Orange County, CA to Victoria Canada

[drtkrw]

We are planning a family trip leaving California and driving up the coast to Victoria Canada stopping in SF, redwood forest, Oregon and Washington. RV is 36 foot, any suggestions, tips or fun stops we should consider (4 small kids).

[tahiti16]

One to keep in mind is SF is NOT RV friendly! The 101 becomes city streets until you cross the Golden Gate. I understand doing it have done it in 2 different class "A"s but it was definitely not fun with the current one at 8.5' wide.

One place you might contemplate stopping along the way is outside Klamath CA. called Chinook RV resort. Right next to the 101 and on the Klamath river all grass, full hookups and cable for $28 a night with GS or AAA.

We just came south that way and really liked it, small and friendly.

[drtkrw]

Benadryl, that's funny. So far we are still attempting to make this journey. The goof part of being in an RV as I see it is that we can always turn around if it doesn't work, but my kids are pretty easy going. I think the many river and desert trips has prepared them for the car rides (at least we will see if that holds true).

[profdant139]

Seriously, dude. Please don't ask me how I know that endless driving with small children is a recipe for semi-disaster and exhaustion. If I could only re-live those days a different way, I would.

If I had ten days with four small kids and a nice big RV and hot weather and I lived in Southern Calif, I know exactly what I would do -- head for the high country of the Eastern Sierra. The campgrounds are at 9000 feet! Much cooler than almost anywhere else. Streams. Lakes. Wildflowers. Kid-friendly activities. Fishing. Campfires. World-class scenery. All within a long day's drive of OC.

Heck, you could even try some short-term boondocking north of Mammoth, if you want an adventure! You can't get too ambitious with a big motorhome, but there are places available, even with a big rig.

Let us know if you'd like some suggestions without so much driving! Or, if you still want to go all the way to Canada and back in 10 days (a four day drive EACH WAY), do what a friend of mine did -- stock up on liquid Benadryl. That'll keep the kids quiet and happy -- you can play the same video over and over, and they won't notice. 😉

[drtkrw]

I thought the same thing about the distance, but the wife said its an "adventure" 🙂

I figure most of the trip will be driving with short sightseeing stops until we get to Washington and Canada, those would be hopefully two nights each.

[profdant139]

drtkrw, did I understand you correctly that you are going to Victoria and back to OC in 10 days with 4 small kids? Wow, that is a lot of driving. Do you really have to go that far?

[drtkrw]

Great tips thanks. Looks like we won't be staying at the Wallmart I had originally thought.

[DesertHawk]

Many moon ago (my now 30+ year old kids, were indeed kids), we use Tsawwassen Terminal to get over to the Island. Only a day trip for us. We left the TT in Birch Bay State Pk in Washington. A very neat campground, kids enjoyed exploring in the woods & walking by the beach by the bay as well.

Here's an old post with some of the Sites & Sights we found on two trips along the West Coast.

We were coming down from Canada on the first trip. Spend time north of Vancouver, then came back into the US & camped at Birch Bay. Then did a day trip to the Island & Victoria. 1986. Of course one can also go directly to Victoria via Washington Ferry from near Sequim Bay State Park at Port Angeles, WA. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/choices/ferries.htm

Vancouver - Victoria (Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay)

We stopped at the Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island 12.5 miles south of the Vancouver-Victoria ferry terminal at Swartz Bay on our way to Victoria.

I believe the Port Angeles to Victory ferries dock right in Victoria (one could just walk on & leave the wheels in Port Angeles). The distance between Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay is longer, it weaves it's way between small islands. A neat trip. Port Angeles to Victoria seems to be a straight shot. Never taken it.

Then when to Sequim Bay State Park for a couple of days, doing a day trip to Seattle via a ferry. We used the Port Townsend / Coupeville Ferry to get to Sequim from Birch Bay (highways didn't go all the way, without long detours) and then used the Seattle / Bremerton Ferry to see some of Seattle. One can drive to Bremerton from Sequim. We left our pickup in Bremerton, walked onto the ferry.

We went to The Seattle Aquarium which was very close to the Bremerton Ferry dock. Rode a Trolly of some kind on rails along the harbor area, then walked to the Space Needle as well.
Trolley Tours - Not Sure What we used.

If using Port Angles, one can use the 101 by Olympia off I-5 without getting into the traffic by Seattle. Port Townsend Port Gamble and are neat little towns.

From Sequim, we drove US 101 west toward the Pacific, then down the coast to SoCal.

The second time (1997) when the kids were older (one in high school, one just graduated), we drove up the coast from SoCal. Use the 101 to Half Moon Bay, then cut up to the Shasta area & to Crater Lake, then to the 101 & to Newport, OR then over to Portland & then up to Seattle & to Birch Bay again.

