Seattle to San Francisco 

Day 1: Seattle Arrival

After a non-stop 9.5 hour flight from the UK, you have the option to collect your rental car at the airport and make your way to your downtown Seattle hotel, or if you prefer you can transfer to your hotel and we can arrange for you to collect the rental car downtown when you leave Seattle. Your downtown hotel for the next 2 nights is only minutes from the city’s greatest treasures. Get a good night’s sleep and be ready for tomorrow!

Hotels:
Standard – Warwick Hotel
Superior – Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle

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Day 2: Seattle

A full day in Seattle for seeing the sights. We suggest that the first thing you do this morning is to head down to the lively ‘Pike Place Market’, the oldest farmer’s market in the United States, where there is a huge range of restaurants. This is a great place to eat breakfast whilst either overlooking the sea or just watching the marketers set up their stalls.

After breakfast, why not take a ‘Hop on, Hop off’ city tour (there is a stop just outside the Pike Place Market) – this, in our opinion, is one of the best ways to get your bearings in a new City. Stops on the tour include the downtown shopping district, Seattle Centre, Waterfront and Pioneer Square.

Also, whilst in Seattle, the ‘Underground Tour’ is a must! Located just off Pioneer Square, this is a leisurely, guided walking tour beneath Seattle’s sidewalks and streets. As you roam the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle, the guides regale you with the stories pioneers didn’t want you to hear. It’s history with a twist! Tonight you will spend a second night at your hotel in downtown Seattle.

Other options for your day in Seattle are :-

Space Needle and Exhibition Park area
Boat tour on Puget Sound/Elliot Bay/Union Lake
The Museum of Flight and/or Boeing Factory
Music Experience Museum
Ferry tour to the San Juan Islands
‘Ride the Ducks’ (tour Seattle by land and water)

Overnight – Seattle

Hotels:

Standard – Warwick Hotel
Superior – Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle

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Day 3: Seattle – Port Angeles (Olympic National Park)
85 miles

Today take the Seattle to Bainbridge Island car ferry, a spectacular way to leave the city – be sure to get a few snaps of the skyline as the ferry travels across Puget Sound (Ferry fare not included).

You are not on the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park awaits, offering incredible natural diversity and breath-taking scenery. The park is rich in plant species, native and endemic animals and is a beautiful setting for boating, hiking, beach combing and connecting with nature. As you enter the park you’ll have the chance to take the 17-mile drive to Hurricane Ridge. On a clear day you can see forever from the top of the ridge taking in majestic views of snow-capped peaks, glaciers and valleys. Wildlife is abundant in this area so keep your camera close. The short 85 miles to your overnight stop in Port Angeles on the north coast means you have plenty of time to enjoy the National Park area.

Hotels:

Standard – Red Lion Hotel
Superior – Red Lion Hotel

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Day 4 – Port Angeles – Kalaloch Lodge or Lake Quinault, Olympic National Park
90 / 120 miles

Today you travel within the Olympic National Park to finishing in the southwest region of the park on the coast or at Lake Quinault. You have the chance to visit Forks, WA the town the “Twilight” series is based upon and also the rainiest town in the contiguous United States. Continue to the Hoh Rainforest which is sure to be a highlight of your trip. There isn’t an inch of ground that isn’t covered with beautiful green plants. You’ll witness the rainforest unfold with 500-year-old trees where 150” of rainfall per year help timbers grow faster than anywhere else on earth. The moss hanging from the trees creates an eerie ambience and adds to the beauty of the forest. When you’ve seen enough green head south on US101 to the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean at Ruby’s Beach. Take off your shoes and wade in the water as you enjoy the spectacular coastline with the rocky sea stacks that jut upward all along the beach.

Choose from the rustic beauty of Kalaloch Lodge, featured on our Standard program, with breath-taking sea views and sunsets or the more upscale and secluded Lake Quinault Lodge on our Superior program. Both are Olympic National Park Lodges so book early to avoid disappointment

Hotels:

Standard – Kalaloch Lodge Cabins
Superior – Lake Quinault Lodge

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Day 5 – Olympic National Park

Today drive the scenic 31-mile Quinault Rain Forest Loop. The Quinault Rain Forest Loop Drive is a loop around Lake Quinault, up the Quinault River into the Olympic National Park, and back around the other side. It is a wonderful way to experience the Quinault Valley. There are many opportunities along the way to stop for viewing waterfalls and wildlife, and taking walks, hikes or photographs. You gain many views of the surrounding mountains, giant trees, and the Quinault River.

Keep a keen eye out for Roosevelt elk, black-tail deer, cougar, bald eagle, bobcat, black bear and gorgeous views of the Olympic Mountains. Allow two hours minimum to complete the trip by car. More time can be spent at Lake Quinault or explore the rugged coastline and high surf.

