Anybody from the West Coast wanna give me travel advice?
Ridin The Wave
Posts: 552
Hey.
So in about 3 weeks, my husband and I are leaving for a one month road trip, the majority of which will be spent traveling down the Pacific Coast Highway, from Vancouver to San Diego. We leave Ontario at the beginning of October (driving across the Northern States) and then arrive back in Ontario at the beginning of November (driving through, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, etc).
I've done lots of reading about these areas to get a pretty good idea of things we want to see and do, but I'm looking for suggestions from people who live there, who have traveled there, etc.
What are your favorite things to do at that time of year, places to eat, etc.
And what's the weather normally like that time of year?
Any help would be awesome.
So in about 3 weeks, my husband and I are leaving for a one month road trip, the majority of which will be spent traveling down the Pacific Coast Highway, from Vancouver to San Diego. We leave Ontario at the beginning of October (driving across the Northern States) and then arrive back in Ontario at the beginning of November (driving through, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, etc).
I've done lots of reading about these areas to get a pretty good idea of things we want to see and do, but I'm looking for suggestions from people who live there, who have traveled there, etc.
What are your favorite things to do at that time of year, places to eat, etc.
And what's the weather normally like that time of year?
Any help would be awesome.
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What about weather?
I'm trying not to bring my whole closet, but a month is a really long time to be one the road......am I going to need clothes for warm and cold weather?
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Hahahaha - well I guess I'll open this up to people who have been there and don't necessarily live there also.
Any favorites Chadwick?
Depending on what areas you hit, I would say bring some clothes for both. It'll be more luggage, but it does suck to get stuck in a pacific northwest rain storm in just some shorts and sandles, or find out that Utah has an oddly very warm day when you aren't expecting it.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
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memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
they are traveling south ... so, no hard rights! ... haha
anyhoo - although a month seems like a long time ... you are covering a lot of kms especially if you are starting in vancouver ... and will only allow you to just get a flavour of each spot ...
if you are into nature - i would suggest getting a parks pass and hitting some of the gorgeous parks in the west ...
definitely spend some time amongst the redwoods ... there are lots of different places you can go for that along the southern coast ...
outside of that - it's best to know what your interests are to offer any additional tips ...
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=453
Weather on the coast this time of year can vary quite a bit. If we get an Indian Summer it could get very warm, but the fog usually rolls and and you can get quite chilly as well so I'd bring plenty of layers.
better?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
I'll second this recommendation. It's a really great tour, and right off PCH. Great way to spend half a day.
San Diego should be really great weather (when is it not?). Could be anywhere from the 70's to the 90's. Foggy in the morning at the coast.
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A month is nowhere near enough time for the trip we have planned, especially give that our month actually begins and ends in Ontario, so we have a good 4 days of driving before even getting to Vancouver and then at least 4 after we leave Vegas. So our time on the PCH is really less than 3 weeks. But, I hope we get enough of a taste of most places that we can at least compile a list of where we'd like to re-visit.
We're definitely into the nature aspect of it and getting a parks pass. We're hoping to do some camping along the way, but really have no clue what to expect about weather so that might be completely out of the question.
Basically though, we're up for anything - open to any and all suggestions.
Our only real time constraint is that we have tickets to Bridge School on the 23rd, but other than that we have no schedule - we'll make a plan every morning when we wake up.
I'll remember to be cautious of the hard rights though! Haha.
I'm getting so excited and reading your suggestions is making it even crazier. Cannot wait to be on the road.
Have a great trip!
the parks pass is a great idea and if you are willing to camp ... even better ... all the parks will be good temperature wise except those in high elevation or in the north (yellowstone/tetons) ... if you've never been to the western states ... my suggestion is to only do a part of the PCH ... say from northern california down to monterrey ...
seeing as you are stopping in vegas ... you don't want to miss some of the parks around there ... zion, grand canyon, bryce canyon ... from vegas - you can skip over to death valley and then into yosemite ... make your way to coast and take the PCH down to big sur ...
i am doing something similar with my gf all centred around bridge school ... except we are flying out ... i got a ticket from air canada for $485 all in direct from their recent sale ... we will be hitting yosemite and visiting friends ...
edit: thought i read you were in toronto but i think you said ontario ... i can call you if long distance is an issue from my work phone
i've done the drive myself and have been to the southwest like 7 times - you can call me if you like ... i live in toronto so it should be a local call ... just pm me and i can help you out if you're still looking for info ...