Oregon, Washington, BC

[Dr_Strabismus]

...I just love getting in a car and driving. I'm planning another two-week trip to the US. West at the end of May, probably heading up from Los Angeles to British Columbia, Canada, and back down the coast.

I love countryside, and I expect to see some great nature reserves, but I also like seeing the kitch and absurd Americana and general weirdness you come across in the small towns too.

Does anyone have any recommendations, "must-sees" for Oregon, Washington, British Columbia?

 

[McKenna]

...I just love getting in a car and driving. I'm planning another two-week trip to the US. West at the end of May, probably heading up from Los Angeles to British Columbia, Canada, and back down the coast.

I love countryside, and I expect to see some great nature reserves, but I also like seeing the kitch and absurd Americana and general weirdness you come across in the small towns too.

Does anyone have any recommendations, "must-sees" for Oregon, Washington, British Columbia?

Take the highway that goes along the Oregon coast. It's absolutely gorgeous and worth the drive! You'll see some kitchy stuff, but you'll also see some fabulous sea-vistas.



Edited Bit:

It's US Hwy 101.

There's a small town in northern Oregon called Tillamook. If you like kitchy stuff, stop and tour their cheese factory.

This is Canon Beach, a small sample of the sea-vistas I spoke of earlier:

http://www.nps.gov/lewi/planyourvisit/images/clark-over-cannonbeach.jpg

http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/d/dynagriggs/17.jpg

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Take the highway that goes along the Oregon coast. It's absolutely gorgeous and worth the drive! You'll see some kitchy stuff, but you'll also see some fabulous sea-vistas.



Edited Bit:

It's US Hwy 101.

There's a small town in northern Oregon called Tillamook. If you like kitchy stuff, stop and tour their cheese factory.

This is Canon Beach, a small sample of the sea-vistas I spoke of earlier:

http://www.nps.gov/lewi/planyourvisit/images/clark-over-cannonbeach.jpg

http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/d/dynagriggs/17.jpg

I *love* Cannon Beach! I stayed there on my last road trip, (east coast to west coast). I'll check out Tillamook this time.

 

[Huckleman2000]

In Victoria, BC, be sure to see Buchart Gardens, it's just beautiful. The ferry from Seattle to Victoria is also a scenic trip, past the San Juan islands. Also, the 'sea to sky' highway from Vancouver to Whistler is a spectacular drive.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Don't forget to take the old Columbia Gorge Highway from Gresham to Bridal Vale. It's gorgeous this time of year

 

[Guest]

...........

 

[Weird Harold]

I love countryside, and I expect to see some great nature reserves, but I also like seeing the kitch and absurd Americana and general weirdness you come across in the small towns too.

www.endoftheoregontrail.org/

www.collierloggingmuseum.info/

Also, IIRC, one of the worlds largest classic car collections is in the Tacoma/Olympia Washington area (somewhere between the two.)

If you happen to pass through Olympia at the right time for a brewery tour, that's the Olympia brewery is an interesting tour but not worth rearranging your schedule for.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

My Favorite place to look in Oregon --> http://www.barflymag.com/bar/Wildcats.html

 

[amicus]

[QUOTE=Dr_Strabismus]...I just love getting in a car and driving. I'm planning another two-week trip to the US. West at the end of May, probably heading up from Los Angeles to British Columbia, Canada, and back down the coast.

I love countryside, and I expect to see some great nature reserves, but I also like seeing the kitch and absurd Americana and general weirdness you come across in the small towns too.

