Oregon and California

Begin your adventure by spending a couple of nights in Portland. Surrounded by natural beauty, known for its distinctive neighbourhoods, each with a unique flavour and heritage, beautiful gardens, craft beer, indie music scene and great shopping including the largest bookstore in the USA - Powell’s Books. After enjoying the hospitality of Portland it is time to collect your Motorhome and head out along the historic Columbia River Highway. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Gorge below and the many waterfalls close to the highway, the most impressive of which is Multnomah Falls, which drops 620 feet and is Oregon’s most popular natural attraction.
150 miles via Mt Hood to Oxbow Regional Park
Take the exhilarating Mt Hood Scenic Byway around what is one of Oregon’s most iconic landmarks to see some of the state’s most stunning scenery. After exploring the gorge drive to Hood River and enjoy the small town feel and visit Hood River Water Front Park, right on the Columbia River where you can watch kite and wind surfers from all over the world. There are great restaurants too! Read More

Today you are heading to Astoria, which has been called “The Little San Francisco of the Pacific Northwest,” and features a revitalized 1920s era downtown area and dozens of picturesque Victorian homes clinging to steep wooded hillsides. Rich in scenic beauty, the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River can be viewed from the top of Astoria’s historic landmark Column (built in 1926, the Column is 125 feet high and has 164 steps winding to the top).
125 miles to Fort Stevens State Park
Have an educational experience and visit the Maritime Museum and don’t miss the house of Lewis & Clark from 1805-06 in Fort Clatsop.  Read More

As you head south along this spectacular Scenic Byway you will pass historic lighthouses, sleepy fishing villages and amazing vistas. Explore Cannon Beach with its quaint town centre and many art galleries. Nearby Haystack Rock, the third largest monolith in the world is one of the State’s most photographed natural wonders. The mighty Pacific Ocean greets the beach along 7 gorgeous miles in Lincoln City and be sure to stop en route at charming Depoe Bay which has the smallest navigable harbour in the world. There are numerous charter fishing and whale watching companies that operate from here. Newport’s Historic Bay Front is home to one of Oregon’s largest commercial fishing fleets and visitors can enjoy shops, art galleries, chowder houses, restaurants, fish processing plants and family attractions in turn-of-the-century storefronts from a bygone era. Yaquina Head Lighthouse is the tallest on the Oregon Coast -soaring 93 feet in the air.
135 miles to Newport
Perhaps experience an unforgettable whale watching tour with Marine Discovery Tours, the coastal leader in narrated bay and ocean tours specializing in whales, oyster farming and sea wildlife. Visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium and see collections of flora and fauna native to the Oregon Coast as well as marine mammals, specifically sea lions, seals, and sea otters. Passages of the Deep allow visitors to walk through acrylic tunnels, surrounded by deep water marine animals.  Read More

Continue south along the coast and stop at Heceta Head State Park where a short trail leads to the historic lighthouse and a spectacular view of the coast. Then it’s time to head East and on to charming Sisters, an 1880’s theme town and along the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway which follows the path of an 1860s wagon route and a unique place to shop with its many specialty stores and galleries. Continue on to the friendly and cosmopolitan town of Bend. With 300 days of sunshine a year and bordered by the Deschutes National Forest and the Cascade Mountains, Bend lies along the Deschutes River and is famous for its many forms of outdoor recreation. This bustling city sits in a peaceful valley and it began as a stopping point for wagon trains before they continued their journey across the Cascade Mountains. Today, it’s central Oregon’s most populated city.
245 miles to Bend
Don’t miss Sea Lion Caves where visitors can descend 208 feet down into the world’s largest sea cave, which is the home of the wild Steller sea lion. Grab some lunch in delightful Florence with its restored historic district and then take a dune buggy ride in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. From Bend take the scenic chairlift to the summit of Mt. Bachelor or head out to Newberry Volcano. The Lava Lands Visitor Center on Lava Butte provides an excellent orientation to the volcanic landscape and the Trail of Molten Lava.  Read More

