06-09-2013, 04:35 PM
Thank you so much, everyone, I really didn't expect so many replies (and those I received in email as well), and my apologies to Rob for the non-Hawaii nature of this thread. I knew there were some here who had lived in the Pacific Northwest hence my request, but didn't expect quite so much information. This really is wonderful, thank you again.
Just to answer a couple of things: I think we're stuck with November for travel dates. The good thing with this is that the prices for hotels are significantly cheaper. I'm also thinking plan B in case the weather is really bad, but also I don't mind the cold and rain since I lived in the UK for so long, and Pam is OK with rain as well having grown up in the desert!
Secondly, I'm thinking of a 3-week trip with about a week spent traveling from San Francisco to Astoria. I'd like to spend 3 nights in Astoria, 3 in Portland where I'll drop the car off and then 4 in Seattle before taking the train back to the Santa Barbara area (where Pam is). Looking at the schedule, this means about a week driving between San Francisco and Astoria (near Portland), so am still hoping Highway 1 is a possibility but will come up with a plan B. I can tweak things by a day or two as well I think but am also treating this as a scouting trip for future stays since it looks to be such a beautiful area, and I've pretty much nailed the Californian central coast for everything I want to see there!
Originally I thought of driving all the way to Seattle but dropping off a one-way rental car there from LA costs an extra $400 compared to dropping it off in Portland, so we'll take the train from there I think.
Thanks again, everyone.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/
Just to answer a couple of things: I think we're stuck with November for travel dates. The good thing with this is that the prices for hotels are significantly cheaper. I'm also thinking plan B in case the weather is really bad, but also I don't mind the cold and rain since I lived in the UK for so long, and Pam is OK with rain as well having grown up in the desert!
Secondly, I'm thinking of a 3-week trip with about a week spent traveling from San Francisco to Astoria. I'd like to spend 3 nights in Astoria, 3 in Portland where I'll drop the car off and then 4 in Seattle before taking the train back to the Santa Barbara area (where Pam is). Looking at the schedule, this means about a week driving between San Francisco and Astoria (near Portland), so am still hoping Highway 1 is a possibility but will come up with a plan B. I can tweak things by a day or two as well I think but am also treating this as a scouting trip for future stays since it looks to be such a beautiful area, and I've pretty much nailed the Californian central coast for everything I want to see there!
Originally I thought of driving all the way to Seattle but dropping off a one-way rental car there from LA costs an extra $400 compared to dropping it off in Portland, so we'll take the train from there I think.
Thanks again, everyone.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/