When you live on the West Coast, it’s easy to settle for a simple family vacation to one of California’s many beaches. But if you’re looking for more than a standard family vacation, consider taking a trip to some of the mountains and forests and discover some of the West Coast’s best kept secrets.
Here are five West Coast road trip ideas:
1. Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway (California and Oregon) – Running from Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park to California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park, this scenic highway offers the best of the beauty and drama of a volcanic landscape. From mountains, lakes, wildlife and charming towns, you’ll need two to five days to enjoy the entire 500-mile route, but it is well worth your time. Along the byway is Mount Shasta, the second highest volcano in the U.S., which peaks at 14,162 feet and the Lamath Basin which is home to the great American Bald Eagle and a 53,000-acre wildlife refuge.
2. Redwood Highway – California’s Redwood Highway offers beautiful views of the ocean, lagoons and picturesque Victorian homes, perfect for a trip with your friends or family. North on Route 101 is the Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area, 1,000 acres of redwoods, maples, oaks and Douglas firs as well as the Eel River which you can swim or fish for salmon and steelhead trout. You should also stop by Trinidad, an old fishing village home to sea lions and a replica of the 1871 Memorial Lighthouse. If you are interested in architecture, consider visiting the Carson Mansion in Eureka, a three story eighteen room Victorian home constructed in 1884.
3. Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway (Washington) – The Strait of Juan de Fuca is the perfect road trip route for the Native American history buff. This byway runs along the shores of a glacial fjord that connects Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean. You can also take a detour to the Cape Flattery Tribal Scenic Byway to visit the Makah Indian Reservation which is home to the Makah Cultural Museum which was originally built to store artifacts from an ancient Ozette fishing village. You can learn about Native American history and culture while you enjoy the views of wild eagles, rugged cliffs and forests and the beautiful ocean.
4. Red Rock Scenic Byway (Arizona) – The Red Rock Scenic Byway winds through Sedona’s Red Rock Country and offers its travelers everything from stunning views or red rocks and monoliths to public golf courses and hiking trails. There are only three public golf courses in Sedona and Red Rock Country and they are all located off of this beautiful route. Each course is home to beautiful red rock scenery and challenging fairways. Arizona’s Coconion National Forest is also off the Red Rock Byway. You can enjoy the beautiful high desert country at 4,000 feet and even take a trip to Courthouse Butte, a popular spot for off-road mountain biking and an area that is considered sacred by Native Americans.
5. Nevada – While Las Vegas is best known for its casinos, exciting shows and glitz, hidden underneath its bright lights and fancy hotels is the Las Vegas Boulevard, a nighttime byway with museums and roadside charm. If your family is not the outdoorsy type and is looking for a short road trip, this might be the perfect option because Las Vegas Boulevard has an abundance of museums for everyone to enjoy. Start your trip at the Nevada State Museum to see the skeleton of the Columbian Mammoth or go the Las Vegas Natural History Museum to see sharks, stingrays and fish in a marine life exhibit. You can also check out the Atomic Testing Museum which has videos of the nuclear tests in the late ‘60s. You can finish your vacation at the Neon Museum and Boneyard, home to over 150 of the signature Las Vegas Signs you see lit up at night.
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