Page 26 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – May 2019

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and Washington have to offer. Your AAA Ohio travel expert can provide you with an 11-day experience that does just that and includes airfare to San Francisco and from Seattle.
Your journey begins with a flight to San Francisco and then a full day to explore the city. You could ride a cable car and visit city landmarks such as the Lombard Street, the world’s most crooked street; Ghirardelli Square, the birthplace of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Co.; and Nob Hill, where you can find the best views of the city.
And then the driving begins. Your first stops will be along the Sonoma County and Marin County stops along the California Cheese Trail, which promotes
family farmers and artisan cheesemakers. The stops offer tours on how cheese is made as well as tastings and cheese-related events. And what goes good with cheese? How about some wine? Grab one of those loaves of sourdough bread you bought in San Francisco (you purchased more than one, right?) and grab a nice bottle of vino and stop for a picnic in Cloverdale Wine Country. If you don’t want to drink wine right now, you also could pair the bread and cheese with some fresh olive oil, which also is made in the region.
Continue north and head to the coast to check out the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, just south of Fort Bragg, your stopping point for the day. The lighthouse, part of a state historical park, has been operational for nearly 110 years, as it was first illuminated on June 10, 1909.
Spend the next morning checking out Fort Bragg before heading north along the coast for a bit before heading inland. It seems as if you are getting smaller as the trees are getting larger because you are among the California redwoods, among the largest and tallest trees in the world. You will want to leave the main highway (U.S. Route 101) and drive along state Route 254 through
the Avenue of the Giants. This 31-mile stretch takes you through more than 50,000 acres of redwoods. There are plenty of places to stop along the way to enjoy the scenery or just the sounds of nature.
Back along the coast, your path will take you to Eureka, the largest coastal city between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. The city’s name also is California’s motto, the Greek word for “I found it,” referring to the discovery of gold in the state in 1848. From here, it is suggested that you don’t follow the main highway to Arcata, your evening’s destination, but instead take state Route 255 around Humboldt Bay into the city.
With the longest day of driving ahead, you might want to start the day with a walk along the shores of Humboldt Bay, the second-largest enclosed bay in California and home to a plethora of birds at the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. The next two days of driving are along the coast as you head into Oregon on the first day and land in Coos Bay, Oregon. Make sure to visit the Brandon Cheese Factory for some ice cream (yes, it’s made from the same stuff as cheese) and cross another beacon off your list at the Cape Arago Lighthouse.
From Coos Bay you will travel through the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, the largest area of coastal sand in North America with dunes reaching 500 feet.
The recreation area offers plenty to do, from off-roading, fishing, horseback riding and hiking. After that, continue up the coast, which features more lighthouses, to Lincoln City, Oregon, your overnight stop.
Sadly, your journey heads inland from here as you make your way toward Portland, Oregon, so make sure you get
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Photo: iStock/ noblige
Redwood National Park, California
It seems as if you are getting smaller as the trees are getting larger because you are among the California redwoods, among the largest and tallest trees in the world.