California, Oregon, and Washington

[Sedonacorp1985@gmail.com]

I will be traveling in these 3 states and would like any and all suggestions on what to see and not miss out on ....Thanks

[wolfe10]

Welcome to the FMCA Forum.

You could spend years seeing all the sites in those three states.

Give us an idea of your route, interests and how much time you have. Also, what time of year?

Brett

[Sedonacorp1985@gmail.com]

I will be in that area in May, 2012 have about a month on my way to Alaska ans right now all that I have planned is Sequoia, Yosemite, and Crater Lake

[tbutler]

You are a little late for the deserts so I'll leave them off the list. I recommend highway 101 for northern CA. That takes you through redwood country. While the sequoias are big the redwoods are tall and well worth seeing a few. California's Redwood State Park is an excellent place to get a good look a them. Redwood National Park is another possible stop to see them.

In southern Washington, you might be interested in seeing the last volcano to erupt in the US, Mt. St. Helens. If you are going north on I-5, you'll be right near the St. Helens area. A day to drive in to the visitors center will take you through much of the area affected by the volcano. The Johnston Ridge Observatory does an excellent job of presenting the history of the volcano and the 1980 eruption. There are many trails you can hike around the volcano if you are so inclined. Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula is a wonderful place to visit and you'll be close to Mt. Ranier National Park which is also some great scenery.

Now, here is the kicker...

We left the US and spent a month in British Columbia on our trip north to Alaska several years ago. On our way south we spent another week and a half in BC. Since it is on the way to Alaska and has some wonderful scenery, history and culture to be explored, it is well worth taking your time exploring BC. California, Washington and Oregon will be much closer and easier to get to than BC and you can see all these sights on another trip. If you treat BC as a drive through just to get to Alaska, you'll miss seeing some great country and learning about many interesting cultures. I highly recommend taking your time through BC and YT and even exploring into NWT and the Arctic Circle if you are so inclined. In planning your trip to Alaska, you will want to get a copy of the Milepost. This comprehensive guide lists all the sights you can see on your way to and from Alaska as well as all the Alaska attractions. Get you hands on a copy as soon as you can. There will be a new one out before you leave on your trip but you will enjoy browsing this guide from end to end and planning your trip.

[Sedonacorp1985@gmail.com]

Thank you so much, I do have Milepost, and I expect to to spend 5 to 6 months on this trip. I will leave from Atlanta heading to Zion and Bryce area of Utah, then begin my actual site exploration.

[tbutler]

You fooled me! I figured with a handle like Sedonacorp you were from Arizona. Good luck with your trip sounds like the trip of a lifetime.

[jlsnyder]

As a native California gal, Yosemite NP is one of my all-time favorite places to visit, along with all of the eastern Sierras area on Hwy. 395. If you go to Sequoia NP, be sure to visit Kings Canyon NP just a little further up the road where Zumwalt Meadow is beautiful! Lake Tahoe is also another one of my favorite spots, but be aware that weather could still be "ify" in May in all these areas so check road conditions and park road openings.

From Fresno (outside of Sequoia) you could take Hwy. 41 (which turns into Hwy. 46) over to the central coast, which is also another favorite. There are lots of wineries in the Paso Robles area and there is a fairly new RV Park on the right before you get into the town of Paso Robles (can't remember name - something to do witha winery!). You could then continue on Hwy. 46 over to Hwy. 1 and the sleepy coastal towns of Cayucos and Morro Bay, located a little south on Hwy. 1, and then Cambria and San Simeon north on Hwy. 1. You can take a tour of Hearst Castle (purchase tix online hearstcastle.org) in San Simeon, and see the elephant seals' colony for free just off the road a little north of San Simeon on Hwy. 1. Look for the road sign, find a place to park in the dirt lot on the left, and walk out on the cliffs to see the elephant seals below. They are very entertaining and if the weather is nice, people like to sit there for hours and watch them. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of RV parks to choose from in this area. There are several in Morro Bay, and there is Bella Vista Mobile Home Park in Cayucos that rents spaces nightly right across the street from the beach, and this is a very convenient location too for sightseeing the area. There is a campground at San Simeon State Park (reserveamerica.com) - no hook-ups, probably a 34' max RV length. From this area you could continue north on Hwys. 1/101 through Big Sur and No. CA. The Big Sur drive is a twisty two-lane road but the ocean cliff views are spectacular. Monterey has the awesome Monterey Bay Aquarium. We avoid driving the RV thru San Francisco at all costs, but it might be a place you would like to visit? Your choice! Funny I should say that since we live in So. CA with what everyone says must be the most horrific traffic in the world...just in my element here I guess. I forgot to mention So. CA beaches - we live nearby and think the drive on I-5 from San Clemente to San Diego is beautiful - if you can remember to watch for the stopping car in front of you The San Diego area is another whole destination in itself.

