Summer trip with kids ideas. I want to take the family to explore/road trip one of these two areas. A 8-10 day trip. I think either trip would start around San Francisco and I could either go north or south.

My ideas

Pacific Northwest - fly into San Francisco, hit up a Giants game, visit Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge. Get the hell out of San Fran and work our way up through the redwoods and Oregon coast. Maybe go all the way up to Vancouver. Is that too aggressive?

Or. Fly into Seattle and explore Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Washington. Hit up a Mariner's game.

Sierra - fly into San Fran. Head to Tahoe, then work our way South to Yosemite and Sequoia National Park.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Is it a bad ideal to do too much territory?

some great ideas and great trips. we have done a version of all 3 of your suggestions. i would say flying into san fran and heading all the way to vancouver is much too aggressive....but flying into seattle and going up to vancouver and vancouver island/victoria and back to seattle is very do-able....we have also done the san fran to tahoe and yosemite trip and the san fran to redwood national park up to the oregon coast and across to crater lake and back down the I-5 through redding and lassen volcanoe national park trip.

i guess it depends what you and your family are looking to do. if the plan, is to hit as many national parks then maybe seattle to vancouver isnt the trip although u could hit 3 national parks while in washington...

Fly into PDX.

Do Oregon coast, Hood River area for a few days then go to Bend or Sunriver.

Sisters hiking, crater lake national park, lava flow fields between bend and Sunriver. We did the lava tunnel hike (under ground lava tubes) and that was really cool.

Time on mt bachelor.

Breweries, bike riding, dark skies, rafting.

Seattle/Olympia/Victoria island could also be cool. I've done that trip before.

IMO. Take SF out of the equation and do that plus any Northern Cali spots on a separate trip. Log haul from SF to No. Oregon is where the sweet spot for PNW begins. You can drive up the coast from SF but will be a long drive. As others have said I'd start in PDX. Areas of interest close by:

Mt Hood (go right up top to Timberline)
Columbia River Gorge (Old CR Scenic Highway out of Troutdale and many amazing lookout and waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls)
Hood River (go across the Columbia into Washington and white water rafting on the White Salmon)
Wine Country in Dundee
Silver Falls State Park (Hiking trail with 10 water falls-amazing)

Other Oregon options - Crater Lake (down side is its in South Oregon about 4 hours from PDX).
Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Sam Boardman Scenic Corridor all nice, but a trip in itself.

Bend- Amazing, great drive across the Cascades to get there.

Up to Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park.
Ferry over to Whidbey Island and Desperation Pass.
Up Chuckanut Drive through Bellingham (Mt Baker visit).

Vancouver (which then a ferry over to Vancouver Island is a must). Visit Victoria but a drive and stay in Tofino.

All to much for your itinerary but things to consider. And the summer months are nothing but pure bliss in the PNW.

Enjoy!

StinkyPinky said:

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IMO. Take SF out of the equation and do that plus any Northern Cali spots on a separate trip. Log haul from SF to No. Oregon is where the sweet spot for PNW begins. You can drive up the coast from SF but will be a long drive. As others have said I'd start in PDX. Areas of interest close by:

Mt Hood (go right up top to Timberline)
Columbia River Gorge (Old CR Scenic Highway out of Troutdale and many amazing lookout and waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls)
Hood River (go across the Columbia into Washington and white water rafting on the White Salmon)
Wine Country in Dundee
Silver Falls State Park (Hiking trail with 10 water falls-amazing)

Other Oregon options - Crater Lake (down side is its in South Oregon about 4 hours from PDX).
Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Sam Boardman Scenic Corridor all nice, but a trip in itself.

Bend- Amazing, great drive across the Cascades to get there.

Up to Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park.
Ferry over to Whidbey Island and Desperation Pass.
Up Chuckanut Drive through Bellingham (Mt Baker visit).

Vancouver (which then a ferry over to Vancouver Island is a must). Visit Victoria but a drive and stay in Tofino.

All to much for your itinerary but things to consider. And the summer months are nothing but pure bliss in the PNW.

Enjoy!

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If you are wanting to do Tahoe/Sierras and Yosemite/Sequoia, I would fly into Reno instead of San Fran. Another area to consider is flying into Spokane and heading over to Couer d'Alene and the mountains and wilderness south and east of there in Idaho. Lots of really beautiful places to camp and hike out there.

