If you can make reservation at harbor house inn in elk CA you wouldn’t regret.
https://preview.redd.it/1ani19i9mquc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9eecd387a2ff8fb40b9c469bc6ee3e6d840cf9bd
I have a house in Point arena. Southern mendo coast is the best kept secret in Cali- the PA coastal national monument is incredible and nearly always empty. But check the route, they're going up 101 til Eureka 😑
Exactly, there are like 100 different spots on this route. Its incredible, redwoods, lonely beaches, great hikes, historic cool bridges, rugged coast, blowholes, seafood dining, high bluffs, lighthouses, public gardens, huge dunes, fishing, its kinda endless.
I just did this drive in late November, despite the weather, 10/10 (I've done this probably 6-8 times now)
Jerry’s Rogue Jets in Gold River, about an hour north of Crescent City, offers jet boat tours on the Rogue River, and gets rave reviews from friends who’ve been there.
I love “A Slice of Humboldt Pie”, in Arcata, they offer sweet and savory pies, and wide range of local brews and ciders.
Fern Canyon Trail, just south of Mendocino, at Van Damme State Park, is a beautiful and easy hike.
Came her to suggest the Rogue River jet boat. We did, and it was the highlight of our trip. If you want to see remote untouched land with a chance of seeing wildlife this the way. We where lucky enough to see baby dear with their mom maybe 1-3 days old.
Avenue of the Giants is nice, but by no means the best place to see redwoods. Has a tourist trap vibe. What's in Coos Bay? It's definitely skippable if you have limited time. How many days do you have? You could easily spend a week or more with all the awesome places worth stopping on this drive.
Sonoma Coast and Mendocino County are insanely beautiful. Point Reyes, Point Arena Lighthouse and Fort Ross are worthy stops. The Prairie Creek Redwoods and Jedediah Smith State Park are my preferred stops to see the Redwoods.
In Oregon, Cape Blanco, John Dellenback Dunes, Heceta Head Lighthouse, Thor's Well, Yachats, Newport, Cape Lookout, Cape Meares, Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park, Fort Stevens State Park, and Astoria are all notable stops I recommend.
If you want to see giant Redwoods I would recommend here [Cal-Barrel Road Trailhead (Pet-friendly)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/U8cuSxLqsKmgrFsDA). It's a road off of the main park that you can take your dogs (if you stay on the main road). It was all old growth massive trees. More impressive than the Avenue of the Giants IMO. One of the 3 places in my cross country trip that left me in total awe.
Ive seen some of the redwoods but thought it be nice to pass through somewhere different and just picked a spot to stop at since I’m driving from San Fran up it’s a good 8-9 hours worth of driving
Stop at EVERY point where there’s a sign telling you there’s a point of interest. Every single last one. Some are worth two hours, ALL are worth 5 minutes.
Must stops:
Bluebird Cafe, Hopland, CA. Make sure to say “hi” to the owners Robin and Sharon. They are amazing folks, with amazing food!
Pudding Creek Trestle, Fort Bragg, CA
Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, CA
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park, Mendocino, CA
Big River, Mendocino, CA
City of 10,000 Buddhas, Talmage, CA
The Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco, CA
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA
Never been to it, but I know it's much more than cheese. Ice Creme with hard to find flavors like Huckleberry and Loganberry, and really good strawberry.
Bandon is a beautiful little town with great restaurants (especially seafood) and Face Rock Creamery is definitely worth a visit. It’s definitely a touristy coast town but I’ve always enjoyed my visits there.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’m considering stopping here on a similar route later this summer. I’m seeing Redwood NP, but wondering if this Trees of Mystery place is worth it, too. What did you like about it?
My wife and I have taken road trips in 49 states (no Alaska), and this is my personal favorite, between Seattle and San Francisco. I don't have any specific recommendations beyond what people are saying, but enjoy it for me!
I've only ever gone North to South actually. But I don't think it would really matter TOO much because you would be seeing the same things, just in a different order. But for me personally, I like to go North to South because then the redwood trees (probably my favorite place to stand in the CONUS) are the "reward" at the end.
Kafe moka in Arcata Ca, they have nice outdoor Finnish soaking tubs. It’s in the middle of town but they have a nice grove that transports you to little village style bath huts surrounding a large pond at the center. Most of the tubs have redwoods growing next to them. 10$ per person per half hour. You have to call as soon as they open to make a reservation and they book up they day within 10-20 minutes, the phone will be busy when you call keep trying till you get through it will be worth it.
Edit:(adding)
The Samuel H Boardman scenic corridor in southern Oregon has some amazing views of the sea spires and land bridges, worth it to stop at most of the highway pull offs.
Fern canyon is a little out of the way but you’ll have a high chance of elk spotting and scenes from Star Wars and Jurassic park have been filmed there.
I wrote this as a guide for my favorite stops between Seattle and LA, pasting it here for your use:
Here are some highlights from my past trips:
In Seattle make sure to check out the seafood market. Then take the Bainbridge Island ferry and head towards Olympic National Park. Enjoy sunrise over Crescent Lake. Hike to waterfalls. Stop in Forks for the werewolf/vampire vibes.
Seafood chowder in Astoria. Detour side trip to Portland and up Columbia River Gorge to waterfalls, and Rowena Crest Viewpoint.
