West Coast Road Trip

[Partial]

After graduating school next May some of my buddies and I are going to take a west coast road trip. We're thinking about doing 11 days.

What are some of the best sites to see?

I'd like to see the Grand Canyon, spend at least a day on the beach in Cali, go to Yosemite, check out some of Oregon, and hike for a day or two at Mount Rainier.

Any tips, thoughts, advice?

[HowardRoark]

Spend a day or two in Big Sur. Go to Nepenthe and sit there and stare at the view and drink beer.

http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

[mraynrand]

If you like hiking, there are some amazing hikes at Mount Rainier. Don't try Yosemite in season - it's a zoo. Go to Kings Canyon instead.

[Scott Campbell]

Re: West Coast Road Trip

After graduating school next May some of my buddies and I are going to take a west coast road trip. We're thinking about doing 11 days.

What are some of the best sites to see?

I'd like to see the Grand Canyon, spend at least a day on the beach in Cali, go to Yosemite, check out some of Oregon, and hike for a day or two at Mount Rainier.

Any tips, thoughts, advice?

My advice is that you're not going to see much other than the inside of your car if you bounce around like that. Pick a few places in one area, and spend a lot more time at each.

Or, stretch your trip out to 45 days. At your age, you're not likely to get a chance to do something like this again for a long, long time.

[Scott Campbell]

One more thing:

Zion > Grand Canyon.

[mraynrand]

One more thing:

Zion > Grand Canyon.

Yep.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Make sure you aren't lazy and dont' bring a gps.

[HarveyWallbangers]

When I took my West Coast road trip, I took a month to do it. Like Scott said, you ain't going to see much if you only take 11 days.

[Partial]

I think my parents would flip the F out on me for taking a month off of work.

I don't think my or my friends employers would let them do it either.

I don't think I could afford it either. After tuition and putting away 5k in a CD this year, my bank is down to about a grand. By May i'll have like 2-3k to my name only, but 0 in student loans and a 2002 civic. I don't think I can afford more than 10-11 days.

[oregonpackfan]

If coming up from CA to Oregon consider stopping at:

1. Crater Lake, OR

2. Swing up to Cannon Beach, OR on the coast. It has a wonderful beach, great food, and enchanting shops. Packinpatland loved Cannon Beach when she visited Oregon.

3. Head east and drive the Columbia River Gorge between Portland and Hood River. Watch and/or try wind surfing at Hood River.

4. From Hood River travel south 40 miles and drive up to Mt. Hood, an 11,000' mountain. The Roadway will take you up to 6,500' but you can hop a chairlift up another couple of thousand feet.

[SkinBasket]

You would learn a lot more, about yourself in particular, if you volunteered at a homeless shelter for 2 weeks. That's not a joke. There's something easy and glossy about going to all the places you mentioned. If that's what your looking for in your passage to manhood, then so be it. If you're looking to be someone other than Adam Brody, you might want to consider it.

[texaspackerbacker]

There used to be a nude hippie commune at Big Sur--under the Bixby Creek Bridge. I climbed down there twice looking for it, but never found it--400 feet from Highway 1 down to the ocean.

Maybe the grandkids of those hippies are still there. If you find it, let me know.

[Freak Out]

11 days? Quit the damn job and do it right.

[MadtownPacker]

Re: West Coast Road Trip

After graduating school next May some of my buddies and I are going to take a west coast road trip. We're thinking about doing 11 days.

What are some of the best sites to see?

I'd like to see the Grand Canyon, spend at least a day on the beach in Cali, go to Yosemite, check out some of Oregon, and hike for a day or two at Mount Rainier.

Any tips, thoughts, advice?

You need at least 3 days to enjoy a good amount of Yosemite. The beach is a one day thing.

Stop by my Madtown with yo homies and Ill get you fools lit.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think my parents would flip the F out on me for taking a month off of work.

I don't think my or my friends employers would let them do it either.

I don't think I could afford it either. After tuition and putting away 5k in a CD this year, my bank is down to about a grand. By May i'll have like 2-3k to my name only, but 0 in student loans and a 2002 civic. I don't think I can afford more than 10-11 days.

Then you need to take couple of areas of interest and take the time to enjoy those. Hit the other spots as you get older. Otherwise, you'll spend most of your time in your vehicle. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. I kind of enjoy doing that too. I guess it falls on what you expect to get out of the trip.