StinkyPinky said:

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IMO. Take SF out of the equation and do that plus any Northern Cali spots on a separate trip. Log haul from SF to No. Oregon is where the sweet spot for PNW begins. You can drive up the coast from SF but will be a long drive. As others have said I'd start in PDX. Areas of interest close by:

Mt Hood (go right up top to Timberline)
Columbia River Gorge (Old CR Scenic Highway out of Troutdale and many amazing lookout and waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls)
Hood River (go across the Columbia into Washington and white water rafting on the White Salmon)
Wine Country in Dundee
Silver Falls State Park (Hiking trail with 10 water falls-amazing)

Other Oregon options - Crater Lake (down side is its in South Oregon about 4 hours from PDX).
Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Sam Boardman Scenic Corridor all nice, but a trip in itself.

Bend- Amazing, great drive across the Cascades to get there.

Up to Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park.
Ferry over to Whidbey Island and Desperation Pass.
Up Chuckanut Drive through Bellingham (Mt Baker visit).

Vancouver (which then a ferry over to Vancouver Island is a must). Visit Victoria but a drive and stay in Tofino.

All to much for your itinerary but things to consider. And the summer months are nothing but pure bliss in the PNW.

Enjoy!

---

I live in Portland and this is a pretty solid list!

I'd vote Oregon/WA over NorCal for the variety. The coast, wine country, skiing (T-Line spins Palmer all summer), Gorge, waterfalls, high desert, alpine lakes and metro all within a few hours of PDX. You can also stretch that to St. Helens, Rainier Nat, Olympic within 4 hours. Beyond that I'd stay in SEA for a few days as well.

OP, if you decide OR, let me know. We do it all out here with our 5 year old.

And no pressure, but I'd commit sooner than later as rec.gov is starting to open slots for the summer, e.g., our favorite SUP/camp spot near PDX is Lost Lake on Hood ( https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251434 ). It's starting to fill-up for June-August.

RangerRick9211 said:

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StinkyPinky said:

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IMO. Take SF out of the equation and do that plus any Northern Cali spots on a separate trip. Log haul from SF to No. Oregon is where the sweet spot for PNW begins. You can drive up the coast from SF but will be a long drive. As others have said I'd start in PDX. Areas of interest close by:

Mt Hood (go right up top to Timberline)
Columbia River Gorge (Old CR Scenic Highway out of Troutdale and many amazing lookout and waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls)
Hood River (go across the Columbia into Washington and white water rafting on the White Salmon)
Wine Country in Dundee
Silver Falls State Park (Hiking trail with 10 water falls-amazing)

Other Oregon options - Crater Lake (down side is its in South Oregon about 4 hours from PDX).
Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Sam Boardman Scenic Corridor all nice, but a trip in itself.

Bend- Amazing, great drive across the Cascades to get there.

Up to Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park.
Ferry over to Whidbey Island and Desperation Pass.
Up Chuckanut Drive through Bellingham (Mt Baker visit).

Vancouver (which then a ferry over to Vancouver Island is a must). Visit Victoria but a drive and stay in Tofino.

All to much for your itinerary but things to consider. And the summer months are nothing but pure bliss in the PNW.

Enjoy!

---

I live in Portland and this is a pretty solid list!

I'd vote Oregon/WA over NorCal for the variety. The coast, wine country, skiing (T-Line spins Palmer all summer), Gorge, waterfalls, high desert, alpine lakes and metro all within a few hours of PDX. You can also stretch that to St. Helens, Rainier Nat, Olympic within 4 hours. Beyond that I'd stay in SEA for a few days as well.

OP, if you decide OR, let me know. We do it all out here with our 5 year old.

And no pressure, but I'd commit sooner than later as rec.gov is starting to open slots for the summer, e.g., our favorite SUP/camp spot near PDX is Lost Lake on Hood ( https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251434 ). It's starting to fill-up for June-August.

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yea, was going t mention Lost Lake and Trullium Lake are both special spots to visit.

StinkyPinky said:

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RangerRick9211 said:

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StinkyPinky said:

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IMO. Take SF out of the equation and do that plus any Northern Cali spots on a separate trip. Log haul from SF to No. Oregon is where the sweet spot for PNW begins. You can drive up the coast from SF but will be a long drive. As others have said I'd start in PDX. Areas of interest close by:

Mt Hood (go right up top to Timberline)
Columbia River Gorge (Old CR Scenic Highway out of Troutdale and many amazing lookout and waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls)
Hood River (go across the Columbia into Washington and white water rafting on the White Salmon)
Wine Country in Dundee
Silver Falls State Park (Hiking trail with 10 water falls-amazing)

Other Oregon options - Crater Lake (down side is its in South Oregon about 4 hours from PDX).
Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Sam Boardman Scenic Corridor all nice, but a trip in itself.

Bend- Amazing, great drive across the Cascades to get there.

