Itinerary ideas needed: northern California

[jaydub74]

We're currently in southern Oregen, about to enter Northern California wirh no idea where to go. We're travelling on the 101.

What towns should we stop in, what sights should we see?
Any campground rv park recommendations?

I should mention our goal is to eventually get to San Francisco. No rush though, we have a week or so to get there.



Thanks

[paulj]

Marv Hoag wrote:
Also in Prairie Creek SP is Fern Canyon.

And Gold Bluffs camping - just behind the dunes.

[fireman93514]

We also like Patricks point state park. Avenue of the giants is very nice. A word of caution about it. Some of the parking areas at the groves are quite small. You may want to park on the highway and walk into them. I learned this the hard way. lol The skunk train from Willits to Fort Bragg is nice.

[Marv_Hoag]

Also in Prairie Creek SP is Fern Canyon.

[profdant139]

We really like Prairie Creek State Park -- great campground, great hiking trails. These two shots were taken on the James Irvine trail -- in the second one, you can get some idea of the size of the trees -- look for the little person in the purple shirt -- that is my wife:

[wintersun]

I would not bother with Hwy 1 with a 32' trailer in tow. Hwy 101 is quite scenic and lots of places along the route to San Francisco. No idea where you can stay in the San Francisco area with a trailer and the city itself is difficult enough to get around with driving a car alone.

Monterey area is only 2 hours drive time south and a lot more places to leave your trailer nearby and then explore with your tow vehicle alone.

California is unique in having so many great state parks along the coast and in having open beaches with 100% public access unlike 45 other states in the continental USA.

The best weather in northern and central California is during the months of September and October so your timing is excellent.

[Escargot]

Fort Ross, Point Reyes, Drake's Landing, Inverness...
Napa and Sonoma counties = wine country.
Calistoga for mineral / mud baths and massages.

Then the exquisite drive along HWY 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) all the way down to Monterey and Steinbeck country, and beyond.

[oldcat1]

One of our favorite state parks is Patrick's Point. The Abalone loop has many large secluded sites. Sweeping coastal views and a beach for agate hunting. There is also a beautiful state beach (day use only) just a few miles south in the little town of Trinidad.

Safe travels!

[jaydub74]

We have a 32' bumper trailer is that too much for highway 1

[paulj]

CA1 is more scenic than the corresponding part of US101. 1 heads out to the coast, and winds along that, while 101 stays inland and becomes a major highway. But CA1 is not suitable for large RVs, and may be tiring for smaller ones.

[jaydub74]

Is it worth driving the 1 along the ocean or should we stick to the 101?
Any opinions on Fort Bragg and towns along the 1

[Not_a_Clue]

We were in the area this spring and spent a few days at Klamath River RV park right off the 101. Great campground all grass sites and you are on the Klamath River. We also spent a couple of days in Grants Pass and went up to Crater Lake, awesome, and took a jet boat ride on the Rogue River. Love the area.

[cpaulsen]

geoedgerton wrote:
Consider visiting Ferndale which is SW of Fortuna---great Victorian houses and neat historic downtown. The old town part of Eureka is worth taking a look at.

A good campground just north of Eureka in Arcata is Mad River Campground. A good place to visit in Arcata is Holly Yashi jewelry factory. And, old downtown Arcata is worth taking a look at--there is a central park "square" ringed with old shops. There is also an old logging cookhouse---Samoa cookhouse- west of Eureka that has very good food served in a family style setting.

As you proceed south of Eureka look for the Avenue of the Giants hwy. It parallels hwy 101 and has many redwood groves with walking trails that are truly spectacular. A good campground at the north end of the Avenue of the Giants is the "Ancient Redwoods" RV park. Nice setting and a very nice store with lots of burls, etc.

X2!

[Army11Bravo]

The Big Sur drive is beautiful. If you make it as far south as Monterey, visit the Monterey Bay aquarium on Cannery Row and pop over to Pepple Beach on 17 Mile Drive in Carmel.

[jaydub74]

Thanks guys keep the ideas coming.
We could push our stay to 10 days if need be.

Josh