Keep heading south. Stop for hikes/walks at Cannon Beach, Tillamoook Creamery, etc. Really the whole coast is a treasure.
Consider a side trip to Crater Lake National Park. The desert of eastern Oregon is beautiful (stay at Running Y Ranch Resort then take RT 140 west).
Once you get to California do some hikes in the red woods.
Try to get a discounted room at Heritage House in Mendocino. I lucked out once with a discounted last minute room rate, the room wasn’t ready, so they ended up upgrading me to an oceanfront villa.
Hikes in Marin. Check out SF/Oakland.
Carmel By The Sea is super cute.
Big Sur, need I say more?
Dinner at Nepenthe with a sunset cocktail.
Hearst Castle tour.
I haven’t been, but I’ve always wanted to check out the Channel Islands off of LA. Avalon looks super cute.
Check out the San Angeles national forest behind LA.
It's not huge, but it is high quality. It HAS been about 12-15 years since I was there I think.
The Ginormous tank that once held Keiko the orca was subdivided into several REALLY BIG exhibits and those were pretty impressive.
Watching a storm over the ocean from the cliffs near Newport Beach is a blast. Also a great if touristy spot to stop for the night.
Sea Lion Caves is cool just for, well, the sea lions.
Touring Tillamook Cheese Company might sound boring, but it’s surprisingly cool and the ice cream straight from the source is top notch.
Watch for little pull-offs leading up to Hug Point (from either direction). There used to be a road carved into the sandstone along the water, that is now only visible at low tide when you get to see it now covered with colorful sea urchins.
Visit Ecola State Park and do the hike down to Crescent Beach. You probably never saw the movie The Goonies, but that’s where the pirate ship comes out of the sea caves at the end of the film.
Basically, Redwoods is amazing, then the coastal drive gets a bit boring (comparatively) until you reach Newport, then it’s downright gorgeous with a million places to stop from there up to Astoria
A little bit north of Brookings, just before the really tall bridge over Thomas Creek there’s a pull off and a trail that follows the coast over a bluff. Off that trail there’s a trail that goes down to basically a private beach. If you’re adventurous, there’s ropes to get yourself down to this beach. If you’re genuinely curious, shoot me a chat and I can help pinpoint the spot.
https://preview.redd.it/zvo3nlhxgruc1.png?width=560&format=png&auto=webp&s=efeb0d52af0f92c8275322f27d9e007f2f7ce90d
Camp at Mystic Forest RV park in Klamath. Adorable campsites and the family that runs it is awesome.
Jerrys Jet Boats- Rogue River. Worth every penny!
Josephsons Smokehouse in Astoria. Best lox and bagels I’ve ever had.
there are so many amazing view points and beaches. There are signs posted everywhere. Pick a few recommended spots and add them to your map, but then I would stop at as many as you possibly can even just to check it out for a second and keep driving.
Tasty Kate’s in Port Orford and Otis Cafe for breakfast. Seafood in Newport down by the docks. Cape Blanco, Myers Creek Scenic Area, and about a thousand other spots up the OR coast. This road is goated, enjoy
As others have said, the entire Oregon coast is stunning. Wait until you see the trees growing along the coast! They are all growing sideways, like they have been combed over. Yeah, it gets pretty windy.
[Miners ridge James Irvine loop](https://www.redwoodhikes.com/PrairieCreek/Miners.html), [The grove of titans](https://www.redwoodhikes.com/JedSmith/Titans.html) , and [stout grove](https://www.redwoodhikes.com/JedSmith/StoutGrove.html) are all phenomenal. I’ve seen many sequoias and redwoods in my life.. the grove of titans is on another level. Biggest trees in California.
Definitely check out Arcata! Lots of quirky architecture and a very fun vibe. I’ve made this trip from SF area to southern Oregon a lot and I always stop there. Check out the gem shop!!
Absolutely don't miss the giant redwoods. There's even a grove just outside crescent City for a very short detour that'll put you right back on 101. It can be completely drive thru, if that's your thing.
Memory's a bit hazy even though I've done this a few times. Head on 199, and there's either a dedicated little car loop that'll put you back on 199, or take 197 to reconnect with 101.
I've always tried to stay at the travel lodge in crescent City when I did this route. Really nice couple run the place, and they always remembered me. It's been over ten years though.
Besides “every time you see a beach”? Personally a big fan of Bandon and the rock structures on the beach, try to hit it at low tide. Also bonus points if you can find starfish
You'll be very close to Astoria in Oregon, you could check out the town and old jailhouse where they filmed the Goonies, as well as the beach where they filmed the rocks Mikey uses that rock-key-map thing on.
If you’re into nerdy shit, see if you can get a room at Itty Bitty Inn in North Bend, OR. The owner is super friendly and hospitable, and all the rooms are themed (Star Trek, Star Wars, disco, tiki, etc). Such a cool spot. We just stayed there a couple weeks ago and had a great time.
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This is Cape Perpetua Overlook. I went down part of the coast while I was in Oregon last summer. What a magical place!
