Good Places to Get off the Trail for a Few Days

[Chance09]

I was just curious if there are any convienent places to get off the trail North of Kennedy Meadows for a few days and go hangout somewhere nice. My girlfriend wants to either end up in a city with plenty to do where not having a car won't be a huge deal or a really scenic area with a bed and breakfast or two.

Anyone have any suggestions from past experience?

[burger]

Portland is just 45 minute or so west of Cascade Locks--awesome city, tons to do, you absolutely don't need a car. If you're NOBO, it would be a great place to rest up for a few days before tackling Washington (not that WA is all that hard, but it's harder than OR).

[Dogwood]

Details. Are you talking about while being on a NOBO PCT thru-hike or while on some other hike? And, if you are talking about meeting up with your girlfriend while thru-hiking the PCT NOBO, which I'll assume for the moment you are, how soon after KM are you planning on meeting her? Anytime in the next 3 months near the PCT? Say within 20-30 miles off the trail? After all, if you are on a PCT NOBO thru-hike, you have 1/2 of Cali, all of OR, and all of WA still to hike north of KM. There are many places you could get off the trail, into a city/town, enjoy plenty of culture and scenery, not be in a big hassel without an automobile, and enjoy quality time together at a quaint B&B/Inn. Lots of great places I think would work for you but I think it's fruitless to recommend any of those places if they don't make sense for you and her.

[Miner]

Mammoth Lakes is about 12-14 trail days north of Kennedy Meadows. Its a popular large town with both hikers and tourists. They run a free shuttle bus through the town so getting around is easy. You can get there by flying into Reno and taking a CREST bus south. South Lake Tahoe would be another place that has bus service around town that is near Reno. Once you leave Tahoe heading north, the rest of California is remote and the towns are small for the most part with the exception of Mt.Shasta.

[Dogwood]

Oops. My bad Chance09. I didn't see that this is the PCT forum.

Mammoth Lakes - easy for you to get there, she would probably fly into Reno, Fresno and take a longish bus ride to get there, small scenic easy to get around town, coming up soon north of KM on the PCT

Yosemite Valley - Ahwahnee Hotel($$$), but Shwweet! and romantic, relatively easy for you to get there, she would fly into San Fran and take a rather comfortable Amtrak/bus shuttle to the doorstep of the Ahwahnee, or fly into Reno and take bus to Tuolomne Medaows(fabulously scenic, right on trail for you) and then the two of you could take the short bus ride into YV to spend a day or two, if she likes the outdoors and has never been to YV this might be very nice for the two of you

South Lake Tahoe or Reno - scenic, realatively easy for you to get there, she could fly into Reno, take shortish bus to S. Lake Tahoe, gambling, restaurants, etc.

Portland - easy for her to get there, she would fly into Portland, great restaurants/cafes/coffee shops, nightlife, scenery(take her to the rose and Japanese Gardens(could be romantic), oodles of places to stay, harder for you to get there you need to take bus or hitch possibly from Cascade Locks, at least 60 days away!

Seattle

[A-Train]

South Lake Tahoe is easy for her to get to and there are plenty of places to stay, the lake is pretty and you guys could check out the casinos. Also, this a good place to take a couple days off. Many hikers are emotionally and physically warn out after they are done with the Sierra and Yosemite area and after Tahoe you will start clicking off serious miles.

If she flies into Redding, she could get up to the I-5 and Mt. Shasta City is a cute place to hang for a bit. They have a huge movie theater, natural food store, outfitter and hotels and good food.

Ashland OR is also accesible by public transp. and has everything but is spread out. Definitely a fun little hippy town to hang in for a few days (there is a college there and the Shakespeare festival).

As mentioned, Cascade Locks or PDX is an obvious choice. You'll be able to celebrate being so close to the end and there are no shortages of rides between CL and PDX because of the amazing hiker network in this area.

[sbhikes]

Big Cities:
Las Vegas (you'll have to drive).
Lake Tahoe. There's the California side and the Nevada side. If you go to the Nevada side you can do some gambling.
Reno
San Francisco (you'll have to drive).
Ashland. See a play or just relax.
Portland
Seattle

Cute small towns:
Lone Pine. The views are amazing. If you have a car, you could drive up to see Manzanar and the Bristlecone Pines which are amazing. These are also available from Independence or Bishop.
There's a nice one in Etna. You'll likely go there anyway. It's a cute town and the B&B is very relaxing.

[Chance09]

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I really appreciate it. You all saved me hours of stopping in town and doing research which is the last thing I really want to do while thru hiking. Thanks again.

[Sly]

Mamouth or June Lakes. If you have a car be sure to check out Bodie State Park (ghost town)