suze

NewbE, Please give it a rest! Everyone else besides you is trying to be helpful here.



Bottomline is with 5 days you don't have time to linger in Seattle at the start of the trip, even to see only the Pike Place Market and Space Needle would suck up an entire day that you don't have to spare. From SeaTac you could head immediately south for a drive-by of Mt. Rainier I guess.

But... why not fly in to San Francisco instead?

And drive the Pacific Coast Highway. 5 days would be a leisurely pace to do this, and you could actually pick a few highlights to stop along the way.

San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon, SanLuis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Malibu, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego.

suze

Or you could do Seattle to San Francisco only?? Again that would work nicely in 5 days with time for some sight-seeing along the way. Could swing out to the Oregon coast maybe.

Trying to do the entire Pacific Coast in only 5 days you will spend most of your time driving along a not very interesting freeway.

MmePerdu

Honesty and rudeness are most often different things entirely, one meant to help, the other to hurt, though it may take a certain subtlety of thought to perceive it, and not everyone is so equipped, I realize.

marvelousmouse

Ooh. Nice one, mmeperdu!

What drives people away from these boards (if anything does) is lack of moderation and increasingly bad software. If stupid questions and appropriately honest advice killed off travel boards, not a single one would exist. Have you seen the type of questions thorntree gets? But sometimes forums just die. That's all there is to it. I'll be sad when this one goes- I like that it's easy to find stuff and never use messaging or anything else on TA, and fodors does not constantly harass me to review stuff.

Anyway. OP hasn't returned. But I don't think there's much of a chance that it was a genuine question. The only time you drive 1500 miles in 3 days is when you need to get somewhere. Because given the realities of SeaTac and SD traffic, there is really no way they have 5. The only way I can see that as something that will happen is if they had to deliver a car or something, and the OP is just along for the ride, hoping to see some of the west coast. No one would do that drive for tourist reasons, just because, in November.

suze

I believe the question is sincerely and that they really plan to do this trip.

Hopefully our comments will help them figure out a more reasonably do-able plan of action.

happytrailstoyou

<i>Deny all you want, folks, but the rudeness is there, and it is felt, and is driving people away from these boards.</i>

So true. Thanks for calling them out.

"I've got your number...."--Joan Collins to Heather Locklear in "Dallas."

HTtY

MmePerdu

I don't think people come here to be coddled. And I don't think anyone, or few, post without knowing that what they'll get is the unvarnished truth as we see it. It took me one failed foray into the maw before I found that the value far outweighs the chaff that comes with it. There's a great deal to be said for these forums, all forums have a style and Fodor's suits who it suits. There are other good sources of information if it doesn't. Pretty simple, I think, and I also think it isn't going to change, no matter how many times we're told to behave.

timndixieb

Well, my goodness. I truly am back. I am a working person and not able to respond at any given moment. I was checking in tonight in hopes that there might be a response or two. Let me say say thank you for your advice and albeit condescending response.
I'm sorry that my question was so "insane" ...I just thought I would seek advice from seasoned travelers. You gave it. and I thank you.

happytrailstoyou

<i>what they'll get is the unvarnished truth as we see it.</i>

Not as <b>we</b> see it, but as <b>you</b> see it, unfiltered by any courtesy.

HTtY

5alive

TimnDixieb--

If you have already bought your tickets, do be aware that the portion of I-5 through Southern Oregon and Northern California has a lot of hills and curves for a freeway so please don't drive it at night--especially since the route is new to you.

I love the Northwest but I don't think you have time to enjoy it.
I think you got a good idea from Gardyloo that you might want to consider:


"So I'll just throw out the idea that you spend a day in Seattle, then fly (about $100) one way to San Francisco and take a couple of days to drive from SF down to San Diego in warmer conditions. You'll save the cost of the flights in a lower price for the rental car given the massive one-way surcharge you'll get on the Seattle - San Diego option."

