Road Trip
 

Me and the better half are heading out on a road trip next week for a couple weeks and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on things to see, places to stay, routes to take, things to avoid.

We are leaving Calgary and headed to Vancouver for a couple days. Then down to Seattle for a couple days. Plan on traveling along the Oregon coast down to San Fran. Going to spend 3 days or so in San Fran. Then headed to Las Vegas. Spend about 4 days in Vegas and then home.

Any suggestions are welcomed!

Drive the coastal highway. We found it absolutely fabulous. Going through Oregon, you might keep your eyes open for a nice myrtle wood stock blank. Very pretty wood. Going for walks in the northern California redwoods is good, and a stop at San Simeon (hearst castle) is worthwhile... http://www.hearstcastle.org/

We also drove to California through the "inland" highway in Oregon. We did hit a blizzard, but getting off the main roads was well worth while once we were in California. BTW, California fruit was more expensive there than it was in Canada, at that time anyway...

I went down the Oregon Coast about 8 or 9 yrs ago and your right it is great.Spend alot of time stopping at the little gift shops and such.If you are into ATVing stop at one of the rental places and spend an afternoon on the dunes,they're great too.We spent the night at Winchester Bay and found a rental company right on the edge of the beach and the dunes.There was a nice little Aquarium in Cresent City,Cali. also worth a look.And of course the Redwood Forest.Definately don't be in a hurry going down through that whole area.There is a million other things to see and do that we never even scratched the surface of,I'm sure.

:)My parents took us three kids along this route for a 6 week holiday years ago and its absolutely gorgeous and a vacation worth while. I agree with the previous post. Also some must sees are the Underground city (Seattle),Astoria for the cheese factory,(scenary too) Redwood Forest, the Hearst Castle, any of the zoos (Seaworld, San Diego) Queen Mary,any theme parks (like Six Flags, Knotts Berry Farm) Alcatraz, wax museum, Fishermans Wharf, Hoover Dam. If I think of more, or look up my holiday journal I will add some more. If you are an AMA member, I would pick up the travel book on California to see great points of intrest and toursit spots.

we did a similar trip but in reverse this time last year...i would not take the ferrys.....very long and very expensive....in washington we stayed at the kalaloch lodge...it was an amazing place to stay..individual little cabins overlooking the ocean...pretty amazing.

NICE trip. Drive the coast highway as others have said. That was my honeymoon. Do NOT go inland. That is the fast but boring way. Look for the town that stakes it's claim on kites. I don't remember the name. Google it. And buy a kite. ;)

stop in Sea Gulch and take a picture with both your faces in the wooden cut-outs. Just do it. I can't explain it.

Stay in Tillamook Oregon.

Vegas, who cares where you stay? On the strip for sure but go downtown to old Vegas for a couple hours, the old original casinos, then see a Cirque Du Soliel show (your wife will cry at "Love", and you will think the money spent on expensive tickets was well worth it), a 60's R&B lounge act, and a female impersonator show and you will have done it all. Eat breakfast at the Peppermill on the Strip. The omlette was HUGE. We asked how many eggs were in it. TEN! F'ING TEN EGG OMLETTES!!!!!!

ok, I'm done.

The tunnels and Ride the ducks in Seattle are good.

And hit the public market there.

If it was my trip I would watch the show "Diners,Drive-Ins and Dives" and hit all of them on the way down.

Just make sure you have healthcare coverage in the US. Have you seen the food tht most ot the places on that show serve? Heart attacks waiting to happen! You can see why so many Americans are so big! :lol: But yeah, it makes me drool. :D

"We take hamburger, the batter it, deep fry it in lard, then coat it in chocolate, then serve it with double cheese and cookie dough" :lol:

I highly recommend a drive through Arches National Park around Moab, Utah on the way home.... pretty sweet.

Thanks for all the replies guys. We are going to head South from Seattle but I think we are going to try and shoot over to the coast line as soon as possible and try to take in as much as we can of the Oregon coast.

You can head south from Seattle to Portland, and from Portland you can head to the Coastal Highway. Stop in Cannon Beach, Oregon if you can. It's a really neat artsy kind of place, with lots of neat shops and Galleries.

Astoria, Oregon is neat as well. The streets are like San Fran with all the Hills, and there is a really nice, huge bridge there. Also it is where the movie Kindergarten Cop was set.:lol:

Have a good trip. If you end up inland, do NOT spend the night at Happy Times RV Park in Dunnigan, California. Unless you're looking for drugs.....

Cheers