Road Trip - Portland OR to San Francisco

[Travis]

Howdy.  A shot in the dark, hoping someone has some ideas.

My family and I are planning a road trip from Portland, OR to San Francisco, CA this summer. Once we get to SF, we have plenty on our agenda (Alkatraz, Gheredeli Square, Harbor, Monterey Bay, etc). But we're looking for ideas for stops between here and there. We figure we'd take a day to two along the way. Any ideas?

[preprius]

Travis.. 

Come on down...

Cooks woods, Oregon ? Do they give tours?  Maybe on the way back so you can grab some nice Mrytle wood.

crater lake, Oregon.

Klamath falls, oregon.

Yosimite, Ca.   book early.

Once near Monterey...

Saturday night no full moon Fremont state park, Fremont peak, near Monterey,   https://fpoa.net/  . They have a 32 inch telescope for public viewing.  Let me know I will meet you there and bring my scopes. Okay I can show off my cowboy hat too.

Nearby hotels are in Hollister, Ca. Monterey is not too far maybe 20 miles. 

Camping hiking there is National Park called Pinnacles. It can get a bit warm in summer.  Like at 112 (Hot to me is 116) degrees.  Nearby hotels Hollister, Ca.

PM me for more info.

Me.

Mark Eason

[Tom-in-Ashland]

Crater lake for sure!

[Scrappile]

Spend time in the red woods, where they have the tree you can drive a car through... We (my family) did that trip, SE Washington to SFram when our kids were little.  We towed a little 16" trailer... Thinking we would send ever 4th day in a motel to give the kids more room, but we only stayed in a motel once the whole time.  The kids love staying in the trailer.  Both kids remember the night we "camped" at a little not very fancy camp place in the Red Woods.  The owners of the place made a big camp fire the night we stayed, had friend of their's come and that played music, guitar/banjo  we all sang, told jokes, laughed, ate popcorn and had a great time. My kids never forgot.  There is/was so much to see in San Fran, we were exhausted in a couple days we had there.  I hope it is as great for you and your family, but from what I am hearing, my son flys there often you need to use some care while there.  We went in the '70's things have changed some.  Getting there is a beautiful trip..  We came back Via highway 1 along the coast. Oregon wins and always has in my opinion for the most beautiful coast on the West.  In our old age, my wife and I are still trying to figure a way to get there one more time before we croak.  I have camped at Beverly Beach on the the Oregon Coast since I was a little Kid, still my favorite  and my kids favorite place.   While your are there try going down the crooked road. We did not make it,  there was a huge line to get to it and going up to come down, I could smile my clutch (stanard shift) burning, so I pulled out of the line and gave up. 

Hope you have a great time and a safe trip.

Edited March 1, 2023 by Scrappile

[RabidAlien]

Mcminville OR has the Evergreen Air Museum.  Good collection of planes of all eras, they now have a space museum as well.....oh, and they have Howard Hughes' 'Spruce Goose'.  THAT monstrosity of genius is worth the stop all by itself.

[meflick]

Sounds like a fun trip for your family. Enjoy. Afraid I’m no help. We flew into San Francisco a few years back and then drove the Pacific Coast Highway but we only went south from San zfrancisco.

[OCtoolguy]

Not sure how close you might get but Hearst is a don't miss. Watch where you step while in San Fran. Not like it used to be. We honeymooned in Carmel & SF 53 years ago.