photomonkey Loc: Iowa

We are planning a trip to California and Oregon on our way to an Alaskan Cruise... We want to see the redwoods for sure...any other suggestions on what to see out there. Also any special photo equipment should we pack..

10MPlayer Loc: California

Yosemite National Park if you have time. When you first enter the valley and see El Capitan and Half Dome ahead it will take your breath away. There's nothing else like it anywhere. And the wildlife photo opportunities are everywhere. Bear, deer, coyotes, eagles, you name it. Give yourself a minimum of two days to look around. If you fly into SF and drive down to Yosemite it's a 4 hour drive so plan on finding a hotel/motel room nearby. Camping reservations need to be made early.

I suggest Prairie Creek Redwoods State/National Park if you have time. It's part of the Avenue of the Giants, you can camp there and it's home to a large herd of Roosevelt Elk. Lots of other wildlife including banana slugs which are 6-8" long yellow spotted slugs that look like a banana. From SF it's a six hour drive in the opposite direction from Yosemite. Cali's a big state and the good places are not easy to get to.

San Francisco if you've never been there. Despite its reputation for weirdness it's one of the most beautiful cities in the US. And it has some of the best dining anywhere. Lots of small neighborhood restaurants with great chefs. It's very European in its own way in that if you're lucky enough to find a parking spot you can walk to a lot of great restaurants within a few blocks of each other. Then there's the typical tourist destination, Fisherman's Wharf. Good seafood, great ocean views from the restaurants, plenty of places to shop.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world class with its indoor kelp forest and deep ocean displays. As with SF, Monterey has lots of great seafood restaurants with beautiful afternoon sunset views (which can be ruined by the summer fog - SF and Monterey can be cold in the summer because the hot summer in the valleys draws in the ocean fog). Take a drive on the 17 Mile Drive in Carmel by the Sea and see how the rich folks live. Stop by a fine dining restaurant called "Portobello" while you're there. You won't regret it. (It's pricey.)

This is getting to sound like a travel magazine. We love checking out the fine restaurants when we travel as you can probably tell. Do your homework. California is blessed with some world class food in great locations. We stayed at the Plaza in Monterey last year. The food and the hotel were wonderful.

http://www.montereyplazahotel.com/monterey-hotel-photos

Roosevelt Bull Elk

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Artsy Shot of Roosevelt Elk

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Prairie Creek Redwood State Park


Cheesy Tourist Attraction _Shrine Drive Thru Tree

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Near San Carlos Beach Monterey - A Hard Day At Work

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What do you mean my breath smells like fish? - Young Sea Lion or Harbor Seal?

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Near CSUMonterey - Former Fort Ord

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10MPlayer Loc: California

As far as photo equipment, if you're going whale watching or looking for eagles take your longest lens. A nice 400mm zoom would be nice. I rented one for our trip to Costa Rica last November. It was a beast to lug around but well worth it for the wildlife pics.

Tpharm Loc: Central PA

San Francisco -- Where you rush to the cable car ahead of others so you can stand and hold on. A city not to be missed.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

If you go up the Oregon coast there are light houses, ocean views, coastal formations, fishing harbors and quaint towns and structures. Inland are the Cascade mountains and a thousand places to shoot including Crater Lake National Park. A visit to your local library will list more places to shoot than you could get to in a year. Have fun!

boydimages Loc: California

You will only see this view if your entering Yosemite Valley from the south entrance, hwy 41. If you enter this area in the morning skip it unless you have a breaking storm. Morning and El Cap and Half Dome will be backlit. Does not make a great photo. Come back late in the day. If coming in the south you will enter the park long before you get to the valley. After passing through the toll booth turn right to go the the big trees, Mariposa Grove. Impressive if you have not seen them.
Also, purchase or download Michael Fryes "The Photographers Guide to Yosemite", $12.95. Broken up be months, seasons, location and time of day for best photos.

SSam Loc: Sierra Vista, AZ

I'm 'seconding' olcoach's positive comment about the Oregon Coast. My wife has a friend that has traveled the world and has told her "No place beats the Oregon Coast."

Best wishes to you on your entire trip.

Sam

Mrsmoses Loc: Oregon

Ditto on what Sam said..

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

The entire Oregon coastline is fantastic, but my numerous visits tell me that the Central Oregon coast is the best of them all.

GregShea Loc: Redding, Ca

Bernie falls Northern CA

Erdos2 Loc: Vancouver, WA

Another voice for the Oregon Coast. The coast highway is not the fastest way to travel north but very beautiful with lots of little towns. The views are amazing in many places. Most of the Lighthouses can be toured and make nice photos. (restoration projects often close one or two of them) Take you time to really enjoy the trip.

Since the redwoods were mentioned, the largest ones are around Humboldt State Park. Redwood National Park has many redwoods that are big compared to other trees, but those at HSP are much larger.

As for the equipment, you will not be very close to much of the wildlife on the cruise, so you will need lenses for both the wide landscapes and to pull the wildlife closer.

Jerry

Harris Beach State Park

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Heceta Head Lighthouse

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Cape Arago

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Inside Umpqua Lighthouse

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10MPlayer Loc: California

Thanks for adding that. I couldn't rememer if it the south entrance or not. It is spectacular driving in in the afternoon.

10MPlayer Loc: California

I've never spent any time in Oregon excepting a Thanksgiving trip five years ago. I need to check it out.