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Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Chronicle – The Quad Squad
Founding of the Quad Squad
Previously, I wrote a post on the Quad Squad in Cancun. This, however, is the long lost chronicle of the Pacific Coast Highway road trip that took place almost a year prior. Hence, this is long overdue. It was our true maiden voyage into the unknown and definitely one for the books. I’ll be the first to say this trip was a momentum builder.
The trip began with all of us meeting at the airport in Orlando earlier in the day. Due to our expert booking skills at the time, some of us had different flights out to Seattle. It was at this time that the Pacific Coast Highway road trip almost didn’t even get off the ground. Apparently, when one member of the Quad Squad goes to another terminal to hang out with the rest of the Quad Squad, there are some logistical taxations involved with that. In short, you’re probably not catching your plane back at the other terminal.
And just like that, 3 of the 4 of us are on a plane. We learned valuable lessons on this day. Fortunately for our fallen comrade, there was a flight departing only an hour or two later that he was able to snag a seat on. It looks like we would all make it after all!
Pro Terminal Switching
If you're going to switch terminals to go see someone at another gate, or get into a lounge, there is a possibility you'll be stopped and have to go through security again.
Sunny in Seattle
After a few hours above the clouds and across a landmass, the Quad Squad landed in Seattle! Well, there was a little waiting for the fourth man, but we made do. Because this was a Pacific Coast Highway road trip, the first thing to do was pick up the rental car. We went with a GMC SUV that stood the test of time for the 1,300 plus miles driven. After a quick unload at the Airbnb, it was time to see what Seattle was made of in under 48 hours. You can cover A LOT of ground in this time.
Certainly, we were lucky with the weather. The weekend we spent there was nothing but clear skies. Isn’t Seattle known for overcast, rainy days? During the time we had, we knocked out most of the must-see locations.
- Space Needle (amazing views on a clear day)
- Pike Place Market (bay-side market which also happens to have “Gum Wall” and the original Starbucks)
- Seattle Center (Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass and additional exhibits)
On top of this, we had a ball game to catch at Safeco Field too!
Get outside of main Seattle
Head over to Alki Beach Park in West Seattle area. It is somewhat across the bay, but accessible by car. The beach is lined with smaller restaurants and shops.
Overall it's a more low-key hangout spot.
A Portland Experience to Remember
As the day came to an end in Seattle, it was time to take this Pacific Coast Highway road trip to Portland. Looking back at this now, we weren’t even on the coast yet… Ha! Anyways, Portland was a special place for the Quad Squad. The extremes between tranquility and chaos were unlike anything we had seen. As a result, Portland yielded some unforgettable mental images. Some were keepers; others not so much.
First, let’s start with the chaos. Because Portland was a pass-through city for us, there was no overnight stay. We basically started on the Willamette River and worked our way west. The initial stop was at Voodoo Doughnut and some food trucks at a nearby square. It was here, that we encountered the “meth epidemic.”
During our short time getting food, it was slightly concerning the number of potential meth-users that could be spotted in a 100 yard radius. Some of the most notable cases were one lady pulling out her hair, and then proceeding to pull down her pants and let it flow on the side of an establishment. Another was smeagol: a younger, hunched over dude holding a bag of chips contorting his neck violently while running circles around the food trucks. Mind you, this was maybe noon. But truthfully, besides that, the food trucks were bomb!
Disclosure
Although it may come off as slightly harsh at times, this observation was not meant to poke at addicts, but rather to share what was witnessed in the city.
The Portland Cleanse
One can only take so much of that chaos in a day, so that’s why the Quad Squad went full-on spiritual by going to Portland’s Japanese Gardens. On the way there, we hit a few breweries, which didn’t disappoint. With a few local brews in, activacíon levels were solid and we were ready to walk the glorious gardens to engage our inner zen. No doubt, the gardens are worth a stop. The entire place was landscaped to look natural.
Quad Squad Terminology
Activacíon - the process in which one is preparing to, or already in-taking a Silver Bullet or Blue. It is usually followed by some level of taxation. Also referred to in common tongue as simply having a beer.
As day became evening, we had some serious ground to cover. The mission was to reach Northern California as quickly as possible. This was a BRUTAL drive until the wee hours of the next day. However, we did hit the coast for the first time in Oregon, which officially kicked off the “Pacific Coast Highway road trip!” Additionally, we drove through some sketchy fog on a narrow, winding road during a pitch-black night. With the limited visibility, I’ve still wondered to this day how far the drop off was from the side of the road.
Redwood Trees, Neature Activacíon
As a result of the Quad Squad’s irrefutable determination and sheer willpower, a resting spot was reached on the boarder of California. Something changed overnight while driving out of Portland. Our brains were re-wired or something, because pre-activacíon levels were reaching uncharted territory. Nevertheless, the show must go on.
