We're driving from Southern California to Washington State. Any suggestions on overnight stays along the way?
We’ll be roving in late Jun as well as would adore to go along a seashore as well as strike a beach(es) during a little point. Needs to to be child (teens actually) friendly. Looking for ideas upon cities, hotels/motels, attractions, etc.
There are 5 suggestions to question “We're driving from Southern California to Washington State. Any suggestions on overnight stays along the way?”
We did the same trip two years ago (we are mid 20′s) Hope this helps we had a great time!
Monterey CA
The aquarium is really good for all ages. Very cool stuff a lot of sharks and other things to do. You can feed sting rays and pet a shark. They also have several good resturants and nice shopping. The 17 mile drive is cool you can see seals, whales ect… Also try kayaking in the bay very cool and cheap. Take a lunch we saw otters, seals and whales! Get a water proof camera!
There is a small Best Western in town which is pretty nice also contact the Monteray Bay visitors center for a list of hotels and prices. http://www.monterey.com
Another cool place is Santa Cruz the board walk is a lot of fun. I believe it is like $24 per a person for an all day all you can ride pass or you can just purchase tickets to ride a few rides. If you all get hot you can go out into the ocean for a swim the beach is right there. Also for the kids there is a lot of surf shops fun to go into cool things. If you contact their visitors center they will send you a coupon book which helps! http://www.santacruzca.org
I also found Fort Bragg CA pretty cool there is a lot of outside stuff to do here. Parks, hiking, good beach. It is fun for a day or two then the teenagers might get bored. We spent a day here and stayed at the Beachcomber. Again if you contact their visitors center they will send you all kinds of stuff with the prices and info HELPS SAVE MONEY!!!!! http://www.gofortbragg.com
Oregon is just a great state. We really loved Florence Oregon. They sea lion caves are really cool and they have a pod or killer whales that lives there all year round. You get to see them often. Old town Florence is cool good shopping and a great resturant called ICM Resturant, best sea food around came off the boats that morning which are parked right outside. All you can eat crab was the best and it was only like $15. Great service wonderfu value good place! http://www.florencechamber.com http://www.visittheoregoncoast.com http://oldtownflorence.com/
also right by the sea lions caves is Hecta Head light house the most famous in the world. Nice place great views it was a good time for all.
Also in Oregon is Astoria now this place is cool! Be sure to take the movie tour, you get to see where Goonies and other movies were filmed. Had a great time doing this and what kid does not love the Goonies! There are also several other museums and outdoor activities. http://www.oldoregon.com
Of course you can never go wrong with Portland. Great place tons to do for all ages. You name it they got it. Check out their website: http://www.travelportland.com
Washington is great be sure to check out Seatle and the Olympic Pensulua. Wow beauty like you have never seen and you will see so much wildlife you cannot believe. If you get the chance you might want to try camping. The Mountains are very cool be sure to chek out their website for weather conditions. I know you are going in June but you never know up there! http://www.olympicpeninsula.org
Have a great trip hope you find what you are looking for!
Santa Cruz would be fun for kids and adults. However, that’s "high season" so motel rates are going to be pretty high.
I would plan to bypass the bay area as far as motels. That area is way too expensive. Keep driving on up I-5 and stay at one of the chain motels in Northern California. It’s a beautiful drive and if you have plenty of time go over to US 101 and go up that way.
I can only help you with good cities to stop at:
Santa Cruz, CA
Fort Bragg, CA
Eureka, CA
Coos Bay, OR
Astoria, OR
Port Angeles, WA
Try Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. Santa Barbara has great beaches and lots to do. Very good hiking in the Santa Ynez Mountains just outside of town.
The Santa Ynez Valley is about 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara and is beautiful and known for its wineries and great bike riding. Bikes can be rented in the town of Santa Ynez.
Accommodations in this area are expensive. For cheaper accommodations, look in Ventura, about 45 minutes south of Santa Barbara. Beaches in Ventura are also very nice. Good surfing in both Santa Barbara and Ventura. You can also take a boat trip out to the Channel Islands from Santa Barbara and Ventura. Few people do this and I consider it a must-do – a fantastic day trip for beautiful uncrowded beaches where you can see sea lions and other marine mammals. Rent kayaks and kayak the ocean around the islands or just do some hiking – it will be a very memorable day in a gorgeous, largely untouched place.
