Having completed the southern pacific coast highway road trip, nearly 5 years ago, we continued our journey to the north. Tracing the Pacific Coast from Northern California through Oregon, Seattle and back to San Francisco. Although, the experience shared many similarities, nothing could have prepared us for those majestic redwoods,mountains and rugged coastlines. Our total journey was was a remarkable 4500 miles in just 2 weeks, but the journey was far more worthwhile then the destination itself.
Here are the highlights of our epic Pacific Northwest roadtrip:
Point Reyes
Point Reyes is about an hour drive north of San Francisco. Our highlights in Point Reyes included, driving through those scenic rolling hills, the Point Reyes lighthouse, the picturesque cypress tree tunnel, and the ship wreck in Inverness. Just ensure you have enough sustenance and plenty of gas driving into the Point Reyes National Park. The nearest gas stations and shops could be miles away (approx 30 to 40 minutes drive). Also, be prepared to pack a jacket/sweater, as the coastal area is known to be very windy.
Redwood National Park
One of the most unique experience we encountered on our trip was literally driving through a redwood tree. Such an exciting but nerve wrecking venture and with just inches to spare on both sides of our car, but we were successful in our mission. If you are not up to this challenge, you can just opt for a photo opportunity with the tree. For current hours and operations of this stopover, click here. There were also picnic benches in the area to enjoy a nice quick lunch before heading to your next destination.
Crescent City
Crescent City was our last stop in California before crossing over to Oregon. We spent the sunset hours, skipping rocks and drawing in the sands of Pebble beach. There’s no doubt in my mind that California truly has one of the amazing sunsets, and the also the best lighting to capture some great family photos. As the blue hour reached its peaked, we captured some unobstructed views of Battery Point Light Lighthouse from afar.
Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach fueled our inspiration in fulfilling our Pacific Northwest adventure. The most iconic coastal rock formation in North America, the Haystack Rock, is even more stunning in person to see. Quite a popular spot for tourists and locals to visit, especially in the peak summer months. Grab some sand buckets, and beach towels, you will be swept away with the vastness of this beach. There are many accommodation options in the area but may require advance planning should you plan to stay during the summer months. We highly recommend staying at the Wayside inn. The location is a short drive away from the main area, and priced is reasonable. There are many eateries and boutique shops to enjoy. We had a great time watching the sunset and strolling the coastline. You can easily spend a whole day here.
Astoria
Astoria was our last stop in Oregon, before entering Washington state. A charming little port town, filled with character and history. We had a quick brunch at the Bridgewater Bistro. Great food, amazing views of the waterfront and live music to top off your dining experience.
A short distance away (approx 20 mins), is the ship wreck of Peter Iredale, located within the Fort Stevens State Park. The actual shipwreck has been there for over 100 years, so don’t expect the ship to be intact but nonetheless such a cool structure to take some fun shots with the little ones. The beach is also amazing to explore, as their are generally fewer crowds, and calmer waves but still could be windy at times.
Seattle
Seattle is the largest city in the state of Washington and offers a wide variety of urban and fun attractions for everyone and this city was our last stop before re-tracing our route back to our original destination, so we decided to stay 2 nights in the city. The main highlights of Seattle include, the Public Market, an alleyway filled with gum, Space Needle, the first Starbucks store, a fun boardwalk with a ferris wheel and a giant troll under the bridge. We stayed in a hotel in downtown Seattle. Parking in the city is very expensive, but much of the main sights can be accessible by foot or even quick taxi ride to the destination. The Freemont Troll may be the only exception, as it is about a 15 minute drive north of the downtown core area, and best to visit before heading to the downtown core. After exploring this city, we can honestly say that Seattle is a foodie town. You will never get bored of the variety of food options to choose from in town. Those fresh oyster’s at Elliotts Oyster House on Pier 56, definitely was one to remember.
Portland
Portland is noted as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in North America. The city is the largest in Oregon, and known for having many parks, bridges, bicycle paths and the many eco-friendly coffee shops and microbreweries.
Click here for our itinerary on the Nugget website for fun family things to do in Portland.
Columbia River Highway
A definite must on everyone’s bucket list when visiting Oregon. The Columbia River highway is one of the most scenic drive you’ll ever experience and spans up to a total 75 miles. Highlights of this highway is the Columbia River Gorge, Vista House, the 6 waterfalls – Horsetail Falls, Ponytail Falls, Oneonta Falls, Upper Oneonta Falls and Triple Falls, and most photographed and one of the tallest in the country the Multhnomah Falls. We had traveled in the spring time and the abundance of rain, was really evident as the trees and woodlands were so plush and green and made for amazing photos.
Painted Hills
The moment you leave the Columbia River Highway, the drive to Painted Hills, felt slightly monotonous but as we arrived at the destination, we felt like we had landed on planet Mars. There is a short boardwalk around the hills, and along this trail you will be able to distinguish the many layers of geological rock formations of history itself. The place felt quite serene and peaceful to marvel in. It is best to visit this place in the afternoon when sunlight radiates the colours of the hills.
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital city of California and is about an 1hr 45 mins drive from San Francisco. We visited the Old town district of Sacramento and loved how the city brings back 1860’s Old Western era, with cobblestone floors, wooden walkways, and colourful buildings. The area is lined with specialty gift shops, souvenir shops, galleries, museums, restaurants, bars and entertainment.
Click here to view all the amazing amenities in this area and their hours of operation.
San Francisco
San Francisco has always welcomed us as our second home. We’ve visited this city multiple times to see our relatives and friends and each time we discover something new and to love the city more. You can easily spend a whole week here if you had the time. From the most photographed Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Lombard St (most crookedest st in the world), Palace of Fine Arts, beaches, twin peaks, union square and one of the largest and oldest Chinatowns in North America, the list of many fun things are endless. Unlike, its LA counterpart, San Francisco tends to be quite moderate in temperatures and often windy and breezy even in the summer months. The best months to travel is in October when they often have their warmest months, and sometimes have Indian summer like temperatures.