7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip
7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Los Angeles Kickoff - Downtown Delights
Los Angeles is a vibrant city with a wealth of attractions, and the downtown area is no exception.
From the iconic Grand Central Market to the stunning architecture of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, there is no shortage of delights to discover in the heart of the City of Angels.
The historic Bradbury Building in downtown LA, known for its ornate cast-iron atrium and featured in numerous films, dates back to 1893, making it one of the oldest commercial buildings in the city.
The Angels Flight railway, a beloved Los Angeles landmark, is the world's shortest railway, transporting passengers a mere 298 feet up the steep Bunker Hill area.
The Los Angeles Central Library, completed in 1926, features a blend of Spanish Colonial Revival and Beaux-Arts styles, with a stunning central rotunda and intricate murals depicting the history of California.
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- 7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Los Angeles Kickoff - Downtown Delights
- 7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Coastal Charms - Malibu to Santa Barbara
- 7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Basking in Monterey Bay Splendor
- 7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Redwood Revelry - Humboldt County's Towering Giants
- 7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Portland's Quirky Allure - Breweries and Bookstores
- 7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Olympic Peninsula's Wild Beauty
- 7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Seattle's Urban Oasis - From Pike Place to Discovery Park
7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Coastal Charms - Malibu to Santa Barbara
Highlights include popular destinations like Six Flags Magic Mountain, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and The Getty Villa, as well as charming seaside towns and beaches like Stearns Wharf, Camarillo Premium Outlets, and Zuma Beach.
The final destination, Santa Barbara, is known as the "American Riviera" for its Mediterranean-inspired architecture and rich cultural heritage.
The Malibu Lagoon, located within Malibu Lagoon State Beach, is home to over 200 species of birds, making it a prime birdwatching destination along the California coast.
The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades houses one of the world's finest collections of ancient Greek and Roman art, featuring over 44,000 works dating back as far as 6,500 BC.
Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara is the oldest working wooden wharf in California, having first opened in 1872 and serving as a hub for commercial fishing and recreational activities.
The Camarillo Premium Outlets, with over 160 stores, is one of the largest outlet shopping centers in the state, drawing bargain-hunters from around the region.
The Santa Barbara County Courthouse, completed in 1929, is celebrated for its stunning Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, featuring intricate tile work, ornate ceilings, and a 85-foot tall clock tower that offers panoramic views of the city.
7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Basking in Monterey Bay Splendor
The 17-Mile Drive in Monterey is a breathtaking scenic road trip that offers stunning ocean vistas, world-class golf courses, and picturesque coastal mansions.
Visitors can stop at various viewpoints to take in the rugged beauty of the California coastline, including spots like Spanish Bay, Point Joe, and the iconic Lone Cypress.
Nearby attractions like Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur make this a must-visit destination on any LA to Seattle road trip, providing a chance to bask in the natural splendor of Monterey Bay.
Monterey Bay is home to one of the largest underwater canyons in North America, the Monterey Submarine Canyon, which reaches depths of over 5,000 feet, rivaling the Grand Canyon in size.
Cabrillo National Monument in nearby Monterey commemorates the first European explorer to set foot on the West Coast of the United States, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who arrived in
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the largest of its kind in the continental United States, encompassing over 6,000 square miles of protected ocean waters teeming with diverse marine life.
Monterey is home to the world's only remaining population of sea otters that were not hunted to extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries, with the local population estimated at over 3,000 individuals.
Monterey's Cannery Row, once the center of the region's thriving sardine canning industry, has been transformed into a vibrant hub of art galleries, boutiques, and acclaimed seafood restaurants.
7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Redwood Revelry - Humboldt County's Towering Giants
Humboldt County in Northern California is home to the majestic redwood forests, offering visitors a chance to marvel at the towering ancient trees along the 31-mile scenic Avenue of the Giants drive.
The area features numerous hiking trails, campgrounds, and historic towns, making it a must-visit destination on a road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle.
Visitors can plan a three-day itinerary to explore the Redwood Revelry, including driving through a redwood tree, hiking through the Founders Grove, and discovering the unique charm of the local communities.
The towering redwood trees in Humboldt Redwoods State Park can live for over 2,000 years, making them some of the oldest living organisms on Earth.
