Answer: Great question — not a dumb one at all! Short answer: yes, it’s quite possible to find beach towels for around $25 in tourist-oriented gift shops along a California coastal road trip, though it depends on where you stop and what the local shops are like. Here's a breakdown of what to expect + some alternate ideas if you don’t find exactly what you want in-store.
Answer: Nice itinerary — you’ve got a wonderful stretch of Oregon and Northern California planned. Below I’ll tackle each of your questions, give practical drive-time and tempo advice, suggest where to sleep, and offer a couple of route options for the Redwood section so you can pick a pace that fits you. I’ll call out realistic on-the-road time estimates and which days are “ambitious” vs “relaxed.”
Answer: Northern California has many kid-friendly mountains near the Pacific Coast Highway that provide rewarding views without roads to the top. Focusing on options with roughly 1,000–1,500' of vertical gain, here are several excellent choices:
Answer: The Trees of Mystery and Sky Trail Gondola ride in Northern California’s Redwood region is a popular roadside attraction, often considered a mix of natural wonder and tourist-oriented exhibits. Whether it feels like a “tourist trap” or a worthwhile stop depends on your interests and expectations.
Answer: Northern California has several Native American reservations that are welcoming to visitors, offering cultural experiences, museums, guided tours, and natural attractions. While not all reservations are open for casual visiting, there are a few that are particularly family-friendly and provide educational and interactive opportunities for kids.
Answer: Your Northern California road trip along US-395 north and Highway 101 south sounds fantastic! Since you’ll have your first two nights covered in Mammoth and Portola, here are some suggestions for nice places to stay between Portola and Salem, focusing on comfort, scenic surroundings, and resort-style amenities where possible.
Answer: Your 6–7 day trip from Crater Lake to San Francisco in late September can be a scenic and relaxed road trip, even if you’re not hikers. Since you enjoy vistas rather than strenuous hikes, the focus should be on scenic drives, viewpoints, charming towns, and natural landmarks.
Travel FAQ list for Northern California
Northern California
Question: Cheap beach towels in Gift Shops? (dumb question)
Answer: Great question — not a dumb one at all! Short answer: yes, it’s quite possible to find beach towels for around $25 in tourist-oriented gift shops along a California coastal road trip, though it depends on where you stop and what the local shops are like. Here's a breakdown of what to expect + some alternate ideas if you don’t find exactly what you want in-store.
View MoreNorthern California
Question: refining daily itinerary Crater Lake to San Fran in 6 days
Answer: Nice itinerary — you’ve got a wonderful stretch of Oregon and Northern California planned. Below I’ll tackle each of your questions, give practical drive-time and tempo advice, suggest where to sleep, and offer a couple of route options for the Redwood section so you can pick a pace that fits you. I’ll call out realistic on-the-road time estimates and which days are “ambitious” vs “relaxed.”
View MoreNorthern California
Question: Looking for a good mtn to climb with kids
Answer: Northern California has many kid-friendly mountains near the Pacific Coast Highway that provide rewarding views without roads to the top. Focusing on options with roughly 1,000–1,500' of vertical gain, here are several excellent choices:
View MoreNorthern California
Question: Trees of Mystery / Sky Trail Gondola ride
Answer: The Trees of Mystery and Sky Trail Gondola ride in Northern California’s Redwood region is a popular roadside attraction, often considered a mix of natural wonder and tourist-oriented exhibits. Whether it feels like a “tourist trap” or a worthwhile stop depends on your interests and expectations.
View MoreNorthern California
Question: Indian reservation?
Answer: Northern California has several Native American reservations that are welcoming to visitors, offering cultural experiences, museums, guided tours, and natural attractions. While not all reservations are open for casual visiting, there are a few that are particularly family-friendly and provide educational and interactive opportunities for kids.
View MoreNorthern California
Question: Northern California road trip
Answer: Your Northern California road trip along US-395 north and Highway 101 south sounds fantastic! Since you’ll have your first two nights covered in Mammoth and Portola, here are some suggestions for nice places to stay between Portola and Salem, focusing on comfort, scenic surroundings, and resort-style amenities where possible.
View MoreNorthern California
Question: Itinerary help pls 6/7 days Crater Lake to SF late Sept
Answer: Your 6–7 day trip from Crater Lake to San Francisco in late September can be a scenic and relaxed road trip, even if you’re not hikers. Since you enjoy vistas rather than strenuous hikes, the focus should be on scenic drives, viewpoints, charming towns, and natural landmarks.
View More