The Pacific North-West Coast Trip

[Our03z4]

Wife and I are heading out to the Pacific NW coast later this week. Plan on staying 5 days along the coast starting near Portland and driving down the 1 to San Fran. This is part of a 6k mile 12 day trip (we're crazy I know, recently did 3,800 miles in 5 days). We will have our pups with us and plan on doing outdoor activities only. Yes, it will be raining most of the time but we work outside and have the proper gear for any weather.

Are there any parks along that route that we can't pass up without seeing? Also any good take out places to eat? Or even anything best to avoid?

Thanks!

[UncleWede]

There should definitely be some redwoods in your future!

[M_Six]

Mount St. Helens is north of Portland, but not that far. Very impressive place.

[chassis]

Mt. Rainier - might be outside of your geographic window
Mt. St. Helens
Redwoods in NorCal
Yosemite - also might be outside of your window

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Wife and I are heading out to the Pacific NW coast later this week. Plan on staying 5 days along the coast starting near Portland and driving down the 1 to San Fran. This is part of a 6k mile 12 day trip (we're crazy I know, recently did 3,800 miles in 5 days). We will have our pups with us and plan on doing outdoor activities only. Yes, it will be raining most of the time but we work outside and have the proper gear for any weather.

Are there any parks along that route that we can't pass up without seeing? Also any good take out places to eat? Or even anything best to avoid?

Thanks!

If you stay on Hwy 101 in Oregon and Hwy 1 in California, you will be on or close to the ocean the whole way. The entire drive is a park! There will be endless places for you to get out and walk your dog and enjoy the outdoors.

In California, there are many state beaches. They each charge a fee but there might be a week pass or a pass where you can visit multiple places on the same day on the same pass.

It's hard to pick a specific place to recommend since the entire trip is so special. Personally, I love Hwy 1 between the town of Mendocino and Bodega Bay. The lighthouse at Point Arena is very cool. Jenner is where the Russian River meets the ocean. If you stop at one of the lookouts, you can see hundreds of Pelicans flocking and a bunch of sea lions. It's quite a sight to see. Keep going south across the bridge at Jenner and one of the first turnouts to the right is Goat Rock Rd to Goat Rock Beach. Amazing views and places to walk and hike with your dog.

For food, if you like fresh fish, go to Fisherman's Cove at 1850 Bay Flat Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923. Not fancy at all but the fresh fish is amazing.

I'm not sure how far south you are going since can't find your final destination, San Fran, on a map. It's okay, I can't find Cali in a map either.


Have fun!

[dreamingat30fps]

I agree on Mt. St. Helens. We also enjoyed Seaside OR. They also have the Lewis and Clark Historic area/park which is part of the Lewis and Clark trail. In CA we like the Muri Woods park... although the last time we went they had some weird ticketing system or something I recall it being a pita.

[UncleWede]

Check dot (dot) ca (dot) gov and make sure there is a complete road along 1. I can't recall if all the landslides have been repaired.

Roaring Camp railroads in Santa Cruz (Felton?) was kinda cool. Combine redwoods and a steam train. We did that in the afternoon, then dined by the harbor in Santa Cruz, before retiring to our room. We were heading north to see the middle son in Portland, but were just cruizing.

Does Hearst Castle still exist?

[mc-m3]

just east of Crescent City CA - Grove of Titans Trailhead, Howland Hill Road, Crescent City, CA

the road to it is a small road (some gravel) and worth the drive.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Mount St. Helens is north of Portland, but not that far. Very impressive place.

Unfortunately we are going to be too far south from there but it is on our list for the future. Thanks for the reply!

Originally Posted by chassis

Mt. Rainier - might be outside of your geographic window
Mt. St. Helens
Redwoods in NorCal
Yosemite - also might be outside of your window

Issue with those parks is they don't allow dogs but in parking lots and roadways, no trails. My wife says if they allow kids they should allow dogs, ours are better behaved lol

Originally Posted by sygazelle

If you stay on Hwy 101 in Oregon and Hwy 1 in California, you will be on or close to the ocean the whole way. The entire drive is a park! There will be endless places for you to get out and walk your dog and enjoy the outdoors.

In California, there are many state beaches. They each charge a fee but there might be a week pass or a pass where you can visit multiple places on the same day on the same pass.

It's hard to pick a specific place to recommend since the entire trip is so special. Personally, I love Hwy 1 between the town of Mendocino and Bodega Bay. The lighthouse at Point Arena is very cool. Jenner is where the Russian River meets the ocean. If you stop at one of the lookouts, you can see hundreds of Pelicans flocking and a bunch of sea lions. It's quite a sight to see. Keep going south across the bridge at Jenner and one of the first turnouts to the right is Goat Rock Rd to Goat Rock Beach. Amazing views and places to walk and hike with your dog.

For food, if you like fresh fish, go to Fisherman's Cove at 1850 Bay Flat Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923. Not fancy at all but the fresh fish is amazing.

