Road Trip from Vancouver to San Fran!

[PENNYNIKKEL]

Hi there:

I'm very excited about a road trip that I'm planning for later this June. Flying to Vancouver and then driving down the west coast, maybe up to San Francisco. Definitely doing this cheap, cheap! But expect it to be a lot of fun anyways.

Any suggestions on interesting sights, towns, and detours to take?! I would welcome all your suggestions. One splurge that I want to have is a place to eat fresh seafood, any ideas?

Thanks for your advice!

[Gail]

I do hope if you're going that way that you take in Victoria BC, if you haven't been there. With all due respect to Vancouver and its charms, Victoria is a LOVELY city. I would certainly do that (perhaps ferry to Nanaimo, drive down, and ferry across to Port Angeles.)

One of my best friends lives in Port Angeles. If you think you might be going that way, I'll contact her for restaurant suggestions. But as I recall, it was a lovely drive around the Olympic Peninsula and down the coast.

DO stay on the coast as much as possible. You may wish to make an inland detour for Crater Lake in Southern Oregon, otherwise I'd stick to Highway 101 most of the way. In Del Norte and Humboldt Counties (Northern California), you will be in my Favorite Spots. (I LOVE the coastal redwoods and to me these are the prettiest areas.) Look out for Ladybird Johnson Grove, and if you like walking amongst the trees, this is a lovely spot to do it. And of course you MUST admire the Avenue of the Giants, a bypass off Highway 101 (you'll see plenty of signs.) Along the way, you'll be inundated with signs for tourist traps: Trees of Mystery, Drive-Under-Tree, Confusion Hill... (assuming they're still there.) Unless you're dying of curiosity, drive on by.

Below Eureka and only slightly off the main drag is a the little Victorian town, Ferndale, with its lovely restored homes and slightly scary cemetery (used in first version of Stephen King's "'Salem's Lot." Just below that is an interesting and little explored triangle of "California's Undiscovered Coast" which shoots out to Punta Gorda. Mind you, I haven't been that way in twenty five years, and quite possibly things have changed, but back then the road was full of hairpin turns and 10-mile-per-hour limits, lovely vistas and absolutely no one or nothing in sight other than a few herds of sheep. If it HASN'T changed and you venture to explore the region, rest assured you'll be in a select group of few who've ventured out that way.

Just above Fort Bragg, you will note that the road splits off to Highway 1. This is kind of a "mixed-bag" road, though I think worth seeing, if nothing else simply to enjoy the charming town of Mendocino. Parts of this road are pretty rugged, so be prepared to spend time. There is the Skunk Railroad, which is an old-fashioned narrow-gauge railway which runs between Ft. Bragg and Willits, running through the redwoods-- which I believe requires advance reservations. (I haven't done it.)

The coast road just above Bodega Bay, I think, is lovely and I go there often. Bodega Bay is best known as being the setting for Hitchcock's "The Birds," though the restaurant is now rebuilt and the schoolhouse is actually inland 5 miles in the town of Bodega (slightly southeast.) There are a few galleries in Bodega Bay and antique shops in the neighboring towns (Occidental, Bodega, Santa Rosa). You're also not far from wineries if you cut inland just north of town before Jenner (Highway 116) and follow that inland toward 101. (check out other threads on Napa, wine country, etc for more detail.) In case you're interested, there's a little local eatery in Bodega Bay called The Sandpiper (ask or you'll likely never find it) which serves up some mean blackened snapper, nice bread and good chowder. Not fancy food, but certainly good food.

That should do you for a while... Have fun!

[PENNYNIKKEL]

Wow!

Thank you Gail for all your recommendations. I definitely want to see the Redwoods, and also have heard of Mendocino, so will check that out too. I will also put Bodega Bay on my list to check out.

Thank you verrrry much!

[sassafras]

Fun!! Last May a couple of girlfriends and I made a similar trip in the opposite direction - Santa Cruz to Seattle! I loved the wineries of Northern California and a lot of them offered free tastings (some charged $2.00 - $5.00 which is still inexpensive) Also, if you have the chance (and the time) take Highway 1 along the CA and OR Coast!! Incredible views. Have fun!

