Wedding is in San Jose? Where are you starting from and are you planning on a drop off fee on a one way rental?
Do you want to do a coastal route in Oregon or go by way of Crater Lake?

Oregon coast is lovely, but the water is frigid even in summer.

Columbia River gorge is also a must-do.

I think Mt. Ranier park is actually much better than Crater Lake NP. Crater Lake is more of a long drive to say "wow", then long drive down the road. There's more to do in Rainier if you like hiking.

Wedding is in or near San Jose, we're planning to fly in to San Francisco and rent a car, returning 15 days later in Seattle (although if our research suggests, as I think it might, that we are trying to cover too much ground in too little time, we could fly out of Portland instead). We've both been to Mendocino not too long ago so I think we'll skip that this time and focus mostly on the coastline north of there. DH wants to see big redwoods. We both want to see Crater Lake.

So far I'm thinking we'll be in or near San Jose for a couple of nights for the wedding, then head to Sonoma for 2-3 nights, then head up to somewhere around Humboldt State Park for 2-3 nights (need ideas about where to stay in this area), and from there I'm not sure. Maybe spend 2-3 nights at Crater Lake and then go back to the coast and keep heading north? What do people suggest in terms of spectacular scenery? We're just starting our research and got a couple of maps.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions people have for accommodations, hiking, etc.

After the wedding turn in the CA rental car and take the overnight train (Coast Starlight) as far as Eugene and rent a car to see both the coast of Oregon and Crater Lake.
You could also take the train as far as Portland and rent there.
Avoid a drop off fee.

IMHO, 2-3 nights at Crater Lake is overkill. Maybe two days/one overnight.

I love Crater Lake and it is not to be missed. That said, 1 night there would probably be plenty.

Places we like best in the area you are mentioning
Point Reyes National Seashore-tidepooling
Redwoods National Park-Prairie Creek area, Fern Canyon
Patricks Point State Park-tidepooling
Lassen National Park
Oregon Cave National Monument
Crater Lake
Columbia River Gorge
Oregon Coast
Mt. St. Helens

Then if you keep going to Washington
I like Mt Rainier better than Mt. Hood. Fantastic Flowers
Whale Watching @ San Juan Islands
Olympic National Park-Hoh Rain Forest, Nice Lakes, Mountains
Sol Duc Falls

Personally, I would stay "in park" at as many places as possible.

I really like to eat at Falafel's Drive In in San Jose. Not far from the airport and inexpensive. Get a Falafel and a Banana Shake.

Portland is a great place to spend a couple of days or more as well.

You'd love Ashland. It has wine, culture, food, wildlife, and
hiking.
http://www.ashlandchamber.com/Splash.asp
Don't let the cynics here dissuade you.

Goodness, two weeks for such a trip is ample for somebody who has never been to Oregon or Washington.

IF you already have a familiarity with San Fran then perhaps its best if you can go north rather than pause there.

Would go up 101/1 along the coast... missing Mt. Shasta along that path, but you'd get the Redwoods, and then you could cut inward @ Crescent City - Grants Pass, OR.

Then direct to Crater Lake from there.

From Crater Lake, either go north on Hwy #97 toward Bend, OR choose the option that would have you opt for the longest possible stretch of the Oregon Coast which would entail going west via Roseburg or Eugene.

IF you stay 'east', you'd stay in Bend, OR before driving north to The Dalles... and then westward via the Columbia River Gorge. In such a case you'd plot 2 or 3 nights in the Portland/Astoria area between which you might make a circular drive along the northern Oregon coast.

Then up Interstate #5 in Washington, east at Exit #68 toward Mount Rainier. Maybe visit Paradise and then drive around the east side of the mountain on your path into Seattle. Maybe there would be time left both for exploration of Seattle, and for a 2-day circuit of The Olympic Peninsula.

So let me see if I can itemize that by night:

Eureka, CA area

Grants Pass/Medford, OR

Bend, OR... OR Eugene, OR area??

The Dalles, OR area ... OR Northern Oregon Coast


Portland

Portland


Astoria, OR (??? possibly ???)


Paradise, Mt. Rainier, WA ???


Seattle

Seattle

Olympic Peninsula

Seattle

Seattle



That leaves time to double-up on nights perhaps on the Oregon Coast, Bend, OR adding another night to Portland.

Hope this makes sense

Thanks for all of these great suggestions -- I have been looking at maps, reading guidebooks, and doing more research. We've decided to slow down and try to cover less ground so that we have more time to do hikes, etc. and enjoy the places we're going instead of just driving long distances every day. We have found flights into SFO and out of Portland and will save Washington State for another trip. We have 15 nights total, the first two of which will be in San Jose for a family wedding, and the next two or three of which will likely be in Sonoma. After that is where I'm getting stuck. We would like to stay at least a couple of nights someplace on the northern CA coast where we can do some hiking in/near the Avenue of the Giants/Humboldt Redwood State Park area. Cost isn't really an issue but it doesn't have to be fancy -- I will confess an aversion to the frills and laces associated with victorian-style B&Bs -- we prefer simpler places with ocean or forest views. Any recommendations? Many thanks again.

