It's deciding what works for you.
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Our plan is to get to Portland, travel down and make stops through the CA coast
You have to decide what it is you want to do and see as you have the time for a great road trip, but you are not going to be able to sight see in the same way if you are on a train. It's a wonderful drive down the California coast through the Redwoods, into San Francisco over the Golden Gate bridge and around scenic Big Sur, not to mention the Oregon coast ! If you visit Portland there is the Columbia river Gorge you could explore and many other attractions along the way. For me a road trip is about the drive but it might not be the best option for you.