I have taken many a road trip in my life. In fact, last year I did all of the driving in a journey to take my mom from her 30-year home of San Diego to what would become a temporary home in Fayetteville, North Carolina (that's a long story that is still playing out). In fact, that was my first trip coast to coast where I was the pilot. Yet, I have been around the pavemnt many times previous and likely will in the future.
Of all those roads I have traveled, I would say the one that always brings the most fond memories is U.S. 101. This highway is a major west coast artery that offers coastal views and just as quickly turns toward the forests and countryside. Metro-wise, it is heavily traveled in the Los Angeles and Bay Area portions of California. Smaller towns and villages dot the highway in its journey between downtown Los Angeles where it veers off from Interstate 5 and its terminus AT I 5 in Olympia, Washington. You might say it is the more pleasant way to traverse the Pacific coast if also more inefficient time-wise.
Historically, 101 once went all the way down to the Mexican border south of San Diego. Many of the beach communities in San Diego County still call the highway that runs along the coast "101" even though the number was decommissioned in that county decades ago. In many ways 101 is the faster alternative to I 5 there. As my mom and stepdad lived in Cardiff and my dad and stepmom live in La Jolla, 101 was a preferred drive between the 2 residences. Face it, I 5 is and forever will be a congested mess in southern California.
Back when I lived in the north bay area of northern California, I would go down to San Diego for a visit often. If I was in a hurry, I'd take I 5 or CA 99, neither of which were particularly attractive. At least 99 went through towns and had frequent access to gas and food, whereas 5 has longer stretches of nothing. That's where 101 had an edge aesthtically...though it was not perfect by any means.
101 is fairly congested between Santa Rosa and San Francisco since many commuters drive the 55 miles to work and 55 miles back. Still, the rolling hills of the north bay in southern Sonoma County and all of Marin County make 101 fun even in traffic. If on a road trip, though, it is advisable to not take 101 through San Francisco since it is not a freeway or even mere divided highway there. Not unpleasant, just time-consuming with the traffic lights. I will never besmirch San Francisco, it is the most beautiful city scenery-wise I have ever been to. It is better to cut through the Presidio and 19th Avenue to I 280 and take that to the 380 cutoff to SFO and 101 freeway. It is good to catch 101 back here because it affords excellent views of San Francisco Bay in a few places.
Once past San Jose, 101 begins to take on the country role again as it did north of San Francisco as it rolls out through southern Santa Clara County where you smell the Gilroy garlic fields quite well. Before long the freeway passes through Salinas in northern Monterey County. FOr the next 100 miles there is a bit of irony for me. As 101 is the more scenic alternative to I 5, CA 1 on the Big Sur coast is the scenic alternative to 101. There is nothing notable through Monterey County and the northern part of San Luis Obispo County, just fields and a few scattered villages along 101. Once in Paso Robles, the rolling hills and valleys begin again. As 101 passes through Pismo Beach, there are some good ocean views before it returns inland. Yet, this inland portion is quite pleasant. Scattered vineyards and gorgeous hills make this a smooth drive.
A few miles past Buellton, 101 goes through a mountain pass and suddenly curves to the east where it meets a LONG ocean view stretch in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties wth just a few interruptions. Once past Ventura, though, the ocean views are gone and 101 enters the urban hell of Los Angeles area traffic all the way to its terminus at I 5...I have driven through this hell many times, and believe me, going northbound (or rather westbound) out of L.A. is a dream...until after Paso Robles anyway.
However, that is only the southern almost 500 mles of U.S. 101...the best is actually yet to come!
Going north from Santa Rosa, 101 is a freeway until just north of Cloverdale, passing through the small communities of Windsor and Healdsburg and then the winery-rich Alexander Valley. After Cloverdale, 101 alternates between 2-lane country road and expressway all the way up to Eureka. If you have never been to Mendocino County either on 101 or CA 1, I highly advise you to take either. The 101 portion is curvy and forested, making it hard to believe that 600 miles south the highway hugs the coastline closely. The scenery is beautiful and there is no urban blight to mar it...which leads me to a complaint.
In central Mendocino County there is a town called Willits. It is quite pleasant to walk around and look at. I have driven through there several times, no real traffic issues. So that makes me fume at CALTRANS building a bypass for 101 east of Willits! I saw this recently on a YouTubee video of 101 between San Francisco and Crescent City. In my belief, Mendocino County needs no freeways or expressways, just an occasional passing lane. Past Hopland, Ukiah, Calpella, and Willits, 101 passes through Laytonville, Leggett and Piercy before it curves into Humboldt County and weaves through an amazing assortment of greenery, much of them coastal redwoods, for about 75 miles!
There is a brief and often needed semi-urban jaunt through Eureka. Lots of food and inns there...I stayed there one night coming back from Washington. After Eureka, 101 goes between expressway and 2-lane road as it cuts through coastal hills and redwood forests, and affords several ocean views...the first since Pismo Beach 550 miles south! After the pleasant town of Crescent City, 101 glides through the last 20 or so miles of California and then enters Oregon.
Okay, here is my nickel's worth of advice: if you want a consistent stretch of combined forest and coastline, look no further than U.S. 101 in Oregon! It is never far from the ocean (20 miles in some spots tops) and there are a ton of nice little towns...my personal favorite is Coos Bay. Plus, there are no real freeway stretches along the Oregon coast. The bridge from Astoria to Washington state is purely fantastic with great views of the Pacific and the Columbia River. I know I'm putting 101 in Oregon into just 1 paragraph, but it is for good reason: you have to see it for yourself. The only negatives are frequent foig and rain (really? in the Pacific Northwest? You're kidding!) and an often congested traffic light-infested stretch in Lincoln City.
Frankly, I have not been on 101 much in Washington, as I turned onto WA 4 the one time to visit someone in Longview. From what I have heard, though, the Olympic Peninsula is a must see, so I shall hopefully see it myself sometime.
So, if you like a variety of scenery that gives golden hills, ocean views, and lots of forest, travel 101...or watch Youtube videos if you have no travel money. Worth it both ways!
