Motorhome tour of the west coast of America: Seattle - San Francisco
Merel takes you on this nice trip along the west coast: I have very nice memories of the trip from Seattle to San Francisco. As in so many places in the USA you will find a great combination of cities and beautiful varied nature. This route has it all: vibrant and distinctive cities, volcanoes with snow-capped peaks, a temperate rainforest, a beautiful coastline, a crater lake, world-famous wine regions and even giant sequoias.
Cities during this RV trip on the west coast of America
It's hard to pick a favorite between Seattle, Portland and San Francisco.
Seattle is beautifully situated on the waterfront with views of the snow-capped mountains of Olympic National Park. Visit the cozy Pike Place Market and enjoy the view from the Space Needle. The famous fish & chips at Alki Beach is a must. Or join the locals at a free outdoor yoga session at the Paccar Pavilion.
Portland is a raucous city with lots of hip spots. Foodies can indulge here. Plan your walk around the city to see the collections of food trucks with delicious food from all over the world, for example on 5th Avenue. For a special doughnut, visit Vodoo Doughnuts.
San Francisco also lends itself very well to a food tour: try the classic mission style burrito in Mission District, at lunch find the longest line waiting in Chinatown for a guaranteed delicious meal and enjoy fresh fish at the harbor.
Nature during this RV trip on the west coast of America
Fortunately, the hikes in the national parks along the way offer an opportunity to offset all that food. A "parks pass" of about $80 gives unlimited access to all the national parks. Be sure to check out the National Parks' visitor centers. Here you will find interesting exhibits and up to date information about the animals, hiking trails and park highlights. You can also sign up for a free hike with a ranger, for example.
The highlights according to Merel:
For me were seeing whales from the shore in Redwood National Park, the magical giant sequoia trees in Tall Tree Grove in Redwood National Park, Crater Lake surrounded by snow (it was April) and the many colors of green and bears while hiking through Enchated Valley in Olympic National Park.
In addition, this route has many other highlights such as: the volcanoes Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens, Eagle Creek trail in the Columbia River Gorge, the beautiful coast at the Oregon Coast and Point Reyes, the Napa Valley and its world-famous wines and the giant sequoias in Muir Woods.
Camping on the west coast of America
To see this diverse area, an RV is the perfect means of transportation. Americans themselves are rightly crazy about it. Parking lots, gas stations, everything is made for large vehicles. Since motels are quite pricey in America anyway, an RV is an extra interesting option. The campgrounds in National Parks are in the middle of nature and are the perfect base to explore the park. You will also find good showers and toilets. All sites have a fire ring and wood is for sale at the reception, so you can start a fire in the evening. Making Smore's over the campfire (a treat of melted marshmallows between Graham crackers cookies with a piece of melted Hershey's chocolate in between) is an American classic and delicious!
Two more road trip tips in conclusion:
1. Make a list of music for the road. To get you started: California- Phantom Planet, Walla - 101 and Hotel California - The Eagles fit this route well.
2. As over the top clothing I bought myself a cowboy hat with stars and stripes, not necessary but very nice!