NEED HELP

As I had posted before I am meeting my son in Seattle in October to drive back to Phoenix. He is stationed in Fairbanks,AK. and I am going to help drive back. He will be returning from Iraq after a long year. Anyway I'm wanting to know if any of you can suggest some places to stop and see on our way back. We are planning on going through Oregon to L.A. then over to Phoenix. Since I am not from the west coast (born and raised in St.Louis) I thought some of you could be of help. Thanks.>>>

This would be my "more time in Oregon" tour. While there's usually great October weather, the worst storm ever was in October, so be flexible. There's (at least) 4 different climates in Oregon, so you have options. So here's my clear weather trip.

If it's clear enough to see Mt Rainier when you're in Seatle, consider visiting one of the Mt St Helens viewpoints. Silver Lake is near the freeway, Coldwater Ridge gets you near the mountain and Windy Ridge offers the best views, but involves a lot more mountain 2-lane.

At Longview, WA, take the bridge over to Oregon and go to Astoria. As you enter town watch for the Safeway on the right. Take the road just before Safeway and you drive right out on the docks where the sea lions take over. It's only a block, but 95% of all tourists drive by without a clue that it's there.

You could cross the bridge in Astoria back to WA and visit the Long Beach peninsula if you felt you had lots of time. Continue down 101 and your first chance to see the beach is Sunset beach, it's maybe a mile, but worth going over and driving on the beach there. Then your next town is Bobbyville (Gearhardt), then Seaside and Cannon Beach, both tourist towns, but appealing to totally different tourists.

My favorite stretch of the Oregon coast is the 3 capes loop South of Tillamook. 101 is inland here, so the coast road is more deserted and the towns more like they used to be. Just before Lincoln City you can cut back on Hiway 18. This will take you by the states' largest Indian casino (at Grande Ronde) then put you in Oregon wine country. There are tastings and tours if you're into that. You can continue on to Portland. This is an album of mine of things less than hour from where I'm at in Vancouver. http://s647.photobucket.com/albums/uu195/GWMiller/Around%20here/ Then continue on through the gorge route that I described in my first post above. When you're in southern Oregon, you might want to visit Ashland. It's an artsy fartsy place where you and your son might be mistaken for a couple, but I know several people that have been there and like it.

email me if you want any more info or have time to kill while in town.>>>

If time permits, try the Hearst Castle north of San Luis Obispo, and stay at the Madonna Inn for a real treat. Also Carmel, Ca. is a winner, and if you are into golf try Pebble Beach nearby. Nepenthe Inn overlooks the Pacific Ocean if it is still there.>>>

I agree that it will be memorable, Clint. Wish I had the time for that drive myself. It's pretty much a done deal in my mind, though, if your wife dedicates a couple of days in Oregon. You will have a LOT of driving miles to log after that and only a short time to do it. You best book down through northern Cal on I-5 to make up some time. You can get off on 80 and then head down the backside of the Sierras. Great drive.>>>

We were really hoping to avoid L.A., Maybe come through Vegas over Hoover Dam? My wife used to live in Oregon and says we should spend more time there than anywhere else. She was 5 when she lived there. I just want to see my son and spend time with him. I'm sure no matter how we come it will be a memorable trip.>>>

Four nights on the road then. Everything depends on what type of things you want to see, how many miles per day you want to drive, what your son has the patience for, etc. I-5 has its charm, 101 has its charm, 99 has its charm, and 1 definitely has its charm. The top end seems to be pretty well covered here already. I personally think that I-5 past Mt. Shasta is pretty spectacular, actually the whole thing coming down into Redding. I personally don't care for the 101 ride from Eureka to Santa Rosa, especially the stuff through Garberville, etc. From Redding south, in my opinion nothing beats 89 through the Sierra foothills (Red Bluff exit, east to Lassen then south to Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Markleyville, then down the east side of Sierras on 395 or alternate if you want something city is pick any way you want to SF, then south on 1 as far as you like, then cut over to a brisker road if you tire of the coastline driving. Yosemite is always good, but you'd have to structure your trip to get that, maybe 99 for a ways...over to Yosemite...back to 99, down to Bakersfield to see JSC, and on to LA. (Do you really have your heart set on LA?) I vote for Scotty's Castle, Death Valley, Las Vegas--to see the water cannon fountains at the Bellagio--then go with Robby's trip from there.>>>

Thanks for every ones help.We are planning on traveling during the week M-Th. and try to be home by Fri. I'll try to post pics. when I return.>>>

But if he gets an order from the king he might? :laugh:>>>

I can't offer much help on the scenery end, but I certainly wish you and your son a safe, relaxing, reflective and memory filled trip that the two of you will be able to share for decades to come.>>>

Bobbys scared to come here after the virus scare his son said no rooferscoffeeshop bobby!>>>

One thing to consider if you're thinking of going the coast route is what day of the week you will be going. You wouldn't think that EVERY motel room and campsite would be full, but on the weekend at the Oregon coast, the usually are.>>>

If you have the time......Drive to Astoria, OR. Drive on the Washington side, cross the bridge into Astoria and follow highway 101 all the way down to L.A. GREAT SCENERY OF THE COASTLINE....stop in Northern Ca. overnight, then go to see the redwoods in the morning and drive you car through the "tree"! don't forget the pics! Continue down 101 and cross the Golden Gate Bridge. (Don't take I-5 TO L.A., you will have nothing but 550 miles of farmland). Take the highway to Las Vegas and cross the dam into Arizonia (gamble a little if you wish). Squiggle you way down to Pheonix from there. If you take I-10 from L.A., count on a boring desert ride!

Have a nice trip!!!!

AND HOOO...YAHHH.....ITS AN ARMY THING!>>>

Take I-5 down to Portland. From there decide whether you want speed (continue on I-5) or scenery. If you want to see the ocean, the Oregon coast is rugged, so the road is winding and slow, but beautiful. Take Hiway 26 West to 101. If you want mountain views, take I-84 East through the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River. The Gorge is spectacular and not that long of a sidetrip even if you were planning on staying on I-5. From Hood River, take hiway 35 South to Mt Hood where it meets Hiway 26. It's only about 12 miles from where the roads meet to Timberline Lodge, that's worth seeing. Then continue South on Hiway 26 to Madras where it meets hiway 97, which you can follow all the way to CA where it meets I-5 again.

Just off 97, you could take the the Cascade Lakes hiway out of Bend, very scenic, or go to Paulina Lake out of Sunriver. Further South is the junction for Crater Lake. From Crater Lake you can either return to 97 or cut back over to I-5.>>>