The I-5 Drive

[Malcon10t]

We're a little closer than all of you (Seal Beach), but we, too, have our landmarks.... primarily, the Drive-thru Starbucks at the corner of Euclid and Chapman.... that tells us that we will be entering the M&F Parking Structure at just about the same moment that the caffine hits our brains!!!! :D

As for Harris Ranch.... that will be my first destination when I get to fly solo.... I want to "just pop in for lunch"!!!

JonJust don't go in short! That's my first memory of Harris Ranch, having to go 'round cause the plane on final in front of us landed short and ended up in the soft dirt.

[phoenixfire2k5]

We're a little closer than all of you (Seal Beach),

???

I've got ya beat. I'm in Anaheim, 5 minutes from the park. So I cannot be included in that "all of you".

[teach]

My family and I drive down from Vancouver. We will be leaving a week from today. Landmarks for us include the Peace Arch Border Crossing, the Space Needle in Seattle ,the turn off for Mt. St. Helens. The bridge that takes us over into Portland, Oregon. The Denny's in Roseburg, a certain curve in the road outside Ashland, the approach to Mt. Shasta area, Redding (our halfway point), Sacramento, then all the urban areas along the way, Fresno, Bakersfield, etc. Can't wait for the trip, it will be our fourth journey down I-5!

[jon80flt]

???

I've got ya beat. I'm in Anaheim, 5 minutes from the park. So I cannot be included in that "all of you".

OK, Everyone except Pheonixfire2K5!!! :D

[SCUBAbe]

I myself have done this drive several times. I am wondering, what specific things do you look for on the drive that let's you know you are on the way to Disneyland?

I don't have to look for anything. I have drove it so many times it's like the back of my hand, but things I'm happy to see in order are the outlet mall, (which just means I'm almost to my grandmothers house.) then the off ramp to grandmother house...after that the thing that make sme the happiest of all, een more than DL itself, is when the freeway opens from 3 lanes to like 6 or 7. Please let me explain...my 1 1/2 hour drive is usually about 3 when I go and most of it going top speeds of 30mph...so when the freeway opens up and all the traffic disperses and I can go the speed limit...well, it's pure joy...:)

[yeartolate]

Apricot tree ----- far enough away from Coalinga.......

[spacemountain85]

Driving southward toward L.A., I like seeing the ever-growing convenience stops at the Laval Road exits in Lebec.
How funny, stopping at the Laval Road travel centers is something of a tradition for my family. We were all very sad when the Buckhorn restaurant closed, as we could usually occupy ourselves all the way over the mountains by trying to say "Buckhorn" in as redneck-ey a way as possible and giggling hysterically.

[Shortiemetoo]

YESSSS! The BEST hash browns in the state. :)

I've never had them...usually there for lunch or dinner...hmmmm new idea.. and thanks!
I love seeing the knotts Berry Farm sign...then its just a couple of miles!!!

[Doug]

Wow, and I thought it was bad that it sometimes takes 2 hours from me to get there, actually got there is, what was it, 45 one day? Growing up, it was seeing the Matterhorn, now I can not see it for the life of me! How do you people see it?? Now, it's the 2000ft tall freeway lights over the newer part of the freeway when I know we are almost there :)!

[experiment626]

Highlights of our trips down 101 to 580 to 5.

Taking the 580 connector, every time we pass it, I say I wish I was going that way.
The Starbucks in Pleasonton (at Hopyard). After being up since 3am, I NEED that stop.
Hitting the 5.
The TA just before the Grapevine (Lavel Rd?).
Then getting off the 5 to check into our Hotel. YEAH were there.

[SCUBAbe]

Apricot tree ----- far enough away from Coalinga.......
coalinga?? I useto got o coalinga every weekend with my parents. They still go up there often...:) I rode my first horse in colainga...well, the canyons of coalinga..:)

[McKmouse]

We live in Pleasant Hill/Walnut Creek area: We usually go I-580 to I-5 to the I-210 to Hwy 57. To heck w/ the 5 past Magic Mtn. And the 605/405 isn't any better. It may seem a little more in mileage (I think it's like 20-30mi. more–but you don't lose any time) , but it's worth it because you don't get stuck in LA traffic and your moving. Even if you arrive around 5pm, it's not anywhere close to the nastyness on I-5.

Wow...that's my old stomping grounds!!! I grew up in Pleasant Hill and my parents still live there...really close to the Sunvalley Mall in fact!!!
From Sac...I-5, stop at Andersons split Pea soup...if the right time of the day/night, then stop right before the grapevine to get gas...drinks...potty break!!


Hey Shortie – It's a small world after all... LOL!

In fact, really close to where you describe – over in Gregory Gardens :D

[yeartolate]

coalinga?? I useto got o coalinga every weekend with my parents. They still go up there often...:) I rode my first horse in colainga...well, the canyons of coalinga..:)

I mostly put my air conditioner on recirculate and duct tape the windows shut through coalinga..... :D

[Lekta]

We always talk about how we will stop by the Samoain Cookhouse in Eureka, but, everytime we get close and look at a map, we elect to not. It just looks so darn far out of the way, but I LOVE that place!!!

[phoenixfire2k5]

OK, Everyone except Pheonixfire2K5!!! :D

Thats better. :p :D

[Susan L]

I myself have done this drive several times. I am wondering, what specific things do you look for on the drive that let's you know you are on the way to Disneyland? Wierd as it may sound, that huge cattle farm near Sacramento gets me excited.

The noise of the Harris Ranch is nothing compare to the smell - yuck -

[Shortiemetoo]

Hey Shortie – It's a small world after all... LOL!