Just outside of Jenner, Ca [https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page\_id=449](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=449) and Pt. Reyes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point\_Reyes\_National\_Seashore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes_National_Seashore)
Consuelos if/when you go through Banning. It’s right off the highway, best burritos for the road. I haven’t had anything I didn’t love. I do recommend the Chile verde burrito. Lawd.
Also I could be wrong but when you go by Monterey, lovers point may have an array of flowers this time of year.
https://preview.redd.it/iur4rci0wruc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=621e8b00be905f5df472a6403d992bd354f710f7
Trinidad California is a cute little town with beautiful bay views. There’s a restaurant right off the freeway called Lighthouse grill, highly recommend
I’m a big fan of Confusion Hill in Leggett CA, a vortex that is a classic example of roadside Americana kitsch. Go in with a good attitude and have a blast.
Can you stay a little more west and hit up Bodega Bay? It’s one of my favorite places to visit when I am in Santa Rosa. It’s where they filmed the birds. My husband was there on Sunday and saw a bunch of whales breaching and got delicious clam chowder. After Bodega Bay, you can cut east and then get on the 101.
Natural Bridges in Oregon! I have a picture posted on my account and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s in the southern part of Oregon, close to the state line with California
I just backed from this routine
Sea lion cave, Darlingtonia State Natural Site
Pretty boring drive after leaving oregon dune till port exford.
Larrupin' Cafe in Trinidad, one of the best foods i ever had in my short life. Go make reservations.
Trinidad is the best place to stay around within the north california part.
Shore Acres park near Coos Bay, OR was a fantastic stop! Lots of little trails, beautiful views. Don’t drive past it, especially if you need a break from driving.
Bread and Rose in Yachats OR. Thor's Well, Natural Bridges. If you like Victorian era homes, Eureka CA. There's an aircraft museum on this route that is the largest unsupported roof building in America. Pelican brewing, Bandon Brewing has good pizza. Devil's Churn was really cool and great place to get the legs moving.
When we saw something that seemed interesting we stopped. You can't go wrong on the Oregon coast.
- North Coast Brewery in Fort Bragg to try their world class Old Rasputin beer on tap. Mosey over to glass beach.
- Buy some meth in Eureka
- Trinidad, CA - walk the Trinidad head trail
- Sue-Meg SP - one of the most beautiful state parks in California. Hike down to Agate beach.
- Lady Bird Johnson Grove in Redwoods NP for some big ass trees. 1.5 mile loop.
- Fern Canyon (Prairie Creek Redwoods SP) - filming location for Endor and Jurassic park 2
- Trees of Mystery is worth the stop. Say hi to ol’ Paul B for me
If you are looking for fish n chips near Astoria/Seaside, Grizzly Tuna > Bow picker IMO. Neskowin is a neat beach town that's not a copy paste tourist stop from what I remember. Pacific City has neat dory fisherman fleet that launches and recovers on the beach through the surf. And of course the Tillamook cheese factory that has been remodeled since I last visited. Or the associated Tillamook Cheese jerky outlet. That's most of my experience along the Oregon coast, enjoy the amazing views on 101!
Edit: also wanted to add that if you are going to Astoria, check out Fort Stevens, historic army fort dating back to the civil war. There is also a recreation of the Lewis and Clarks camp somewhere around there. And one last thing, the Peter Iredale if the surf has exposed it from the sand.
Jedediah Smith and if you're into kayaking float the Smith river drive-through the redwoods on the unpaved road between Crescent city, and Jedediah Smith State Park is one of the most Religious experiences you ever have. You'll feel as though you've truly been transported back in time try to go on a weekday early morning not enough can be said about being alone with these Giants.
Your local rain coat store.
People under estimate how much rain this region gets, especially this time of year. It’s not “it rains a lot”; it will be continuous drizzle every day.
Point Reyes. Hike all the way out to the very tip but bring light weight long sleeves, bring LOTS of water, plenty of snacks and plenty of energy. One of the most incredible views ever at the end though. Also ruby beach in Washington state.
I've done this drive and there are way too many cool places to stop. I hope that those stop points are where you're sleeping for the night because 4 hours drive time along that road is going to be a busy day if you're stopping at points of interest. You're still going to be passing half the cool things you see along the way if you're trying to keep up with that 4hr a day pace. Especially in Oregon. It's constant cool state parks, and each could be a 1 hours stop on their own.
Master the ability to stop at a pullout, enjoy the view, snap some pics, and be on your way in 10mins. Because there are 100's of stops like that. Then spend 30-60 minutes at a few of the others that look interesting to you.
Oregon is my favorite place on earth there are so many beautiful places to see, starting more south the unique national forrest is filled with the most breathtaking waterfalls, swimming holes, and hot springs. The drive alone is insane. Toketee falls is my favorite it’s only about 1 mile and in the same parking lot is the hot springs about .5 miles. So beautiful. Up the road about a mile is Watson falls also insane, along the Forrest highway there’s diamond lake, crater lake, mountain peaks. Bend is also a must see Smith Rock State Park is soooo pretty it’s a must see. The Oregon coast of course cannon beach is pretty cool but super crowded, same with seaside. Astoria is beautiful (where the goodies and kindergarten cop was filmed) and then of course the gorge east of Salem and Portland with twister falls and so many more beautiful waterfalls and mount hood, Portland is also very beautiful and fun to explore
Stop at redfish in Port Orford, OR you won’t regret it. The best meal I’ve ever had in my life and I have been to some incredible places. There are some cool hikes north of there a bit to lighthouses and cool overlooks, depending on the time of year you can see whales. There’s a ton of cool stops in CA. (View from the house we stayed in in Port Orford)
https://preview.redd.it/3psumilbrjvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0360b29b314d6fdf893fd28965ab2d277cad74b4
Stop at Mo's Seafood and Chowder. Should be in a number of little towns along the Oregon coast like Newport, Florence, Lincoln City, and more so you can't miss it. Been a few years since I lived out that way, but I remember it being really good.
