OK, after much office time devoted to trip research instead of work (including extensive use of this site) I have come up with the following trip (with wife and 2 teen daughters), departing Boston 6/24:
Fly to SF, spend 3 days. Take older daughter to visit Stanford to try to generate some interest in actually applying to college next fall. Then road trip to Seattle as follows:
Day 1: Leave Palo Alto, drive to and hike Pt. Reyes, head up Rt.1, maybe horse rides in Bodega Bay, spend night at Whale Watch Inn near Gualala.
Day 2: drive to Humboldt Redwood state park, camp in Hidden Springs campground.
Day 3: do a hike in the park, then drive east to Shasta area, spend night at Castle Crags campground.
Day 4: do a wildflower hike,then drive north to Crater Lake area (I5 to 62), stay at Prospect Inn.
Day 5: visit Crater Lake, hike Mt. Garfield, drive to Eugene. Either stay in town or camp (maybe McKenzie Bridge).
Day 6: day hike in Willamette Natl Forest, then drive to Portland, stay with friends.
Day 7: drive to Seattle, see Mt. St. Helens on the way, arrive in time for friend’s 4th of July party.
Obviously a lot is weather dependent. And yes, I know it is a long time on the road with kids. We travel pretty well together –thank heaven for iPods. Any comments appreciated. Specific questions: best route to take from Gualala area (or north) to 101? I’ll probably be tired of the coast road by then so I won’t want to take it all the way. Also, there are 2 routes from Redwoods to I5: 36 to 3 to 299,or 299 all the way. Any preferences?
Thanks in advance!