[Gail]

Pennynikkel,

I should point out a couple of things to you. Bodega Bay is a very small town, basically a fishing village. There is virtually nothing to do there (which is exactly why I like it.) But in all fairness, if you're looking for picturesque or for things to do, it isn't much. I'm only mentioning it because of The Birds and because it's a stop along Highway 1. (and because I happen to like The Sandpiper, as plain-wrap a place as it is...) If you do stop in for a meal in town at all, Lucas' Wharf has a huge following and I hear it's very good(though in the kajillion times I've been in town, I've yet to eat there.) The old Tides Wharf, where a bit of The Birds was filmed has been remodeled and about the only thing left of the original are photos of Tippi Hedren inside. (Too touristy and overpriced now.) And down by Lucas' Wharf is an unlikely looking little store with an adjacent snack bar attached which makes entirely decent fish and chips for a quick and filling meal.

Secondly, if you CAN swing it, I'd suggest going further south than San Francisco. Go down to Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula. Some of our most dramatic and beautiful coastline is one day south of where you're planning to stop. Seems a rotten shame to miss out!

[LGBurns]

Gail has done an amazing job so I don't have much to add. Just wanted to encourage you to try Lucas Warf--whenever I'm back in Sonoma County (I'm a native) my family and I travel out there for Dugeness crab. Unfortunately, in June there won't be any local Dungeness crab available but their other seafood is terrific too.

I really want to encourage you to check out the other threads on travelling around the wine country area. Here are some of them:

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4520&highlight=wine+AND+country

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11532&highlight=wine+AND+country

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11321&highlight=San+AND+Francisco

Gail and I both recommended drives and wineries on these threads that would be very easy to do coming down Hwy 1 near Bodega Bay. Also there are great recommendations for San Francisco and other areas around SF as well.

I definitely recommend that north of, say, Healdsburg (not actually sure the best area to do this, you'll need to look on a map) you get off 101 (if you haven't already) and finish the trip to SF on Hwy 1. Very winding and cliff hugging but beautiful (as opposed to 101 which becomes trafficy and unattractive).

Healdsburg is also a town I recommend taking a slight detour to check out--very charming.

Please let us know what route you end up taking--I love to hear about people's trips to my old stomping grounds. Have a great time!

[mochadelsol]

I agree with taking HWY 1 it's some of the most beautiful coastline ever. My DD & I took a road trip last summer from Wash. to Sacremento via HWY 1. Bandon Beach in Oregon is wonderful, very small but nice town. We loved just about every town we went though. HWY 101 is quicker but you do stop at alot of lights and you cannot always see the ocean. Just depends on what you want to see and how much time you have. I hope you have a great trip!!!

[Gail]

My apologies. I'm working blind here. No map handy. Yes, I would suggest taking any road which gets you as close to the coast as possible. If 101 isn't the correct one in Oregon and Washington, my error.

Thanks for mentioning Bandon-- knew I'd forgotten. FABULOUS place if you're into sunsets and beautiful coastlines. Bandon is the place you always see in the photos and postcards. That reminds me also, when you're headed down the Oregon Coast, you will see a kajillion turn outs on the ocean side. PULL IN. The foliage and basic topography of the area prevents you from seeing most of the most beautiful sights and Oregon's coast (in my opinion, particularly the portion south of Coos Bay-- again this is memory, hopefully not too far off) is magnificent. Take a camera and TAKE YOUR TIME.

[LGBurns]

I haven't done Hwy 1 North of Mendocino so I don't know much about that but I just wanted to let you know that if you are on 101 in the very Northern part of California you will drive right past Mt. Shasta. Might even be worth a slight detour. However, not having done the Seattle (or Vancouver) to California along the coast drive myself, I'm not sure if 101 is worth it just for Shasta. I just know about the Mt. Shasta views because of my drives up to Ashland, OR.

BTW, speaking of Ashland, if you are at all interested in Shakespeare or theater, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland will be in full swing and may (not sure, I'm not looking at a map at the moment) be on your way (or not too much of a detour). Terrific Shakespeare in a beautiful town. I'm not sure how hard it will be to get tix. If you are thinking about it, you might want to call in advance to see what they recommend. I'm sure you can find them on the web.