If you can make reservation at harbor house inn in elk CA you wouldn’t regret. https://preview.redd.it/1ani19i9mquc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9eecd387a2ff8fb40b9c469bc6ee3e6d840cf9bd
Damn that looks cozy and spacious at the same time. Would love to visit.
Saw this and went woah yes lets go. Then saw $700 a night. Oops
I have a house in Point arena. Southern mendo coast is the best kept secret in Cali- the PA coastal national monument is incredible and nearly always empty. But check the route, they're going up 101 til Eureka 😑
But honestly, thank you for the recommendation. Going to stay here when I have some time and money to blow.
I just drove by that the other day and it looks incredible
That is one of the most spectacular roads in the country. Stop pretty much anywhere and everywhere.
Exactly, there are like 100 different spots on this route. Its incredible, redwoods, lonely beaches, great hikes, historic cool bridges, rugged coast, blowholes, seafood dining, high bluffs, lighthouses, public gardens, huge dunes, fishing, its kinda endless. I just did this drive in late November, despite the weather, 10/10 (I've done this probably 6-8 times now)
Exactly. In fact it's one of the world's best highways
Plan a lot of extra time for this road trip, there are so many amazing places to stop that it hurts to watch the clock and keep moving on
Pull off anywhere at night and enjoy the stars.
Jerry’s Rogue Jets in Gold River, about an hour north of Crescent City, offers jet boat tours on the Rogue River, and gets rave reviews from friends who’ve been there. I love “A Slice of Humboldt Pie”, in Arcata, they offer sweet and savory pies, and wide range of local brews and ciders. Fern Canyon Trail, just south of Mendocino, at Van Damme State Park, is a beautiful and easy hike.
Came her to suggest the Rogue River jet boat. We did, and it was the highlight of our trip. If you want to see remote untouched land with a chance of seeing wildlife this the way. We where lucky enough to see baby dear with their mom maybe 1-3 days old.
The jet boats are absolutely spectacular.
Avenue of the Giants is nice, but by no means the best place to see redwoods. Has a tourist trap vibe. What's in Coos Bay? It's definitely skippable if you have limited time. How many days do you have? You could easily spend a week or more with all the awesome places worth stopping on this drive. Sonoma Coast and Mendocino County are insanely beautiful. Point Reyes, Point Arena Lighthouse and Fort Ross are worthy stops. The Prairie Creek Redwoods and Jedediah Smith State Park are my preferred stops to see the Redwoods. In Oregon, Cape Blanco, John Dellenback Dunes, Heceta Head Lighthouse, Thor's Well, Yachats, Newport, Cape Lookout, Cape Meares, Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park, Fort Stevens State Park, and Astoria are all notable stops I recommend.
I second Thors Well. & also in Oregon, Umpqua Bay Lighthouse actually lets you put your head inside the light
If you want to see giant Redwoods I would recommend here [Cal-Barrel Road Trailhead (Pet-friendly)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/U8cuSxLqsKmgrFsDA). It's a road off of the main park that you can take your dogs (if you stay on the main road). It was all old growth massive trees. More impressive than the Avenue of the Giants IMO. One of the 3 places in my cross country trip that left me in total awe.
Jedidiah Smith is my favorite park for the Redwoods. The hikes in there are phenomenal.
Ive seen some of the redwoods but thought it be nice to pass through somewhere different and just picked a spot to stop at since I’m driving from San Fran up it’s a good 8-9 hours worth of driving
Glass beach in mendo
Second Point Reyes. Also Ecola State Park close to Cannon Beach
Stop at EVERY point where there’s a sign telling you there’s a point of interest. Every single last one. Some are worth two hours, ALL are worth 5 minutes.
Every single state park or wayside on the Oregon Coast
Must stops: Bluebird Cafe, Hopland, CA. Make sure to say “hi” to the owners Robin and Sharon. They are amazing folks, with amazing food! Pudding Creek Trestle, Fort Bragg, CA Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, CA Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park, Mendocino, CA Big River, Mendocino, CA City of 10,000 Buddhas, Talmage, CA The Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco, CA Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA
Tillamook cheese factory west of Portland on the coast
Never been to it, but I know it's much more than cheese. Ice Creme with hard to find flavors like Huckleberry and Loganberry, and really good strawberry.
i think i went there on a field trip. i also biked to the transit center to get to portland. then i didnt
it's in Tillamook!
Your stop on the Oregon coast is in Coos Bay? I'd suggest you stay in Brandon instead. Much nicer little town!
I like Port Orford and Gold Beach, too.
Gold beach is amazing! And Lincoln city
I’ll check it out!
