Seattle to San Francisco. Let’s Travel the Oregon Coast with Kids.
Let’s head on an epic road trip along the
Washington, Oregon and California Coastlines!
We have talked about travelling the Oregon Coast as a couple for a long time. So when planning our 2018 summer road trip we thought, let’s do it! Washington, Oregon and California Coastline. One Epic family adventure. We decided to hit the road with the boys, and in 15 days we went from Seattle to San Francisc0 To save some travel time we flew from Calgary to Seattle and back to Calgary from San Francisco. There was so much to see and do that we decided flying was a great way to save some time!
Here is our map of all the places we book accommodations with travel time. We tried to limit to 2 hours of driving per day. With all the stops and hikes 2 hours of travel time works out to be about 4-5 hours minimum a day.
Being a Family of five we rented from AVIS - Chevy Traverse. We were able to pick up in Seattle and Drop off in San Fran, unlimited mileage included.
July 21 we left Calgary, AB Canada and Flew to Seattle for the first three days of our Epic Road Trip.
HELLO SEATTLE
Accommodation: We booked our two nights at Hotel Marqueen, and this was probably my least favourite lodging on the trip. The hotel itself was cute and a great price for 2 bedrooms and breakfast. No Elevator makes it tricky for lugging your travel gear. It was within walking distance to the science centre and space needle. The price included breakfast. I may do my research on hotels in Seattle.
In Seattle, there are many sites to see and things to do:
Attended a Seattle Mariners Game. We happened to attend a game which was kids night so the boys got a free baseball cap.
Visit the Space Needle
Pop Culture Museum
Artist in Play Park beside the Space Needle
Must Eat: IVARS. It is on the water and a fun spot to eat. Try their famous fish and chips.
From Seattle we took the ferry on route to the Sol Duc Hot Spring which in located in the Olympic National Park. There were many lodging we want to book, but they were all full when we booked so we only got to check out Sol Duc Hot Springs. We stayed in a basic cabin that backed onto a creek. The kids loved building a rock bridge and skipping stones here. There were deer’s roaming the land which added to the scenery. The cost of the Hot Springs is included in your lodging and they do have towels for guests. The hot and cold pool were enjoys and the on site restaurant at the pool was perfect!
Where to eat: Springs Restaurant. Always love it when they have kids menu option.
Continuing on our Washington Coast we are headed to Ocean Shores, WA
Sites along the way
Madison Falls was an easy hike with stunning waterfalls. it was about 0.3 miles.
RUBY BEACH - stunning beach which we walked around and checked out the tide pools. Lots of drift wood, people having beach side fires. Overall a very pretty beach. It was foggy at Ruby Beach and a bit cool on the day we visited, but still worth the trip.
Ocean Shores our last stay in Washington
Accommodations: Shore Bird Villas which was a Hawaiian-themed villa. The kids loved the space. Ocean Shores is a small beach town community. It is known for its wide beaches, where you can have bonfires, fly kites, ride horses and go clam digging. We drove down and right onto the beach. Kids looked for clams, you can go horseback riding on the beach and it was a great place to fly a kite. They sell kits everywhere.
Hitting the Oregon Coast Mile Marker Zero
Welcome to Oregon. What we know is that the weather varies everyday. It can be cloudy and foggy and cool, to full sun and hot. I will add a must-pack list at the end of this blog.
Our First destination in Oregon was Astoria. But with each mile marker, there are many places to stop and sights to see. We couldn’t do them all, and I am only listing my favs. It is a beautiful drive from Ocean Shores to Astoria but is about 3.5 hours. So our goal was to take in the sites at Astoria.
Mile Zero - Astoria
Accommodations - Atomic Motel with included breakfast. A bright retro motel. Lots of room for our family of 5. The breakfast was mainly muffins and coffee.
Sites to see:
Fort Clampet - Louise and Clark National Park
Goonies Museum
Where to Eat: Baked Alaska. Ordering the Half Baked is a MUST! The Kids loved this restaurant so much we ate lunch and dinner here!
From Astoria, our next overnight was in Lincoln City. There are many mile markers that we hit along the way.
SEASIDE – Mile 20
Seaside Aquarium – feed the seals! You get a small tray of fish for $2 after entry into Aquarium.
