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The Ansel Adams Route

Highlight Destinations
  1. San Diego
  2. Orange County
  3. Los Angeles
  4. Malibu
  5. Santa Barbara
  6. Solvang
  7. San Luis Obispo/Pismo Beach
  8. San Simeon/Cambria
  9. Big Sur
  10. Monterey Peninsula
  11. Santa Cruz
  12. San Francisco
  13. Bodega Bay
  14. Mendocino
  15. Garberville
  16. Klamath/Crescent City
  17. Gold Beach (Rogue River)
  18. Florence
  19. Newport
  20. Astoria (Columbia River)
  21. Lake Quinault
  22. Olympic National Park
  23. Seattle
 
Some Noteworthy Attractions
In and around San Diego: the San Diego Bay, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, Cabrillo State Park, the Gaslamp District, Coronado Island, the USS Nimitz, Legoland...

In Orange County: Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Disneyland, the Mission San Juan Capistrano...

In and Around Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach, the Santa Monica Pier, Catalina Island, the Getty Center, the LA County Museum of Art, Disneyland, Universal Studios, the Queen Mary...

Between Los Angeles and Monterey: Hearst Castle, the Danish town of Solvang, the missions at Santa Barbara, Solvang, Lompoc and Carmel, the elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas, the Big Sur coast...

On the Monterey Peninsula: 17-mile Drive, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, the Monterey Bay Aquarium...

In and Around San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Alcatraz...

The Redwood Coast between Eureka and San Francisco: the Redwood Highway (Avenue of the Giants), spectacular coastline, Victorian architecture in Ferndale, the Skunk Train, the artistic communities of Mendocino and Gualala, the Trinity and Russian Rivers, Bodega Bay...

The Klamath/Crescent City Area: the Redwood National Park, the End of the Trail Native American Museum, the Klamath and Smith Rivers...

The Oregon Coast: the Rogue, Elk, Sixes, Columbia and Chetco Rivers, the Sea Lion Caves at Florence, Oregon Dunes, National Recreation Area, Fort Clatsop State Historic Park...

Olympic National Park: glaciated mountains, temperate rainforest, a cornucopia of beaches, Solduc Falls, Seven Lakes Basin...

Seattle: Puget Sound, Mount Ranier, the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Tillicum Village, Pioneer Square, Chinatown, Lake Washington...

How does this route rate for...
Places to be
5 stars Cities
5 stars Small Towns
Mountains
Deserts
5 stars Beaches
Lakes
5 stars Rivers
5 stars Wilderness
5 stars Resort Destinations
   
Things to see
Scenery
5 stars Coastal
Mountainous
Desert
Chaparel
 
of West Coast Interest
5 stars Lighthouses
5 stars Missions
Gold Mining
Vineyards and Wineries
 
Culture
5 stars Museums
5 stars Art Galleries
5 stars Botanical Gardens
5 stars Architecture
   
Nature
Giant Sequoias
5 stars Giant Coastal Redwoods
Granite Peaks and Other Alpine Settings
Desert Flora (Cactus, Joshua Trees, Wildflowers)
Waterfalls
Volcanos
   
Land Animals
5 stars Deer
5 stars Black Bear
5 stars Bobcats, Mountain Lions
5 stars Racoons, Skunks, Fox, Coyotes...
5 stars River Otters, Beaver...
5 stars Elk
5 stars Squirrels, chipmunks...
   
Marine Wildlife
5 stars Sea Otters
5 stars Elephant Seals
5 stars Whales
5 stars Dolphins and Porpoise
5 stars Seals and Sea Lions
   
Birds
5 stars Aquatic Fowl
5 stars Eagles
5 stars Hawks, Falcons
5 stars Ducks, Geese...
   
Things to do
Outdoor Leisure Sports
5 stars Fishing
5 stars Golf
5 stars Bicycle Touring
5 stars Sea Kayaking
5 stars Sailing
5 stars Camping
5 stars Horseback Riding
   
More Adventurous Sports
5 stars Hiking/Backpacking
Scuba / Snorkeling
ATV / Dune Buggy / Offroading
5 stars River Sports - Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting
5 stars Surfing, Kite Surfing, Wind Surfing, Jet Skiing
5 stars Water Skiing
   
Thrill Sports
5 stars Mountain Biking
Rock Climbing
Hang Gliding/Paragliding
 
Winter Sports
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
Cross-country Skiing
Snowmobiling
   
Specialty Tours and Activities
Train Tours
5 stars Jet Boat River Touring
5 stars Local Nature Cruises and Harbor Tours
Gold Panning
Parasailing
Hot Air Balloon Tours
Flightseeing Tours
5 stars Local Cruises (dinner, dance, sightseeing)
 
Entertainment
5 stars Shows, Theatre, Music
5 stars Dining
5 stars

Nightlife

5 stars Sporting Venues (Baseball, Football, Basketball, Racing, Rodeo...)
   

 

Close-ups: Southern Half  |  Northern Half
Overviews of Regions Visited
Times and Distances

Rough Driving Distance (not including local driving): about 1700 miles

 

Drive times between common stopping points (estimated drive times do not include stops):

  • Between San Diego and Laguna Beach:2:15
  • Between Laguna Beach and Los Angeles: 1:00
  • Between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara: 1:45
  • Between Santa Barbara and Solvang: 0:45
  • Between Solvang and San Luis Obispo: 1:00
  • Between San Luis Obispo and San Simeon: 1:00
  • Between San Simeon and Monterey (the Big Sur Coast): 2:30
  • Between Monterey and San Francisco: 2:45
  • Between San Francisco and Bodega Bay: 1:30
  • Between Bodega Bay and Mendocino: 2:15
  • Between Mendocino and Garberville: 2:45
  • Between Garberville and Klamath: 2:30
  • Between Klamath and Gold Beach: 1:30
  • Between Gold Beach and Florence: 3:00
  • Between Florence and Newport: 1:15
  • Between Newport and Astoria: 3:00
  • Between Astoria and Olympic National Park: 3:00
  • Between Olympic National Park and Seattle: 5:00
 




 

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