Graduation Road Trip 2014!

[s14pwd]

Hey R3v,

So I'm finally graduating after 5 years in engineering, and the plan to relax is take the car, the girl and do a road trip along the West Coast.

Details:
-Time:Entire month of May
-Stops: (looking for opinion)

1. Start in Calgary, AB
2. Yellowstone National Park for 4 days
3. Salt Lake City for 2 Days
4. Las Vegas for 3 Days
5. Los Angeles for 4-5 Days
6. San Francisco for 4-5 Days
7. Up along the coast to Portland for 1-2 days
8. Seattle for 2 days
9. Victoria, BC for 3 days
10. Vancouver for 3-4 days
11. Back to Calgary

There will be stops off the path and along the way and time frames will change depending on how we feel about a certain place, but that is the outline for the route.



Suggestions:

• Places to stay (campgrounds, hotels, bed and breakfasts, R3ver's couches ;))?
• Things to do and see in each area?
• Things to eat? (stuff that is really unique to an area)
• R3ver's to show us around for a few hours if they're free? (beer on me)
• What to carry in the car for emergency breakdowns? Never done this long of a trip in the E30, so I want to be prepared.

Here's a visual of the route:


Thanks for any input/suggestions
Shaun

[dirtbag30]

sounds like a heck of a fun trip.

there was a thread on things to take on a road trip. i usually bring a spare tire, small tool box with the most common used tools, a jack, coolant, oil, others have suggested a fuel pump because they like to go out in the most convenient times, fuses, belt. and a good flashlight.

good luck

[Keith M]

I'm near Port Angeles, Wa where you'll board the ferry to Victoria. The Hoh rain forest is a must, Hurricane Ridge and the Spit at Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge (where I work) are great places to visit as well. You may want to purchase a national parks pass which will get you into any federal park in the US.

[lambo]

Nice! I've been planning a trip all the way up the PCH for a long time now... Just need to find the right time to actually do it.

[Keith M]

Disregard my last post. You'll be on the Seattle ferry not the one near me. Have a fun trip.

[TurboJake]

Take 101 and 1 down the WHOLE coast.
Do not cut any portions out. At all. Portland for example, turn onto 26, and use 26 to get back to 101.
Take the Port Townsend ferry north of seattle to hit up the Olympic Peninsula.

And make sure to camp in Clam Beach.

EDIT: Didn't read it, but dude, seriously. Go DOWN the coast. I promise you it's about 7.88524x better. You're on the coast side.
Case in point, from my own trip, in the link below.






And, if your like me and go fast occasionally, Your gal might be able to work her vag muscles better after the trip after the clenching/kegel exercising.

[mrsleeve]

your going to go right by Glacier NAT park rather than take I15 down why not come down US 93 and take in what you can of the west side of Glacier, not much is opened up yet but there is way more than there would be on the east side. If it were me (and I live in this area) I would include a little back tracking and come down 93, into the North end of the Flathead valley. Buzz over and make the run on the east side of lake McDonald in Glacier park up too the lodge entering at the west gate. Come back out head back for Columbia Falls, just before you get into hungry horse and the H-H NFS headquarters Hang a left and make the short 5 mile drive up too Hungry horse dam its actually pretty cool. Then head back for Columbia falls right before you cross the river make the turn for Big Fork down 106, and then make the run around Flathead Lake ( the largest NATURAL freshwater lake West of the Mississippi.) on MT35 Get to the south end in Polson and run back up N along the west shore heading for Kailspell on US 93. There are lots of little turn outs and state and county parks along both shores to take some time. Its not too busy around here yet with tourists and most stuff is not operational yet BUT there is some decent access given the time of year.


After the run around Flathead lake, I would head back out towards Big Fork and this time You can make the left on HWY 83 a few miles north of, or run all the way back to Big Fork and make the left on 209 over to 83 and then continue on south on 83, out along the swan river and one of my fav. lakes around here Swan lake. This will take you all the way down Seelly lake and keep going south till you get to MT 200. Turn to the east and head for HWY 141 and head south till you get to US 12 and swing back west till you get to I90. Head for Butte there and that will get back to I15 heading for the west side of yellowstone.

Now this will give you a whirlwind tour of this entire area hitting most of the high spots and could be done in 2 days but I have spent years doing it and still see something different every time. These loops will get you great views of the Columbia, Swan, both sides of the mission mountain ranges, and the Whitefish range to your left after you cross the boarder coming down 93 with the lower parts of the salish on your right.

I will say have at least a 1/2 tank of fuel each time you set out south from big fork its a long ways to get more.... To Seely lake is about a 100 miles, I love it down in Condon and will someday prolly buy a home there.

Some quick shots of stuff you might see on your travels
Lake McDonald last spring on a clear day


Coming back in to Kalispell late one summer evening from the south



Horse and deer in the back ground grazing last summer, in front of the swan range about 1/2 way to seelly lake


I am going to have to dig though the archives an see if I can find some decent shots of the big lake for ya

[anokES]

PM me and I can give you some advice for Salt Lake

[325ix]

I would recommend going all the way into San Diego while your that direction. One of my favorite places in California.

[Haystack]

If you come through humboldt county, I can tell you places to check out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KIRIEIW]

Try and come by bimmerfest, its May 17th I think is the date. Only half a day of the 5 days planed in LA

[s14pwd]

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Turbojake, it is the plan to take 101 and 1, but do you mean take them South vs North? And I hope she likes fast :p

Sleeve, nice pictures. I will grab a map and mark out the route after my next exam, and I will try to incorporate your suggestions and post it up so you can see if I got it.

anokES, sending you a PM.

Haystack, after putting a route to paper I will see if I come that way and PM you if I do.

KIRIEIW, thanks for the reminder, I will do my best!

Keep the ideas coming guys, I'm getting excited for this!

Shaun

[SkiFree]

Great advice already. I'll repeat what I've said before.

When traveling on highway one, don't miss out on staying at the Pigeon Point Hostel just south of the bay area and doing the hottub over the cliffs (especially at night).

http://www.daysontheroad.be/highway-1-a-night-at-pigeon-point-lighthouse/

reemphasize sticking to the coast as much as possible and getting down to San Diego.

Snorkeling with the leopard sharks in La Jolla cove is also cheap and cool.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/Jul/25/leopard-sharks-easy-spot-snorkelers/

http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/snorkeling-la-jolla-shores.html

**EDIT:When in Portland look at Powell's books downtown and Mt. Tabor Park for a good view of downtown (with lots of good restaurants close by).

[volvolover]

What kinda e30 you sportin OP?

PCH is one of the nicest drives from what I've heard. Never done it myself, but if I did, I'd probably just rent a car and drive the crap out of it instead (dont' have to worry about breakdowns etc. just gas and go!). FWIW Avis rents cars with no mileage or state/province restrictions.

When your in Vancouver, send me a PM and I'll meet up with ya if Im there at that time

[s14pwd]

SkiFree, thats a great website and suggestions, will definitely do that.

volvolover, M3, hence why i kind of want to take it. I have a Acura I could take that would be more reliable, but I don't think it would be as fun or rewarding as going up the coast windows down in the M3.