West Coast Help

Dodger Stadium.

 

Don't worry about earthquakes.

As a native Californian who has since lived just about everywhere else this country has to offer, I'll take earthquakes any day over tornadoes, hurricanes, Nor'easters, and whatever else Mother Nature has to offer.

 

Done and done. I wouldn't miss this for the world. And the Mrs. SoSueMe knows it.

 

If you drive deep into Orange County, the San Onofre "nipples" will give you cause to chuckle. If you want to watch the sun set, any one of the beaches are great; my preference is Huntington Beach lifeguard station 5.

SH1818, my fear growing up in LB was crossing the Vincent St. Thomas Bridge (SoSueMe, that's another suggestion) when a big quake hit.

 

Dear sweet Jebus...how could I have forgotten?

If you're the golfing type, you'll be headed right past Bandon Dunes. I'd guess that's worth whatever time it might divert from your trip.

 

Cape Lookout State Park in Oregon is in my top 5 places on the planet. It's directly west of Tillamook. Take the Three Capes scenic bypass route off 101. Breathtaking.

 

Are the San Onofre "nipples" part of some plant that you can see on I-5? I have driven from Seattle to Mexico three or four times and we always laughed hysterically whenever we saw those.

 

"Everywhere I go, something reminds me of her."

 

Close your eyes through Lincoln City and Seaside. You'll thank me later.

If you're the camping type, Oswald West State Park is great. You park up on 101 and take your stuff down to the campground via wheelbarrow. Also a great beach, protected from the Coast wind. Lots of small "state parks" that have outstanding, remote beaches along 101 south of Cannon Beach to the Cali border.

I've heard McClintock's near Pismo Beach is a great place. Never been there.

 

Blackfish Cafe in Lincoln City is worth the stop.
Second the Tillamook stop. From the trailhead, you can go to the lookout, or you can go down through the forest to the beach. Either is worth it.
From Reedsport to Brookings offers outstanding scenery, and there's an Indian casino right across the California border where I won $125 playing blackjack.
Be sure to drink some Rogue beer while passing through Oregon.

 

Yes, McClintock's is worth a stop. So is Jack's in Orcutt, neighboring town of Santa Maria. The Guadalupe Dunes are fun to drive in, but be careful.

 

Take my handle through Oregon and down to San Jose, then Hwy 17 to Hwy 1 in Santa Cruz take that to Monterey and beyond to Big Sur for the most beautiful meeting of sea and land in the world.

There's a lot of good info here. For more, send a PM.