Breakneck speed

[recordtime]

For the return route we are going to try and see as much as we can as we don't think we will have many more chances to see this side of the world (births? christenings? graduations of nieces and nephews?) so we are thinking of heading back down to LA through San Francisco. We haven't got weeks and weeks, only a week! What would you recommend? I was thinking of doing Montana-Salt Lake City- SFO but is going through Seattle shorter? The wedding is somewhere near Flathead Lake...

I realise we will miss a lot of fantastic places rushing around the country like this, but budget and time don't really allow us to see more... Once again thanks for all your help, it has been very useful and I am starting to enjoy the prospect of driving around the US, instead of worrying about time / getting lost in te desert...

[UNSeaBlu04]

For the return route we are going to try and see as much as we can as we don't think we will have many more chances to see this side of the world (births? christenings? graduations of nieces and nephews?) so we are thinking of heading back down to LA through San Francisco. We haven't got weeks and weeks, only a week! What would you recommend? I was thinking of doing Montana-Salt Lake City- SFO but is going through Seattle shorter? The wedding is somewhere near Flathead Lake...

I realise we will miss a lot of fantastic places rushing around the country like this, but budget and time don't really allow us to see more... Once again thanks for all your help, it has been very useful and I am starting to enjoy the prospect of driving around the US, instead of worrying about time / getting lost in te desert...

Flathead lake. It's funny that you never hear of a place in you life and then you seem to see/hear about it everywhere. I got a job near this lake this summer. I am driving from NC and I plan to get lost a couple times!!

Have a great trip. Road Trips are always fun

[Mark Sedenquist]

... so we are thinking of heading back down to LA through San Francisco. We haven't got weeks and weeks, only a week! What would you recommend? I was thinking of doing Montana-Salt Lake City- SFO but is going through Seattle shorter? The wedding is somewhere near Flathead Lake...
instead of worrying about time / getting lost in te desert...

With the web of Interstate, Federal and State highways along your route, getting Lost in the desert would take an effort! The area around Flathead lake is really nice. You will be so close to Glacier National Park...Maybe you should kick back a while there?

Your stated return route would be fine -- plenty of cool things to stop and see, but since you asked... I would drop down to I-90 and stop for a coffee or two at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (gorgeous lake) and then cut through Spokane and pick up US-395 and drive through the Columbia Gorge (either on I-84 on the southern side -- or my choice -- Oregon Route 14) or a combination of the two to Portland. If you like great bread... my cousins own The Grand Central Baking Companyin Portland... but I digress...

From Portland, I would zoom over the coast and follow US-101 down to Reedsport (awesome kite flying in this area) and then tack back eastward to I-5 and go south to Grants Pass. If you have time -- take the day and go to Crater Lake National Park. -- Lots of amazing mountain vistas here.

If time is short, consider taking US-199 from Grants Pass to US-101 at Cresent City, California. -- Take a walk in Redwood National Park -- and then if you have time and like coastal drives you can meander down California Route 1 (here is a great guidebook ) or you can use the faster route US-101 to San Francisco.

Spend a day in and around the Bay area and then either go back to the coast via California 1 or you could zig-zag your way south to LA. Lots of posts on this board about routes between San Francisco and LA.

Mark

[lhuff]

I took this trip last year. If you want to see Alcatraz I suggest booking a tour at least 2-3 weeks in advance and this is the only town other than Vegas that I've booked a room for in advance.

We spent an entire day walking around the city. We had a hotel about 6 blocks from Fisherman's Wharf (where you'll also catch the ride to Alcatraz) and managed to walk to Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, and Nob Hill. It was a blast.

We took Highway 1 down the coast to LA. You will drive right by Hearst Castle on that route. We were pressed for time and couldn't stop for the tour, but it is on the list of things to do.

We took our trip less than a month after Reagan died, so we took the opportunity to stop at the Reagan Library which was worth it for the scenery alone.

Have Fun!

[recordtime]

"But wait. The trip to your sister's wedding can be an awesome road trip. For that matter, a trip to the dump can be a road trip if you decide to call it one. It really is all in your head, which is the same reason we will never, no matter how old the calendar says we are, stop going on youthful jaunts and youthful quests, even if all we're really doing is going to 7-11 for a quart of milk.

I loved this! I am ready for the adventure!!!

[Mark Sedenquist]

I loved this! I am ready for the adventure!!!

So, when is the big trip? I thought you would have already finished by now?

Mark

[recordtime]

No, no it is in August! We are just fighting now with whether to go to San Francisco or spend a couple of days in Vegas... After a wedding in Montana Vegas seems like the perfect contrast... I will write and tell you how it went.

[Mark Sedenquist]

No, no it is in August! We are just fighting now with whether to go to San Francisco or spend a couple of days in Vegas... After a wedding in Montana Vegas seems like the perfect contrast... I will write and tell you how it went.

Oos. Sorry, I was going on memory and didn't look at the original source posts -- wrong road trip. Yes, now I remember this is the Montana wedding trip...