Chasing Cars: Portland and Sonoma (and the North West)

[UKCraig]

There have been a few changes to this trip as I have i on good authority that Portland has been scratched from the Champcar schedule next season (not publicly announced just yet, but it will be soon). Due to this, and the previous 'tough love' advice I have decided to cut out the north west and do this another time. Nascar have announced their dates for Infineon/Sonoma so I can now start to make firm plans.

That said, if your route took you up Hwy 50 from Sacramento, around the south end of the lake (with a short jaunt to Emerald Cove), to Carson City and across Hwy 50, and didn't cost you a lot of time compared to taking I-80 all the way, then we'd say do it. While I-80 gets you across the state in a hurry, Hwy 50 "the lonliest road in America" reveals the heart of Nevada.

I have been reading about US-50 "The Loneliest Road In America" and it sounds kinda cool. How long would the trip from San Francisco, through Sacramento, around the south of Lake Tahoe and then on to Great Basin National Park (ie all the way on US-50) take? I am still planning a good amount of other stops so time is still valuable. But I am definately up for it if it is worthwhile?

Basically the route would be something along the lines of:

San Francisco
Infineon
San Francisco
Sacramento
Lake Tahoe
US-50
Great Basin NP
Bonneville Salt Flats
Salt Lake City
Grand Teton NP
Yellowstone NP
Craters Of The Moon NM
Crater Lake NP
Redwood NP
Redding
McArthur-Burney Falls SP
Lassen Volcanic NP
San Francisco

That little lot weighs in at something like 3000 miles according to Streets & Trips. I plan on spending two days each at Grand Teton and Yellowstone NPs but, otherwise, I'll largely be keeping moving reasonably quickly. Do you think that route is fair and how long would you be looking to allow to complete it?

Finally, which route would you be looking to take from Yellowstone NP to Craters Of The Moon NM and then on to Crater Lake NP? This sector looks quite troublesome on the map spewed out by S&T. I would be happy to review this section based on any feedback you can offer?

Thanks guys!

[lhuff]

Time-wise it looks good to me. I mean 3000 miles over 3 weeks should be a piece of cake for you. My recent excursion was 4100 miles in 10 days. Other than that I'm not at all familiar with that area of the country.

Although, in San Fran - if you wind up getting a hotel - make sure to look for one that has parking. It amazed me how many didn't have parking spots. The one I stayed in had converted an old Victorian house into a parking garage and was almost too tight for me to even get the Taurus out of.

Definitely book tickets for Alcatraz ahead of time. Other than that Intrepid and I just wandered around on foot the whole day. It's a small city and can easily be explored on foot or you can catch buses and trollies to good locations. Although, Intrepid and I never could figure out the bus schedule - didn't help that the bus drivers we talked to didn't seem to know their routes all that well.

Laura

[PNW Judy]

Cool on Craig for knowing those. Just take a strong flashlight with a wide beam and extra batteries.

[UKCraig]

I feel somewhat guilty about getting such good input from Craig and then cutting that section out of the trip. Rest assured I will make it up to that area sometime soon and will definately return here to pick up this info!

Thanks for the tip on San Fran, Laura. I visited briefly last year and did Alcatraz then (far too many tourists lol). I particularly enjoyed the windy bit of Lombard Street (have a great home video from that!!!) and want to do another couple of 'laps' when I return. I might take in another ball game there too but, other than that, I'll be looking to get on the road as soon as possible. Unless there are any 'must see' places that I missed last time, of course!

[UKCraig]

Okay, here goes for a rough itinerary:

Sat 21st June - fly to San Francisco & overnight in city
Sun 22nd June - drive up to Infineon Raceway for Nascar race. Overnight in Sacramento area
Mon 23rd - Weds 25th June - drive US-50 across to Great Basin NP
Thurs 26th June - check out Great Basin NP then drive to Salt Lake City via Bonneville Salt Flats
Fri 27th - Sat 28th - Grand Teton NP
Sun 29th - Mon 30th - Yellowstone NP
Tues 1st - Sat 5th July - drive to Redwood NP via Idaho Falls, Craters Of The Moon NM, Twin Falls, Boise, Ontario, John Day, Crater Lake NP and Grants Pass
Sun 6th - Fri 11th July - return to San Francisco via Eureka, Redding, McArthur-Burney Falls SP, Lassen Volcanic NP, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite NP.
Sat 12th July - return to the UK

I've deliberately left it all very vague as my recent trips seem to have been planned down to the last minute.

I really fancy a return visit to Yosemite and but it seemed a little out of the way. Just in case I was running short of time I decided to tack it onto the end of the route. That way, should run short of time, I can bin the idea of making a return visit if I need to. Having done this the route from Lassen Volcanic to Yosemite seemed to run me right around Lake Tahoe so I decided to move this stop towards the end of the trip too. Does that make sense?

Do you think that I've left the right amount of time for the trip as a whole and also for the various individual legs? If I could shave two or three days off the trip then that'd go down well with the boss and open up the possibility of a second trip later in the year. On the other hand, I want to do the trip justice so I'm not that worries. If it demands the full three weeks then that's what it'll get. I'd love to hear your thoughts, folks, so get typing! :)

[PNW Judy]

It seems to me that it would make more sense to go to Tahoe and the other things in that area when you're going from Sacramento to SLC. It seems strange to criss-cross Eureka-Redding-Tahoe, etc. at the end of your trip. I understand your reasoning if Yosemite is iffy based on your time since you've already been there. But it just doesn't seem particularly efficient.