If you choose the Bend option after driving around Crater Lake, look at the Inn of the 7th Mountain www.seventhmountain.com/accommodations/
For lodging Bend is much better than The Dalles. Instead of going into The Dalles, take US 26 from Madras over to Portland.
You can make a day trip to the west side of Mt. St. Helens from Portland. With an extra day you could stay in Packwood and see Mt. Rainer and then make it to Seattle.

we stayed at the Trinidad Inn just outside the town of Trinidad. The rooms are clean, some have kitchens and there is a BBQ for quests to use. Staff was helpful in advising us on dining, hiking etc- there are no great views from here- but it is a comfortable place to stay. Several good restaurants close by.

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. We are making some progress in our planning.

Days 1-3 -- Fly into SFO, rent car, stay in San Jose (wedding)
Days 4-5 -- Sonoma (not sure where yet)
Days 6-7 -- Spyglass Inn, Shelter Cove
Days 8-9 -- Trinidad area or nearby? (not sure where yet)
Days 10-11 -- Tu Tu Tun Lodge, Gold Beach, OR
Day 12 -- Crater Lake Lodge
Days 13-14 -- Columbia River Gorge area (not sure where yet)
Days 15-16 -- Portland (not sure where yet), return car at PDX

We are really looking forward to this. All suggestions welcome.

In Sonoma/Napa we are looking for someplace to stay for two nights in August, preferably with a swimming pool, under $250 or so per night, and walking/biking distance to one or more restaurants/wineries. We prefer places that offer spa services, room service, and that don't have frilly Victorian decor. We would prefer to stay in Sonoma or Yountville or St. Helena or ideally somewhere other than downtown Napa. The places we're looking at so far include:
El Pueblo Inn, Sonoma
Renaissance Lodge at Sonoma
Best Wester Plus Sonoma Valley
Hilton Garden Inn Napa
Westin Napa
Andaz Napa

Thoughts?

I won't comment about your California options. You don't want to take the long detour between Gold Beach and Crater Lake.
Take US 101 on up to Reedsport and Rt. 38 east past Deans Creek Elk viewing area. When you get to I-5 head north to Portland.
Spend one night in Portland and then head east on I-84 with a stop at Multnomah Falls and then spend one or 2 nights at a nice place in Hood River. You can make it from there to Crater Lake if you don't want to spend a night in Bend. (US26 & US97)
Take the car back to where you rented it to save a large drop off fee. You can easily drive from Crater Lake to the San Jose area.

Just back from Sonoma - we stayed at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa- I thought it was a nice place to stay- nice pool area which we never used because we were too busy.
We had a shuttle to all the wineries so not sure about biking- but I think it could be done.

The hotel has a nice restaurant and bar- with outdoor fire pits- no Victorian frilly stuff.

We had dinner one night at the Girl and the Fig which I recommend.

My favorite wineries we tried were Kunde and Martinelli -

Thanks for the advice.
@tomfuller -- we've found a decent car rental rate with no dropoff fee so that's not an issue for us.

Wineries in Oregon (we just completed a trip this last summer to Oregon and Washington wineries) - besides the Grants Pass wineries, I'd highly suggest you look at the wineries around McMinnville. Do have a GPS! Or a TomTom! I'm certain that mms and other locals can give you wonderful advice on which would be the best wineries to visit.

THE wine for the McMinnville area is Pinot Noir, although the wineries there are beginning to diversify. We found the Grants Pass wineries more scattered and produced a greater variety of wines.

Along the Oregon Coast, we like the SeeVue Motel in Yachats, an inexpensive, funky place which is on the ocean side of Highway 1 (many of these "seaside" hotels and motels are actually on the eastern side of the highway).

Also along the coast are Cape Perpetua (along with the Devil's Churn and Thor's Well) which are really worth a stop.

If you had to do the long drive inland, I'd agree with a poster above that the drive along the Columbia Gorge is more worth while than the drive to Crater Lake.

Coming a bit late to your planning - but would suggest:

After spending time in the Northern Cal Redwoods - you might consider driving up to Gold Beach - and taking the Jet Boat ride up the fabled Rogue River. Here is one site but there are others: http://www.roguejets.com/?gclid=CPuF4aCxgLQCFal7QgodVxcAkA

From there - head into Ashland - a very cute/hip college town with good dining - and have lunch/dinner there - and either stay the night - or press on to Crater Lake - or even nearby Diamond Lake which is very pretty - and the Lodge is a decent place to stay if Crater Lake is booked. BTW - caught some beautiful Rainbow Trout there a few years ago, and you can hire a guide if you so choose. http://tinyurl.com/dxx4xby,

After Crater Lake - if you continue on up 97 - at Bend there are some interesting sights - including the Mountain of Obsidian at Newberry Crater (think glass lava - prized by the Native Americans for making arrow-heads http://tinyurl.com/3e6yf2t, ) - by Paulina Lake - (or it's twin - whose name escapes me - and both have nice cabins - and deer walking around http://www.paulinalakelodge.com/o/camping.htm )

You can also mountain bike there if that is of interest. http://www.everytrail.com/guide/mountain-bike-tracks-at-paulina-lakes-and-newberry-national-volcanic-monument

From there up to the Mt. Hood area - if a beautiful drive - with the Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson - Cinder Cone Cascade peaks - in the distance. http://tinyurl.com/chn4kls

Our favorite lodge is Timberline at Mt. Hood - and there are abundant hiking opportunities around there and nice lakes - and rivers/streams to explore. http://www.timberlinelodge.com/

From there - you can drive up to Hood River and go in along the Gorge, apportioning your time as ye see fit.

