Planning a trip from Santa Barbara heading north. Staying along the coast for the most part destination Portland Oregon.

Heading out weekend before July 4th, anything not to miss along the way? Places to avoid along the way?

 

A meal in Moss Landing at Phil’s Fish Market, don’t miss that. There is a whole bunch more, others will chime in I am sure.

 

Pacific Coast Hwy 1 North to South.

Portland, OR to Crescent City, CA.
I have not been that far north so I cannot recommend. May not be doable in one day. Someone familiar can chime in.
Hwys 26 & 6 to Tillamook
Hwy 101/1 Coos Bay Oregon
Hwy 101/1 Crescent City

Crescent City, CA to Ft. Bragg.

• Hwy 101 Redwoods National Park. Must ride and visit.
• Hwy 101 Fortuna To Leggett. Take time going through Humbolt Redwoods.
• Hwy 1 to Ft. Bragg.

Ft. Bragg to Pacifica, CA:

• Hwy 1 Ft. Bragg south through Gualala, Jenner, Bodega Bay. Short trip into Bodega. That’s where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds.
• Hwy 101 Petaluma cross Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco. Fisherman’s Wharf. Pay to park. Have Irish Coffee at Buena Vista Cafe corner of Beach & Hyde. Ghirardelli Square is also worth a short visit.
• Hwy 280 past Daly City. Hwy 1 to Pacifica, CA for the night. Nick’s Seafood on Beach Ave. Holiday Inn Express. It’s $200+ but has covered parking and you can walk down Beach Blvd to ocean. Check for less expensive along Hwy 1.
• Or continue to Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz.

Pacifica, Ca to Monterey:

• Hwy 1 to Santa Cruz. Or faster taking Hwys 280 to and 17 to Santa Cruz.
• Things to do in Santa Cruz. Beach & Boardwalk. Wharf.
• Hwy 1 to Moss Landing. Short trip into harbor for Phil’s Fish cioppino.
• Hwy 1 to Monterey. Recommend staying walking distance to Fishermans Wharf. Or inexpensive hotels on Carmel Hill Hwy 1.

Things to do in Monterey:

• Whale Watching Cruise out of Fisherman’s Wharf.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium.
• Cannery Row.
• Ride into Pacific Grove. Lighthouse Ave is downtown. Not much to stop for but a nice town. Lovers Point, Ocean View Blvd & Sunset Drive are a must see. Ride through old cemetery across from Lighthouse. Always deer in there. Good photo spot.
• Forest Ave to either Hwy 1 Carmel. Or down the hill David Ave to Old Monterey and Cannery Row.
• No motorcycles on 17 Mile Drive.
• Carmel by the Sea. Ocean Ave is downtown but be very inconspicuous. Carmel is not motorcycle friendly. Go to the end of Ocean Ave to the beach. Take photos of coast.
• Pt. Lobos Reserve State Park that has preserved the coastline. Take a short hike.
• Dinner at Mission Ranch near Carmel Mission. Clint Eastwood owns it.
• Or continue south to Big Sur.

Monterey, CA to Santa Barbara.

• Hwy 1 across Bixby Bridge.
• Stop in Big Sur and have drink at Nepenthe patio overlooking Pacific Ocean.
• Hwy 1 to San Simeon. Hearst Castle tour.
• Cambria. Short side trip through town.
• Hwy 1 to Morro Bay. Stop and take pictures of Morro Rock from the bay.
• Hwy 101 through San Luis Obispo to Pismo Beach. Short side trip into Pismo.
• Hwy 101 to Buellton.
• Hwy 246 into Solvang Scandinavian Village. Get map of wineries and do your own tour.
• Hitching Post in Buellton for dinner. Great steaks.
• Hwy 101 to Santa Barbara.

 

PCH near santa Barbara is nothing to scream about. Either cut through "sideways" wine country via solvang, or if you want a real ride run back down to Ventura. Take 33 over the mountains to 58, cut across to 41 first chance you get and take that through the coast.

This ride includes glorious Twisties, long runs across the desert and the beautiful paso Robles wine area. Fine ride with like no traffic. Stop off at Justin if you get the chance, cab to absolutely die for.

Morro Bay is a gorgeous little town. Check out the sea otters at the docks. A few miles up the road past Cambria look for zebras off to your right. Stop at elephant seal Beach, seriously.

Then ... well. What can I say about big Sur.

I'd stay in Monterey. If you have time consider a whale watch ride, they stay in the bay year round.

North of Santa Cruz you can either cut through the redwoods or follow the coast, I'd do the latter.

North of the city I would cut through tamalpais to get on PCH again.

 

Thanks everyone I live in Santa Barbara and here to Pismo, Solvang, Ojai, Ventura and PCH are our weekend haunts.

Jalama Beach is a nice run and a good burger. Cold Springs Tavern is a definite stop if yo are in the area.

 

Never been up to Ojai but everyone says it is a great ride. The others are among my favorite places for a week getaway.. Zaca Station and Foxen Canyon are also a great ride. Sensational wineries and scenery.
If I had not settled in San Diego it would have been on the central coast.

Have a great trip. Spend a day or two on the Monterey Peninsula.

 

Hwy 33 out of Ojai is still my favorite ride. If you make it up this way I'm happy to be a tour guide.

 

We had a great stay in Florence. Ate at Bridgewater Cafe, Fantastic.

 

HVAC is gassing up his ride

 

How about solvang motorcycle museum !!! Everyone should Google it , the place is amazing !!! It's right up there with bill's old bike barn in Bloomsburg Pennsylvania .