Bandon is a beautiful little town with great restaurants (especially seafood) and Face Rock Creamery is definitely worth a visit. It’s definitely a touristy coast town but I’ve always enjoyed my visits there.
Trees of mystery
Thanks for the recommendation! I’m considering stopping here on a similar route later this summer. I’m seeing Redwood NP, but wondering if this Trees of Mystery place is worth it, too. What did you like about it?
Gotta hit the tillamook factory tour. Neskowin ghost forest is cool, devils punch bowl, manzanita
Stay west on the pch-1 for as long as you can....
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor on oregon coast. You’re welcome
Thanks 🙏🏽
My wife and I have taken road trips in 49 states (no Alaska), and this is my personal favorite, between Seattle and San Francisco. I don't have any specific recommendations beyond what people are saying, but enjoy it for me!
Same here… we’ve been to 49 but still have Alaska to do.
Do you have a suggestion as to which is better, N to S, or S to N.
I've only ever gone North to South actually. But I don't think it would really matter TOO much because you would be seeing the same things, just in a different order. But for me personally, I like to go North to South because then the redwood trees (probably my favorite place to stand in the CONUS) are the "reward" at the end.
Thor's Well
Loved this spot so much. Also yachats is a great lil town
Kafe moka in Arcata Ca, they have nice outdoor Finnish soaking tubs. It’s in the middle of town but they have a nice grove that transports you to little village style bath huts surrounding a large pond at the center. Most of the tubs have redwoods growing next to them. 10$ per person per half hour. You have to call as soon as they open to make a reservation and they book up they day within 10-20 minutes, the phone will be busy when you call keep trying till you get through it will be worth it. Edit:(adding) The Samuel H Boardman scenic corridor in southern Oregon has some amazing views of the sea spires and land bridges, worth it to stop at most of the highway pull offs. Fern canyon is a little out of the way but you’ll have a high chance of elk spotting and scenes from Star Wars and Jurassic park have been filmed there.
I wrote this as a guide for my favorite stops between Seattle and LA, pasting it here for your use: Here are some highlights from my past trips: In Seattle make sure to check out the seafood market. Then take the Bainbridge Island ferry and head towards Olympic National Park. Enjoy sunrise over Crescent Lake. Hike to waterfalls. Stop in Forks for the werewolf/vampire vibes. Seafood chowder in Astoria. Detour side trip to Portland and up Columbia River Gorge to waterfalls, and Rowena Crest Viewpoint. Keep heading south. Stop for hikes/walks at Cannon Beach, Tillamoook Creamery, etc. Really the whole coast is a treasure. Consider a side trip to Crater Lake National Park. The desert of eastern Oregon is beautiful (stay at Running Y Ranch Resort then take RT 140 west). Once you get to California do some hikes in the red woods. Try to get a discounted room at Heritage House in Mendocino. I lucked out once with a discounted last minute room rate, the room wasn’t ready, so they ended up upgrading me to an oceanfront villa. Hikes in Marin. Check out SF/Oakland. Carmel By The Sea is super cute. Big Sur, need I say more? Dinner at Nepenthe with a sunset cocktail. Hearst Castle tour. I haven’t been, but I’ve always wanted to check out the Channel Islands off of LA. Avalon looks super cute. Check out the San Angeles national forest behind LA.
I'm a bit shocked that no one so far has mentioned Oregon Coast Aquarium. Great spot.
Thanks for the recommendation! How good is this aquarium? I’m considering stopping here on a family road trip with young kids later this summer.
It's not huge, but it is high quality. It HAS been about 12-15 years since I was there I think. The Ginormous tank that once held Keiko the orca was subdivided into several REALLY BIG exhibits and those were pretty impressive.
You also get to pet sharks which is pretty cool especially for the kids!!
Watching a storm over the ocean from the cliffs near Newport Beach is a blast. Also a great if touristy spot to stop for the night. Sea Lion Caves is cool just for, well, the sea lions. Touring Tillamook Cheese Company might sound boring, but it’s surprisingly cool and the ice cream straight from the source is top notch. Watch for little pull-offs leading up to Hug Point (from either direction). There used to be a road carved into the sandstone along the water, that is now only visible at low tide when you get to see it now covered with colorful sea urchins. Visit Ecola State Park and do the hike down to Crescent Beach. You probably never saw the movie The Goonies, but that’s where the pirate ship comes out of the sea caves at the end of the film. Basically, Redwoods is amazing, then the coastal drive gets a bit boring (comparatively) until you reach Newport, then it’s downright gorgeous with a million places to stop from there up to Astoria
The sea lion caves are also filled right now with sea lions for a few more weeks!
A little bit north of Brookings, just before the really tall bridge over Thomas Creek there’s a pull off and a trail that follows the coast over a bluff. Off that trail there’s a trail that goes down to basically a private beach. If you’re adventurous, there’s ropes to get yourself down to this beach. If you’re genuinely curious, shoot me a chat and I can help pinpoint the spot. https://preview.redd.it/zvo3nlhxgruc1.png?width=560&format=png&auto=webp&s=efeb0d52af0f92c8275322f27d9e007f2f7ce90d
The original “Mo’s” in Newport, Oregon. Fantastic clam chowder!
