Seattle to San Diego

All I can say is, Seattle is GORGEOUS!!!

And the people are SOOO laid back that they'll actually stop their cars so you can cross the street!

I went there in '98 and loved it!
And, the funny thing is, it NEVER rained while I was there. We were expecting it too, but it never did.
And Washington has some of the best pit bull rescues and you'll be closer to parts of Canada that have some of the most beautiful pit bulls TO rescue. I don't even know why I mention that, but it's true.

I think the people seem nicer on the west coast for some reason.


But, I'm sorry, I don't have any helpful tips or websites for you. All I can mention is how I have been to Seattle and JUST LOVED IT.

I've lived in California my entire life (minus 4 yrs in Germany) and I'm pretty biased, but I think you'd be very happy on the west coast.  Both Seattle and San Diego have a lot to offer, and I think I could be happy in either location, but my preference would be San Diego.  The weather is unbeatable, the beaches are beautiful, and it has anything you might want in the way of activities, with the exception of snow sports.  Neither place is inexpensive, but I think San Diego is higher than Seattle.  There are suburbs to both cities that are less expensive though.  I think a road trip up or down the west coast would be a great idea and there are so many things to stop and see along the way, you'd never be bored.  I'd suggest going to the library or book store and try to find some books on travel on the west coast or even specific ones for Calif/Oregon/Washington.  

Thanks for the input, guys!

The travel books are a great idea, and I love any excuse to go to the bookstore!

And Rebecca, Im glad you have such good things to say about Seattle, I can't wait to see it.

This web site might help.

http://www.fodors.com/

I checked out that website martyga, and I picked myself up a California Highway 1 book from Lonely Planet (I love their stuff!).

Thanks for the input, and if anyone else has any experience or input about seattle, or any of the cities along the way, even if you've never done the trip, please let me know!

I loved my trip to Seattle, and it did not rain!
 
You could not pay me to live in CA.  Too many natural disasters, and sometimes more than one at a time!  Drought, wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes, etc.

I went to grad school in Arcata, CA for three years and LOVED it!!! It's way up north, on the coast, in Humboldt County, redwood country. Make sure you drive through that area it's certainly worth the trip. I made road trips to San Diego and Seattle, as well as SF many times, from there. Seattle was a great city, although I was only there for a few days for a conference. Portland OR was also very nice, but that was just a few hours diversion on the way to Seattle. You could spend a lifetime on a drive like that, I'd suggest reading up a lot, then prioritizing the things you want to see and combining a coastal drive with a faster, interior interstate drive, otherwise you'll never make it out of whichever city you start in! 

I just drove from Eureka, CA to Brookings, OR yesterday. It was BEAUTIFUL. As long as you catch the good weather, you will enjoy it. I also spent most of my life in Washington... Seattle, Kirkland, Redmond, Bellevue area. It is very nice up there. My mother and father have lived there for years. Can be wet at times, but it's a fun area to live in. Nice in the summer, snow and cold in winter. And plenty of things to do and see. I LOVED renting the boats on Lake Washington and spending the day on the water. I miss that place! Might be moving back to Washington in a year or two. Much prefer that place than California.
 
The Redwood Forests are a very neat place to visit. While driving yesterday I just had to drive the the scenic byways. You feel so small when you drive through them. The trees are huge.
 
Here are a couple photos I took yesterday. Not many because my mission wasn't to visit, it was just to drive to Brookings and back. I've camped on the coast so many times. I would never camp in central California, the coast is just too pretty. I have more pictures if you'd like to see them. This is mainly the northern half of the California coast.

Shannon, I lived in Eureka for couple of the years I was out there, then moved up to Arcata.  Where did you take those pictures from? I have so many like that from all around that area, it all looks like that, up and down the coast, doesn't it? Now I'm home-away-from-homesick!

If I remember correctly, the first picture was taken in Harbor, OR just south of Brookings. The second picture was taken somewhere on Highway 101 north of Trinidad.
 
Oh you must stop at Trinidad if you drive the coast. They have good chowder. And north of Trinidad is Patricks point. There are lots of things to check out there.
 
Here's a picture of Patrick's Point....

Trinidad is the coolest little place! There used to be a restaurant down by the bay that had a good brunch. Patrick's Point is nice, I was only there once or twice, hiked out to Wedding Rock. Did you stop in Arcata?

I can tell you a LOT about the Oregon coast. How mcuh do you want to know before your eyes glaze over?[]

While in Oregon, be sure to stop at one of the Mo's for clam chowder (drooool).

Astoria is lovely--go see the Astoria bridge (goes over the Columbia for FOUR MILES!,) the Astoria Column--a tower built in the 20s with Oreogn's history spiraling up it. Don't forget the Columbia Maritime Museum.

Cannon Beach--pretty and pretty expensive.

Tillamook--tour the cheese factory for free! Just outside of Tillamok is the Forestry center.  It's free and is totally cool. Also check out the blimp hangars.

Seaside--great boardwalk!

Lincoln City--a casino, the world's shortest river (the D river), and a nice Motel 6 that takes pets and kids for FREE.

Depoe Bay--AWESOME bay.

This is just a start.

FWIW, email the Chamber of Commerce in the towns you are interested in.  They can (and will!) mail out brochures about the area.  After all, tourism is BIG in Oregon.