10 days is a teensy bit rushed, but you'd have enough time for a couple of days in San Francisco, say 3 days on the N. Calif coast (to give time for hiking/redwoods/etc), 2 days on the Oregon coast on to Portland and then to Seattle. Wouldn't give you much time in Portland or Seattle (did you want to visit or just fly out of SeaTac?)

If you could add a couple of days (or drop Seattle - a shame) it would fit better.

Some will suggest Crater Lake and inland Oregon . . . But IMO w/o more days, you just don't have enough time.

I think you have plenty of time to do a lot - assuming you like to drive and see the countryside as I/we do.

Personally - I would enjoy SF - (but since you can more easily get back there - concentrate more on nature this trip) - and then drive up I-5 to say as far as Redding - and then over to the Cal Coast (here are some ideas - http://www.mdvaden.com/grove_of_titans.shtml ) and north from there.

Or - go a bit further on I-5 to the lovely town of Ashland, Oregon and stay overnight there. They have a lovely Shakespeare festival (marvelous outdoor theater) - and it's a hip college town and there is a beautiful park to explore - Lithia. http://www.osfashland.org/?gclid=CKuj4-WZka8CFQOEhwod3n10xg

From there - you could easily find some big Coastal Redwoods (maybe not the monsters found further south - but still big) - by Grants Pass - and you might enjoy his horse riding video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCrLWL1STNE

And depending on your schedule - you could even zip from Ashland up to beautiful Crater Lake and back in half a day. I grew up in nearby Klamath Falls, and loved going to Crater Lake since we were kids way back in the 50's. http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm

Once you get over to the Oregon Coast - it's a beautiful drive and this place (The Surfrider) - has an amazing view - with reasonable rates - at Depoe Bay - just south of Lincoln City. http://surfriderresort.com/

Or - check out staying in "Yurts" - in various places along the Coast/around Oregon: http://oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/rustic.shtml

Further up the Coast from Lincoln City - it's not only a continuing beautiful drive - but you might stop in Tillamook for some of their great cheese - and they also have a very interesting Air Museum there - located in a huge blimp hanger. http://www.tillamookair.com/

From the Tillamook/north Oregon coast area - you can get over to Portland in a couple of hours (maybe a little longer depending on which route you take) - and from there - maybe see the waterfalls out by the Gorge - http://www.theresort.com/multnomah_falls.php along the mighty Columbia River (just east of Portland) - and also visit the Rose Garden and Japanese Tea Gardens and the great zoo in Washington Park - in Portland.

If you really wanted to do something special - and it's a bit more pricey than a bargain hotel - but not too bad - drive to Mt. Hood and stay at the incredible Timberline Lodge for a night. Lot's of history there - including filming some movie scenes - such as The Shining with Jack Nicholson. http://www.timberlinelodge.com/

From Portland to Seattle is about two and a half hours - assuming a straight shot - no traffic.

There are also other posts in here about traveling in Cal, Oregon and Washington.

Some good thoughts above from both posters. My thought would be to fly to Seattle or Portland if cheaper. Drive south from Seattle through Astoria and down the Oregon coast. Spend a night or 2 on the Oregon coast spend another night at Crescent City CA and see your Coast Redwoods. Continue down the CA coast to San Francisco. When you are ready to leave SF, travel north on I-5 stopping at Medford. Leaving Medford take a detour over to Crater Lake if only for a few hours. Travel west on Rt. 138 down the Umpqua River to Roseburg and north on I-5 to Portland or Seattle.
Return your car where you rented it to avoid a big drop off charge.

Some great suggestions! Wow, thank you!

What activities would the 18 year old be interested in?

Interested in dune buggy rides, sand boarding, hiking?

Geez, people... it's an 800-mile drive from San Fran to Seattle, and to think somebody couldn't complete it and see plenty in ten days is crazy.

Indeed they want to see the redwoods, but "3 days" there is too much.

If we treat San Fran as a given... and the redwoods as a given ... then they would be challenged/(forced to commit) if choosing an eastern path through Oregon.

There is simply no reason why "10 days" isn't sufficient for doing exactly what they state they wanted to do.

Obviously they'll land in San Fran... and yeah, it's worth two nights...

Maybe the NoCal coast will be sufficient and they won't need to take-in the Oregon coast too... IF indeed they are interested in Crater Lake and/or points east.

The next night... 320-ish miles away near the redwood park. (a 5-hour drive from SF)

The day after that, you opt either for the Oregon Coast OR for Crater Lake and the eastern path northward.

From Crescent City to Crater Lake is about 3 1/2 hours.


So on that 3rd night, you get your bearings in far-northern California... then see the redwoods the following day.

Maybe plot a night in/near Grants Pass for the 4th night.

The next day, Crater Lake (???) (if so desired).

From there, a drive due north on Hwy #97 through Bend... then Madras, and The Dalles, OR. Columbia Gorge is certainly worth seeing, and if you can work-in Mount Hood as well, that would enhance everything.