Within the domain of the Redwoods now, the Quad Squad became one with nature. We met Paul Bunyan and his bull ox, Babe. They were super generous and offered us some silver bullets which we graciously accepted. Unbeknownst to us, it was all part of the universal plan to have a neature photo shoot and perform activacíon rituals amongst the Redwoods. Were the stars aligning?
Taking San Francisco by Day
Now, to answer that previous question; maybe stars were not aligning, but something was definitely developing. More so, San Francisco was without question the most activacíon-dense city the Quad Squad stayed in. At some point, the Pacific Coast Highway road trip became the “road to recovery.”
Over two full days in San Fran, the Quad Squad did absolute work. Here were some daytime events that occurred:
- Golden Gate Bridge (Crissy Field on the south end is a pretty standard photo spot)
- Fisherman’s Wharf (head to Pier 39 and listen to the lovely sounds of sea lions)
- Lombard Street (famous crooked street)
- Chinatown (a rice field hat is a non-negotiable purchase)
- Pioneer Park (for a small admission, go to the top of Colt Tower for 360 degree views)
- AT&T Park (Baseball field of the Giants)
- Full House, house
- Painted Ladies (historic Victorian homes)
Hopping around San Francisco by Night
Not before long, events transpired which later lead to recovery road. If the Redwood activacíon was a catalyst, then San Francisco was indeed the turning point for the Pacific Coast Highway road trip chronicles. Since we happened to be in the city on a weekend, we had the chance to join some of our local friends for some full nightlife immersion.
There were so many inside jokes and intricacies that came out of the nights in San Francisco that it is impossible to recount them all. Furthermore, to retain public decency, it’s probably for the best to lock ’em away. However, all you need to know is doing a weekend in San Fran can be a sweet ass time! The possibilities are simply endless!
- Receiving multiple face-slaps for a bet gone south
- Owning the floor in a break dance battle
- Photo shoot with a guy wearing the most ridiculous pink high heels
- Cosmic levels of activacíon
Apologies!
We went to a lot of clubs and bars. However, that doesn't necessarily mean we took note of the names.
Needless to say, San Francisco was a hell of a time. The only painfully obvious downside was the cost of living. When parking your car in a garage costs you the same amount as taking a family of 4 out to a decent restaurant, that will most likely result in negative wallet gains. Regardless, the Quad Squad pulled through and began the home stretch.
A Pass-Through of LA
Just like Portland, Los Angeles was a pass through. Also, it was during this time that the Pacific Coast Highway road trip was beginning to feel much more “on the coast.” The scenic route was getting better and better. We made plenty of stops including Santa Monica and Venice Beach. Activacíon levels were stabilizing and life was good.
Big Sur
Unfortunately, mudslides prevented us from driving through Big Sur. Remember to check ahead of time to see if certain locations are open. It was quite the bummer in our case.
End of the Line in San Diego
Finally, we arrived at the last spot of the trip! The Pacific Coast Highway road trip had reached its final form. Looking back, it’s crazy that we even contemplated going further down to Mexico. Personally, San Diego was my favorite location of the trip mostly because of its livability. With two days spent here, these were the locations we hit:
- PB Shore Club (the RBV slushie is king)
- 710 Beach Club (solid sports bar and lunch spot)
- Petco Park (baseball stadium where we watched a Padres game)
- USS Midway Museum (legendary WWII aircraft carrier)
- Sunset Cliffs Natural Park (picturesque ocean views)
Nightlife was toned down from San Fran, but still good for weekdays. The most populated spot we could find was Thrusters Lounge (still can’t get over the name). Because we were apparently early to the scene, grabbing some prime leather cushion booth real estate was a clutch decision. As the bar kept filling up, we met more and more people who shared some rounds with us at the booth. One of the coolest moments was talking with someone about her adventures to a small town in Poland called Zakopane. Little did I know, I’d be in the same Polish town no more than a year later.
Closing Out on the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
Looking back over this post as I write, it was fairly difficult to cover a trip of this length in one post. Things simply had to be left out. You’ll start writing about a certain event and realize you’re paragraphs deep and have to backtrack. If anything, it should be a testament to show how much you can do and share with others in the time spent.
Overall, the Quad Squad performed optimally. For being the first trip together, no one knew how things would play out. However, I think we could all agree that the trip was a success. Covering over 1,300 miles in 10 days did require planning to some extent; especially when there are certain spots you want to see. On the other hand, many situations were played by beer. With a little spontaneity, who knows what you’ll end up with! That’s what ultimately made the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip what it was.
Hopefully, there were some nuggets you can take from this post or at the least it was entertaining to read! The Quad Squad wishes you well on your next trip as we head off on our next outing…
Quad Squad's Motto
Remember - during activacíon, seek out hydration stations to avoid inevitable taxation.
Michael Lakus
IT professional, athlete, musician, ponderer of many things... Born and raised in Florida, I began traveling internationally after college. I created this site primarily to remind myself of where I've been and to share my experiences on traveling with a quirky, stress-free, travel attitude.
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