Up to Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park.
Ferry over to Whidbey Island and Desperation Pass.
Up Chuckanut Drive through Bellingham (Mt Baker visit).

Vancouver (which then a ferry over to Vancouver Island is a must). Visit Victoria but a drive and stay in Tofino.

All to much for your itinerary but things to consider. And the summer months are nothing but pure bliss in the PNW.

Enjoy!

---

I live in Portland and this is a pretty solid list!

I'd vote Oregon/WA over NorCal for the variety. The coast, wine country, skiing (T-Line spins Palmer all summer), Gorge, waterfalls, high desert, alpine lakes and metro all within a few hours of PDX. You can also stretch that to St. Helens, Rainier Nat, Olympic within 4 hours. Beyond that I'd stay in SEA for a few days as well.

OP, if you decide OR, let me know. We do it all out here with our 5 year old.

And no pressure, but I'd commit sooner than later as rec.gov is starting to open slots for the summer, e.g., our favorite SUP/camp spot near PDX is Lost Lake on Hood ( https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251434 ). It's starting to fill-up for June-August.

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yea, was going t mention Lost Lake and Trullium Lake are both special spots to visit.

---

I was going back through my old posts on OR/PNW topics on TexAgs. You've chimed in on those threads as well! Do you live in OR?

For OP, prior topics that we've both ideated on:

• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3314956/replies/62902060
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3382340/replies/65031982
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3366501/replies/64436023
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3301691/replies/62517852
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3417148/replies/66129066

RangerRick9211 said:

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StinkyPinky said:

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RangerRick9211 said:

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StinkyPinky said:

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IMO. Take SF out of the equation and do that plus any Northern Cali spots on a separate trip. Log haul from SF to No. Oregon is where the sweet spot for PNW begins. You can drive up the coast from SF but will be a long drive. As others have said I'd start in PDX. Areas of interest close by:

Mt Hood (go right up top to Timberline)
Columbia River Gorge (Old CR Scenic Highway out of Troutdale and many amazing lookout and waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls)
Hood River (go across the Columbia into Washington and white water rafting on the White Salmon)
Wine Country in Dundee
Silver Falls State Park (Hiking trail with 10 water falls-amazing)

Other Oregon options - Crater Lake (down side is its in South Oregon about 4 hours from PDX).
Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Sam Boardman Scenic Corridor all nice, but a trip in itself.

Bend- Amazing, great drive across the Cascades to get there.

Up to Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park.
Ferry over to Whidbey Island and Desperation Pass.
Up Chuckanut Drive through Bellingham (Mt Baker visit).

Vancouver (which then a ferry over to Vancouver Island is a must). Visit Victoria but a drive and stay in Tofino.

All to much for your itinerary but things to consider. And the summer months are nothing but pure bliss in the PNW.

Enjoy!

---

I live in Portland and this is a pretty solid list!

I'd vote Oregon/WA over NorCal for the variety. The coast, wine country, skiing (T-Line spins Palmer all summer), Gorge, waterfalls, high desert, alpine lakes and metro all within a few hours of PDX. You can also stretch that to St. Helens, Rainier Nat, Olympic within 4 hours. Beyond that I'd stay in SEA for a few days as well.

OP, if you decide OR, let me know. We do it all out here with our 5 year old.

And no pressure, but I'd commit sooner than later as rec.gov is starting to open slots for the summer, e.g., our favorite SUP/camp spot near PDX is Lost Lake on Hood ( https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251434 ). It's starting to fill-up for June-August.

---

yea, was going t mention Lost Lake and Trullium Lake are both special spots to visit.

---

I was going back through my old posts on OR/PNW topics on TexAgs. You've chimed in on those threads as well! Do you live in OR?

For OP, prior topics that we've both ideated on:

• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3314956/replies/62902060
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3382340/replies/65031982
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3366501/replies/64436023
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3301691/replies/62517852
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3417148/replies/66129066

---

I used to. Lived in West Linn for six years (2012-2019). We knew we were there for a finite amount of time so saw as much as I could.

StinkyPinky said:

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RangerRick9211 said:

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StinkyPinky said:

---

RangerRick9211 said:

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StinkyPinky said:

---

IMO. Take SF out of the equation and do that plus any Northern Cali spots on a separate trip. Log haul from SF to No. Oregon is where the sweet spot for PNW begins. You can drive up the coast from SF but will be a long drive. As others have said I'd start in PDX. Areas of interest close by:

Mt Hood (go right up top to Timberline)
Columbia River Gorge (Old CR Scenic Highway out of Troutdale and many amazing lookout and waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls)
Hood River (go across the Columbia into Washington and white water rafting on the White Salmon)
Wine Country in Dundee
Silver Falls State Park (Hiking trail with 10 water falls-amazing)

Other Oregon options - Crater Lake (down side is its in South Oregon about 4 hours from PDX).
Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Sam Boardman Scenic Corridor all nice, but a trip in itself.

