My wife, mom, and step dad are heading from Louisville KY to Seattle, renting a car and after spending 3 days or so in Seattle, driving leisurely down the coast through Oregon and Northern CA to San Francisco. We'll finish our trip with 3 days or so in San Fran and maybe visit over to Reno? The trip from Seattle to San Fran can take up to 5 days or so. We're going to take our time, hitting various hotels or bed and breakfasts. I need some thoughts on what to see, especially on the trip down through Oregon and Northern CA. There is a lot of info on Seattle and San Fran, but I need to know about the "in between." Also, does anyone have any opinions on flights? I have noticed that I can get a round trip going to Seattle but leaving from San Fran back to Louisville for less than $400 with Northwest and Delta. Can anyone imagine a scenario where waiting a few months (we're not going until September) would score cheaper flights? I know fuel cost is a big factor, but I just figured if I wait until summer, the prices will go up? Any thoughts on car rental, flights, or things to see are appreciated.
Reply to this Crater Lake National Park in south central Oregon is a must! It is a beautiful park and not to be missed. Also, near Crescent City, CA just below
the CA/OR state line is Redwood National Park- the trees are unbelievable. Also, about midway to San Francisco is Humboldt Redwood State Park
--here the redwood trees are truly magnificent. These are some of the tallest trees in the world. Drive along Avenue of the Giants and see for yourself.
When in San Francisco, be sure and eat Dungeness crab at Scoma's, Fisherman's Wharf (ask for directions). Visit Chinatown and eat a real Chinese
meal -- enjoy the architecture and culture.
We took the All San Francisco City/Alcatraz bus tour and it was wonderful. We went all over the city and out some. We went to Alcatraz on our own
and it was a great tour--be sure to get the audio (ear phones)- this is a great audio, with sound effects and comments from former prisoners.
Be sure and take jackets-- we were in San Francisco in August and the nights were quite cold and windy.
Have fun and stay safe.
Reply to this Does Southwest Airlines fly from Louisville? They tend to have great airfare options (usually one-way, and you'll likely have at least one stop.) Take a ferry in Seattle - walk-on tickets are cheap. Take a coffee on a sunny morning, and just enjoy the view. Pike Place Market is a must, but skip the Space Needle. The view from Kerry Park on Queen Anne hill is just as good, and free.
Reply to this $400 is quite a good price to for the Louisville-Seattle leg, especially if your return flight is from a different airport. I've made the KY-Seattle trip NUMEROUS times on Delta (U of K student now, originally from Seattle) and $350-450 is almost always what I end up spending unless it was summer travel, in which case I averaged about $450-$550. You might be able to get a cheaper fare if you flew out of Lexington or Cincinnatti.
As for what to see on your way out there, it really depends on what your interests are. I second to the notion to skip the ride up the Space Needle and head up to Kerry Park instead. Mt. St. Helens can be very pleasent that time of year as can Mt. Rainier if you like to get out and hike. Both are within a few hours drive from Seattle. On your way south, you'd probably be able to find a nice bed & breakfast somewhere along the Columbia Gorge, but don't discount Portland as another wonderful city to explore (it's like Seattle, only without all the tourist hype). You can get some beautiful views if you detour from the main roads and explore a little. I always recommend happy hour at the Portland City Grill. Great food, a fabulous view of the city (it's on the 30th floor), and super-cheap prices to boot. If you like to mingle with the aprés hour crowd, that's the place to be.
Reply to this In the two times I've been to California, I've been to San Fran and north of there. Napa Valley and that area is fun if you're into wine tasting and vineyards. If you're looking for a place to relax and just be a part of local culture, the small little towns north of Frisco (especially Mendocino) are just the ticket. Plus they are right along the coast and give you great views of the ocean. It's misty and overcast, but gives it so much charm and beauty I can't imagine going to Northern California and not seeing it.
As for flights, it's really hard to predict when they go up and down in cost. It's like trying to predict the stock market almost. I've looked at flights that were relatively cheap a month before the flight, really cheap two weeks before the flight, and then doubled the original cost a week before the flight... (that was United and Delta). My recommendation would be to find a price you consider a "steal" and keep checking the websites regularly to see if you can see a price you're willing to pay until you absolutely have to buy a ticket. Sometimes if you check often enough, you'll find some trends. Also, I'm sure you know this but i'll put it out there anyway... if you can fly on a nonweekend day, those flights are sometimes cheaper than weekends.
Reply to this I also would HIGHLY recommend Crater Lake. If you want to do something really fun, stay overnight at the Crater Lake Lodge. It's pricey, but well worth it for a night if you can swing it. It's the only hotel that sits right on the Lake and naturally allows for you to be there for both sunrise and sunset. If you're interested you should check out some of my pictures when I was there just about a year ago (
The Oregon Trail). Absolutely amazing. 😊 Also, the famous Painted Desert can be seen in southern Oregon so you should definitely get that on your list of detours.
Enjoy your time in Seattle & San Fran - they are two of my favorite cities as well (I spend a lot of time there).
Reply to this I'm new here but wasnt this question asked in January!?
My top places would be: San Fran, San Jose, Craker Lake (could agree anymore), following the coastal route, Yosemite National Park. Didnt make Monterey but heard it's great...
Reply to this Hi Michael. The question was asked in January, but it was indicated that they weren't leaving until September, so I think people have continued to post suggestions since they haven't gone on their trip yet.
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