San Francisco, Portland, & Seattle Honeymoon
 

Hi all! My fiancé and I are getting married May 20, 2017 and will leave for our honeymoon May 21st. We fly into San Francisco and will fly out of Seattle on June 1st (so we have 10 full days). Our thoughts were to spend a couple of days in San Francisco and then rent a car and drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. I definitely want to spend some time in Portland and Seattle. Can anyone suggest 'must dos' on the drive? We are not looking to have every day/moment planned but would like to know if there are things we shouldn't miss. Thank you in advance!

Are you sure that you don't want to drive one way either on I-5 or through Bend to return the car where you rented it?
An open jaw is fine if you don't have a big drop fee.
If you did come back on an inland route, you could stop to see Crater Lake. There will still be snow and you would have to enter through the south entrance.
I prefer driving US 101 southbound just so that all turns into overlooks are right turns. That is my personal preference. US 101 north of San Francisco is not called the PCH.
While in Portland drive east on I-84 and see the great waterfalls including Multnomah (tallest in Oregon).

Thank you, tomfuller. Our goal is to get to the PCH. We just wanted to spend some time in San Francisco and hopefully wind up at a winery. Thank you for the suggestions...Multnomah is definitely on the list!

Ten days is a VERY short time for San Francisco, some wineries, the coast, plus 'some time' in Portland and Seattle.

With even just 2 days each in SF/Portland/Seattle -- that is your entire 10 days right there (to get 2 full days in a city requires 3 nights). To manage that you would need to fly SF > Portland and take a train Portland > Seattle. That leaves no time at all for the coast/wine country.

If you only stay 2 nights in each city then you could <i>just</i> about drive the route -- but wouldn't have a lot of time to relax/see things.

I assume you have already booked your tickets?? If so you are sort of stuck -- unless you pay a change fee.



(>>Our goal is to get to the PCH<<

Just a hint. 'PCH' is really a southern California thing.)

With a mere 10 days, forget Portland and Seattle and spend the time in California.

We have flights booked, I am only looking for suggestions on what we should look into on our trip up 101.

We have both been to San Francisco before. Not looking to do much in the city.

If you've been there before why did you start there instead of ending there?
With your air tickets bought, perhaps the easiest would be to See San Francisco for a day and then get on the train (Coast Starlight) in the evening and ride it to Eugene or Portland and rent a car there to see Oregon and Washington coastal areas and the waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge.
Do you know what your drop fee will be if you rent at SFO and drop at SEA?

>>We fly into San Francisco and will fly out of Seattle on June 1st (so we have 10 full days)<<

Not really you will have maybe half a day on the 21st and will likely be pretty corked due to the wedding/festivities/travel. Then you fly out on the 1st so you have about 9 full days to play with.

>>We have both been to San Francisco before. Not looking to do much in the city.<<

But you <i>did</i> say you wanted two days there. That leaves you at VERY most 7 days for three states.

>>our trip up 101<<

101 does not hit the coast until Eureka so you wouldn't be seeing the California coast if you take 101.

But it seems your minds are set . . .

"We have both been to San Francisco before."

Then I can't help but wonder why you changed your itinerary from just the NW to include San Francisco, a very impractical change. Your first plan had you in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver & Victoria, if I recall correctly, and while ambitious, at least had more proximity going for it. I suggest you fly directly from San Francisco to Portland, see the Oregon coast then proceed to Seattle. You might have time for an overnight in the San Juan Islands, a nice close addition.

I didn't realize you had posted earlier plans. MmeP has a good idea -- skip SF and the CA coast altogether. Fly directly up to Portland from SFO a few hours after your arrival. Even just Portland, a bit of the the OR coast, OR and/or WA wineries, and Seattle is a lot for the 9 days you will have.

Highway 1 north of San Francisco to Westport is very scenic, but it's a hard drive full of twists and turns.

Were I you, I would head for the redwoods in northern California and then up the Oregon coast. It is a pleasing drive on 101. The stretch of 101 from Brookings to Port Orford offers many sweeping ocean views, and the region between Florence and Newport passes around spectacular Cape Perpetua. Brandon, Florence, Yachats, Newport, and Cannon Beach are towns of particular interest.

The waterfalls in the Columbia River gorge are one of Oregon's most visited attractions.

Also high on my list is a drive to Paradise on Mt. Rainier, which I have done at least once a year all my life except for a time I was living in New York City. To stand at the foot of the looming mountain is a thrilling experience. (The awe-resistant disagree.)

HTtY

This post is for the original plan:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...n-628381-2.cfm

The new one is, I think, not an improvement logistically.

Sorry but HTtY's plan isn't realistic for the 9-ish days you have - especially since you must end up in Seattle by the evening before you fly out (and a couple of days earlier if you want to see any of Seattle itself).

You really need to dial back the amount of territory you want to cover -

If San Francisco and Seattle flights are already booked and paid for, I guess you need to work with that. But you're covering a lot of ground for only 10 days' time.

Since you've been to SF before maybe just rent your car immediately and start driving. Head for the Oregon Coast. Drive thru the Willamette Valley. Skip Portland. Allow 2-3 days at the end in Seattle so you can see the city a bit.

<<Thanks, suze! It helps to see it like that! Back to the drawing board...>>

Sorry but this new plan is even more impractical than the one I answered about back in January!!

:-)

May has 31 days, so it's 10 full days, not 9.

I have no problem with the plan actually.

May 21 - Arrive in SF, sleep in SF
May 22 and 23rd, two full days in SF, sleep in SF
May 24, 25, 26, driving to Portland, sleep where you are on the 24th and 25th, end up in Portland for the night of the 26th.
May 27 and 28 - two full days Portland, sleep in Portland
May 29 - drive to Seattle. Sleep in Seattle
May 30 and 31 - two full days in Seattle. Sleep in Seattle
June 1 - fly home from Seattle.

Oh -- you are right re the days -- used a 30 day month ;)

But still SF to Portland in two+ days is horribly fast paced IMO/IME

There's a difference of opinion as to the advisability of the new plan. That means to me that it's going to be pretty much a forced march as now conceived, and here's my feelings about it, not as fun as it could be. It would seem to be a good reason to cut back. Always nicer to have plenty of time rather than not quite enough, I think.

I'd start by comparing drop-off charges for the car, SF to Seattle or Portland-Seattle. The difference could be a contribution to flights to Portland. Northern CA and the coast is fun as a meandering sort of adventure and much less so on a short timeline. That, to me, is enough of a reason to reboot.

sf7307, this is exactly what we were thinking...

May 21 - Arrive in SF, sleep in SF
May 22 and 23rd, two full days in SF, sleep in SF
May 24, 25, 26, driving to Portland, sleep where you are on the 24th and 25th, end up in Portland for the night of the 26th.
May 27 and 28 - two full days Portland, sleep in Portland
May 29 - drive to Seattle. Sleep in Seattle
May 30 and 31 - two full days in Seattle. Sleep in Seattle
June 1 - fly home from Seattle.

We are not tied down to spending time in San Francisco (thinking there are a few vineyards a little north). Since I have not made the north drive from there, we are looking for spots off the highway (an hour or so at most). I have driven from Louisiana to California and back in 14 days. We stopped wherever we wanted along the way (Dallas, Austin, Carlsbad, Tucson, San Diego, LA, San Fran, Lake Tahoe, and back). It was quick but this is the kind of trip we are looking for.

I really do appreciate everyone's input! We are just looking for suggestions along the way (maybe a specific winery someone would recommend or a nice place to stay or eat). Thank you!