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Mr. Red · 02-09-2009, 12:04 PM

I am tired of the cold weather up here and want to get away from school for a while. I have from Thurs Feb 12-Sun Feb 22 to travel, around 10 days. My budget is around $1000 for gas, lodging, food. I live in Vancouver BC and would like to make it to SoCal and back. I would be by myself most likely. Anyone have any experience with routes? Does this sound like a realistic plan? I would be taking my car so I would be interested in fun driving routes, and they don't have to be the best or most efficient ways to get places. I want to keep my lodging costs down, anyone have any tips for finding good hostels, motels ect? Any spots I would have to hit along the way? Thanks guys!

MC Hammered · 02-09-2009, 12:28 PM

I've done this trip a few times already.

You can make it from Vancouver to LA in about 20 hours non-stop if you fly down the I-5.

But if the weather forecast is nice then i suggest taking the trip South down via the Oregon coastline as it is breathtaking and take the I-5 North back home on the I-5.

There are cheap hotels everywhere to get a nights sleep and clean up. Most of your expense would be on gas.

What to hit up along the way... well that's the beauty of a road trip. You can do just about anything you want.

nuts4bmw · 02-09-2009, 08:22 PM

sounds like fun!! Too bad I can't swing it.

dc42004 · 02-09-2009, 09:53 PM

i've made 5 driving trips there and back, about 2000kms each way, and yup, 20hours.
I would recommend u spend alot of time on the coast of LA, malibu, muholland hwy. best driving roads i've ever been on.

Google earth everything and plan for it. there are too many awesome road to cover.

dc42004 · 02-09-2009, 10:04 PM

i have video clips of me taking my cousin's infiniti G35 around those roads.
there are miles and miles of canyon roads with millions of tight ass hair pins with awesome scenery.

The only warning is that I-5 might be closed for abit if there is too much snow in the mountain after u pass Eugene, Oregon. From Eugene to Redding, CA, there isn't any gas station( at least very few). So make sure u fill up before u head up that mountain. If i get laid off or something, i'll probably use the free time to make that trip again in my E30. Been driving rental cars all those times i went

Mr. Red · 02-09-2009, 10:15 PM

Thanks for the advice so far guys! I think I convinced my friend from work to come along too, so I'll have some female company. She likes the twisties too

Mr. Red · 02-11-2009, 03:22 PM

bizzzzzump..leaving early tomorrow morning! I'll take lots of pics!

Mr. Red · 02-23-2009, 10:23 PM

here are some pictures from my trip!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouv...7614364555946/

320iCar · 02-23-2009, 10:57 PM

only one picture of the car! psh.

beautiful pictures, i love the nikon d40. technically its the "entry level" one but its better than anything a regular person has

Mr. Red · 02-23-2009, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by 320iCar

only one picture of the car! psh.

beautiful pictures, i love the nikon d40. technically its the "entry level" one but its better than anything a regular person has

LOL, I know I have more but my family/friends don't share my obsession. Thanks, it is a really solid camera, even on the auto settings.

crunk3 · 02-23-2009, 11:33 PM

i should post pics of my cuba trip LOL

320iCar · 02-23-2009, 11:39 PM

yeah my friend has the d40. on auto with stock lens its great even. on standby setting it still holds its charge for VERY LONG time, and if you go to take a picture, its powering-up from standby is so quick, you'll never miss the shot. i want to go out to some underground parking and take some non-flash long exposure shots of my car with it all wet from the rain, at night no less.

Mr. Red · 02-24-2009, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by crunk3

i should post pics of my cuba trip LOL

you should for sure! you take pics with the D90?

Originally Posted by 320iCar

yeah my friend has the d40. on auto with stock lens its great even. on standby setting it still holds its charge for VERY LONG time, and if you go to take a picture, its powering-up from standby is so quick, you'll never miss the shot. i want to go out to some underground parking and take some non-flash long exposure shots of my car with it all wet from the rain, at night no less.

I can go weeks of shooting without having to charge, it's pretty darn amazing.

crunk3 · 02-24-2009, 12:21 AM

yeah a few but most of the good drinking ones where taken by other ppl

02-09-2009, 12:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Red Senior Member Name: Steve Joined: May 2006 From: West Vancouver Posts: 946 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 22 13 Times in 12 Posts Mr. Red's pictures '97 BMW M3	West Coast Roadtrip I am tired of the cold weather up here and want to get away from school for a while. I have from Thurs Feb 12-Sun Feb 22 to travel, around 10 days. My budget is around $1000 for gas, lodging, food. I live in Vancouver BC and would like to make it to SoCal and back. I would be by myself most likely. Anyone have any experience with routes? Does this sound like a realistic plan? I would be taking my car so I would be interested in fun driving routes, and they don't have to be the best or most efficient ways to get places. I want to keep my lodging costs down, anyone have any tips for finding good hostels, motels ect? Any spots I would have to hit along the way? Thanks guys!

