Pacific Highway Suggestions? (Oregon-California West Coast Trip)

[S-L]

Hello,

 

I will be taken the supposedly large risk of attacking a 1500-mile journey with a few buddies (3 total, including myself) in my 2002 down the entire west coast along Highway 101 from Portland to Los Angeles - last week of March, which is usually promising for perfect temperature weather in California.

 

We are in the beginning stages of planning, we need all the suggestions we can get from things to bring along to people to meet - most of all, locations and stops that must happen along the route. We are looking to make this primary a trip all along the west coast with occasional dips into the city like San Francisco, Los Angeles. We are looking to cut hotel costs and escape the city for tent camps along the beaches and forests somewhere. Any suggestions for places that allow campfires would be convenient too.

 

What I most importantly need: people and homes who are willing to help along the way in the case of an emergency. I definitely am wishing for the best, but unplanned emergencies may happen in 40 year old cars; and place to stay or lending mechanical hand will definitely be needed and required from my 2002 community. In addition, if you're able to or free - join us on cruises along the route to whatever extent your schedule allows.

 

If you are willing to except with open arms in case of an issue or question regarding the area or whatnot or simply for company - please drop a comment below letting me know! If you don't feel comfortable dropping your number down into a public forum, please drop a comment with your location. I will PM you for your number and/or contact information, I'd like to organize a list of numbers according to the locations along the route.

 

I really appreciate all the help that I can receive with this trip through the west coast!

 

Looking forward to meeting awesome folks!

 

 

Edited February 11, 2017 by Scommando1

[Vicleonardo1]

Lets see. My wife and I did a similar trip, quite a few years ago, but once we left Oregon, we veered inward toward California Wine country. 

 

Gold Beach: Jerry's Jet Boat rides. Prehistoric Gardens...a bit cheesy, but made famous recently on "Strange Inheritance" 

Florence: Dune buggy rides at Sandland adventures (for the ride of your life). 

Lincoln city: Eat at the BlackFish Cafe.  Stop and gamble at Chinook Winds Casino..if you like that.  Check out the kite surfers or fly your own kite at Road's End. 

Newport: Oregon coast aquarium. Ripley's Believe it or Not...a bit cheesy as well. 

Yachats : Cape Perpetual scenic area. 

 

This is off the top of my head. If I remember some more I will add on. I cannot help you with camping areas what my wife and I did was just use our cell phones when we got tired and started looking for Motels via drive by or online. Most were clean, a few were scary... but they all were cheap. 

 

I am sorry, I am not mechanically inclined (my mechanic is in Portland) so I am not sure if I would be able to help you if you breakdown. A AAA membership may be worth a little piece of mind. (Plus Motel discounts) 

 

Cheers and Happy Travels. 

Vic. 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2017 by Vicleonardo1

[OriginalOwner]

I hope you are going to truly begin your journey on the 101 ...... in Astoria, and I'm specifically thinking this place, right on the 101, at the base of The Bridge .......

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

Edited February 12, 2017 by OriginalOwner

[jgerock]

I've got nothing but jealousy.  Sounds like a fantastic trip.  Keep everyone informed via social media so we can take the trip with you (and help out in case you need us). 

 

I've driven down a portion of the 101 in a convertible Mustang back in 1995.  Loved it.

 

 

[tisalover]

I believe that Taking Highway 101 the whole way Down the coast would be a little boring for you.

I strongly recommend that you switch over to the coast road (highway one) in Monterey, and go through Big Sur, also known as God's own country.  

When I lived in Santa Barbara I Would Regularly drive North, and go camping in Big Sur or visit friends in Carmel. The Coast Drive is one of the most famous in the world, and  I think you might enjoy visiting the Hearst Castle (where Citizen Kane was filmed, considered one of the most beautiful residences in the United States)

 Consider visiting Solvang, the Scandinavian village just north of Santa Barbara, then taking Highway 154 into Santa Ynes, and spend a day wine tasting there , just north of Santa Barbara.   One of my all-time favorite places is the Cold Springs Tavern at the top of the pass, on Highway 154, overlooking Santa Barbara.  They have a restaurant with great game food, things like bear, venison, elk and other meats fantastically prepared. The tavern is located in one of the original stagecoach stops from the pony express, and the building is about as old as you can get in California, and very rustic and beautiful.  On Sunday at Coldsprings they have live music, and people come from as far away as LA to hang out, the crowd includes all sorts of cool motorcycles, and LA people driving Ferraris etc. It's great fun.