These ancient giants can reach heights of over 300 feet, dwarfing even the tallest skyscrapers.
The redwood groves in Humboldt County are home to the Hyperion tree, which at 380 feet tall is the world's tallest known living tree.
This record-breaking specimen is located deep within the park, accessible only to a select few researchers and explorers.
The average diameter of a mature redwood tree is around 15-20 feet, equivalent to the size of a small car.
The sheer mass of these trees is truly awe-inspiring, with some individual specimens weighing over 500 tons.
The redwoods in Humboldt Redwoods State Park are known for their distinctive reddish-brown bark, which can be up to 1 foot thick and is highly resistant to fire and insect damage, allowing the trees to survive for millennia.
The Shrine Drive-Thru Tree, located along the Avenue of the Giants, is a hollow redwood tree that visitors can actually drive their cars through, a unique and thrilling experience not found anywhere else.
The Founders Grove in Humboldt Redwoods State Park features a fallen redwood tree that is over 300 feet long and 18 feet in diameter, providing a glimpse into the immense scale of these ancient giants.
The Humboldt Redwoods State Park visitor center offers a wealth of information and interactive exhibits about the ecology, history, and cultural significance of the towering redwoods, making it a must-visit stop for any road trip along the Avenue of the Giants.
The Eel River, which flows through the heart of Humboldt Redwoods State Park, is a designated Wild and Scenic River, offering opportunities for fishing, swimming, and kayaking amidst the serene old-growth forests.
7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Portland's Quirky Allure - Breweries and Bookstores
Portland's quirky allure shines through its thriving craft brewery scene and abundance of independent bookstores.
The city's vibrant neighborhoods, such as the Pearl District and Alberta Arts District, offer a unique mix of dining, shopping, and cultural attractions that draw visitors from near and far.
As a stop on the LA to Seattle road trip, Portland serves as a gateway to the stunning Oregon coast and the majestic Mount Rainier National Park, making it an essential part of an epic Pacific Northwest adventure.
Portland's craft beer scene is so prevalent that the city has over 70 breweries, earning it the title of "Beertown USA" and making it a mecca for beer enthusiasts.
The Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, a pioneering craft brewery in Portland, was one of the first to introduce the American version of the hefeweizen style, which has become a staple in the city's beer culture.
Powell's City of Books, an iconic Portland landmark, covers an entire city block and houses over 1 million books, making it one of the largest independent bookstores in the world.
The Pearl District, once an industrial area, has been transformed into a vibrant neighborhood known for its art galleries, boutique shops, and a concentration of independent bookstores, including the acclaimed Powell's Books.
The Alberta Arts District, a hip and eclectic neighborhood, is home to the legendary Voodoo Doughnut, known for its creative and outrageous doughnut flavors, such as the Bacon Maple Bar and the Grape Ape.
The Cascade Brewing Barrel House, a pioneering sour beer producer in Portland, has been at the forefront of the city's "sour beer revolution," introducing visitors to the complex and nuanced flavors of barrel-aged and wild-fermented ales.
The Base Camp Brewing Company, a popular Portland brewery, has a unique focus on beers inspired by the great outdoors, with offerings like the Mount Hood Lager and the Trailhead IPA.
The Hollywood Theatre, a historic movie palace in Portland, has been restored and transformed into a modern independent cinema, showcasing a diverse array of films, from classic to cutting-edge.
The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) in Portland is a nonprofit organization that provides resources, workshops, and a community for independent publishers, zine-makers, and book artists, contributing to the city's vibrant literary scene.
7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Olympic Peninsula's Wild Beauty
The Olympic Peninsula in Washington offers a breathtaking road trip along the "Olympic Peninsula Loop," showcasing the region's diverse landscapes, from rugged mountains and dramatic beaches to lush rainforests.
With countless scenic stops, including destinations like Port Gamble, Sequim, and Hoh River Valley, the Olympic Peninsula provides an epic adventure for road trippers exploring the Pacific Northwest.
The Olympic Peninsula is home to the world's only known population of Roosevelt elk, a subspecies of the North American elk that can weigh up to 1,100 pounds and stand over 5 feet tall at the shoulder.