Hotels:

Standard – Kalaloch Lodge Cabins
Superior – Lake Quinault Lodge

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Day 6 – Olympic National Park – Portland
234 miles

You’ll want an early start today as you travel south to Oregon. This morning we suggest a visit to the Long Beach Peninsula, the single longest stretch of uninterrupted sandy coastline on the west coast. Here you can visit Cape Disappointment State park where you can climb 2 lighthouses, view spectacular coastal scenery, explore an old military fort and visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Centre. Continue to the 6.5 km Astoria Megler Bridge spanning the mouth of the Columbia River connecting Washington to Oregon. Just south of Astoria you find Fort Clatsop, a replica of the original winter fort of Lewis & Clark. If you’ve never seen an American Army fort this is an interesting stop.

The Oregon coastline offers miles and miles of spectacular scenery, tide pools, sea stacks and vertical rock formations. Check for low-tide at Cannon Beach so you can explore famous Haystack Rock rising 70 meters out of the sand. From Cannon Beach you have a straight forward 1.5 hour drive to Portland, the vibrant Jewel of the Pacific Northwest as it is now known by many.

Hotels:

Standard – Travelodge by Wyndham Portland City Center
Superior – Historic Benson Hotel

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Day 7 – Portland

A full day at leisure to take in a city that is known for its eccentric locals, dynamic downtown and the sweeping natural scenery that surrounds it. Residents boast, ‘It’s hard not to eat local in Portland’.

The city’s culinary scene is known for its originality, evident in the number of homegrown craft breweries, food carts grouped around town for easy sampling, and many restaurants and cafes specialising in locally sourced produce. You’ll find food vendors at the open-air Portland Saturday Market, too, along with live music and local crafts people selling unique items. Dinner at Olympic Provisions Restaurant is a must to experience its cured meats and sausages. At the International Rose Test Garden, view more than 10,000 roses, especially in May and June during the Portland Rose Festival, then take a tour of elaborate Pittock Mansion, former home of the festival’s founder.

A visit to Salt & Straw, Portland’s famous ice cream shop, is a must. The freshly homemade waffle cone is a must-try, and you’ll likely want to double up on their uniquely sophisticated flavours, including Honey Lavender, Arbequina Olive Oil, and Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper. Don’t let the queue put you off; this icy treat is worth the wait.

Hotels:

Standard – Travelodge by Wyndham Portland City Center
Superior – Historic Benson Hotel

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Day 8 – Portland – Newport
140 miles

Today head directly west to the Oregon coast where you can take your time travelling south along highway 101 where the coastline boasts a string of State Parks wonderful view of the rugged unspoilt coastline around every turn. Visit Devils Punchbowl and Yaquina Head Lighthouse amongst others and keep an eye out for seals, sea lions and otters who all make their home along the Oregon coast. Your overnight stop, Newport, is home to the Oregon Coastal Aquarium where they have over 15,000 marine animals – a worthy 2 hour visit.

Hotels:

Standard – Elizabeth Suites (Buffet breakfast included)
Superior – Elizabeth Suites – Oceanfront Room (Buffet breakfast included)

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Day 9 – Newport – Crater Lake National Park
230 miles

A 4 hour drive takes to Crater Lake National park, a place that inspires awe. Crater lake was formed more than 7000 years ago when a volcano erupted and collapsed creating what we have today a 1200 metre deep caldera, since filled with snow melt and rainfall to create the deepest lake in the United States. It takes about 30 minutes to drive to the top of the now extinct volcano and the view once you reach the rim must be seen to be full appreciated. A great place for your overnight stay. Room availability at the lake is much sort after to book early.

Hotels:

Standard – Crater Lake Lodge
Superior – Crater Lake Lodge – Lakeside Room

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Day 10 – Carter Lake National Park – Redwood National Park
214 miles

Head southwest today across the border into California and into the Pacific Coast Ranges along the Redwood Highway all the way to the coast and the town of Klamath, your gateway to Redwood State and National Parks, home to the world-famous giant Redwood Trees. The contrast between these majestic trees, their surrounding forests and the rugged coastline make for a worthy 2 night stay and a full day to explore. When you reach the coast and before heading south to Klamath, you might like to visit Tolowa Dunes State Park, Battery Point Lighthouse and Crescent City where you can wander along the waterfront and marvel at a town almost entirely rebuilt after a devastating Tsunami in 1964.

Hotels:

Standard – Holiday Inn Express
Superior – Holiday Inn Express

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Day 11 – Klamath, Redwood National Park

An amazing diversity of life exists at Redwood National and State Parks. The ancient coast redwood ecosystem preserved in the parks contain some of the planet’s most majestic forests. Here, banana slugs, gray whales, Douglas-fir, black bears, and sea anemones are equally at home with the giant redwoods, the tallest living things on the planet at 350 feet high.

