and Fort Canby State Park, then cross the Columbia river to Oregon.
7. Astoria and fort Stevens State Park (KOA is across the road if no spaces are available at the state park) Lewis and Clark slept here, visit their interpretive center at Fort Clatsop.
8. Seaside (arcades, mini golf, and rides for the kids, excellent beach )
9. Cannon Beach (high end shops and art galleries, scenic beach, excellent RV park)
10. Manzanita (good shops and restaurants, excellent beach, Nehalem Bay state Park is south of the town)
11. Pacific City (this is a busy beach: fishing dories launch from the beach, plenty of surfers, great brewery restaurant next to the beach, excellent RV park across the street from the beach)
12. Depoe Bay (world's smallest natural harbor, plenty of tourist shops)
13. Newport (interesting "old town" on the bay, great aquarium on the south side of the bay)
14. Florence (tourist shops in "old town", great sand dunes and dune buggy rides south of Florence)
15. North Bend/Coos Bay (make a side trip to Charleston, a quaint fishing village)
16. Bandon (world class golf: $$$)
17. Gold Beach (jet boat rides up the Rogue River)
18. Welcome to California!
I have rambled enough. If you choose to travel on 101, take your time and enjoy the sights.
Happy trails!