Let me see where I am now:

Nights
1 - SF
2 - SF
3 - Near the town of Orick, CA ??
4 - Grants Pass (or perhaps a 2nd night near Orick/Crescent CITY IF there are things you want to do, and didn't do )

5 - Maybe Bend, Oregon??
6 - The Dalles/Hood River, OR area??

decide the logistics of covering both The Columbia Gorge AND Mount Hood on a pass-by somehow.

7 - central Portland (lol - find Powell's Books and shoot for a hotel not far from there - I'd use Priceline.com for the big city lodging)

8 & 9 Maybe someplace in central Seattle ?? (Priceline.com)

(yeah, it would be nice to have daaaaaaaaays to spend in both Portland and Seattle, but to give yourself a taste of each is incentive for future trip planning)

(Fly home from Seattle on the 10th day)

My favorite part of the Oregon coast is between just south of Florence and Lincoln City- in my opinion, there is not a lot to see between Coos Bay and Florence unless you are willing to taking some side trips- but not much to see from the road as you drive by.

I always suggest staying around Yachats- there are three motels/hotels in a row, the Fireside, the Adobe and the Overleaf- Overleaf being the most expensive. Adobe has some rooms with kitchens, they also have a restaurant and great ocean views- all three are on the ocean.

So consider a stop there if it works for you.
My favorite beach on the coast is Devils Elbow - also known as Heceta Head- beautiful lighthouse here and lighthouse keepers house- there are some hiking trails- one takes you to an isolated beach with no car access.

Depoe Bay, Newport and Lincoln City are all interesting stops-

Bend is also a great stop if you like active things to do- so much hiking, rafting, biking- you could easily spend a week there.

I think you would not want to miss the Columbia River Gorge either- many more hiking opportunities here and beautiful scenery.

Weather should be good in July- hope you enjoy your trip

NMMale: Since the brief is "We want to sightsee, hike a little, relax, see the West Coast (my son has never been there) do some artsy things, and have fun...". . . 3 days on the north coast is not too long - IMO. But two at a minimum

"Nights
1 - SF
2 - SF
3 - Near the town of Orick, CA ??"

SF to Orick is a 6.5 hour drive using 101 all the way, mostly NOT on the coast. And it more than 8 hours 'car time' (w/o any stops) using hwy 1. How does that leave time for hiking, relaxing?

SusanBB: 2 days SF, 2 days NorCal Coast, 2-ish days on the OR Coast . . . leaves 4 days for Portland, Seattle and anything else you want to do inland.

Everyone combined has given me ideas! I love JanisJ's simple approach! I have sent away for brochures on everything I can think of, and will check my local library on Monday...Very excited! Thanks one and all..I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this forum!

you can use this link as guide to Oregon coast or order a guide book from them

They show you the Oregon Coast mile by mile with places to dine, stay and play

http://visittheoregoncoast.com/

janisj's so-called "simple approach" is


"... you just don't have enough time"

... which is absolutely insane when talking of getting 800 miles in 10 days!!

The next person's response, fully independent of mine:

"I think you have plenty of time to do a lot..."


JanisJ, your seemingly brief glaze-over of the OP suggest that you missed most of "the brief":

"We will fly to SF... ending up in Seattle, then flying back from there"

Now accept that as a 'given', and work from there.

If the OP wants to fly from Mexico to Spain, or anything else, she'll start another thread.

... and when did she ever say she wanted to hike or relax between San Francisco and Orick ??

When the OP doesn't give truly detailed data relating to what they want to do, and the route on which they want to do it, at least do them the courtesy of paying attention to what they know they want to do.

rant and yell all you want . . . doesn't make your plan 'better' than my totally reasonable/doable option.

I have been to The Redwoods twice, so certainly no expert. My opinion is that one full day would be plenty. Just before you get to the Redwoods(if you are coming from SF) is Patricks Point State Park. This is a nice area for tidepooling(at low tide-check tidetables). I think the best hike in The Redwoods is James Irvine Trail all the way to the ocean. The final portion of the trail is Fern Canyon. You will see the best of everything on this trail. The best short trail is Stout Grove.

I would for sure see Crater Lake.
For Portland, I would see The Rose Garden, and Powells Bookstore. Perhaps a stop at Stumptown Roaster Coffee or Voodoo Doughnuts.

You might consider choosing between Mount Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Hood. Perhaps do just one of those.

Really you could spend all of your time in just Oregon and Northern California and depart from Portland and leave Washington for another trip. I do think that 10 days for both areas is to much-can be done, but you will miss a lot of things.

If you are adventurous consider www.cascade-canyoning.com
We have been with them twice and it is awesome.
You might also want to check out one of the Jet Boat companies. They do this at Grants Pass and a couple of places along the Oregon coast.

http://www.redwoodhikes.com/

Link to a good website for hiking in Redwoods. The complete list starts about half way down the page.

Just a thought. If you make it to Ashland for July 4th, you and your son will have fun.Parade of small town weirdness, coupled with a party in the park afterwards.
http://www.ashlandchamber.com/Page.asp?NavID=784