Does anyone have any recommendations, "must-sees" for Oregon, Washington, British Columbia?[/QUOTE]

~~~

Since your starting point is Los Angeles, take in San Francisco and Marin County, Mill City, I think, then the Redwoods but return to I-5 so you can see and photograph Mt. Shasta, just magnificent.

Along the Oregon coast, Gold Beach, Agate Beach where you can pick up stones from the beach. Cross the Columbia River at Astoria, named for John Jacob Astor and then follow the river back to Vancouver, washington, make a side trip to Mt. St Helen's, they have built a public view point.

I liked Esquimalt in BC, on the coast, a navy town that I recall as just being beautiful with the Canadian warships in a light aqua color...maybe drive up the Frazier River valley, just gorgeous countryside...

hope you enjoy your vacation!

amicus...

 

[sincerely_helene]

If you happen to make it up to these parts, please do let me know.

I would love to show you my area.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Thanks for the replies, some great suggestions! And I'll try to look up Sincerely Helene if she'll let me.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Since your starting point is Los Angeles, take in San Francisco and Marin County, Mill City, I think, then the Redwoods but return to I-5 so you can see and photograph Mt. Shasta, just magnificent.

Along the Oregon coast, Gold Beach, Agate Beach where you can pick up stones from the beach. Cross the Columbia River at Astoria, named for John Jacob Astor and then follow the river back to Vancouver, washington, make a side trip to Mt. St Helen's, they have built a public view point.

I liked Esquimalt in BC, on the coast, a navy town that I recall as just being beautiful with the Canadian warships in a light aqua color...maybe drive up the Frazier River valley, just gorgeous countryside...

hope you enjoy your vacation!

amicus...

Thanks Amicus. I "did" the coast from Oregon to San Francisco, and loved it, and hopefully I'll do it again this time. But I missed Mt Shasta, which sounds well worth seeing. And of course Mt St Helens too. This time I'll get a chance to see it hopefully
(I just figured out I have to average about 300 miles a day -- should be doable in a Stratus).

 

[Weird Harold]

(I just figured out I have to average about 300 miles a day -- should be doable in a Stratus).

300 miles/day is "doable" in just about anything that's legal on a california freeway.

The problem is, that averaging 50 mph it's six hours behind the wheel every day, and that isn't going to leave you much time or energy for sight seeing.

Averaging 50 mph is harder than it sounds -- most non-professional drivers are doing good to average 40 mph on long cross-country drives without totally ignoring speed limits and road conditions.

If you really want to enjoy the sights, I'd strongly suggest planning around a 200 miles/day average. You'll have more time to see the things you plan on seeing and more importantly, you'll have time for those spontanteous stops at historical markers and roadside attractions.

 

[john-the-author]

What to see

I've lived up here since 1978. Going up the coast highway in Oregon is definitely the thing to do.

I'd stop at Florence, OR, and see the Sea Lion Caves (the webcam for that is here). Not far from there is the Heceta Head Lighthouse.

You might also stop in Seaside, OR, , which is a pretty town and is the commercial home of Oregon sunstones , a local semiprecious stone that's very attractive. And, yes, the Tillamook Cheese Factory is definitely worth a stop for a classic school-outing sort of tour.

Drive north, then hang a right and drive east 'till you get to Portland. There's a lot to see in Portland, including the Portland Rose Gardens and Powell's Books.

Drive north into Washington on I-5. You can stop at Mt. Rainier if you like, the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens (around exit 28) are going to be in full bloom right now and are wonderful if you're into gardening and lilacs, and the general scenery's not bad. Skip the Mt. St. Helens center in Kelso/Longview, mind your P's & Q's driving through Chehalis and Centralia ("Chehalis" is an old Native American word meaning "right-wing billboard by the side of the road"), and consider stopping at Wolf Haven around exit 99.

Olympia, the state capital, is actually rather pretty and is worth an hour or so driving around and you might want to tour a few of the buildings down there. Traffic bogs down heavily in Tacoma and Seattle; be ready for it.

Have your passport with you for the border. Also consider taking the truck exit at 275 and going through the border there; passenger traffic is frequently lighter and the lines are faster. And I probably don't need to say this, but just in case, let me say that you should never, EVER joke around with the Customs people on either side. They have no sense of humor and they take a dim view of people who screw with them. (You'd think nobody would need to be told this, but I've got a few friends who needed to learn this lesson a couple times. None of us would ride with them across the border for some odd reason.)