I think I would just skip Yosemite if I've already been there to allow more time in Y-stone/Teton area and the rest of the places on your list.

Tetons and Yellowstone are fine time-wise if you're just going to do a quick look-see and not explore much in-depth.

[UKCraig]

I hear what you're saying. If I were to do it that way - I guess it does make sense even if it means sacrificing Yosemite - am I leaving enough time to get from San Francisco to Great Basin NP AND see Lake Tahoe? Craig suggested a visit to South Lake Tahoe -- would I be missing anything sticking purely to this area? I have heard that the south and the north ends of the lake are built up and the places to see are the west and east shores. And is Reno a worthwhile destination or should I miss that out?

What do you think to the time that I have allowed for the rest of the trip? Do you reckon I have left about the right amount of time or would I be okay cutting a few days off and heading home around the 8th or 9th?

Need to check out which is the best place to visit out of Jedediah Smith SP, Redwood NP and Humboldt Redwoods SP. Any wisdom to share on that?

[PNW Judy]

To be honest, of the things you plan on seeing, the first thing I'd drop are the Tahoe/Reno portions. Tahoe is beautiful, don't get me wrong on that. But you are going to see Crater Lake on your trip. They are both lakes higher in the mountains and, of the two, I think Crater is far more amazing. South Lake Tahoe is where the casinos are. Reno is just casinos. Unless you're into gambling, I don't see the point.

I think I would leave San Francisco via Yosemite and Tioga Pass (I'm assuming it would be open by then) and then take 6 to Great Basin. After Crater Lake, I'd dip down to Lassen Volcanic NM and then head west to the coast for the Redwoods and Eureka.

If you decide to not worry about seeing Yosemite since you've been there before, then going to Tahoe/Reno, onto Great Basin, and then SLC makes more sense. You could still do Crater Lake/Lassen/Redwoods/Eureka at the end.

At least that's the way I'd plan it. I think your time-lines seem reasonable. Boy, if dropping a few days means another vacation later in the year, that's a real tough call, isn't it? Tightwad that I am, I'd probably keep the days but, gee, another vacation is tough to turn down. Your call.

But if you are going to drop days, you will probably need to drop a few destinations. Which ones? Oooooh, boy...maybe we should save those for another discussion if you make that decision.

[UKCraig]

Thanks for the input, Judy, some real food for thought there!

I think I would leave San Francisco via Yosemite and Tioga Pass (I'm assuming it would be open by then) and then take 6 to Great Basin.

I've been reading up in the 'Loneliest Road In America' deal and, if I'm honest, I'm all but sold on that. It sounds really quite cool. If Reno and Tahoe are not 'must see' then I will probably skip them (although I will have a little look around the southern end as suggested by Craig) and make my way straight to Great Basin NP.

If you decide to not worry about seeing Yosemite since you've been there before, then going to Tahoe/Reno, onto Great Basin, and then SLC makes more sense.

Yosemite really does seem to be a bit of a headache so, as I've been there previously, I'd prefer to focus on places I've not seen already. Regrettably I think I'll have to strike that off the list.

After Crater Lake, I'd dip down to Lassen Volcanic NM and then head west to the coast for the Redwoods and Eureka.

The reason that I was planning on doing the last two legs in the order that I listed them is that I read US-199 from Grants Pass to Crescent City was supposed to be a spectacular drive. I then further read about the Newton Drury Parkway and going Yellowstone to Redwood NP via Idaho Falls, Craters Of The Moon NM, Twin Falls, Boise, Ontario, John Day, Crater Lake NP and Grants Pass seemed to make sense.

Redding and Lassen Volcanic NP seem to be considerably to the south of Redwood NP. Would I be cutting back on myself, as well as missing out those roads mentioned, if I did it in this order? Having said all that, I would love to have the opportunity to drive at least some of US-1 from Eureka down to San Francisco. I'd not even considered this but maybe it's possible?

The whole Redding/Lassen Volcanic NP section is a bit of a headache really... the rest of the trip is essentially one large circle. hmmm... what to do? :s

[Mark Sedenquist]

Tahoe is beautiful, don't get me wrong on that. But you are going to see Crater Lake on your trip. They are both lakes higher in the mountains and, of the two, I think Crater is far more amazing. South Lake Tahoe is where the casinos are. Reno is just casinos. Unless you're into gambling, I don't see the point.

Well, that is a lot like suggesting that once you have seen the Oregon coast -- there is no point in seeing the Washington coast.

Reno is just casinos

-- that makes me almost laugh. Reno is a city of nearly 500,000 people -- in many ways, it the kindler and gentler Las Vegas -- but leaving that aside for the moment -- I think you ought to factor Lake Tahoe back in -- some of the best bars and hang-outs can be found along the shore and you could also factor in Virginia City --- which I think you would enjoy.

If you do the US-50 -- make a point to stay at the Nevada Hotel in Ely -- it is an experience!

Mark