West Coast here I come! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**BelfastFlyer** · 09-01-2008, 12:25 PM

Well, found some ULTRA cheap flights (about $550) at the weekend, fly into seattle and fly out LA 3 weeks later!!

All I have to do now is decide where to go! San Fran is on the list but any suggestions would be great :D

**lauren313** · 09-01-2008, 12:48 PM

Def go to San Fran, but I'd also really recommend San Diego if you get a chance to go down that far. I stayed in Point Loma, which is about half hour walk to the beach, it's a nice residential area, plenty of buses into the city and to the beach. The hostel I stayed at was HI Point Loma, most definitely the best hostel I've ever stayed in.

**mollymore** · 09-01-2008, 12:57 PM

I've driven down the coast of Washington & Oregon. Much more scenic than the I-5.

Go see the red wood forests in northern california.

Have fun

Molly

**maracle** · 09-01-2008, 02:54 PM

I stayed at the HI Downtown in San Diego, which was also pretty nice. Right in the gaslamp district....I ate massive amounts of ice cream at ghirardelli for dinner every night

**AKguacamole** · 09-01-2008, 03:09 PM

I agree with Molly and recommend a quick trip to the Redwoods, and the Smith River on the Cali-Oregon border is an amazing stop for swimming. Waters are blue and crystal clear, but cold! If you can, drive the Oregon Coast on Hwy 101. The beach scenery is spectacular. And San Fran is one of my favorite cities to visit, make sure you spend lots of time there!

**Diorama** · 09-01-2008, 04:05 PM

The coast of Oregan is beautiful! Thats my recommendation. Also Portland is a cool city. It has loads of brewpubs...mmmm

**mushroom22** · 09-01-2008, 04:39 PM

Portland is an amazing city. Both Delaney and I grew up there so let us know if you need any recommendations.

Other places in OR to check out: Eugene (hippie town 2 hours south of Portland. They have an awesome Saturday market), Ashland (cute artsy town just before CA border). The coastal highway is awesome but if you are on I-5, you could cut over to Crater Lake, which is so beautiful.

I would also recommend the San Juan Islands is you are looking for a little trip from Seattle. In Seattle, the Experience Music Project is a must if you're into music.

There is so much to see and do in California. I just moved to SF a few months ago, so let me know if you want to grab a drink while you're here! If you drive down the Coastal highway from here, you'll hit Santa Cruz, Monteray, San Louis Obisbo and Santa Barbara all on your way to LA. All cool, coastal towns with a lot of camping spots if you're trying to save some cash.

**marc873** · 09-01-2008, 09:13 PM

San Diego Gas Lamp district would be great. Make sure you head to Pacific Beach and/or La Jolla while in San Diego if you get to make it far south

**BelfastFlyer** · 09-02-2008, 10:44 AM

thanks guys! Having a great time planning this, march can't come fast enough!

spacedog · 09-07-2008, 11:08 PM

Consider taking Amtrak trains...! there's a route that goes nearly all the way from Seattle to Los Angeles - either the Coast Starlight or the Pacific Surfliner. One of the awesome things about the train is that you get to see the Los Angeles train station, which is classy and old, all made of stained wood...

Things for San Francisco:
-If you're in San Francisco on a weekend, there's an amazing farmers' market in front of the Ferry Building at the waterfront on Saturdays.
-Chinatown is also fun to wander around in, and the dim sum places are sooo good.
-Hostel International Downtown in SF is a good place to stay... close to all the public transit, Union Square.
-Haight Street is crazy to walk around on, down near Golden Gate Park... and if you want to see the Golden Gate Bridge itself there's a fort built in World War I right below it, free admission, it's got cannons and everything.

In Portland there's also a great Hostel International, it's walking distance of the street you can pub crawl on and the best thing about Portland (besides Powells' books) is the pub-theaters where you can pay $3 to get in and watch a movie on the big screen, but you sit at tables and drink beer and eat burgers and nachos! I wish they had those down here.
We drank stout and watched No Country For Old Men. It was the best.

I stayed at a youth hostel in Seattle in March - it was right on the water, in the north half of the city, great people and rooms (and free breakfast).

**BelfastFlyer** · 09-13-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacedog

Consider taking Amtrak trains...! there's a route that goes nearly all the way from Seattle to Los Angeles - either the Coast Starlight or the Pacific Surfliner. One of the awesome things about the train is that you get to see the Los Angeles train station, which is classy and old, all made of stained wood...

Things for San Francisco:
-If you're in San Francisco on a weekend, there's an amazing farmers' market in front of the Ferry Building at the waterfront on Saturdays.
-Chinatown is also fun to wander around in, and the dim sum places are sooo good.
-Hostel International Downtown in SF is a good place to stay... close to all the public transit, Union Square.
-Haight Street is crazy to walk around on, down near Golden Gate Park... and if you want to see the Golden Gate Bridge itself there's a fort built in World War I right below it, free admission, it's got cannons and everything.

In Portland there's also a great Hostel International, it's walking distance of the street you can pub crawl on and the best thing about Portland (besides Powells' books) is the pub-theaters where you can pay $3 to get in and watch a movie on the big screen, but you sit at tables and drink beer and eat burgers and nachos! I wish they had those down here.
We drank stout and watched No Country For Old Men. It was the best.

I stayed at a youth hostel in Seattle in March - it was right on the water, in the north half of the city, great people and rooms (and free breakfast).

you da man! cheers