We stopped near Mt St. Helens at a Nat'l Forest Campground, but didn't dive too far up towards the mountain in '97. In 2000, I went up to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, it was neat to see. Also went from Portland east along the Columbia River Gorge...some neat sights up that way. The Multnomah Falls was neat area.

In '97, we found a small state park right on the Sound. As I remember, it was a little south of Seattle. Saltwater sounds about right. Or Dash Point. We only used it for an overnight.

Easier to view the sights off the 101 along the coast when going south to north. Easier to do turn offs & get back onto the hwy without crossing on coming traffic when southbound.

Half Moon Bay to see San Francisco It seems one can go from Half Moon Bay North & cross the Golden Gate Bridge to continue on the 101 to see the Red Woods & on to Oregon. When we used it ('86) the bridge was free northbound.

California Walmarts Red W = No Overnighting. Yellow W = OK for Overnights.

Free and low cost campsites in California . Free or Almost Free Campgrounds - California

You will be building memories for sure.

Post Edit:
Vancover BC, we really enjoyed visiting the Vancouver Aquarium, but it was in '86. Should be ever better now. http://www.vanaqua.org/

We checked GasTown out in '97, an ok place, lot of tourist shops, multi-national flavor, enjoyed the steam clock.

Also visted an Art Museum & a water front park, near the Aquarium, over looking the bay. We also did a drive up and along the sound to Squamish which is a very lovely drive, along the way we visited Shannon Falls. Shannon Falls

In 1986, we stayed several days in a small private campground (long gone it seems, now part of a neat golf course) by the sound on the way to Squamish, just before getting to Shannon Falls. We also went to Vancouver Island/Victoria, both are neat. Enjoyed Bouchard Gardens & a neat museum in Victoria. I can not remember the name of it now.
Victoria Attractions

We got to see & hear The Royal Hudson Steam Train rumble & scream by the small campground in '86. Can't remember if we saw it on our outing in '97 or not. Seems it is no longer running. "The Royal Hudson is currently out of service and on static display in Squamish at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park." A beautiful train. http://www.rrsites.com/royalhudson/gallery.htm

One of my colleagues at work enjoyed a British High Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria.

[paulj]

The route to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal stays out of most of the Vancouver traffic.

WSDOT border crossing cams and wait times

[romore]

No need to cross at Peace Arch if going to Victoria, you can take the ferry from Port Angeles on the Olympic peninsula or from Anacortes north of Seattle. 5-6 hour waits at the border are virtually unheard of especially going north, 2 hours is possible going south on summer weekends.

[lhenry8113]

A few years ago we took a trip from Cypress, Ca to Muncho Lake, B.C. I had talked to RV'rs that had crossed the border into B.C. through Vancouver-the majority suggestion was to avoid Vancouver because of major traffic problems and a possible 5-6 hour wait time. We crossed at Sumas, B.C. and it took about 30 minutes. Very important--the driver should not be wearing sunglasses at border crossing, minimal to none alcohol beverages including beer--no dairy products or fruits. Pets can be a problem--need paper work on shots, license, etc. No guns or ammunition. We spent 7 weeks on the trip but again we went further north--just below the Yukon Terr. In the Muncho Lake, Tetsa River area there is a Mtn. named after my Grandmother--Mt. Mary Henry. In Toad River I hired a small plane and flew to Mt. M. H. and around the general area--quite a trip. My Sig pic is camping by Toad River.

[drtkrw]

Thanks for the ideas. We are not taking a tow vehicle and I was thinking this wold be about a 10 day trip?? The only SF stop was going to be the golden gate park and fisher mans wharf, other than that we had planned to move fast through California doing at stop at the redwoods and on to Oregon.

I was thinking maybe just stay in the wall mart parking lot until we get into Oregon?

Crazy??

[Golden_HVAC]

I stopped in Meyers Flats, they have a campground right on the Russian River there, and it is in the middle of the "Avenue of the Giants". A great place to stop and see the redwoods.

Nearby in Ferndale, there is a old steam engine on static display (outside - it will never run again), and there is a self guided tour of the factory - where they can take in logs up to 8' diameter and resaw them into lumber 12 X 12 or smaller.

I would not recommend the coast route for the part LA to San Francisco. There are not any RV parks in SF anymore, so plan on staying somplace else. Are you bringing a toad car? How much time do you have?

I would think I would want to spend more time in the northern section, than in California, as you can revist the SF area and parts south without going all the way to Canada, on another 2-3 week trip. I would either recommend using the toad only in SF, or skip it altogether, in favor of returning when you will not be going north of SF, and can spend 3-4 days in that area.

In southern Oregon, there is a boat ride up the Rouge River from Gold Beach.

If you want to give ATC's a try, or rent a dune buggy, there are some places on the northern Oregon Coast to try that out.

I had a great time visiting the Rain Forest area, and stayed at a lake up there. Can't recall that 1999 trip very well anymore, I guess it is time to go again.

Fred.