Keep in mind that June in coastal California can either be warm if it is sunny or very chilly and damp if it is foggy. June is fog season in these parts. Bring jackets and sweaters and be prepared with layers, especially for coastal towns like S.F., Monterey, Santa Barbara or Ventura. Many people don’t realize that California beaches can be quite cool.
We did the same trip two years ago (we are mid 20′s) Hope this helps we had a great time!
Monterey CA
The aquarium is really good for all ages. Very cool stuff a lot of sharks and other things to do. You can feed sting rays and pet a shark. They also have several good resturants and nice shopping. The 17 mile drive is cool you can see seals, whales ect… Also try kayaking in the bay very cool and cheap. Take a lunch we saw otters, seals and whales! Get a water proof camera!
http://www.montereybaykayaks.com/
There is a small Best Western in town which is pretty nice also contact the Monteray Bay visitors center for a list of hotels and prices.
http://www.monterey.com
Another cool place is Santa Cruz the board walk is a lot of fun. I believe it is like $24 per a person for an all day all you can ride pass or you can just purchase tickets to ride a few rides. If you all get hot you can go out into the ocean for a swim the beach is right there. Also for the kids there is a lot of surf shops fun to go into cool things. If you contact their visitors center they will send you a coupon book which helps!
http://www.santacruzca.org
I also found Fort Bragg CA pretty cool there is a lot of outside stuff to do here. Parks, hiking, good beach. It is fun for a day or two then the teenagers might get bored. We spent a day here and stayed at the Beachcomber. Again if you contact their visitors center they will send you all kinds of stuff with the prices and info HELPS SAVE MONEY!!!!!
http://www.gofortbragg.com
Oregon is just a great state. We really loved Florence Oregon. They sea lion caves are really cool and they have a pod or killer whales that lives there all year round. You get to see them often. Old town Florence is cool good shopping and a great resturant called ICM Resturant, best sea food around came off the boats that morning which are parked right outside. All you can eat crab was the best and it was only like $15. Great service wonderfu value good place!
http://www.florencechamber.com
http://www.visittheoregoncoast.com
http://oldtownflorence.com/
also right by the sea lions caves is Hecta Head light house the most famous in the world. Nice place great views it was a good time for all.
Also in Oregon is Astoria now this place is cool! Be sure to take the movie tour, you get to see where Goonies and other movies were filmed. Had a great time doing this and what kid does not love the Goonies! There are also several other museums and outdoor activities.
http://www.oldoregon.com
Of course you can never go wrong with Portland. Great place tons to do for all ages. You name it they got it. Check out their website:
http://www.travelportland.com
Washington is great be sure to check out Seatle and the Olympic Pensulua. Wow beauty like you have never seen and you will see so much wildlife you cannot believe. If you get the chance you might want to try camping. The Mountains are very cool be sure to chek out their website for weather conditions. I know you are going in June but you never know up there!
http://www.olympicpeninsula.org
Have a great trip hope you find what you are looking for!
Santa Cruz would be fun for kids and adults. However, that’s "high season" so motel rates are going to be pretty high.
I would plan to bypass the bay area as far as motels. That area is way too expensive. Keep driving on up I-5 and stay at one of the chain motels in Northern California. It’s a beautiful drive and if you have plenty of time go over to US 101 and go up that way.
I can only help you with good cities to stop at:
Santa Cruz, CA
Fort Bragg, CA
Eureka, CA
Coos Bay, OR
Astoria, OR
Port Angeles, WA
Try Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. Santa Barbara has great beaches and lots to do. Very good hiking in the Santa Ynez Mountains just outside of town.
The Santa Ynez Valley is about 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara and is beautiful and known for its wineries and great bike riding. Bikes can be rented in the town of Santa Ynez.
Accommodations in this area are expensive. For cheaper accommodations, look in Ventura, about 45 minutes south of Santa Barbara. Beaches in Ventura are also very nice. Good surfing in both Santa Barbara and Ventura. You can also take a boat trip out to the Channel Islands from Santa Barbara and Ventura. Few people do this and I consider it a must-do – a fantastic day trip for beautiful uncrowded beaches where you can see sea lions and other marine mammals. Rent kayaks and kayak the ocean around the islands or just do some hiking – it will be a very memorable day in a gorgeous, largely untouched place.
Keep in mind that June in coastal California can either be warm if it is sunny or very chilly and damp if it is foggy. June is fog season in these parts. Bring jackets and sweaters and be prepared with layers, especially for coastal towns like S.F., Monterey, Santa Barbara or Ventura. Many people don’t realize that California beaches can be quite cool.