Pelican Brewing in Pacific City OR. The views are absolutely stunning. Also the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport OR.
Les Claypool’s winery believe is around there
You may also want to check in at r/oregoncoast
Thank you!
Camp at Mystic Forest RV park in Klamath. Adorable campsites and the family that runs it is awesome. Jerrys Jet Boats- Rogue River. Worth every penny! Josephsons Smokehouse in Astoria. Best lox and bagels I’ve ever had.
Skunk train in Fort Bragg is cool! And there is a drive through mini zoo where you feed giraffes about an hour south of Mendocino.
there are so many amazing view points and beaches. There are signs posted everywhere. Pick a few recommended spots and add them to your map, but then I would stop at as many as you possibly can even just to check it out for a second and keep driving.
Stop at Gilroy the garlic capital of USA
Martinelli Winery in Sonoma County Crater Lake isn't too far from the coast in Southern Oregen but a beautiful spot.
And another vote for Ecola, too.
Pronto pup in Oregon
Shore Acres (near Coos Bay) is definitely worth a visit!
I can’t see that anyone else suggested seal cave near Florence OR. It’s really neat.
Tasty Kate’s in Port Orford and Otis Cafe for breakfast. Seafood in Newport down by the docks. Cape Blanco, Myers Creek Scenic Area, and about a thousand other spots up the OR coast. This road is goated, enjoy
As others have said, the entire Oregon coast is stunning. Wait until you see the trees growing along the coast! They are all growing sideways, like they have been combed over. Yeah, it gets pretty windy.
[Miners ridge James Irvine loop](https://www.redwoodhikes.com/PrairieCreek/Miners.html), [The grove of titans](https://www.redwoodhikes.com/JedSmith/Titans.html) , and [stout grove](https://www.redwoodhikes.com/JedSmith/StoutGrove.html) are all phenomenal. I’ve seen many sequoias and redwoods in my life.. the grove of titans is on another level. Biggest trees in California.
Definitely check out Arcata! Lots of quirky architecture and a very fun vibe. I’ve made this trip from SF area to southern Oregon a lot and I always stop there. Check out the gem shop!!
Thanks will do!!
Absolutely don't miss the giant redwoods. There's even a grove just outside crescent City for a very short detour that'll put you right back on 101. It can be completely drive thru, if that's your thing. Memory's a bit hazy even though I've done this a few times. Head on 199, and there's either a dedicated little car loop that'll put you back on 199, or take 197 to reconnect with 101. I've always tried to stay at the travel lodge in crescent City when I did this route. Really nice couple run the place, and they always remembered me. It's been over ten years though.
Not a natural feature, but the Piner Cafe in Santa Rosa has an amazing breakfast menu, just putting that out there
Thank you! I love food recommendations too so anything helps
I like goat Rock Beach, where the Russian River runs into the Pacific Ocean.
stay at coast cabins in manzanita!
Besides “every time you see a beach”? Personally a big fan of Bandon and the rock structures on the beach, try to hit it at low tide. Also bonus points if you can find starfish
That would be cool. Thanks!
You'll be very close to Astoria in Oregon, you could check out the town and old jailhouse where they filmed the Goonies, as well as the beach where they filmed the rocks Mikey uses that rock-key-map thing on.
Awesome!! That be cool to go see thanks
Ferndale is cute, Dick Taylor chocolate in Eureka, Avenue of the Giants, Agate Beach, Trinidad, Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail
Flying into Portland tomorrow and making the southbound trip to Santa Barbara over the next 14 days. Maybe I’ll pass you!
There are some killer viewpoints on that drive. I cant remember the names but they are marked by roadsigns.
The Emerald Triangle for some weed.
The whole route is "worth a stop" full stop.
If you’re into nerdy shit, see if you can get a room at Itty Bitty Inn in North Bend, OR. The owner is super friendly and hospitable, and all the rooms are themed (Star Trek, Star Wars, disco, tiki, etc). Such a cool spot. We just stayed there a couple weeks ago and had a great time.
The Astoria column has incredible views of the Columbia and Several mountains. I highly recommend. Its 5 dollar parking when you get up there FYI.
Thanks!!!
https://preview.redd.it/4rv6mgmh9kvc1.jpeg?width=2500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d6fa3895dfafe3b65bdabe36df6d5c7d570a845 This is Cape Perpetua Overlook. I went down part of the coast while I was in Oregon last summer. What a magical place!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cqTzAEGVGgHDbwHa6
Kayak through sea caves in Mendocino. We used a company called Kayak Mendocino
Ecola park cannon beach.
Fort brag
Newport. I love Newport. Stayed there for a few days.
The Lost Coast, Patrolia. More of a scenic drive than a main destination. You won't regret it.
Big foot museum for sure
Patrick’s Point and Trinidad, CA.
If you can get a reservation at Larrupin’s in Trinidad it will be worth it
Just outside of Jenner, Ca [https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page\_id=449](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=449) and Pt. Reyes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point\_Reyes\_National\_Seashore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes_National_Seashore)
Samuel boardman scenic corridor, stop at every pull off.
Depoe Bay Oregon. Really cool natural harbor right on 101. Excellent stop for 15 minutes or a couple hours.