There is a vast choice of things to do during your day at leisure here. The National Park service offer great information and guidance on scenic drives and walks to suit all abilities.

Well worth a stop is the picnic area at High Bluff Overlook, then scan the sea for whales, sea lions, brown pelicans and, in spring and summer, thousands of seabirds nesting on offshore rocks. At Klamath there is a lovely coastal walk, the Yurok Loop, which visits pristine Hidden Beach (1 mile round-trip). Or, for an easy stroll beneath towering redwoods, walk the 1-mile Lady Bird Johnson Grove loop.

For something a little more adventurous and quite different to your normal walk, you might like to visit Fern Canyon, a hidden paradise of ferns lining a narrow gorge carved out by a creek. Drooping ferns create hanging gardens, miniature waterfalls pour down rock faces and moss wallpapers every surface. The walls grow taller and squeeze tighter as you travel.  Steven Spielberg filmed a Jurassic Park II scene within this canyon.

Hotels:

Standard – Holiday Inn Express
Superior – Holiday Inn Express

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Day 12 – Klamath – Fort Bragg
196 miles

Continue south today tracing the coast on Highway 101 where eventually the Redwoods give way and the focus returns to the dramatic coastline. Call at Eureka a port town where the Old Town district, on the National Register of Historic Places, features elaborate Victorian houses with Carson Mansion considered the Victorian Jewel of the region. Boat tours can take you on historic cruise around Humboldt Bay where you are almost sure to see seals and migratory birds as you learn about local history and industry.

Continue you follow Highway 101 for one last date with the Redwoods on the famous ‘Avenue of the Giants’, at Humboldt Redwoods State Park and from here continue to your overnight stop at the coastal town of Fort Bragg.

Hotels:

Standard – Best Western Vista Manor
Superior – The Beachcomber Motel

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Day 13 – Fort Bragg – San Francisco
178 miles

The seaside town of Ft. Bragg is definitely the place for a brisk morning walk before heading south to San Francisco.  Head into town get a coffee and muffin to go and head for the parking lot at Glass Beach, this is where the sand at this unusual beach is covered with interesting-shaped and coloured rocks and stones. The path is paved and time permitting, walk along the bluffs, and soak up the awe-inspiring coastal views.

As you head south you continue into Northern California’s world-famous wine region. Drive through Cloverdale Wine Country where you may wish to stop and picnic at one of the many local vineyards or orchards. Perhaps you’d like to pick up a crisp local Cabernet Sauvignon or freshly bottled olive oil to compliment your sourdough bread from San Francisco for later this evening.

Continuing south, you’ll reach the Sonoma Marin Cheese Trail, comprised of farmsteads for local cheese makers. This area is known as the Normandy of California. Here you may wish to visit a farm where cheese is made and perhaps attend a cheese tasting or two. Some of the finest Goat, Brie, Swiss, Mozzarella’s and more hail from these farms.

Head through the Golden Gate recreation area and cross probably the most famous bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge. It is important if taking this option to pay the one-time toll before or within 24 hours after crossing, alternatively cross via the Oakland Bay Bridge which offers a better view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Hotels:

Standard – King George Hotel
Superior – The Argonaut Hotel

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Day 14 – San Francisco

OK a good early start today, pack as much into your day as you can. It is a good idea to buy a cable car pass or buy a hop on/off trolley bus ticket and get your comfiest walking shoes on! Most people will want to visit Alcatraz, this needs to be booked online in advance and will take up about half of your day.

For the rest of your day use your pass to hop on/off the cable cars or trolley bus and see places like crooked Lombard Street, Union Square the centre of town from where you can walk through Chinatown, one of the biggest and best in North America, continue on to North Beach the Italian district, a perfect place for as coffee stop at Caffe Roma. Hop on as tram / trolley bus now and head down to Fisherman’s Wharf where you can soak up the atmosphere of the world-famous fish market, Ghirardelli Square and the shops and restaurants of Pier 39 and say hello to the Sea Lions on the pontoons.

There could be few better places to spend the last night of your holiday, so a nice dinner out seems a must. Of course, there are many choices that cater for all budgets and tastes but our tip is being a hilly city why not choose one with a view of San Francisco or the bay bridges lit up at night to toast tour Pacific Northwest adventure.

Hotels:

Standard – King George Hotel
Superior – The Argonaut Hotel

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Day 15 – Depart San Francisco

The airport is south of the city and flights do not usually depart until the afternoon so you may want to squeeze in some more time around San Francisco, there is so much to see and do, or you might consider a drive round the headland to the Sea Cliff area for more spectacular ocean views before returning your car to the airport for your non-stop flight home