I posted this on the general forum but didn't get any replies. Hopeully someone here can help me...
In August we're headed down to the San Francisco area for a wedding. We're starting the trip with a couple nights with family in Kelowna, then down the Coast to San Fran. We're planning on splitting the trip up into three days, and our first night will likely be in the Portland area, then head down the 101 all the way to our destination. It won't be a photo-oriented trip, but I'm hoping to squeeze some shooting time in.
I have a few questions:
1) Knowing our route, what are the can't miss (photo and otherwise) stops along the way?
2) The stop on our 2nd day of travel would likely be somewhere 6-8 hours past the Portland area. Any nice towns to stop in on the 101?
3) The wedding itself is actually in Napa, and I've booked an extra night there to check out the sights. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Jeff
Posted by Derek Sedillo on April 15, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Wow,
You are covering a lot of ground so there is a lot to choose from. I spent two weeks last Spring just touring Oregon.
It really depends on what you would like to see the most. But I will give some ideas to choose form.
* Columbia River Gorge - easy to get to from Portland and many beautiful waterfalls
* Silverfalls SP easy to get to and gorgeous http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/5013181_7nmjX#306346712_B3FqZ-A-LB
* The Oregon Coast - here you have many options. But my favorite part was Southern Oregon from Bandon to Brookings. http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/5013181_7nmjX#306376568_qLqup-A-LB
* Crater Lake as an alternative to the coast in Southern Oregon.
* Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP. If you do go to Brookings this park is right across the border and an easy drive from the coast.
* Trinidad CA is a beautful section of the NorCal coastline.
* 101 south with many coastal detour opportunities on the way to Napa.
If I were doing it I would spend most of my time around Portland and then Southern Oregon (coast or Crater Lake). Then visit the CA coast at various places on the way down depending on how much time is left.
Either way you should plan on getting off the 101 at some point to really enjoy the scenery on the way down. Fortunately in Oregon and N. Cal. the 101 follows the coast. Although to make up time you might want to take the 5 part of the way thru Oregon. We did both - drove the entire Oregon coast via 101 and then cut up to the 5 about half up on the way back. The 101 thru parts of Oregon can *really* slow down and becomes a sleepy country road which you end up driving ~ 30 mph and stopping in small towns. It is *not* a multilane fwy like it is in CA.
Jeff, the Oregon locations Derek recommends are excellent sites and have provided many a wonderful scene for photographers over the years. Good luck with your choices.
Posted by Richard Wong on April 15, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Sounds like a fun trip. In Northern California I would suggest Prairie Creek SP and Trinidad. Around Napa, the Sonoma Coast would be a great day trip.
Discussion
3 repliesIn August we're headed down to the San Francisco area for a wedding. We're starting the trip with a couple nights with family in Kelowna, then down the Coast to San Fran. We're planning on splitting the trip up into three days, and our first night will likely be in the Portland area, then head down the 101 all the way to our destination. It won't be a photo-oriented trip, but I'm hoping to squeeze some shooting time in.
I have a few questions:
1) Knowing our route, what are the can't miss (photo and otherwise) stops along the way?
2) The stop on our 2nd day of travel would likely be somewhere 6-8 hours past the Portland area. Any nice towns to stop in on the 101?
3) The wedding itself is actually in Napa, and I've booked an extra night there to check out the sights. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Jeff
You are covering a lot of ground so there is a lot to choose from. I spent two weeks last Spring just touring Oregon.
It really depends on what you would like to see the most. But I will give some ideas to choose form.
* Columbia River Gorge - easy to get to from Portland and many beautiful waterfalls
* Silverfalls SP easy to get to and gorgeous
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/5013181_7nmjX#306346712_B3FqZ-A-LB
* The Oregon Coast - here you have many options. But my favorite part was Southern Oregon from Bandon to Brookings.
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/5013181_7nmjX#306376568_qLqup-A-LB
* Crater Lake as an alternative to the coast in Southern Oregon.
* Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP. If you do go to Brookings this park is right across the border and an easy drive from the coast.
* Trinidad CA is a beautful section of the NorCal coastline.
* 101 south with many coastal detour opportunities on the way to Napa.
If I were doing it I would spend most of my time around Portland and then Southern Oregon (coast or Crater Lake). Then visit the CA coast at various places on the way down depending on how much time is left.
Either way you should plan on getting off the 101 at some point to really enjoy the scenery on the way down. Fortunately in Oregon and N. Cal. the 101 follows the coast. Although to make up time you might want to take the 5 part of the way thru Oregon. We did both - drove the entire Oregon coast via 101 and then cut up to the 5 about half up on the way back. The 101 thru parts of Oregon can *really* slow down and becomes a sleepy country road which you end up driving ~ 30 mph and stopping in small towns. It is *not* a multilane fwy like it is in CA.
Derek