IF you go with that idea, often Alaska Airlines has a sale for that route and they are such a friendly airline.

timndixieb

Thank you for the insight We are reconsidering this vast undertaking. In our line of work, we can never get away for long vacations. Having always wanted to "see" the west coast, we thought it possible to drive the coast and take in a few major sights. We live in South Florida on the coast so we are well aware of the gems (hidden and not hidden) that most tourists never see. Since this may well be the ONLY time we ever get back to the West coast, we thought to try to cover a lot of area in that short time. We have read repeatedly, although erroneously, that one could drive a beautiful scenic route along the Pacific coast in a a few days.
I am learning that the highway situation is much unlike that of the east coast.
I didn't mean to incur dismay that that we weren't spending time in Seattle. I have already been to Seattle and Mt Ranier and my husband just wanted a quick tour of Pikes Market and a glimpse of the mountain. Having been there, I am confident that there is time for a walk thru of the market and a drive by.
Having said all that, we will probably try to fly into San Fran and drive the remainder to San Diego.
I appreciate all help but please, i really don't need the comments about how "insane" this is. WE ARE AWARE that it isn't ideal We just wanted to see your side of the country with what little time we can spare.

socaltraveler

I think your new plan is much better. But if you post a question and use the word ridiculous in the title, I think comments that include 'insane' are fair game. The original plan was so far from ideal that people were actually concerned for your safety. Be advised that part of the scenic highway from San Fran(cisco) to San Diego is closed due to mudslide; you will have to detour around that, adding some time to the trip.

timndixieb

social traveler, i thought my use of the word "ridiculous" gave ample acknowledgement that we were aware it wasn't a good plan but what we had to work with.
I certainly didn't mean to cause disharmony in your travel group I do think as a travel forum, a little courtesy to an inquirer would be a given. And most have been helpful and courteous. So thank you.
I will study GoogleMaps and other forums for more advice. Hopefully, we can can enjoy enough highlights to make our trip and drive worthwhile. (we do love a good road trip)

suze

<a little courtesy to an inquirer would be a given>

One would hope

Just take what you can use from the replies. Leave the rest. And enjoy your road trip whatever you choose. It's a fabulously glorious part of the country here in the PNW!

suze, in seattle

marvelousmouse

I like your new plan. If you stick with that, check the dot website to make sure is clear sailing on the coast. I'm not sure Big sur will be open by then, haven't checked recently.

When people talk about driving the coast in a few days, usually they are referring to Highway one in California. You could do Oregon coast in one, and probably Oregon border to LA in two or 3, IF it's August. Which is when most tourists make the drive.

But November means a lot less daylight, not ideal weather, and starting in seattle means two major cities to get through traffic wise. So, that made your original plan unwise to the point where I would be worried about your safety (or at very least, worried that you wouldn't see much worth seeing or you'd miss your flight out of SD). You'd only have time for I5 and the trouble is that a lot of the scenic stuff is a considerable detour from I5.

You could maybe fly into Portland, hit the Oregon coast, visit the redwoods, and then drive highway from SF to below big sur, detour to 1, hit what you can on the coast. One night in Portland, one night in Eureka area, one night SF, One night SB.

It would hit the highlights and it would be a pretty drive. That's what I would do that time of year.

Patty

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge may be rebuilt by November (Caltrans just stated that their original estimate for a September reopening is unlikely to happen) but Hwy 1 through Big Sur will still not be fully open as there's not even an estimated reopening for the Mud Creek area farther south. The current plan is to build a brand new road right over the huge slide which now sits on top of Hwy 1. That could take well into 2018.

Do I understand correctly that it's now a 4 night trip from San Francisco to San Diego? Do you plan to overnight in either of those cities?

timndixieb

Marvelousemouse, this is very useful info.. Thank you so much. It sounds like a better plan.
Patty, we are still with the original timeline-just not going to Seattle now. Arrive In San Francisco before noon. Spend the day and night there. That leaves 3 days for travel and sightseeing. Flying out of San Diego Sun afternoon. Unless of course, we follow marvelous mouse plan.

marvelousmouse

Oh- think I forgot to say- with my plan, I would fly out of LAX not SD. You wouldn't see anything in SD, no time, and it would just be unnessary driving.

Patty

I'd spend at least one night on the Monterey Peninsula and see Big Sur from the north before backtracking to continue on the inland route (101) south. If driving all the way to SD, I'd probably spend the next night around Santa Barbara. If only going as far as LA, you could spend it a little farther north along the central coast anywhere from Cambria to Pismo Beach. Keep an eye on weather conditions in November. It can start raining then though usually not heavy at that time. Storms can cause more rock and mudslides in Big Sur.

Following marvelousmouse's plan going from SF along the coast south into Big Sur and detouring back to 101 to continue to Santa Barbara is anywhere from a 9 to 11 hour drive without stops depending on how far south into Big Sur you drive.

marvelousmouse

No, I said skip Big sur. Only hit coast south of it, detour only as much as they want. If you cut Big sur, you cut the most time consuming part.

But I would assume that with their original plan, they are enthusiastic drivers, so they might not mind your version. I know people who would think nothing of driving 12 hours a day, even in winter.