Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Driving from San Diego to Seattle

This is topic Driving from San Diego to Seattle in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=004118

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 06-17-2005, 07:44 PM:

I need some time off, so the invitation to take part in a music festival in Seattle in mid-July seems to come at exactly the right time. I haven't figured out yet whether I should fly or drive. Obviously, flying is very quick and flights are available for little money, but I am seriously thinking about driving. I could take my own bass then rather than having to rent one in Seattle, wouldn't have to rent a car there either and I am curious what the US North West looks like. I haven't been further North than San Francisco and Napa Valley.

Mapquest says it is 1250 miles and takes 18 hours. But that means just going on I-5. I know the PCH all the way up to SF, so I could "bypass" that on the freeway to save time. The rest of the distance, how long does it really take? Which route would you take? What is there to see on the way? What is Seattle like? What can I do and see there?

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 06-18-2005, 05:00 AM:

Greetings from Seattle Mike.
You're going to love this part of the country. We're not called the Evergreen State for nothing. Please be sure to look us up when you get here. We work for Landmark, which has 8 theatres here, and you are more than welcome to check them out.
There's lots to do here in the summer months so I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Looking foward to seeing you again.
I work at the Metro 10 and you can reach me at a phone number which has been deleted that I should have emailed to you privately. Just ask for the booth, as most of our employees never know which one of us is up there.

[ 06-19-2005, 04:10 AM: Message edited by: Brad Miller ]

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 06-18-2005, 09:50 AM:

When I lived in Los Angeles and would take a drive up to San Francisco it would take me on I-5 about 5 1/2 hours. That was from Santa Monica to the Bay Bridge. If you take PCH which is a great drive along the coast in many sections of the state, it adds alot of time to the trip. In parts its only two lanes when you get up near the Santa Cruz / Monterey areas. The upper part of the state is very nice to in the Mt. Shasta area.

But remember the half way point when driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco is Coalinga . Remember to roll up your windows and cut the vent around this small piece of road. It only lasts a short time. Because on your right side of the highway there is a large amount of cattle there. [Eek!]

Seattle is a very nice area, I had a great time the last time I was there.

Have a Great trip.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-18-2005, 10:13 AM:

Michael,

While you're on the drive just loop over by Salt Lake City and pick up your platter motors [Big Grin]

.

BE sure to visit Jack Ondracek's drive In while you're in the Seattle area...... Also, if there is time take a trip out to the San Juan Islands.

Mark

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-18-2005, 11:41 AM:

I was in the Seattle area last June and visited my family in the Lynnwood and Shoreline neighborhoods. My uncle has been out there since the late 60's and worked for the Department of Health in Snohomish County.

Being from the east, I was unimpressed with coastal Washington. It was cold, wet, and overcast all the time (winter weather for me). Although the mountains and forests are vast and beautiful, the city of Seattle itself seemed over ran with a mix of gaudy-dressed hippies ranging from what looked like Eastern mystics to skate board types. Many were filthy, greasy, and just left me with a sense that I did not want to go back. Of course, I've seen these same types in places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland, but in those cities they are few. Seattle had far more and they looked happily united there.

When I made this trip I traveled by rail and also stoped to see cousins in Las Vegas by way of a connection in Los Angeles. Amtrak's Coast Starlight made the Seattle to LA run in about 30 hours, though we were delayed about two hours in the Cascade Mountains. I loved the train, but in your case I'd still recommend driving.

California is without a doubt the most beautiful state I've ever seen, but I still wouldn't live there even if you paid me.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-18-2005, 11:57 AM:

quote: Aaron Mehocic
California is without a doubt the most beautiful state I've ever seen, but I still wouldn't live there even if you paid me.

I guess then that you haven't seen much of Utah, Idaho, or Montana......

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-18-2005, 12:30 PM:

I've never been to Utah so the jury is still out on that one. Unfortunately, I crossed through Idaho in the dead of night and did not truely experience its geography. Granted, it was just a small section of the northern panhandle. Montana was interesting to say the least. The eastern part of the state near Wolf Point is no different than the Dakotas, but what I found different was just how quickly the Rocky Mountains come up on you. I went into the dinning car for my evening meal while we were still out in the open country. By the time I was finished we were in the mountains. It was that quick. Here in Pennsylvania you need at least two hours in the foothills before you actually cross into the Appalachiens.