02-23-2009, 10:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
320iCar Senior Member Name: Ian Joined: Sep 2008 From: Richmond, BC Posts: 274 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 3 2 Times in 2 Posts	only one picture of the car! psh. beautiful pictures, i love the nikon d40. technically its the "entry level" one but its better than anything a regular person has __________________

02-23-2009, 11:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
320iCar Senior Member Name: Ian Joined: Sep 2008 From: Richmond, BC Posts: 274 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 3 2 Times in 2 Posts	yeah my friend has the d40. on auto with stock lens its great even. on standby setting it still holds its charge for VERY LONG time, and if you go to take a picture, its powering-up from standby is so quick, you'll never miss the shot. i want to go out to some underground parking and take some non-flash long exposure shots of my car with it all wet from the rain, at night no less. __________________

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02-09-2009, 12:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
MC Hammered Senior Member Joined: Jul 2008 From: North Vancouver Posts: 110 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 2 2 Times in 2 Posts	I've done this trip a few times already. You can make it from Vancouver to LA in about 20 hours non-stop if you fly down the I-5. But if the weather forecast is nice then i suggest taking the trip South down via the Oregon coastline as it is breathtaking and take the I-5 North back home on the I-5. There are cheap hotels everywhere to get a nights sleep and clean up. Most of your expense would be on gas. What to hit up along the way... well that's the beauty of a road trip. You can do just about anything you want.

02-09-2009, 08:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
nuts4bmw Senior Member Name: Art Joined: Oct 2008 From: Surrey Posts: 234 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 5 5 Times in 4 Posts nuts4bmw's pictures '95 BMW M540i	sounds like fun!! Too bad I can't swing it.

02-09-2009, 09:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
dc42004 Senior Member Joined: Sep 2007 From: Vancouver Posts: 178 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts dc42004's pictures '91 BMW 318IS	i've made 5 driving trips there and back, about 2000kms each way, and yup, 20hours. I would recommend u spend alot of time on the coast of LA, malibu, muholland hwy. best driving roads i've ever been on. Google earth everything and plan for it. there are too many awesome road to cover.

02-09-2009, 10:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
dc42004 Senior Member Joined: Sep 2007 From: Vancouver Posts: 178 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts dc42004's pictures '91 BMW 318IS	i have video clips of me taking my cousin's infiniti G35 around those roads. there are miles and miles of canyon roads with millions of tight ass hair pins with awesome scenery. The only warning is that I-5 might be closed for abit if there is too much snow in the mountain after u pass Eugene, Oregon. From Eugene to Redding, CA, there isn't any gas station( at least very few). So make sure u fill up before u head up that mountain. If i get laid off or something, i'll probably use the free time to make that trip again in my E30. Been driving rental cars all those times i went

02-09-2009, 10:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr. Red Senior Member Name: Steve Joined: May 2006 From: West Vancouver Posts: 946 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 22 13 Times in 12 Posts Mr. Red's pictures '97 BMW M3	Thanks for the advice so far guys! I think I convinced my friend from work to come along too, so I'll have some female company. She likes the twisties too

02-11-2009, 03:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mr. Red Senior Member Name: Steve Joined: May 2006 From: West Vancouver Posts: 946 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 22 13 Times in 12 Posts Mr. Red's pictures '97 BMW M3	bizzzzzump..leaving early tomorrow morning! I'll take lots of pics!

02-23-2009, 10:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mr. Red Senior Member Name: Steve Joined: May 2006 From: West Vancouver Posts: 946 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 22 13 Times in 12 Posts Mr. Red's pictures '97 BMW M3	here are some pictures from my trip! http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouv...7614364555946/

02-23-2009, 11:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
crunk3 Senior Member Name: Ryan Joined: Sep 2006 From: Maple Ridge Posts: 1,022 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 6 21 Times in 13 Posts crunk3's pictures	i should post pics of my cuba trip LOL

02-24-2009, 12:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
crunk3 Senior Member Name: Ryan Joined: Sep 2006 From: Maple Ridge Posts: 1,022 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 6 21 Times in 13 Posts crunk3's pictures	yeah a few but most of the good drinking ones where taken by other ppl

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