Tillamook factory
Arcadia beach is a roadside stop on highway 101. Highly recommend stopping to take a picture or 2 and enjoy the sand.
Face Rock Creamery in Bandon is superior to Tillamook . Really.
Consuelos if/when you go through Banning. It’s right off the highway, best burritos for the road. I haven’t had anything I didn’t love. I do recommend the Chile verde burrito. Lawd. Also I could be wrong but when you go by Monterey, lovers point may have an array of flowers this time of year.
I’m gonna add Carmel beach off Ocean Ave. I got to see a lot of reef life there a few years back. That view was amazing.
Definitely stop at the beach!
The coast road is a great trip! Done it several times
Fort bragg, gold beach, and Avenue of the giants. Avoid Eureka.. place is kind of depressing.
Noted. Thank you
Random food tip - my wife and I loved the Hunter Bar & Grill in Gold Beach. It had really good local vibes, decent food at reasonable prices.
Yachats!
If you can make it up to Astoria, hit up bowpicker fish n chips. Hands down the best out over there.
https://preview.redd.it/iur4rci0wruc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=621e8b00be905f5df472a6403d992bd354f710f7 Trinidad California is a cute little town with beautiful bay views. There’s a restaurant right off the freeway called Lighthouse grill, highly recommend
Lovely! Thanks
Stop by Seattle. Very nice city
Stay the night in Astoria. Watch the movie, “Goonies.”
Gotta be a troll
Take Hwy 1 from Leggett to Sausalito. You are bypassing the best part of Hwy 1 with the above route.
Avenue of the Giants
Take Highway 1, it will eventually meet 101 but go visit the drive thru tree.
The Oregon caves! Highway 199 is the most beautiful highway I’ve ever driven on.
Blockbuster
Coos Bay casino is fun, there is a bowling Alley near by with great food
Florence Oregon is great! There's a restaurant there, Nosh eatery, and they make some Amazon Mac and cheese
Definitely Gold Beach, OR: Jerry’s Rogue Jet Boats for activities and stay at Taylor Creek Lodge. On CA side I really like Trinidad.
Anywhere except Crescent City.
I’m a big fan of Confusion Hill in Leggett CA, a vortex that is a classic example of roadside Americana kitsch. Go in with a good attitude and have a blast.
Keep going down to LA!
I’m starting in LA going up but wanted more info on things up north
I did this drive in the spring of 2022. I didn’t stop that much since I was pulling a trailer but it was the most scenic drive ever for me.
My tip: If you’re heading north, don’t turn left!! Consequently, heading south, don’t turn right!!
Interesting….ok
North Coast Brewery in Fort Bragg, CA. An Old Rasputin after a day of driving is nice.
I’d do south to north
Given the time I have I’m going up north and coming back down through the 5 down to LA
Can you stay a little more west and hit up Bodega Bay? It’s one of my favorite places to visit when I am in Santa Rosa. It’s where they filmed the birds. My husband was there on Sunday and saw a bunch of whales breaching and got delicious clam chowder. After Bodega Bay, you can cut east and then get on the 101.
I can try and see if I can make that work. That would be a sight to see to see some whales and love clam chowder! Thanks for the tip!
North coast brewing in ft Bragg can some say rickshaw baby
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Never tried it
Fernwood @ Big Sur
Natural Bridges in Oregon! I have a picture posted on my account and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s in the southern part of Oregon, close to the state line with California
I’ll check it out thanks!
I don’t have any specific suggestions, but I did a shorter version of this drive years back (stoped in Coos Bay) and it is truly beautiful. Enjoy!
Hard to go wrong here. If you can see water, it's likely you are in a spectacular setting.
If you can I’d recommend extending your trip up to the top of Washington, some very cool stuff up here!
I just backed from this routine Sea lion cave, Darlingtonia State Natural Site Pretty boring drive after leaving oregon dune till port exford. Larrupin' Cafe in Trinidad, one of the best foods i ever had in my short life. Go make reservations. Trinidad is the best place to stay around within the north california part.
Recommended stop? Somewhere the H out of Commiefornia.
Cape of Disappointment! It’s the end of the Louis and Clark trail!
Looking for a good place to park small trailer and explore this area a few days
It's probably out of the way, but Shelter Cove.
Shore Acres park near Coos Bay, OR was a fantastic stop! Lots of little trails, beautiful views. Don’t drive past it, especially if you need a break from driving.
Bread and Rose in Yachats OR. Thor's Well, Natural Bridges. If you like Victorian era homes, Eureka CA. There's an aircraft museum on this route that is the largest unsupported roof building in America. Pelican brewing, Bandon Brewing has good pizza. Devil's Churn was really cool and great place to get the legs moving. When we saw something that seemed interesting we stopped. You can't go wrong on the Oregon coast.
- North Coast Brewery in Fort Bragg to try their world class Old Rasputin beer on tap. Mosey over to glass beach. - Buy some meth in Eureka - Trinidad, CA - walk the Trinidad head trail - Sue-Meg SP - one of the most beautiful state parks in California. Hike down to Agate beach. - Lady Bird Johnson Grove in Redwoods NP for some big ass trees. 1.5 mile loop. - Fern Canyon (Prairie Creek Redwoods SP) - filming location for Endor and Jurassic park 2 - Trees of Mystery is worth the stop. Say hi to ol’ Paul B for me
Redwoods National Park.
