San Diego ranks near the top of our favorite United States destinations. From the culture, the wildlife, hikes, activities, there is so much to do in and around San Diego. California is known for being pricey. Part of our trip was spent at a theme park and staying on property. As a family of 4, we have to be cognizant of our budget but we also want to enjoy our time while on vacation. So how much did we spend? This breakdown details everything we spent from flights, accommodations, theme park tickets, and more. I also go through ways we saved money and the things we splurged a bit on.
We are spoiled here in western Washington by the shear number of gorgeous weekend getaways a few hours away. While a spontaneous trip to the San Juan Islands usually isn’t possible in the summer, it is definitely more doable in the off season. Below is a great itinerary to follow in the fall whether you have planned a year in advance or just a day.
One of the most beautiful sections of the California coast is the Monterey region in the central coast that includes Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Monterey. A weekend trip here means dramatic and jaw-dropping coastal views, adorable animal encounters, picturesque towns, delicious meals and a relaxed atmosphere. This area has a lot to offer, but how do you best maximize your time if you just have 48 hours to explore? This is the perfect trip to do if you want a vacation without using PTO. This guide will give you all the details about the best places to stay from budget conscious choices to luxury accommodations; our hour to hour itinerary with tips; extra places to visit if you have more time; and more.
The final two days of this road trip! We spent these days in and around Portland, Oregon and making the drive back up to Seattle to end our trip. This part of the trip is far more of a choose your own adventure, as they are countless things to do around Portland. We visited the quirky Enchanted Forest Amusement Park, the last troll we needed to see of Thomas Dambo’s PNW trolls, and walked around downtown Portland. This article includes many more ideas of how to fill your time
When the start of the Redwoods National Park is less than 30 minutes away from the end of the Oregon Coast, it only makes sense to add it on to your trip. While the Oregon Coast was definitely the main attraction of this road trip, our side trip into Redwoods National Park was definitely a highlight for all. We started Day 5 in Crescent City, CA - a great base city for exploring the Redwoods State and National Parks. This is the part of the road trip where you start to slow down a bit, but still are eager to see something dramatic and maybe something new. Redwoods allowed us to just stop at a few places, just do a couple hikes but for a large payoff. Then on Day 6, we started making our way back up Oregon to enjoy a few spots around Oregon’s I-5 before heading back to Seattle.
Continuing on down the Oregon Coast, Days 3 and 4 of this 8 day road trip of Oregon and the Redwoods National Park got us just cross the border to California! These two days took us through the quieter and rugged south Oregon Coast. There are less people, but definitely not less beauty. This section of the coast features more dramatic views off the coast from sea rocks to sand dunes and lots of opportunities to see wildlife. In this itinerary, we break up the sights into 2 days but you can easily stretch it out into more days if you have time. Additional sights for each day are included in this guide, along with where to stay.
The first two days of our Oregon Coast road trip took us from our home in Seattle to Newport, OR. We explored the cute towns, tide pools and gorgeous beaches of Oregon’s north coast and made it to the central coast. Below details each stop we took along the way, the best places to stay and additional stops to add to your itinerary. We did this road trip with our two kids, aged 3 & 4, but it can be modified for any group.
One of the most scenic road trips in the world, the Oregon Coast is a must see. This road trip is easily accessible from Portland and Seattle and is easy to do no matter who is in your group. The roads are well-paved, even if a bit windy, and the must-see stops are frequent. This road trip can be customized to fit the interests of your family - from focusing on nature and gorgeous photo spots to wildlife spotting to eating your way down the coast. Just a short extension and across the border into California, the Redwoods National Park and its moody forests are the perfect addition to the moody Oregon Coast. This guide will help you with planning your own trip along the coast.
Seattle is rich with day and weekend trips within a short driving distance. None I would rank more highly than the San Juan Islands. These magical, gorgeous and historic islands are just an 1.5 hour drive and a 1 hour ferry ride away from downtown Seattle. The San Juan Island archipelago is made up of 172 named islands, but only four are accessible by the Washington Ferry system
Twelve new large wooden trolls have arrived in the Pacific Northwest by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. These new trolls are a part of a touring troll expedition and will only be here from October 15, 2026 through January 24, 2027. Trolls: A Field Study is split between two different parks: Northwest Trek and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, both located south of Seattle. If you are a PNW local or visiting Seattle this fall or winter, I would highly recommend spending a day visiting these trolls and exploring these two fun parks worthwhile in their own right.