i finally have a bunch of days off and wanted to road trip from Vancouver, BC --> maybe San Francisco or LA - time permitting next week.

just wanted to know what's worth stopping for in Oregon? i hear the coast is absolutely beautiful, but don't know where to start.

the only things i've got down on my agenda for Oregon are:
1. Cannon Beach
2. Crater Lake

also, any good burger joints on the 101 that i should stop by?

 

hit the redwoods if you can. the run right up the the ocean, great cliffside drive and down along the coast towards crescent city.

 

cool. thanks for the tip!

 

At Longview WA head west to the coast and follow it to San Francisco. Will take you right through the redwoods and you'll see coastline the most Oregonians and Californians have never seen. On the way back up I-5 check out the Shasta Caverns (CA) and Crater Lake. Also check out the Tillimook Chese Factory factory on the way down. They have great icecream!

 

MMMMMMMMMm...fresh Tillamook ice cream...mmmmm

Also by Tillamook is the Spruce Goose.

I would also post in the west forum and ask them the best places to go in San Fran. and Cali

 

The Spruce Goose is in McMinville Oregon and as said is a great place to stop. Lots of other planes in the modern museum there also (like SR71 (?) Blackbird.
Redwoods are great, do the walking tour where you see Paul and the Blue ox.
Crater Lake is a must if you have the time and are going that way, great roads. The seasonal highway between Sisters Or and McKenzie, #242 I believe, is a great road for an 8.
On the Oregon Coast try doing the Sand rails or Bus rails on the Dunes at Florence, great if you haven't been to the beach or dunes much. Sea lion caves close to there is interesting. Cape Perpetua(sp), Devils Churn, Heceta Head light House and etc. all good things to see. If you go by Bandon OR, the have a walk thru wild animal park where you can get a chance to handel the new baby exotic cats and see just about all kinds of other animals as well. Near there also inland aways is the Wildlife Safari park thatis a drive thru type safari, kind of cool. Its near Winston OR.
We have spent the last 7-8 years vacationing in Oregons coastal area and haven't seen all!!!!!! We have kids so alot of the stuff is for them also that I mentioned. Also by the Oregon Cali border are lots of things also, you can try spendin the night in a well appointd treehouse room. Cool.

 

what?no mention of lincoln city, I'm sure you want to check the chinook winds casino, you know you may hit the jack pot and buy a couple more 8's. :-) :D

 

thanks for the tips!

 

By all means get onto the PCH in Oregon and follow down their coast line, stop in Bandon Dunes if you enjoy golf. Continue into Cali on the PCH and enjoy the curves and scenery. Don't bother going all the way down to LA but scoot through the bay and get down to the Monterrey peninsula - then take the 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach. Fantastic sights along the whole route and if you stay on the PCH fantastic curves to carve.

 

awesome !

keep your eyes out for a blue RX-8 with BC plates and a skinny asian guy driving it - that'll be me :D

 

All great advice. Just remember to get off US101 at legget and take Hwy 1 south through SF to Monterey. Hwy 1 is far better than 101. There are some other options if you have the time. Hwy's 3, 33, and 299 across the Sierra Nevada are great, but it'll be VERY warm. The Klamath River Hwy (96?) from I5 to 101 is tons of fun too. It leaves I5 about 15 miles south of the OR/CA border. As far as seeing sites and having fun driving though, 101 through the Redwoods to Legget and Hwy 1 South to Monterey is the best bang for the buck.