Pacific Coast Music Trail

Welcome to Seattle, an exciting urban city surrounded by unmatched natural beauty. Upon arrival, pick-up your rental car and proceed to your hotel. Long before people began singing along to today's catchy songs by The Head and the Heart, Fleet Foxes and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Jimi Hendrix masterfully tuned up his electric guitar in the late 1960s to stun the world, bringing attention to the Seattle music scene. In the mid-1980s, the city became famous for its grunge music movement, and the bands Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains went from obscurity to mega stardom. Visit the Museum of Pop Culture, known as MoPop for short, and see exhibits dedicated to popular culture, especially local and international music. You'll find plenty of legendary venues to see musicians perform their magic. Watch today's top artists at the historic Columbia City Theatre and feel the Jazz-era vibe of stars like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles, who took the stage in the 1940s. Check the entertainment schedules at Neumos and The Showbox to hear emerging Indie artists. Plan carefully, and you can see full line-ups of great bands at the Bumbershoot, Sasquatch, Upstream Music Fest + Summit, and Northwest Folklife festivals. Before leaving town, shop for vinyl albums at a number of record stores, including Easy Street Records.

Depart Seattle's music scene to go outdoors and explore Olympic National Park, a diverse park spanning many different ecosystems, from the glaciated peaks of the Olympic Mountains, to ancient rainforests and the shores of Lake Crescent and the Pacific Ocean. The park is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise and a definite multi-night destination not to be missed as part of your journey.

Rejoin the quest to hear great music in Portland, known as "America's Indie Rock Mecca", where the music scene thrives. Bands emerging from the city include The Dandy Warhols, Blitzen Trapper, the Decemberists and The Shins. Catch local favourites playing at the Crystal Ballroom, The Doug Fir and The Roseland Theatre. As well as being home to several record stores of all sizes, Portland also hosts many music events and festivals, including Concerts in the Park, MusicFestNW and PDX Pop Now. Enjoy the counterculture character of Portland at its many microbreweries, downtown food truck scene and the Willamette River waterfront. Craving a classic night? Take in a performance by the Oregon Symphony or the Portland Opera.

Take a detour to the explore Oregon Wine Country in the Willamette Valley, known internationally for its exceptional pinot noir. More than 550 wineries operate in the region and this is a perfect place to stop on your way to the spectacular Pacific coast. At the Red Hills Market in Dundee, eat a meal of locally-sourced food then afterwards, go across the street to the tasting room at the Argyle Winery. Follow the Oregon Coastal Highway, exploring quaint towns and seascapes, before arriving in Coos Bay, home to the Oregon Coast Music Festival, where you can hear classical concerts featuring musicians from around the USA and Canada. While here, enjoy local seafood and beautiful beaches.

Arrive in San Francisco and bask in the history of this city, which was the heart of the 1960s hippie subculture. During the 1967 "Summer of Love", over 100,000 people converged on the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood. Visit the famous street corner today, see where the Grateful Dead band lived at 710 Ashbury St and walk to Buena Vista Park to gaze down at the colourful Victorian homes. Mix history with current music by catching today's big names at The Fillmore, a 1912 venue that once drew legends like Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones and Prince. Over the years, San Francisco hosted the Beatles' final live show at Candlestick Park and Led Zeppelin at Kezar Stadium. In the city where Green Day, Journey and Credence Clearwater Revival got their start, must-visit music venues include Club Deluxe for great jazz, Bottom of the Hill for local Indie and hip-hop artists and Feinstein's at the Nikko for shows with a Broadway flair.

After a fun stay in San Francisco, relax on a drive south on Highway One along the California coast through Monterey, home to the Monterey Jazz Fest in September, one of the world's longest-running jazz festivals. Plan your stay to be part of the incredible event, or continue south to spend the night in one of the many Pacific Ocean towns, such as Morro Bay, San Simeon or Cambria.

Continue your journey along the breathtaking California coast, stopping in Santa Barbara for lunch, before arriving in Los Angeles, the business hub of the music industry and home to Capitol Records and A&M Records. On the drive, sing along to Beach Boys tunes or listen to Dick Dale's surf music guitar riffs. A multi-year host of the Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles also features some iconic venues like the Troubadour, Greek Theatre and Hollywood Bowl. The famed Sunset Strip in West Hollywood continues to attract music fans to Whiskey a Go Go, which once hosted The Doors and Led Zeppelin; the Viper Room, the one-time home of the Pussycat Dolls; and the Roxy, a legendary stage where new artists kick-start their careers. The City of Angels is a must-stop destination for any music enthusiast, and definitely a multi-night stay is in order to indulge in what this diverse city offers. Los Angeles is home to many stars and a visit to celebrity hangouts like the Ace Hotel, Chateau Marmont or Wolf Gang Puck's restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air could result in a celebrity sighting.

Leave the Pacific coast for the two-hour drive to Palm Springs, where the stars go to relax. Home to the famous Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals, the Empire Polo Club has become a major music event venue. Coachella spans two weekends in April, and all genres of music are represented. Past performers include Coldplay, The Cure, Sir Paul McCartney, Calvin Harris, Guns N'Roses and Lady Gaga. Stagecoach, also in April, focuses on country music and stars have included Shania Twain, Willie Nelson, Brooks and Dunn, and Carrie Underwood. If you cannot plan a visit to coincide with a festival, Palm Springs still has great live music venues, including Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, the Purple Room Supper Club and the McCallum Theatre.

Drive north for four hours to Las Vegas, known as the "Entertainment Capital of the World". Although synonymous with mega casinos, Las Vegas has been the home to a veritable who's who in the history of the music industry. Legends who have performed, or had residencies in, Las Vegas include Elvis Presley, Sonny and Cher, Dolly Parton, The Rat Pack, Barbra Streisand and Liberace, with recent residencies by Celine Dion, The Who, Elton John, Britney Spears and Cher performing at such iconic venues as the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, The AXIS at Planet Hollywood, Park Theatre at Park MGM and new venue Sphere, opened in October 2023 with a residency by U2. Touring artists make stops at The T-Mobile Arena and the MGM Grand Garden Arena. In addition to great headlining acts, Las Vegas' resorts also feature some of the best lounge entertainment in the world. Stay more than one night, because there is so much to see and do.

Return your rental car prior to your departure flight.