Seaside Promenade – this goes along the Seaside Aquarium. Lots of shops to check on here.
Dig for razor clams – You can do this at the beach next to Seaside Aquarium too.
Play at games at the Funland Arcade
Our FAVOURITE Seaside stop - Seaside Inverted Photo on main street. These were fun upside-down photos, and I used them for my holiday cards too!
CANNON BEACH – Mile 28
Haystack Rock – You can see them from Haystack Hill State Park, and Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site is just south of it. A excellent spot for sunrise and sunset. Fun Fact - Goonies ending when the ship appears from the cave, this is the rock they used.
Where to Eat: Wayfarer Restaurant and Lounge – perfect beach restaurant with amazing ocean views.
HUG POINT STATE RECREATION SITE – Mile 34
Hug Point Hike – 0.5 mi RT, 20 ft, easy, go only at low tide. Hike to the caves, a seasonal waterfall, and old stagecoach trail.
ROCKAWAY BEACH – Mile 50.8
Emily Reed Shipwreck – This is not always visible. Every so often, the sands shift and reveal the 102-year-old shipwreck.
Pronto Pup – where the original corndog was invented! We have a big corn dog fan in our house, so this a was a must-try one corn dog stop!
GARIBALDI – Mile 55.6
Pier’s End – 700-foot long pier. It’s Oregon’s longest. Great spot to walk around, watch crab fishing and take some amazing photos.
TILLAMOOK – Mile 65
Tillamook Cheese Factory Tour – tours are free and self-guided. This was on our list but we didn’t end up taking the tour.
Cape Meares and Cape Meares Lighthouse – this is Oregon’s shortest lighthouse. You can also see the Octopus Tree and the Big Spruce here (Oregon’s largest Sitka spruce). These are both pretty close together. Hiking to the tree is a quick 0.4-mile through the Cape Meares State Park.
Munson Creek Falls – 0.6 mi, 95 ft, easy hike to a three-tiered 319 ft waterfall, the highest waterfall along the Oregon coast. It is a beautifully lush and very easy hike.
CENTRAL COAST
The Central Coast is similar in appearance to the North Coast but has fewer sandy beaches and more sea cliffs, terraces, and bays. Where the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area starts.
LINCOLN CITY – Mile 112
Accommodations - Best Western, which included a free breakfast.
One of the bigger cities on the coast. Many restaurants and lodging options. Portlanders like to come here to cool off during the summer.
Seven Miles of Smiles – the beaches from Roads End to Siletz Bay. Famous for their Finder’s Keepers glass float hunt. Each year from mid-October to Memorial Day, “Float Fairies” will hide glass treasures along the Seven Miles of Smiles.
From Lincoln City, our next accommodation was in NewPort. There are many sites to see along the way!
NEWPORT – Mile 141
We booked our accommodations at The Landing at Newport. Located on Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon, these apartments are 6.4 km from South Beach State Park. They feature fireplaces and views of the marina. We had a view of the harbour, which was beautiful. It was a quick walk to restaurants and shops. I could of easy skipped Lincoln City and stayed here for two nights.
Things to see:
Yaquina Head Lighthouse at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (BLM) – it’s Oregon’s tallest lighthouse at 93 ft. The structure was completed in 1874 and is Oregon’s second-oldest continuously operating lighthouse. The area is also amazing for tide pooling. I’ve never seen so many creatures concentrated in one spot.
Historic Newport Bayfront – See the sea lions on the public piers and private docks. It has a stunning view of the Yaquina Bay Bridge and is also a excellent area to do some souvenir shopping.
Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site – Not to be confused with Yaquina Head, but this also has a lighthouse, the Yaquina Bay lighthouse. You also get a nice view of Yaquina Bay Bridge from here.
Agate Beach State Recreation Site – beachcombing is popular here. If you’re lucky, you will find an agate.
Nye Beach – A great place to escape. Colourful buildings fill this seaside community, and you can shop, eat, or spend time on the beach.
Oregon Coast Aquarium – one of Oregon’s top tourist attractions. It brings in over 40,000 students each year for their excellent educational programs.