The Hoh Rainforest, located within Olympic National Park, is one of the few remaining temperate rainforests in the United States and can receive up to 170 inches of rainfall annually, making it one of the wettest places in the contiguous US
Lake Crescent, a deep glacial lake within the Olympic National Park, is known for its exceptionally clear and blue-green waters, which are the result of the lake's unique geology and the presence of glacial "rock flour" suspended in the water.
The Dungeness Spit, a 5-mile-long natural sand and gravel peninsula, is the longest natural spit in the United States and a popular destination for birdwatchers, with over 250 species of birds recorded in the area.
The coastal regions of the Olympic Peninsula are home to the Pacific Northwest's only population of gray whales, which can be spotted from shore during their annual migration between Mexico and Alaska.
The Elwha River, once dammed and now partially restored, is the site of one of the largest dam removal projects in the world, allowing for the return of anadromous fish species like Chinook salmon and steelhead trout to their historical spawning grounds.
The Marymere Falls, a 90-foot waterfall located within the Olympic National Park, was formed by the erosive power of glacial meltwater and is a popular hiking destination for visitors.
The Quinault Rain Forest, one of the wettest temperate rainforests in the world, is home to the world's largest Sitka spruce tree, measuring over 190 feet tall and 58 feet in circumference.
The Hoh River Valley contains one of the most intact and undisturbed old-growth temperate rainforest ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest, with trees that can reach up to 300 feet in height.
The Olympic National Park is recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO due to its exceptional biodiversity, including over 1,400 species of vascular plants and numerous endemic species.
The Olympic Mountains, which form the backbone of the Olympic Peninsula, are the result of the collision between the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate and the North American plate, a process that has been ongoing for millions of years.
7 Scenic Stops for an Epic LA to Seattle Road Trip - Seattle's Urban Oasis - From Pike Place to Discovery Park
Seattle's urban oasis offers a diverse array of scenic stops for road trippers, from the iconic Pike Place Market to the expansive Discovery Park.
The route showcases the city's vibrant waterfront, with opportunities to explore the Seattle Aquarium and Pier 62, as well as stunning viewpoints like Kerry Park.
Beyond the city center, the road trip also includes a visit to the serene natural beauty of Mount Rainier National Park.
Discovery Park, Seattle's largest park, is a former US Army base that was transformed into a 534-acre green oasis, offering visitors miles of hiking trails, pristine beaches, and stunning views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Pier 62, a public park on Seattle's waterfront, is home to a collection of vibrant art installations, including a 60-foot-tall metal sculpture that appears to float on the water's surface.
The Seattle Aquarium, located adjacent to Pike Place Market, houses the nation's largest pacific octopus, a species that can grow up to 16 feet in length and weigh up to 110 pounds.
Kerry Park, a small urban park in the Queen Anne neighborhood, offers one of the most iconic views of the Seattle skyline, with the majestic Mount Rainier serving as a stunning backdrop.
Green Lake Park, a popular recreational hub for locals, features a 8-mile paved path around its freshwater lake, which was created by glacial activity during the last ice age.
The Chittenden Locks, also known as the Ballard Locks, connect the freshwater of Lake Union and Lake Washington to the saltwater of the Puget Sound, allowing boat traffic to pass between the two bodies of water.
The Seward Park peninsula, located on the shores of Lake Washington, is home to one of the largest old-growth forests within an urban area in the United States, with trees that can reach up to 250 feet in height.
The Hiram M.
Chittenden Locks, built in 1917, feature a unique fish ladder system that allows migrating salmon and steelhead trout to navigate the 20-foot difference in water levels between the lakes and the Puget Sound.
The Burke-Gilman Trail, a 27-mile-long multi-use trail, connects several of Seattle's urban green spaces, including the Ship Canal, the University of Washington campus, and the Sammamish River Trail.
The Woodland Park Zoo, located in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood, is home to the world's largest population of Sumatran tigers outside of their native habitat, with a breeding program that has helped conserve this critically endangered species.
The Kubota Garden, a 20-acre Japanese-style garden in the Rainier Beach neighborhood, features a unique blend of traditional Japanese landscape design and Pacific Northwest flora, including a stunning collection of Japanese maples.