Have fun!

Mendocino is on our list, we plan to hit up the botanical gardens there (they allow dogs!). Apparently it's also a good place to whale watch.

I don't know how I missed Jenner but I just looked that area up and it looks like a perfect place to stop and check out!!!

Thanks so much for your advice and ideas!

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Unfortunately we are going to be too far south from there but it is on our list for the future. Thanks for the reply!



Issue with those parks is they don't allow dogs but in parking lots and roadways, no trails. My wife says if they allow kids they should allow dogs, ours are better behaved lol



Mendocino is on our list, we plan to hit up the botanical gardens there (they allow dogs!). Apparently it's also a good place to whale watch.

I don't know how I missed Jenner but I just looked that area up and it looks like a perfect place to stop and check out!!!

Thanks so much for your advice and ideas!

Take photos. We NEED to see them!

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Unfortunately we are going to be too far south from there but it is on our list for the future. Thanks for the reply!



Issue with those parks is they don't allow dogs but in parking lots and roadways, no trails. My wife says if they allow kids they should allow dogs, ours are better behaved lol



Mendocino is on our list, we plan to hit up the botanical gardens there (they allow dogs!). Apparently it's also a good place to whale watch.

I don't know how I missed Jenner but I just looked that area up and it looks like a perfect place to stop and check out!!!

Thanks so much for your advice and ideas!

The Fisherman's Cove restaurant in Bodega Bay has it's own boat, so I'm told by an employee, that brings back fresh fish each day. I go fishing in Alaska and spend entirely too much money catching fresh halibut, but it's so good. I go to Fisherman's Cove and it's just as good. The clam chowder is awesome too. They are dog friendly.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

My wife says if they allow kids they should allow dogs, ours are better behaved

Amen...

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

The Fisherman's Cove restaurant in Bodega Bay has it's own boat, so I'm told by an employee, that brings back fresh fish each day. I go fishing in Alaska and spend entirely too much money catching fresh halibut, but it's so good. I go to Fisherman's Cove and it's just as good. The clam chowder is awesome too. They are dog friendly.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun.

Dog friendly you say. We'll check it out. Clam chowder is what we'll need with all the rain we'll be in.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Take photos. We NEED to see them!

Will do! I really should post some photos of this past years trips. After this one we'll have driven almost 18k miles in less than a year. 44 states worth.

[Our03z4]

Leaving in the morning. Not super thrilled with the rental Hertz gave us (Jeep Compass with 70k miles). One nice thing is that it has 4wd, that may come in handy.

[CamasM3e93]

Highway 1 in California is closed south of Big Sur, was just there on Monday.

Depends on how you define coast, but from Portland south, other things to consider:

Crater Lake

Bend & Sisters, OR

There’s a buttload of official scenic drives off 5 through central and southern Oregon.

Yosemite

Coast proper: Cannon Beach, Brookings OR

I’ve driven California highway 1 from its northern terminus south to Malibu. It’s a vacation all on its own but you would have to turn around at Big Sur and vector over to 101. Still, it’s very worth the effort. That’s two full days and you have to be patient. Best seen driving north to south with the windows up so you don’t accumulate bugs in your slack jawed mouth dropped in continuous awe.

[RobotDoctor]

Crater Lake is one of the most incredible, awe-inspiring places I have ever seen. If in the area this should be a MUST SEE!!!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by CamasM3e93

Highway 1 in California is closed south of Big Sur, was just there on Monday.

It's too bad that Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is also closed for repairs. That's a stunning route up the slope from Hwy 1 and would have been a means to seeing more of Big Sur while going around the closed section of 1.

[UncleWede]

You could always come another 6 hours south of Frisco to the strawberry capital of the world: Oxnard

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by CamasM3e93

Highway 1 in California is closed south of Big Sur, was just there on Monday.

Depends on how you define coast, but from Portland south, other things to consider:

Crater Lake

Bend & Sisters, OR

There’s a buttload of official scenic drives off 5 through central and southern Oregon.

Yosemite

Coast proper: Cannon Beach, Brookings OR

I’ve driven California highway 1 from its northern terminus south to Malibu. It’s a vacation all on its own but you would have to turn around at Big Sur and vector over to 101. Still, it’s very worth the effort. That’s two full days and you have to be patient. Best seen driving north to south with the windows up so you don’t accumulate bugs in your slack jawed mouth dropped in continuous awe.

Thanks for the advice! We won't be making it quite that far down though. Our cut off is San Francisco then cutting over to Lake Tahoe for a few hours on the way home.

[2000cs]

If you’re in Portland, drive a bit east to Multnomah Falls.
Lots of parks and other places along the coast of OR and No Cal.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

If you’re in Portland, drive a bit east to Multnomah Falls.
Lots of parks and other places along the coast of OR and No Cal.

Wow, not sure how we missed the waterfall. We are going to stop and check that out for sure since we'll be driving right past it. Very much appreciated!