Hubby and I are celebrating 20 yrs by driving up the west coast. I'm looking for suggestions on best stops, romantic places to stay as well as some inexpensive. Definite places we want to see are Carmel, Napa area, SF, and redwoods. I have never been north of SF in CA and never in Oregon. I have a place to stay in Seattle so need no suggestions there. If anyone has suggestions on car rentals too I would appreciate it as we will be picking up a car in San Jose airport and leaving it in Seattle. PLanning our trip in mid September.

Should add we are planning on spending 2 wks doing the trip

To avoid a one way charge, this is what I would do:
Rent at San Jose for central California (5 days?) and then return it and take the Amtrak Coast Starlight north to Portland Oregon. Rent another car there (downtown). Go to the Oregon coast and drive it southbound all the way past Brookings to the Crescent City CA area for the Redwoods. Drive US 199 to the Grants Pass area to I-5. Take I-5 south to the Gold Hill exit and Rt. 234 to get to Rt. 62 to get to the south entrance of Crater Lake. Exit Crater Lake by the north entrance and head for Bend.
See Bend including the High Desert Museum. Head from Bend via Madras and Rt. 35 (Mt. Hood) to the town of Hood River.
Return the Portland rental car and take any of the Cascades trains to Seattle.

Tom -- are you on Amtrak's payroll? you tell everyone to take amtrak -- these folks <i>want a road trip up the coast</i>.

It makes no sense to do a loop from/to San Jose, then another huge loop from Portland, and yet another train. Not only is that convoluted as heck -- those train tickets will likely cost more than the oneway drop off fees.

lep1116: From San Jose it is an easy drive down to Carmel/Monterey. I'd stay 2 nights in that area. Then up to the Napa/Sonoma area for 2 nights (I personally prefer the Sonoma Valley), then through the Alexander Valley and up the coast to Mendocino for two nights. One or two nights in the Redwoods (partly depends on whether you want to do much hiking) Then three nights on the Oregon coast (lots of options -- opinions vary on which are the best places to stop over). Portland for a couple of nights. then Seattle. But that only leave you a night or two in Seattle. If you want more time there cut back to one night in the Redwoods and/or 2 nights on the Oregon coast/one night in Portland.

Taking the train for two might add up to the one-way charge.

Browse through these pictures for things to see north of San Francisco:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7631954074484/

The Anderson Valley (CA 128) has some very nice wineries.

https://www.google.com/#q=anderson+v...flfq=1&tbm=lcl

You'll want to stay in or at least visit Mendocino. Farther north, Ferndale might be a good place for an overnight stay.

http://www.victorianferndale.com/

I would go up the Oregon coast and then go inland in Washington State to see Mt. St. Helens and Mt Rainier NP on the way to Seattle.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...57622981132189

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7622991196341/

I like michael's idea of going north into Washington and skipping Portland. Ferndale is a wonderful place to stay between Mendocino and Oregon.

<i>Tom -- are you on Amtrak's payroll?</i>

An interrogation more off topic than the post it feels entitled to chastise.

HTtY

I totally explained my criticism . . . your post helped how?

As I read it, it is a one way starting in San Jose to Seattle.
On Thursday 3/26 I had lunch on board the Southwest Chief with Mark Murphy (Sr. VP of Amtrak LD routes). We had a discussion about his efforts to save the current route of the SWC.
Check my latest trip report. My last breakfast on the Coast Starlight was sitting at the Klamath Falls station while we were waiting for departure time because we arrived 47 minutes early. I had a good trip on my 40K Amtrak Guest Rewards Points.

It may be too late, but would it be possible at all to reverse your direction? That way, in mid-late September you'd have a better chance of good weather following you from north to south.

In northern California we stay in Garberville--a town that has the real flavor of Humboldt County.

The Best Western there has large rooms, a evening social hour, and a big breakfast. The hotel is popular with tourists and those who have business in the area.

Nearby is a very good place for dinner--Cecil's. Enjoy.

PS <i>I totally explained my criticism . . . your post helped how?</i> If your goal is to be quizzical and contentious, you have achieved it.

I have not booked anything as of yet. Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I don't really need to spend lots of time sight seeing in Seattle as I have been there done that. Main reason I am going there at all is to spend time with a sister. I'm thinking starting North and heading south may be better as my sister would possibly travel with us for a short time. I will start booking things next month as I need some time for research. Keep the ideas coming!!!

Ideas for lodging along the way

Requa Inn- this is just a few miles south of Crescent City- an old restored inn with a great restaurant. For great views you can continue up the road to the Klamath Overlook- there are some hiking trails and sometimes the whales are feeding down below.

Yachats- you could stay at either the Adobe, the Fireside or the Overleaf- they are close to each other, on the water, the Adobe has a restaurant with great views and the Overleaf is the most high end of the three- there is a nice beach for walking that connects the 3

Depoe Bay- The Channel House- overlooks the harbor- some of the rooms have private hot tubs on the deck- this would be a nice romantic place for celebrating the anniversary. Have dinner at the Tidal Raves

Huge ditto for the Requa Inn. Great food.