Australian travelling San Fran to Seattle

[SMBooth]

The wife and I are return to USA after enjoying the trip south of San Francisco to San Diego, this time we are heading north to Seattle. We have a basic plan (3 weeks Aug/Sept) to drive from San Fran after a day to Napa area then up to around Fort Bragg then Cresent City then Crater Lake. Back to coast to visit Newport then Portland. Send a few days at Portland then Mt Rainer before Seattle.
There is so much to see but are we missing some great points by travelling this route ? Have ignored the (busy) John Muir Redwoods as I assume we will see plenty of Redwoods along the way.
Oh taking a Mamiya 6/75mm and 6x6 pinhole.

 

[Hubigpielover]

It is a little pricey but I think well worth it. The Winchester House in San Jose. Like visiting a fun house with a sad story.

 

[keenmaster486]

Have ignored the (busy) John Muir Redwoods as I assume we will see plenty of Redwoods along the way.

Well, you can do this of course and they are busy but they're still well worth seeing imho.

A great place to stop at along the way is Astoria. Very pretty place at the Columbia Bar, lots of fun stuff to do etc.

Best place to stay imo, if you want to stay there, is the Cannery Pier hotel but they're kind of expensive.

 

[jeffreyg]

If you can go to Mendocino, Ca, Cannon Beach, Oregon and/or the rain forest at Quinault, Wa on your way up it will be well worth it.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[NedL]

The section of hwy 1 north of Ft. Bragg is one of my favorite parts of the entire West Coast of the US, but when it turns inland toward Leggett, it's a long and very windy road back to 101. Hwy 20 from Ft. Bragg to Willits is long and windy too, so if you are in Ft. Bragg, there are no quick ways to get over to 101. If you do stay on Hwy 1, notice how dramatically the geology changes right when you turn inland... to the South there are marine terraces ( old sea floor ) but to the north the coastal mountains drop straight into the sea, forcing the highway to go inland. August can have foggy mornings and windy afternoons.

If you are going to take Hwy 199 from Crescent City to Grants Pass on the way to Crater Lake, then you will pass through a wonderful old growth redwood forest. You'll go through a part of Jed Smith state park on Hwy 199, and the road follows the Smith River, which is one of the last wild rivers in California ( no dams ). Just past Hiouchi, there is a bridge over the river... on the other side of the river you can turn left on the South Fork road ( only if you want to see where I like to fish! ), but what you should do is turn right on Douglas Park Rd and drive slowly through a few miles of gorgeous old growth redwood forest. If you keep going, eventually you'll come out on Hwy 1 South of Crescent city... but you probably don't need to do that. Just go out for 5 or 6 miles and turn around and go back to Hwy 199. The prettiest parts of Jed Smith park are on that South Side of the Smith River. California and Oregon have had different histories of logging in this area, and it is somewhat shocking when you go over Collier Pass, leaving the thick forest on the California side and into a more barren Oregon side.

Have a great trip!

 

[wiltw]

Muir Woods is best visited on a week day, as weekends are very crowded with visitors and parking is very scarce!

The Avenue of the Giants about 3-4 hours north of SF is a nice alternative. The Avenue of the Giants is a scenic highway running through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It is an old alignment of U.S. Route 101, and continues to be maintained by the state as State Route 254. A majestic drive in a convertible!

If you can take the time to divert to the west of Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula is also majestic.

 

[SMBooth]

Fort Bragg in is Fayette-Nam in NC. As for a trip to the US, Gatlinburg Tennessee is like a trip to Switzerland and Americana at the same time. You've been to California already. Come on over across that strip of land and see the US. You will be treated well and welcomed.

Is that the Appalachians, I have a friend saying the same. Maybe next time.

 

[SMBooth]

Thank Ned and Jeff, sound like its a reasonable path to take.