Take the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway through Deschutes National Forest as you head for Crater Lake National Park. No other place in America matches the dramatic beauty of Crater Lake – deep, pure and astoundingly blue. Surrounded by sheer cliffs nearly 2,000 feet high, the lake is the 7th deepest in the world and the deepest in the United States. Enjoy the unspoilt wonder of Crater Lake National Park and the breathtaking scenery on the Volcanic Legacy All American Highway. Sample the best of what Oregon has to offer, from the freshest, locally-grown mushrooms and berries to Rogue Valley cheeses and wines at the dining room at the Visitors Centre.
105 miles to Crater Lake National Park
Be sure to do the 33-mile rim drive which offers spectacular views and watch the film, “Mirror of Heaven” at the Visitors Centre. There are many hikes around the lake but for the more adventurous try the hike down to the boat launch. The lake from this view is even more of an incredible site.  Read More

 A beautiful drive along the Rogue Umpqua Scenic Byway today. Follow the wild and scenic Rogue River all the way into Grants Pass – a classic river town. A myriad of wineries and scenic byways await discovery in this region or maybe opt for some world-class fishing, rafting, mountain biking or desert hiking. Southern Oregon is home to a pair of well-known festivals celebrating music and theatre – the Britt Music Festival and Ashland’s Oregon Shakespeare Festival, as well as historical museums, arts communities, antique malls and thriving wine valley, the Applegate Valley. History buffs will recognize the region as the site of Oregon’s 19th-century gold rush, an era preserved for posterity within the boundaries of the entire town of Jacksonville.
100 miles to Grants Pass
Enroute stop at the Oregon Vortex near Gold Hill. It is a naturally occurring visual and perceptual phenomenon. You have to see it to believe it! Take in the majestic Rogue River which runs from Crater Lake all the way to the Pacific Ocean (215 miles) and sign up for a Jet Boat or river rafting tour.  Read More

As you head South take time to explore the underground Oregon Caves National Monument and see a National Historic Landmark (the Oregon Caves Chateau). Wave goodbye to Oregon as you head over the border into California and the Redwoods. Established in 1929, this predominately old growth coast Redwoods Park is bisected by the last major free flowing river in California, the Smith River.
75 miles to Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park
Enjoy the park which has about 20 miles of hiking and nature trails, abundant wildlife, river access, a visitor centre with exhibits and a nature store.  Read More

The trees within Humboldt Redwoods State park are part of the largest remaining forest of virgin redwood trees in the world. At Meyers Flat, you can pass through the Drive-Thru-Tree. Tour Humboldt Bay by boat, then shop and dine in Old Town Eureka. Your journey continues along Highway 1, 300-foot-tall redwoods will tower overhead as you drive the 31-mile stretch called the Avenue of Giants.
 215 miles to Manchester Beach KOA, Mendocino County
See one of the world’s tallest trees in Rockefeller Forest Offshore; see the oldest Pacific Coast working lighthouse in Crescent City.  Read More

 It’s time to head south on Highway 101 through meandering rolling hills and a diverse landscape rich in agricultural heritage. Along the way, visit some of Sonoma County’s best wineries and sample an array of exceptional wines. Hike the nature trail in Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve near Guerneville. South of picturesque Jenner-by the-Sea stands Fort Ross State Historic Park and further along the coast is Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve. Explore numerous parks, beaches and coastal villages.
 60 miles to Cloverdale KOA, Sonoma County
Be sure to stop and embrace nature in Gualala Point Regional Park. A must see is Point Arena historic lighthouse. Take time to visit some of Sonoma county’s fine wineries and maybe buy a bottle to enjoy around the campfire later!  Read More

Head back through this land of agricultural bounty and world-class wines; ancient redwood forests and secluded ocean coves. With more than 300 friendly wineries, 40-plus spas, farm-to-table restaurants, art galleries, shops, rivers, redwoods, and trails that meander over oak covered hills, Sonoma County beckons the adventurous, the curious, and the lovers of the Northern California lifestyle, visit Bodega Bay for beautiful ocean views and amazing clam chowder. Marin RV Park is located just 10 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Take advantage of the public transport by bus of ferry, close to the campground into the centre of the city as you explore San Francisco. 
80 miles to Marin RV Park
Visit the world famous Alcatraz Island – not only a fascinating tour, but also great views of the city from the boat ride over. Bike the Golden Gate Bridge and take the ferry back, an unforgettable experience.  Read More

After breakfast it is a 40 mile drive back to the Cruise America depot.