You could also consider the wine tasting section in Santa Barbara, downtown where many vineyards have placed tasting rooms due to the popularity of vineyards in this part of the American Riviera. Go to the Santa Barbara Harbor and have lunch or dinner first, at Brophy Brothers seafood restaurant,(see photo with gull) it has been there for 30 years, and delivers great reasonable food, with a beautiful view of the harbor.  Or if you and your friends are serious foodies, visit the Palace café/restaurant in Santa Barbara which has over the top, magical cajun inspired food, the Paradise Café, a few blocks over, is always consistently good and has been around forever as well.

 

Every year I take a trip with two friends from graduate school. We drive all over some country, usually in Europe, and eat and visit all of the big sites. One of the things we do is purchase two or three guide books, we all read them ahead of time, and choose sites along the way to visit. You and your friends may want to try this, as lonely planet and other people will have lots of information on the California coast, as it is so incredibly beautiful.

LA also has the Peterson automotive Museum, I have included a picture of the famous BMW bread van, which I saw there. The museums in Los Angeles, such as the Getty,  Huntingdon , and Los Angeles County Museum of art are world-famous, and very impressive if you like Art. I strongly suggest that you don't just drive down the 101, take targeted side visits as this is one of the most beautiful road trip locations in the world that you could take. Think quality, not quantity of miles. Especially if you like some of the most glorious Pacific coast BMW driving roads in the universe, great food, and wonderful places to hang out with friends.

 

With just a little bit of planning this could be a lifetime cherished road trip that you and your friends will never forget.

 

Best regards, Peter.

[arminyack]

Once you get south of Monterey.... 

 

 

Highway 25 : Instead of the 101 for  good stretch, take the 25 out of just south of Gilroy, and take it all the way to the 198.  This is a fabulous driving road....its in the middle of nowhere, but its a hoot to drive. Take this to the 198, then head west on the 198 back to the 101. 

 

After that...

 

 

Wine Country in Santa Ynez Valley...not just for the wine, but the fabulous roads!  Take a left on Palmer Rd. just south of Orcutt, and take it to Foxen Canyon Rd. Take this south to the 154, stopping at wineries along that way as you please =). Once at the 154...go south to the 246, and take this head west to Solvang. Dont miss Solvang! Get out there, stretch your limbs,  get a bite to eat! Solvang is a great little town. After that, back to the 246 west to the 101, and southward to Santa Barbara! 

 

DO NOT get on the 1 south of Monterey. You WILL be in slow-mo hell behind some RV or clueless family on vacation. The view is fabulous..almost worth it....but you will be driving very slow, and it will take HOUR after HOUR!

Edited February 12, 2017 by arminyack

[tisalover]

Since you're taking three friends with you in your 2002, I strongly recommend taking a spare tire, and Jack that works. Don't forget to check the tire pressure as that's a pretty full load. I took a similar trip from Santa Barbara to Vancouver , British Columbia and back with my dad and two brothers, in  my BMW 1800 TISA. Dad had just been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, and it was literally his last road trip. The trip provided A lot of great, terribly beautiful bittersweet memories. Look out for the California highway patrol, especially as you come in from another state. We got a ticket for going 115 miles an hour on our way into California at the northern border, (Dad was taking a nap in the backseat) after cruising down past Mt Shasta. Bring a radar detector if you have one and plan on driving fast on the freeways.

 

Best regards, Peter

[arminyack]

Oh BTW Gaviota State Beach and El Capitan ( just before Santa Barbara) allows camping and campfires. You might/probably need a reservation though. 

 

If you do wind up on the 101 through central Cali....Remember the name: King City. DO NOT speed around King City. It is some sort of CHP mecca...they seem to swarm there, trying to generate revenue for the state of California  via the distribution of speeding citations.

Edited February 12, 2017 by arminyack

[JerryC]

A friend and I took two weeks to travel in my long-gone 4-door '67 Fiat 124 from San Luis Obispo to Vancouver BC about 35 years ago. We took Highway 1 as much as possible. Don't remember many details, but I still remember the wondrous feeling from all the sites we were able to take in. We just camped wherever we found a spot. Seems you need reservations these days. Only had one break down on that trip, and it turned out to be a loose generator pulley nut.

California, north of San Francisco....

There's a state park just outside of Crescent City with cabins and lots of redwoods. Great camping locations. Make reservations, however.

Not sure about Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. 101 is very pretty through there, however. Just before Santa Rosa, take River Road to Korbel winery for a great lunch.

