SO Excited!!! (? for OR and WA travelers)

[Dakota_Lynn]

I was wondering about highway 101 as well. Since it's closer to the coast, would it be less likely to have snow? It's something worth looking in to! A backup plan is always a good thing!

I take my daughter (15) out of school every year for Disneyland. I can't stand going in the summertime because of the heat and crowds; same thing with spring break. So we go once a year, usually in late October, and so far her grades haven't suffered and her teachers have been perfectly supportive. I wouldn't recommend this if your kids miss a lot of school, but Robin has nearly perfect attendence...she never gets sick! So her yearly vacation is typically the only days she misses except for an early afternoon here and there for a doctor's appointment!

 

[DLovinFam]

I was wondering about highway 101 as well. Since it's closer to the coast, would it be less likely to have snow? It's something worth looking in to! A backup plan is always a good thing!

I take my daughter (15) out of school every year for Disneyland. I can't stand going in the summertime because of the heat and crowds; same thing with spring break. So we go once a year, usually in late October, and so far her grades haven't suffered and her teachers have been perfectly supportive. I wouldn't recommend this if your kids miss a lot of school, but Robin has nearly perfect attendence...she never gets sick! So her yearly vacation is typically the only days she misses except for an early afternoon here and there for a doctor's appointment!

I had considered taking the kids out of school, but wasn't sure how hard that would be for the older ones catch up. My girls don't miss much school either and they do well. That's nice to know the teachers were supportive. I wasn't sure how that would be either. Does your dd just make up the work when she gets back? We wanted to surprise the kids this time and they may catch on if we told them to get all of their school work from their teachers ahead of time. lol Plus, I don't know when they'd have time to do it.

When we went in 2000, The girls were in kindergarten and 3rd grade. We took them out of school for a week in Oct. We rented a motor home and got their work ahead of time. (I don't think my kindie had much work) Anyways, they were able to work on it on the trip down in the motor home. That worked out nicely.

Thank you!

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

I have done it twice - from Victoria.

Last year there was not a hitch, it was a beautiful drive where rain was rare.

Did it a few years ago and it was really nasty around the Oregon/California border. Snowing and sticking. I took it easy but with all the ups and downs and too many idiots not driving for the conditions it was kind of scary. Thought someone might plow into me.

 

[DLovinFam]

I have done it twice - from Victoria.

Last year there was not a hitch, it was a beautiful drive where rain was rare.

Did it a few years ago and it was really nasty around the Oregon/California border. Snowing and sticking. I took it easy but with all the ups and downs and too many idiots not driving for the conditions it was kind of scary. Thought someone might plow into me.

Thank you. It's just so hard to know! I'm considering another time of year (or taking a different route) so I don't need to worry about the weather so much.

 

[lisah0711]

If you can find a kids fly free deal on Alaska it is really worth it. Maybe if you factor in the extra driving days and time off from work. We fly nonstop from Spokane to LAX and just got a fare for December for less than $200 each. It is awfully nice to leave your house early in the morning and be walking through the park gates by noon that day!

 

[gnbuggy]

Fog and snow....that does not sound fun. I'm trying to think of another time of year, besides summer that the kids have some time off. I don't mind taking my youngest out of school for a week....he'd be in kindergarten, but my girls will be in middle school and high school and I'd hate to take them out for a week and have them get behind. I was thinking of next Oct. but they really don't have much time off then. The grade school kids do, but not the older kids.

I wonder what traveling hwy 101 would be like weather wise in March? I know it would take longer.....but....any thoughts on that?

We are in the Portland area....Hillsboro. Where in Oregon are you, gnbuggy?
Thank you for your help.

We have never gone the 101 route. DSS lives way east of Sacramento, so it would add alot of time for us. DSSs teachers aways gives him work packettes of homework. Last trip he had it done before we picked him up! He is in the 7th grade now. We have never heard any complaints of taking him out of school from mom or teachers. Which is lucky for us. We like going to DL on the off seasons.
SIL and I think that 101 would take too long.
I am in Eugene.

 

[Captjackson]

Wow I guess it can just be so different from year to year. I keep going back and forth on going in March. lol Good thing we have lots of time to think about it. If an alternate route would avoid possible snow, then I'll probably plan on March with a back up plan (hwy 101). I sure wish our van took chains then I wouldn't worry about it.

Thank you!

I would guess that there'd be less chance of snow on 101. Still, 101 in Oregon does have the occasional landslide during heavy rains, and we do get some snow in the coast range. Once I drove back from LA to Lincoln City, before heading inland, on US101. It's a nice trip, but does take longer than I-5. (Of course, driving over the Golden Gate almost makes it worth it.) That was about 12 years ago, and it was in June.

Guess weather during that time is really luck of the draw. Best bet (IMO) would be to plan on I-5, but having plans for using 101 if needed. I think you do run the risk of losing a day in travel due to weather. (During our trip back in February, we had 6 full days to spend in Anaheim, so even a one day setback would still have left us with 5 days at DLR.)

BTW, what kind of van do you drive? Why doesn't it take chains?

 

[DLovinFam]

Thanks everyone for your help. It gives me alot to think about.

To answer the question about our van and chains.....We have a 2005 Honda Odyssey, and the manual says it won't take chains. Maybe that has changed by now (or by then) and someone will make chains to fit our van.

I think I will still plan for Spring break (Last week of March) and cut over to 101 if we have to. We may consider flying. We do love road trips though. We always travel during the day and spend the night along the way.

Thanks again!