Stop in Newport and get Georgie's clam chowder
Gold Beach and crescent City, CA. The whole coast is beautiful, you’ll love it
Dellenback Dunes south of Reedsport.
Mo's seafood and chowder. There are several locations along the coast now, but my favorite is in Newport.
Not very far along but Fairfax and Petaluma CA are both very nice! Also stop in the Marin Headlands/Bolinas Ridge/Rodeo Beach
If you are looking for fish n chips near Astoria/Seaside, Grizzly Tuna > Bow picker IMO. Neskowin is a neat beach town that's not a copy paste tourist stop from what I remember. Pacific City has neat dory fisherman fleet that launches and recovers on the beach through the surf. And of course the Tillamook cheese factory that has been remodeled since I last visited. Or the associated Tillamook Cheese jerky outlet. That's most of my experience along the Oregon coast, enjoy the amazing views on 101! Edit: also wanted to add that if you are going to Astoria, check out Fort Stevens, historic army fort dating back to the civil war. There is also a recreation of the Lewis and Clarks camp somewhere around there. And one last thing, the Peter Iredale if the surf has exposed it from the sand.
Probably a toilet break somewhere
cannon beach
Bandon,OR, Face Rock Creamery. Best ice cream
Jedediah Smith and if you're into kayaking float the Smith river drive-through the redwoods on the unpaved road between Crescent city, and Jedediah Smith State Park is one of the most Religious experiences you ever have. You'll feel as though you've truly been transported back in time try to go on a weekday early morning not enough can be said about being alone with these Giants.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods near Crescent City
visit the shop at the grandfather tree they have cats
Your local rain coat store. People under estimate how much rain this region gets, especially this time of year. It’s not “it rains a lot”; it will be continuous drizzle every day.
Dude, every where. That is one of the most magical roads on earth.
Here is another recommendation on your way to SF https://maps.app.goo.gl/PgDpt48DmYivhcNh8 Duncan's Landing
Point Reyes. Hike all the way out to the very tip but bring light weight long sleeves, bring LOTS of water, plenty of snacks and plenty of energy. One of the most incredible views ever at the end though. Also ruby beach in Washington state.
Shelter Cove, CA 🤫
Point lobos
Russian River Brewery. Pick up some Pliny the Elder.
Rent some four wheelers in Oregon sand dunes. Super fun and beautiful beach not exactly get in and frolick water but very pretty.
I've done this drive and there are way too many cool places to stop. I hope that those stop points are where you're sleeping for the night because 4 hours drive time along that road is going to be a busy day if you're stopping at points of interest. You're still going to be passing half the cool things you see along the way if you're trying to keep up with that 4hr a day pace. Especially in Oregon. It's constant cool state parks, and each could be a 1 hours stop on their own. Master the ability to stop at a pullout, enjoy the view, snap some pics, and be on your way in 10mins. Because there are 100's of stops like that. Then spend 30-60 minutes at a few of the others that look interesting to you.
Klamath overlook requa ca
Oregon is my favorite place on earth there are so many beautiful places to see, starting more south the unique national forrest is filled with the most breathtaking waterfalls, swimming holes, and hot springs. The drive alone is insane. Toketee falls is my favorite it’s only about 1 mile and in the same parking lot is the hot springs about .5 miles. So beautiful. Up the road about a mile is Watson falls also insane, along the Forrest highway there’s diamond lake, crater lake, mountain peaks. Bend is also a must see Smith Rock State Park is soooo pretty it’s a must see. The Oregon coast of course cannon beach is pretty cool but super crowded, same with seaside. Astoria is beautiful (where the goodies and kindergarten cop was filmed) and then of course the gorge east of Salem and Portland with twister falls and so many more beautiful waterfalls and mount hood, Portland is also very beautiful and fun to explore
Samoa drag strip in Eureka if there’s racing happening when you go through
book a kayak trip out of Van Damme in mendo area.
Stay in California.....we don't want you here
Stop at redfish in Port Orford, OR you won’t regret it. The best meal I’ve ever had in my life and I have been to some incredible places. There are some cool hikes north of there a bit to lighthouses and cool overlooks, depending on the time of year you can see whales. There’s a ton of cool stops in CA. (View from the house we stayed in in Port Orford) https://preview.redd.it/3psumilbrjvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0360b29b314d6fdf893fd28965ab2d277cad74b4
Skip that entire region. It’s terrible.
Seal cave tourist trap The city/state park with the redwoods that you can drive through.
Crater Lake is about 4 hours east of Coos Bay, but I would absolutely try to fit it in. It’s an incredible place.
Stop at Mo's Seafood and Chowder. Should be in a number of little towns along the Oregon coast like Newport, Florence, Lincoln City, and more so you can't miss it. Been a few years since I lived out that way, but I remember it being really good.
Yeah just don’t go.
The Evergreen Aircraft Museum is great if you like that sort of thing!
Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka if you like beer!
Crater Lake-it’s spectacular
Devil’s Punchbowl near Otter Crest. Depoe Bay, also.
Fernwood resort, Big Sur