In Sonoma County, look up the county regional parks for camping. If you don't mind going slow, take Highway 128 from 101 to highway 1, that's a good drive on its own.  They're pretty basic campgrounds, you won't find a lot of RVs with generators running, mostly people with tents. They set aside some sites for first-come, first-serve if you don't want to reserve a spot, but you may want to arrive early. Gualala, Stillwater Cove, and Doran Beach Regional Parks all offer good drive-in campsites. Camp fires are encouraged, firewood is for sale from a volunteer camper. They all offer nice short walks to stunning coastal view points. Bring your leashed dog, too.

You'll have to leave 101 to miss San Francisco, it goes right through on surface streets. It's funny, there is no freeway all the way through SF, anywhere.

There are campgrounds on Highway 1 between SF and Santa Cruz. Never tried any, but they're there. 101 down the San Francisco peninsula is a road I avoid. Take 280 if you want to get through on a better road, or just take 1.

Your traveling in March may minimize RVs on highway 1, with your load you may be taking it a bit easy anyway. Big Sur has several campgrounds. Find Pfifer Beach, it's just a tiny bit past the Big Sur parks, and get out on the rocks. I've seen whales broaching there about 100 yards or less off the shore from that spot. Stop at Julia Pfifer Burns State Park and find the coastal waterfall, you park on the edge of the highway just before reaching the park when traveling south, look around into the cove a bit and there it is. It may be marked now, it used to be kind of secret about 35 - 40 years ago. It's on the top of the park's web page now. Probably lots of sea otters there, too. +1 for Hearst Castle, too.

Sounds like a blast of a trip. Enjoy!

[bmdubl02]

Should be a great trip! If you do decide to divert to Highway 1 (101 goes inland somewhere south of Eureka and 1 becomes the coastal highway)

be sure to check road conditions. As you've probably heard, California has been hit very hard weather wise and as I type several parts of Highway 1 are closed due to major slide activity. Some of theres repairs will go well into the summer months. 

[Vicleonardo1]

 I recommend stops in Carmel. (17 mile drive-pebble beach.)  If you wish to stop hit the Carmel Mission. Right next to it and on the Coast there is the Mission Ranch. Stop and have a meal there. Occasionally you may catch Clint Eastwood at the piano bar there.

Definitely do Big Sur. There is a restaurant the Nepenthe. Has spectacular views and some nice beers. 

Ditto on Hearst Castle. 

If on a budget, hit the Costco in Sand City near Monterey and resupply. 

Be sure to have toll money for the Golden Gate Bridge.

In SF will you have time for Alcatraz? Be sure to try and book tickets early.  

Edited February 15, 2017 by Vicleonardo1

[TobyB]

Hey, wait-

 

101 starts in ....  errr...  Neah Bay!  By the time it gets to Portland, it's gone through 400 miles of Warshington.

 

Skip all that overcrowded Californication, and go North!

 

heh.

 

t

 

who wouldn't go south of Mendocino on 1...

[tisalover]

OK Scommando a little more research is going to be necessary.

All my memories of driving Highway one were over the last 30 years, but I last drove it about six years ago.   And yes Arminyack is absolutely right, it can be difficult to pass on, and may no longer be a viable way to travel if it is been covered with mud slides.  If you ever saw the movie with Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone where she is driving a Lotus , and he tries to keep up with her, it really highlights the thrill of passing on a twisty coast road. I have forgotten the name of the film now, dammit (middle age-you young guys should cherish your youth more than you realize), it was controversial due to her lack of panties. Anyway you would remember the film if you saw it. Try and drive at least a little bit of US one (Big Sur maybe) though as it is so very beautiful.

 

I've included a picture of a typical Santa Barbara sunset, taken while hiking at Lizards Beak on the San Marcos pass just above the city. The second image is of seal Beach, which is south on 101, around Ventura. There is also a famous monarch butterfly preserve on the north end of Santa Barbara, where the butterflies stop to rest on their way down south.

I know you'll have a great trip, best regards, Peter

[OriginalOwner]

what tisalover said:  Cold Springs Tavern ...... oh yeh.  My '74tii first arrived there in March 1975 and spent many of it's most earliest formative days and weeks right there ..... On my own suggested list, Definitely a must-visit place.

 

And as arminyack says, King City on the 101 is no place to be.  Avoid it by taking Hwy 1 South from somewhere up north, as others have noted.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

 

[JerryC]

The speed limit is reduced through King City as well, just to add to the revenue. Highway 1 from Monterey to San Luis Obispo will bypass that stretch. Salinas Valley leading through King City is also really uninteresting (unless something like Soledad prison excites you), compared to the coast route.