I guess I was just struck by the beauty of California in that along the coast it truely is a golden shore when the sun hits it just right. Even at night, Mount Shasta still had enough snow on it to reflect the moon light. And the closer we got to LA, the more the cities and villages had more of a southwest flaire to them such as Martinez, Santa Monica, and Santa Barbara especially.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 06-18-2005, 01:03 PM:

I did the reverse of Michael's proposed road trip in 1997 - Vancouver, BC to San Diego, CA checking out various Japanese language graduate degree programs. I wound up using a combination of I-5 and various incarnations of PCH along the way. Since I didn't have a schedule I took my time - six days all together. Some of the things I stopped to look at:

Bellingham and Lynden, WA (seeing old friends)

All of the touristy things to do in SEA (Space Needle, IMAX, monorail, International District), but especially (for me anyway):
Boeing Factory tour in Renton, and
Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle
University of Washington

Salmon hatcheries near Portland, OR
Bonneville Dam and fish ladders

Howard Hughes' HK-1 Hercules "Spruce Goose" displayed at McMinnville, OR

University of Oregon in Eugene

Shasta Dam

Fort Ord, Mendocino, Clear Lake, Ukiah, CA
The Redwood forest stands in that area
The Skunk Train
Winsor, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, San Rafael, Tiburon, CA (seeing more old friends)

Japan Town, and the Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA

California 1 Highway (PCH, right on the coast):
Watsonville
Monterey
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Cannery Row
Monterey Institute of International Studies
Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
The famous 17-Mile Loop
Carmel-By-The-Sea (Clint Eastwood's Hog's Breath Inn)
Big Sur
San Simeon
Hearst Castle (check out the 40-minute 70mm film cabinet in the booth at the LF theater there [Big Grin]

)
Cambria
Morro Bay

Inland to San Luis Obispo and mostly back on US-101 / I-5 for the rest of the trip, except for:

Solvang (a bit of the Netherlands in SoCal)

Didn't do the rest of the coast route southward since I've done that part so many times before. Definitely want to do the rest of the west coast again, when I have a car or plane again someday.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-18-2005, 01:09 PM:

Well, you have to get off the main highways in all those states to see some really amazing stuff. In Utah the closest thing located to the highway(30 miles off to be exact)is Zion National Park. Except for Yosemite Park California is way over-rated and now way over-run. My favorite coast line is still Oregon and after that Maine. The San Jusn Islands are very hard to beat for sheer beauty but they are almost a trip in themselves. I would certainly bypass Seattle if I was heading that way. Another really neat place is Isle Royale in Lake Superior. This is the least visited National Park and is mainly a divers heaven for shipwrecks. But some great hiking and scenery is also at hand there.

Mark

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 06-18-2005, 05:42 PM:

I'm going to be visiting San Jose and Los Angeles in September for some research work, and hope to spend a few days off at the end of it. A friend in Los Angeles suggested that a 'no stress' way of sightseeing might be to take the 'Coast Starlight' train mentioned by Aaron at the end of my trip, and then fly home from Seattle. Even though I don't like trains as a general rule, I must admit to being quite tempted by the idea, especially as I'd like to stop off at Santa Barbara to visit another friend, which is also on that line. Another advantage would be not having to hire a car and worry about driving on what is for us the 'wrong' side of the road. I'm also told that, being a Brit, I might find the Coast Starlight a very familiar experience, because apparently it is notorious for running late!

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 06-18-2005, 06:04 PM:

On the other hand, then you can't go off on excursions on your own, such as Hearst Castle, which is well worth the trip by itself. Remember that while late trains may remind you of Britain, there is nothing like the public transport density here that you know from European cities. In any case, when you come to California, let me know, then we can get together for a drink in LA or somewhere in the area.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-18-2005, 07:20 PM:

quote: Aaron Mehocic
The eastern part of the state near Wolf Point is no different than the Dakotas

That's too general. The NORTHeastern part of the state is no different than North Dakota. The SOUTHeastern part, where I live, is actually quite different even from South Dakota. (Anyone who thinks this is nitpicking should keep in mind that Montana is around 400 miles from top to bottom.) Take a drive across Montana on I-90/I-94 sometime. It's probably one of the prettiest freeway drives there is, no matter what part of the state you're in. Most places you have to get off the highway to see anything...not here.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-18-2005, 11:46 PM:

Mike, I like most of Montana but south central is my favorite. This is the route that goes to one of my customers theatres.... a little mud slide problem right now from the snow melt but hopefully that'll be mopped up later this summer when I have to go there...... This would be fun in a Ferarri but is a bit tricky of a drive in a chevy van.

