Summer Road trip

[mikemorrow]

I agree with Steve. But I'll do one better.
Shoot as fast as you can up I-5 to Portland. Skip over to 101 and slowly enjoy your ride home.

[Kitebird]

"some good places to stop along the way to take pictures at or visit?
....to look at places i might wanna move to once I'm done with school."


Where you want to live is a personal choice (not knowing your life style or what you like) it does takes some real time to find a good place that fits.
What you will see - will be flashes of areas you might like to explore for later.

But in regards to pictures -
if its pictures you like here what I would do.
I personally like the quiet, SLOW, out of the way places where I can enjoy "my style" of serous photography. It may not be your style, but I will try to share with you those places that I have found, so it's for a journey that I would LIKE. OK? For a week trip. It could EZ take two, maybe even well.....

My recommendation: being that you are from the flat midwest - an interesting contrast might be a mix of Redwoods, Ocean & Desert.

Day One.
From Sac. get to I-5 to Williams then onto Hwy. 20 west, Watch for a BLM rest area by Cache Creek. (Elk & Eagles) REST Up.
Then onto the north end of Ukiah, find Ore Springs Rd. (nice back Rd. to Ocean) Then on just past the Hot Springs - Check out Montgomery Woods - then walk the up hill a mile +/- trail to a real hidden treasure of a Grove w/ a nice stream too. Hope for an overcast day after some rains for pic's in woods.

Over night in a Fort Bragg Motel or Russian Gulch SP.
(Day Two North of Fort Bragg) Find Westport & ask at the only store there, where their new community Beach & Pete's beach are. Nice rocks + Sea-stacks.

Like more Redwoods? Then onward up to Hwy. 101 to the turn off & through "Avenue of the Giants" (if you like) Otherwise, Slow down around ORICK (past Crescent City) - just past this little town, is Bald Mills Rd. leading up to a nice grove named after some past President's Wife.
Back to 101, just up a little ways more, is Davidson Rd. with its Elk viewing area, & if you take this Rd. all the way, you'll end up at the Ocean were you can camp at Gold Bluffs beach. A nice strolling beach, having a primitive campgrounds with solar showers(!) to get cleaned up and maybe view some more Elk.
(Day 3) More Elk? Then take the old 101 & up through Prairie Creek State Park. Nice Redwood Park with great walking trails. (Or to save a day, go right up to the wild Oregon coast)

(Day-4) Then shoot up to Brookings, (but beware of certain "problematic" people that may live there) just up past this retired old folks fast food town - is where the wild coast line really starts, with some incredible sea-stacks. And for a real mellow town, spend some time in & around Port Orford & its Northern areas. Love the "Paradise Cafe" - for the local types, with breakfast. The town's harbor is a trip. & NO Fast Food, in this town!

(Day5) AND/OR? Then up to Bandon or past & to go inland somewhere.
Still have some time for the Desert?
Then somehow (your choice) find your way to a little town called Mitchell, Oregon and to check out the John Day Fossil Beds (the Painted Hills Unit) Wow, the earth-tones there!

Washington, I don't know too much about - but I did really did like photographing in the Palouse rolling wheat fields country-side. (south of Spokane)

If you missed out on the desert in this trip - on your way home to/from (driving?) checkout Pyramid Lake & Fort Churchill State Historical Park in Nevada. Off I80. Its worth a weekend trip just for its-self.

There's my two cents worth. Wherever you go, I do sincerely hope you take some good pictures! And Remember, going fast or slow, it's a lot better than just staying at home and criticizing others for wanting to take their life journey's.
Otherwise, you might end up being like a steve on this board - lurking, waiting to ponce into their own self glory, with their know it all, immature attitudes, to pick apart your vision - like some old cranky, dry up school teacher! The only things these types will ever end up seeing - is their own superficial, superior egos on a computer's screen.

So good for you, gather up some Ideas, go, share, Help others! & Have a good adventure. Even if you only go as far as you can!

[mikemorrow]

Kinda hard on Steve arnt ya? One week is not alot of time to see much.

[Kitebird]

I guess when your an EMT just hang-in around, waiting for something to happen - one can - get a bit uppity.
The BS I see sometimes by some people though, just puts me over the edge - Maybe even a little like steve - don't know.
I too seem to find the outlet of the net can at times, be a release.

Sorry to all, that I may have offended. So Apologies are hereby offered. OK

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by Kitebird

Like more Redwoods? Then onward up to Hwy. 101 to the turn off & through "Avenue of the Giants" (if you like) Otherwise, Slow down around ORICK (past Crescent City) - just past this little town, is Bald Mills Rd. leading up to a nice grove named after some past President's Wife.

"Bald Hills" Road is the road to turn on.

Lady Bird Johnson Grove is the redwood grove.

It's very nice.

One tree right at the parking lot is called "Scarface" - in the image attached.

Not one of the biggest ones, but has a very nice canopy.

[Kitebird]

Thanks mdvaden I stand corrected.
Guess my "Kitebird" memory ain't what it use to be.
I remember now, yes, how could I have forgotton, it was so worth seeing that beautiful "Ladybird" there. Sigh...

May I also mention Silver Falls State Park, as a great place - I'll be going up there this Spring for some photography, to get my feathers wet & take in some overviews.

Another pic lover! HI YA!

[collint]

thanks again for all the tips guys it's really helping out