The next destination was Florence. We booked accommodations at Old Town Inn. I wanted to stay at Driftwood Shores Resort and Conference Center – amazing oceanfront rooms with private balconies. You can even get rooms with kitchens or fireplaces; it was booked when we were making our bookings.
What to see:
YACHATS / CAPE PERPETUA SCENIC AREA – Mile 164.4
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area – this is where you’ll find Thor’s Well, Spouting Horn, Devil’s Churn, and Cook’s Chasm. There are also plenty of tide pools to explore too. Be sure to check the tide charts here. Go at high tide for Thor’s Well (you will get soaked, but the photos are worth it!).
FLORENCE – Mile 190
Heceta Head Lighthouse – This is the brightest light on the Oregon coast and most photographed lighthouse in the state.
Sea Lion Caves – This is America’s largest sea cave inhabited by sea lions. Take in the sounds (and smells)! There are the most seals in the cave during Winter and Spring, they then head out for mating during the Summer, and are in and out feeding during the Fall. Fun to take an elevator to the sea level of this cave.
From Florence, our next accommodations were booked in a cottage in Gold Beach at Turtle Rock Resort. Turtle Rock got its name from the rock that resembles at Turtle. We saw sea lions and whales while we were here. The Vacation Rentals (cottages) and RV Park are all within walking distance of a picturesque 7 mile-long beach. Vacation Rentals (Cottages) and RV Park sites sit on the banks of Hunter Creek looking out to the Pacific ocean, or if you prefer choose a hillside spot nestled against the tree- and fern-covered park.
SOUTH COAST (day 9)
The South Coast is more rugged and mountainous. It’s generally known to be warmer and sunnier than the North and Central coast (maybe because it’s closer to California). You will start seeing more redwoods, cedar, Douglas-fir forests, and plenty of sand dunes.
What to see:
COOS BAY – Mile 237.5 - This is the largest city on the Oregon Coast
Shore Acres State Park – a great place to storm watch and see huge crashing waves.
Mile Marker 261 West Coast Game Park Safari — We actually got to pet a baby lion and a snow leopard. We fed some other animals which was an aggressive experience.
PORT ORFORD – Mile 301
Cape Blanco State Park and Cape Blanco Lighthouse – Oregon’s most southern lighthouse and is the westernmost point in Oregon.
Mile Marker 313 - Calling all Dinosaur fans. Stop at the Prehistoric Gardens-includes replicas of dinosaurs living in a dense, peaceful rain forest in this privately operated park and gift shop. Fee charged. Everett’s favourite stop of the trip.
GOLD BEACH – Mile 328
Rogue Jets – open May 1 to Oct 15
Barnacle Bistro – great casual spot servicing fresh and local seafood and burgers.
Turtle Rock – a rock formation just off the highway (west of the 101) that looks like a turtle. You can map to Turtle Rock Resort.
Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor – just a few steps down the trail to the west, you can see Humbug Mountain. You can hike through thick Sitka Spruce rain forest to Hunters Cove (3 mi out and back).
Meyers Creek Beach – there is a large shark fin rock formation and it a popular spot for windsurfing.
Welcome to California.
Our next accommodation was in Crescent City at the Light House Inn. We appreciated the large room size. The hotel itself was dated and could use some updates. Included a free breakfast.
What to see on your final stretch of the Oregon Coast
SAMUEL H. BOARDMAN STATE SCENIC CORRIDOR – Mile 357
Hiking trails connect all the viewpoints along Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, or you can hop in a car and go to the most popular view points. See our guide on the best hikes in Samuel H Boardman and tips for your visit here.
Natural Bridges – viewpoint or hike down closer to the water.
Thomas Creek Bridge – hike down to the beach to get a view of the bridge.
Thunder Rock Cove – short hike.
Harris Beach State Park – south of Samuel H Boardman there is a feature that looks similar to the keyhole at Pfeiffer State Beach in Big Sur!
Chetco Point Park
We knew we had long travel days in California. Our next accommodation was booked in Eureka, CA at, Best Western Plus.