In fact, really close to where you describe – over in Gregory Gardens :D

I went to Gregory Gardens Elementry school when it was an elementry school! That school seemed SO BIG when I was little...I went and showed it to my daughter before she started kindergarten...and it is amazing how small it is...lolol
That is such a nice area...I really still miss the east bay...there is always so much to do and San Francisco is just a short BART ride away...no parking problems!!!
My Mom was a member of the first graduating class of Pleasant Hill High School, which is now the adult school...they just had their 50th reunion a couple of weeks ago!!!

Wow...at least you got the Banana Splits tune out of my head...and got the small world tune back in it...lololol :D
Have a great day!

[kmsandrbs]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shortiemetoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by McKmouse
We live in Pleasant Hill/Walnut Creek area: We usually go I-580 to I-5 to the I-210 to Hwy 57.

Wow...that's my old stomping grounds!!! I grew up in Pleasant Hill and my parents still live there...really close to the Sunvalley Mall in fact!!!

Hey Shortie – It's a small world after all... LOL!

In fact, really close to where you describe – over in Gregory Gardens :)




Hey ... we're in Pleasant Hill as well (south end, Oak Park).

So we do 680/580/5 and one of our kids favorite things is the windmills on 580 (okay ... it's not really an indicator of going to Disneyland, but they enjoy them anyway :) )

We don't have any regular stops. All previous trips we have had two young kids, now three, and 'regular' is not something that works for them.

Why does everyone stop in Kettleman City for gas? Is it location, other amenities, or price? (or combination)

And we can commiserate with the drive from Longview. Although int the SF Bay Area now, we are from WA, and have done the drive back up many times (frequently to Spokane). Our kids are very experienced at long road trips already.

[McKmouse]

I went to Gregory Gardens Elementry school when it was an elementry school! That school seemed SO BIG when I was little...I went and showed it to my daughter before she started kindergarten...and it is amazing how small it is...lolol
That is such a nice area...I really still miss the east bay...there is always so much to do and San Francisco is just a short BART ride away...no parking problems!!!
My Mom was a member of the first graduating class of Pleasant Hill High School, which is now the adult school...they just had their 50th reunion a couple of weeks ago!!!

Wow...at least you got the Banana Splits tune out of my head...and got the small world tune back in it...lololol :D
Have a great day!

I didn't grow up here (of course transplanted)...so I don't know much about those schools other than I know which ones you speak of.

Can you sing, In the... Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room... LOL

:D

[McKmouse]

Hey ... we're in Pleasant Hill as well (south end, Oak Park).

We don't have any regular stops. All previous trips we have had two young kids, now three, and 'regular' is not something that works for them.

Why does everyone stop in Kettleman City for gas? Is it location, other amenities, or price? (or combination)


Greetings fellow neighbors!

The Kettleman City stop isn't necessarily for gas, it depends on whether or not we need it. The stop has a large sized Chevron, with clean restroom facilites. If hungry, we'll stop here.

Exit 309
Kettleman City / Paso Robles (Highway 41 Junction)

Dining:
Carl’s Jr (24 Hr DT on Fri/Sat)In & Out Burger
Jack in the BoxMcDonalds
Mike’s Rdhouse CaféPizza Hut Express (in Taco Bell)
Quiznos (in Texaco)Subway (in Exxon)
Taco BellTCBY (in Exxon)

Fuel:
76 (Garage)
CFN
Chevron
Exxon
Mobil
Shell
Texaco
Valero w/Corner Store 24 Hrs


:D

[McKmouse]

At Panoche Rd.
Exit 368 there is a :D Foster's Freeze :D

[disneyperson]

Hate that cattle plant. It makes me so sad and they all look so miserable.
Our landmarks?
Pea Soup Andersons.(Hey the sign says it's only 102 miles away !) we always stop there on the way home. We have a collection of the swizzle sticks that they put in the iced tea.

Buttonwillow rest stop. Must stop and get an ice cream from the uber cool vacumn machine.

The oil pumps that look like dinosaurs near Bakersfield

Magic Mountain

The Citadel mall

the Halloween warehouse

and best of all that wonderful place about eight miles from DL where the freeway opens up into something like six lanes!!!!! I can always imagine angels singing.

Harbour exit!!!!!!!!!

Matterhorn and Space Mountain

[McKmouse]

At Lost Hills / Wasco (Junction 46) Exit 278 :

Dining:
Arby’s
Carl’s Jr.
Denny’s - 24 Hrs
Jack in the Box
Love's (Arby's inside- nice bathrooms, at least women's is)
McDonalds
Subway
Wendy’s - 24 hours

Fuel:
76
Arco
Beacon
Chevron
Mobil
Pilot - 24 Hrs
Shell
Texaco

[McKmouse]

We stop here every trip.

Just before the grapevine:

At Laval Rd West Exit 219B (on the right side heading Southbound)

Dining:
Baskin Robbins (in Petro Travel Plaza)
Iron Skillet (in Petro Travel Plaza) - 24hrs
McDonalds
Panda Express
Starbucks – Drive thru open late on weekends approx. 2am
Wendy’s (in Petro Travel Plaza)

Fuel:
Mobil – large, nice bathrooms, lots of snack choices
Petro/ Mobil

At Laval Rd East Exit 219A (on the left side heading Southbound)

Dining:
Burger King (in TA Travel Center)
Mr. B's Ice Cream (in TA Travel Center)
Pizza Hut (in TA Travel Center)
Subway (in Chevron)
Taco Bell Express(in TA Travel Center)

Fuel:
Chevron

:D

[McKmouse]

If there's an exit you like to stop at other than listed or just want to see where you're favorite items are check out:


The I-5 Guide to Food & Services (http://drivei5.com)


Happy Trails!