If you decide to visit the CA central coast and then drive Hwys. 1 and 101 to Oregon, you would then want to take Hwy. 199 from Crescent City, CA into Oregon and over to Crater Lake. Jerry's Jet Boats in Grants Pass offers a really fun ride on the Rogue River. If you should decide from Crater Lake to head north on Hwy. 97 via Bend, the drive along the Columbia River(bordering Oregon/Washington) from The Dalles to Portland is awesome. Stop at the Bonneville Dam and visit the fish hatchery and see the fish ladders. We took a five-hour tour boat ride that actually took us thru the locks on the river and it was very fascinating if you haven't done that sort of thing. Also be sure to visit Multnomah Falls and the other falls along historic Hwy. 30. Tad's Chicken 'n' Dumplins in Troutdale on the Sandy River is a great place to eat for a down-home-cooked meal. If you decide to head out from Crater Lake in another direction, Oregon has a lot to offer no matter which direction you take. We have not stopped to "smell the roses" along the I-5 corridor (although the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville has a great RV park with a free shuttle to the casino - just south of Roseburg). There are lots of old covered bridges in Oregon that are neat to see - stop at an information center for info. The coastal route is absolutely beautiful so you can't go wrong with that drive either. We loved the dune buggy ride at Sandland Adventures just south of Florence. We took the thrill-seekers FAST ride and it was a blast, but be sure to dress WARM and HANG-ON!! If you do take the coastal route, try to stay on it all the way to Astoria - a neat little town to visit with lots of history from the Lewis & Clark Expedition, etc. and a bridge crosses the Columbia River to get to Washington. As to Washington, I haven't been there yet (plan to visit in September) so can't offer a thing!

Hope this gives you some helpful information in addition to all that you've already received. Have a great trip! Would love to hear how your Alaska experience turns out. We keep talking about it but haven't done it yet. Maybe next year...

Joyce

[ChetsJug]

Are you a rail fan like me? There are a few road side pull outs large enough for a good sized rig to view the Tehachapi Loop. I would say there is parking for 5 rigs or 20 cars at the main pull out by the historical marker. You have to get off the freeway and go down the old highway. I use Bing Maps to see the roads I want to drive over. It's a fairly easy drive with some fantastic views. It has tight turns and signs "Trucks over 35 feet kingpin to rear axle not recomended" But not outlawed. I got some dirty looks when I drove my 48' flatbed down the canyon, but I know how to take blind curves lol. Hazards of the trade when I drive a construction supply truck. A pickup with a 5th wheel trailer or a bus type class A will have no problem. The tree clearance is ok. California Oaks and Pine trees are all around. Drive like you're site seeing; slow and watch for hazards. There are trains every hour 24/7 as this is a gateway pass to the west coast. You wont be there long before you get to see quite a sight. Plan on having lunch there.

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If you have never been in a cave, Mitchell Caverns quite a treat. If you have been to large caves, you might save this for another trip. It's off of I-40 a bit, with a climb in elevation. There are many review site and blogs on the road to get there.

the photo link--> Google Photos of Mitchell Caverns (more amature pics than the home page)

the home page- Mitchell-Caverns.com tons of photos and DVD/CD's pretty cheap too.