Eureka is a port city in Northern California. It’s Old Town district features elaborate Victorian houses such as the nearby Carson Mansion. Sequoia Park Zoo is home to pandas and primates and features a walk-through aviary. Next, to the zoo, Sequoia Park is home to massive old-growth redwood trees. Guided boat cruises aboard the early-1900s Madaket ferry take in the sights, seals and birdlife of Humboldt Bay.Lighthouse inn
What to see:
Sequoia Park was a surprise find. A Wrinkle in Time filmed scenes in this park. We had lots of fun walking the pathways and trails.
Carson Mansion. My kids thought it looked haunted. You can only see it from the outside for you are not allowed into the Mansion.
Sequoia Park Zoo. The kids were too tired to take in the zoo. That is how we stumbled up Sequoia Park right next door.
From Eureka, we travelled to Fort Bragg.
We have booked accommodations for two nights at The Beachcomber Motel. A beachfront resort that included breakfast. My favourite treat was the s’more kits you could purchase at the front desk.
What to see on the way to Fort Bragg
Trinidad lighthouse. We ate at The Light House Grill. Trinidad Head Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse in Trinidad, California. It is 20 miles north of Eureka, California, built-in 1871
Legend of big foot - Richardson grove state park. The Legends of Bigfoot Store is located at 2500 US Highway 101, Garberville, California 95542 in Humboldt County about 0.5 mile north of Richardson Grove State Park. We did purchase the cutest gnome at the shop.
thru tree Tree Leggett. There is a cost to drive through the Tree.
Confusion Hill - Home to the World Famous Gravity House, the Redwood Shoe House, the Ripley's Believe It or Not "World's Tallest Free-Standing Redwood Chainsaw Carving," and the unique miniature Mountain Train Ride. There is a cost to see the attractions. Great pit stops as well to grab a bite to eat and stretch your legs.
Fort Bragg, CA
My favourite destination on the trip. The only downside was the road in and out were so windy. We had to take a few breaks to help with the car sick feeling. But the destination was worth every turn. California’s North Coast is the stuff of legend. Ranked “Third Best Place to Go” by the New York Times, the stunning Mendocino Coast and Fort Bragg area provide an abundant and diverse array of natural wonders, shops, restaurants, beaches, and local attractions near The Beachcomber Motel.
When I think of this town, I think Star Hallow from the Gilmore Girls.
WE had the best time here. There was so much to do and see. First up
Fort Bragg Historic Bridge. We could access right from our hotel. Right off the bridge there is a path to the beach below, which was perfect for swimming, shell picking, and spotting sea life.
Mackerricher State Park. We walked the boardwalks and even saw whales from one of the lookout points. These paths were so beautiful, I highly recommend them.
Glass Beach. Glass Beach gets its name from the smooth colourful glass pieces that you can find in the pebbly beach. The site was once a trash dump, so broken bottles from garbage cans of local residents are now little treasures to be found and photographed (and left behind).
Places to Eat:
FRANKIE ICE CREAM SHOPPE
Breakfast - EGGHEAD Fort Bragg (wizard of oz theme)
We did it: our final destination, San Francisco, CA. We booked our rooms on the outskirts of San Fran, which was perfect. We stayed at the Marin Suites Hotel. Reaching the Bay Area doesn't get any easier than this, this hotel's central and convenient location. No matter which direction you turn, you're just minutes away from San Francisco's big-city sights, Marin County's artisan foodie experiences, and Northern California's epic natural landscapes.
Things to see:
Exploratorium - a hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception dedicated to the excitement of experimentation
Pier 39 - This is a very tourist spot that is a staple to see in San Fransisco. You can watch seals, shop for souvenirs and dine and many places. I would go first thing in the morning to secure parking.
Golden Gate Bridge - this is a toll bridge.
Muir Woods - You need to pre-book a time slot to see the park. They check and will not let you in without a time slot. Make sure to reserve in advance.
TIPS:
I would highly recommend water shoes. These are so useful for exploring tide pools, checking out the rockier beaches. I would recommend for everyone in the family.
Pack raincoats. The weather is unpredictable. We encountered lots of fog and cooler mornings and some rain.
Be open to stopping. Some places have 5-8 sites to stops within a few miles of each other. Don’t feel pressured to stop at all of them. Each sight you do see will be amazing.
Note: Lots of the park require a park pass.
Feel free to comment or email us with any of your questions about travelling from Seattle to San Francisco.
From our Suitcase to yours, Happy Travels!