Okay, can you tell I used to write books and do a radio show about Washington tourism?

 

[McKenna]

Have you been to the Tacoma Museum of Glass? It's actually quite interesting, and they have daily glass-blowing demonstrations.

I also recommend Bill Spiedel's Underground Tour of Seattle. The history of Seattle is fascinating.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Thanks everyone who posted here. I'm definitely going to try to make a few stops in some of the places you guys suggested.

I finally have my trip organized, for the last ten days of this month, and I'm looking forward to hitting the old two lane blacktops in my trusty Stratus!

Now I just have to burn some truckin' music onto CD's, buy a green visor , white cap and some tan driving gloves, and I'm all set for my road trip!!

http://www.yourwall.com/photos/DEpe0001_xl.jpg

 

[CharleyH]

When in Vancouver, check out a street called Hastings. It's the junkie capital of North America, but a quick walk through is always a mix of sadness and entertainment. GasTown is upper end trendy as far as I recall and North Vancouver (take the Seabus) is particularly attractive. Also a trip up Grouse (sp) Mountain is a great picnic. For a drive try the road to Squamish. I have not been there in almost ten years, but the town was fabulous, the coastline was amazing and I came across little nowhere villages, population 2, that seemed eerily reminiscent of horror flicks.

EDIT TO ADD: Oh well, too little too late. Have a great trip!

 

[john-the-author]

Have you been to the Tacoma Museum of Glass? It's actually quite interesting, and they have daily glass-blowing demonstrations.

I also recommend Bill Spiedel's Underground Tour of Seattle. The history of Seattle is fascinating.

You know, I lived in Seattle for 24 years until very recently, I read most of Bill Speidel's books ("The Sons of the Profits" was an amazing book on the true early history of Seattle) and I never ended up going on the Underground Tour. It just never quite worked out that I went. Tourism in one's own town, kinda thing. <alas!> Well, now that I don't live there, I might get into town and do it.

 

[Weird Harold]

http://www.yourwall.com/photos/DEpe0001_xl.jpg

Neat picture, but you shouldn't see anything like it on your trip -- unless you get really lost.

Do you happen to know where the picture was taken? I think I might recognise it (although the road has been widened and straightened since the picture was taken if I do,) but in the high desert there are a LOT Of places it could be.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Neat picture, but you shouldn't see anything like it on your trip -- unless you get really lost.

Do you happen to know where the picture was taken? I think I might recognise it (although the road has been widened and straightened since the picture was taken if I do,) but in the high desert there are a LOT Of places it could be.

That's Nevada somewhere. I did see a lot of views like that in Wyoming too. Beautiful view. (Also, a scary view when your fuel gauge is low!)

 

[Weird Harold]

That's Nevada somewhere. I did see a lot of views like that in Wyoming too. Beautiful view. (Also, a scary view when your fuel gauge is low!)

I thought it might be. It looks like US95 about five miles south of Tonapah before they improved and straightened the road.(so a fairly safe place to be low on gas.)

Might be US 50, though. US 50 is known as the "Lonliest Road in the US."

 

[Huckleman2000]

I thought it might be. It looks like US95 about five miles south of Tonapah before they improved and straightened the road.(so a fairly safe place to be low on gas.)

Might be US 50, though. US 50 is known as the "Lonliest Road in the US."

Reminds me of an appropriate song -
"I've been to Tuscon and Tucumcari,
Tahachapi to Tonapah.
I've driven every kind of rig that's ever been made;
Driven the backroads, so I wouldn't get weighed.

And if you give me weed, whites, and wine,
And you show me a sign,
I'll be willin', to be movin."

 

[sincerely_helene]

Are you still thinking of coming?

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Well, I did it. Thousands of miles of two-lane highways, desert, beaches, mountains, lakes, trees, gas stations, motels, elk, coyote, twitching insects on the windshield, "Biggest Little Town in Oregon/Washington/Nevada (Speed Limit 25 MPH Enforced by Radar)", bacon breakfasts, bikers, truckers, beer and booze in bars.

I The Road

A few pics to follow.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Are you still thinking of coming?

Always.