Bend- Amazing, great drive across the Cascades to get there.

Up to Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park.
Ferry over to Whidbey Island and Desperation Pass.
Up Chuckanut Drive through Bellingham (Mt Baker visit).

Vancouver (which then a ferry over to Vancouver Island is a must). Visit Victoria but a drive and stay in Tofino.

All to much for your itinerary but things to consider. And the summer months are nothing but pure bliss in the PNW.

Enjoy!

---

I live in Portland and this is a pretty solid list!

I'd vote Oregon/WA over NorCal for the variety. The coast, wine country, skiing (T-Line spins Palmer all summer), Gorge, waterfalls, high desert, alpine lakes and metro all within a few hours of PDX. You can also stretch that to St. Helens, Rainier Nat, Olympic within 4 hours. Beyond that I'd stay in SEA for a few days as well.

OP, if you decide OR, let me know. We do it all out here with our 5 year old.

And no pressure, but I'd commit sooner than later as rec.gov is starting to open slots for the summer, e.g., our favorite SUP/camp spot near PDX is Lost Lake on Hood ( https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251434 ). It's starting to fill-up for June-August.

---

yea, was going t mention Lost Lake and Trullium Lake are both special spots to visit.

---

I was going back through my old posts on OR/PNW topics on TexAgs. You've chimed in on those threads as well! Do you live in OR?

For OP, prior topics that we've both ideated on:

• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3314956/replies/62902060
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3382340/replies/65031982
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3366501/replies/64436023
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3301691/replies/62517852
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3417148/replies/66129066

---

I used to. Lived in West Linn for six years (2012-2019). We knew we were there for a finite amount of time so saw as much as I could.

---

Life is hard in West Linn:

RangerRick9211 said:

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StinkyPinky said:

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RangerRick9211 said:

---

StinkyPinky said:

---

RangerRick9211 said:

---

StinkyPinky said:

---

IMO. Take SF out of the equation and do that plus any Northern Cali spots on a separate trip. Log haul from SF to No. Oregon is where the sweet spot for PNW begins. You can drive up the coast from SF but will be a long drive. As others have said I'd start in PDX. Areas of interest close by:

Mt Hood (go right up top to Timberline)
Columbia River Gorge (Old CR Scenic Highway out of Troutdale and many amazing lookout and waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls)
Hood River (go across the Columbia into Washington and white water rafting on the White Salmon)
Wine Country in Dundee
Silver Falls State Park (Hiking trail with 10 water falls-amazing)

Other Oregon options - Crater Lake (down side is its in South Oregon about 4 hours from PDX).
Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Sam Boardman Scenic Corridor all nice, but a trip in itself.

Bend- Amazing, great drive across the Cascades to get there.

Up to Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic National Park.
Ferry over to Whidbey Island and Desperation Pass.
Up Chuckanut Drive through Bellingham (Mt Baker visit).

Vancouver (which then a ferry over to Vancouver Island is a must). Visit Victoria but a drive and stay in Tofino.

All to much for your itinerary but things to consider. And the summer months are nothing but pure bliss in the PNW.

Enjoy!

---

I live in Portland and this is a pretty solid list!

I'd vote Oregon/WA over NorCal for the variety. The coast, wine country, skiing (T-Line spins Palmer all summer), Gorge, waterfalls, high desert, alpine lakes and metro all within a few hours of PDX. You can also stretch that to St. Helens, Rainier Nat, Olympic within 4 hours. Beyond that I'd stay in SEA for a few days as well.

OP, if you decide OR, let me know. We do it all out here with our 5 year old.

And no pressure, but I'd commit sooner than later as rec.gov is starting to open slots for the summer, e.g., our favorite SUP/camp spot near PDX is Lost Lake on Hood ( https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251434 ). It's starting to fill-up for June-August.

---

yea, was going t mention Lost Lake and Trullium Lake are both special spots to visit.

---

I was going back through my old posts on OR/PNW topics on TexAgs. You've chimed in on those threads as well! Do you live in OR?

For OP, prior topics that we've both ideated on:

• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3314956/replies/62902060
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3382340/replies/65031982
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3366501/replies/64436023
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3301691/replies/62517852
• https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3417148/replies/66129066

---

I used to. Lived in West Linn for six years (2012-2019). We knew we were there for a finite amount of time so saw as much as I could.

---

Life is hard in West Linn:

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Haha, classic!