Mark

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-18-2005, 11:49 PM:

Yep, Beartooth Highway. I love that road. You can forget about it for this summer though. They plan to "possibly" have it open by October, if they can get it open this year at all.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-18-2005, 11:58 PM:

You're right, just finished reading an article in the Billings Gazette about the mud slides.... a bit more than juat a mop job up there.... more like build bridges where there isn't any road or mountain left......! Guess I'll have to go around the long way... through Yellowstone and Cody, WY...... back around to Red Lodge.

Mark

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 06-19-2005, 10:47 PM:

Michael:

A rail trip would probably be the most enjoyable. But however you choose to come if you are a nature lover you really enjoy the "Evergreen State". Traffic, especially during rush hour, is no different in Seattle than in San Diego. So try to avoid the freeways during rush hour in the Tacoma/Seattle area. You might want to take a side trip to the West Sound (Kitsap county). It's gorgeous.

Paul:

Solvang is known as "America's Little Denmark" (not the Netherlands). In '62 I owned the Mission theatre there. Today it's the location of the "Bit 'o' Denmark" restaurant. I even had plans drafted by Ballantyne for a drive-in in Buellton (back when the company was doing that) but never followed through with it.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 06-19-2005, 11:36 PM:

Oops. My bad. All those northern european countries look the same to me... [evil]

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 06-19-2005, 11:58 PM:

Thanks for the tips so far. I will definitely drive. Going by train would be a little more relaxed even, but when I drive, I have more mobility and spontaneity, both when I am in the Seattle area and on the way there.
I have to be in Seattle Sunday, July 17, late afternoon when the first rehearsal for the festival concert is. Then there will be rehearsals and concert Monday and Tuesday. But even on those days, I won't be busy all day long, mostly in the afternoons and evenings. So right now it looks as if I might be taking off Thursday, July 14, in the morning which would give me 3 1/2 days for relaxed driving with adventures along the road, then go back on Wednesday and Thursday.

Paul - The Netherlands is not in Northern Europe. But I guess all those foreign continents look the same to you...

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 06-20-2005, 06:16 AM:

If your definition of Europe is a political one (i.e. member states of the EU), then drawing a line from, say, Nicosia to Kiruna would put Amsterdam almost exactly half way along, I'd guess. But if, as I suspect Paul was, you're talking about the main physical land mass of Western Europe (Athens to Skagen), then The Netherlands certainly does count as northern - after all, it borders the North Sea!

Maybe the Eurocrats will start trying to make us refer to the Benelux countries as 'Central Europe', but it's not what 99% of Europeans would understand by that term. Mind you, they tried to make us refer to sausages as 'offal tubes', too, and that didn't get them very far! [Razz]

Thanks for the pointer on public transport in California - when I've got dates and stuff firmed up I'll send you an email.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-20-2005, 03:36 PM:

quote:
but when I drive, I have more mobility and spontaneity,

When you drive in Utah the above is a pre-requisite so you don't die.

Mark

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-20-2005, 10:09 PM:

Michael, if you can't do the whole trip via PCH, at least do PCH for the stretch from San Francisco to the Oregon border. Try to plan it so you pass through the redwoods in the morning between sunrise and around noon. [thumbsup]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-21-2005, 01:26 AM:

I can second that notion. PCH, great drive. Takes some time but is worth it.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 06-21-2005, 03:25 AM:

Is the PCH north of the Oregon border less rewarding?

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-21-2005, 09:42 AM:

The most scenic stretch of the Oregon coast is between Florence and Astoria (basically the northern half). I wouldn't say it's less rewarding at all.

If you stick to I-5, you'll make much better time, but you'll miss 95% of the best scenery.

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 06-21-2005, 11:40 PM:

I'll debate that one with you David. I left the south Oregon coast last year after 16 years there and I believe it is one of the most beautiful areas I've ever seen, especially the stretch from Brookings to Port Orford.