Here might be a better page - w/ pics - of the various Cascade - Cinder Cone - Peaks. http://tinyurl.com/cf3d8dt

To elaborate on the good advice from TomFuller, there is not a direct route from Gold Beach over to Crater Lake. This is due to the topography.

Basically, you need to go clear back south to Crescent City in California to catch Hwy 199, or you need to go up to Reedsport for Hwy 38.

Sidenote: In general, a GPS in the Northwest is a good thing, but in this southwestern corner of the state there have been issues. Sometimes the GPS wants to route people onto Forest Service roads, perhaps with a 3-foot high clearance. The Oregon Caves website has posted a warning about this. In one winter situation a person died after being directed onto a Forest Service road and then getting stuck in snow.

Actually - there is a great way you could drive some of the Oregon Coast and also get over to Crater Lake.

Head up the coast from Gold Beach toward Bandon - an hour or so - which has some of the best golf courses in the world at renowned Bandon Dunes (and great salt water taffy in the cute little downtown area).

From there - you could head inland along route 42 (Coquille/Myrtle Point) over to Roseburg - or head up the coast another hour or so - to Reedsport - and then turn inland - along the mighty Umpqua River (big enough at the mouth for large ships to navigate upriver).

This way would take you past a beautiful Elk Preserve (one of my favorite spots - viewing the majestic Roosevelt Elk) - and also some wineries - eventually taking 138 over/down to Southerlin, just north of Roseburg. http://gonw.about.com/od/mapsor/ig/Oregon-State-Map-Gallery/South-Oregon-Coast-Map.htm

From Roseburg - head inland/east along 138/the Umpqua river - to Diamond Lake and then to Crater Lake - an especially scenic drive, with some waterfalls and even covered bridges along the way? http://traveloregon.com/trip-ideas/scenic-byways/the-umpqua-river/ and http://byways.org/explore/byways/2147/travel.html and http://byways.org/explore/byways/2147/itinerary/62580

Actually, 5alive, there is a magnificent road that runs from Gold Beach to Agness to Galice, alongside the wild and scenic portion of the Rogue, also called Bear Camp Road.
http://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepage.php?page=fr23
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260817
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Camp_Road
Breathtaking

I should add, this IS the road where the Kim family perished, but it is gated closed in the Winter now. Shouldn't be a problem in August though. It is paved and fine for regular passenger cars.

Ooh, this all sounds awesome -- off to play with my maps! Thanks!

just to whet your appetite
http://photos.oregonlive.com/photo-essay/2012/12/ancient_trees_cloned_to_begin.html#photo-11947777

Just to set the record straight, James Kim (prodigy of CNET) died in Big Windy Gulch 6 years ago this week. The road from Galice to Agness is paved about 200 yards past the fork in the road. One fork (left has the word Coast and an arrow).
The fork to the right has dead end painted on the road. The dead end of the right road is about 20 miles back in the wilderness. The Kim family could not see anything on the road because of snow on the road. Mr Kim made the fatal decision to try to go down to the Rogue River and go upstream to Galice.
If you ever get in such a fix, walk back the road that you drove in on. Mrs. Kim waved an umbrella at a helicopter pilot that was searching for the family. She kept her 2 girls alive by nursing them both even though one was 4 years old.
The road to Agness is used by vehicles shuttling people and boats back from float trips down the Rogue.
I hiked down to the south side of the Rogue to find a geocache about a month before Mr. Kim died about a mile upstream.

Sad story - the tragedy of Kim.

Here is the story as told in Wikipedia - "Instead of returning to the exit, they consulted a highway map and picked a secondary route that skirted the Wild Rogue Wilderness, a remote area of southwestern Oregon."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim

Some local rescue experts (a high school friend of mine lives in the area and his dad was a long time State Trooper) - had a slightly different version of how the events unfolded (even though the "official report" - discounts this: "Because of Mr. Kim's background as a technology analyst, observers speculated that the family had used online mapping to find their route.")

and they very quietly criticized Kim for trying to press on - with his family - in a heavy snowstorm, on a strange road.

In any event - you will hopefully not encounter any heavy weather if you take this route.

Bbq: I am aware of the route and that it is lovely, but given the mileage they will already be doing on this trip, I'm still not sure it's worth the extra time. You are right though: I should have said "good, or reasonably quick direct route." For several years my inlaws lived in Southern Oregon on the coast, and highly encouraged us to take 38 to 101 after their experiences. They at least did not think the alternatives were worth the time and stress.

From your Wikipedia site:
"It is a paved, one-lane road with infrequent turnouts and a few gravel sections. At both ends, the road quickly climbs up to the crest of the Coast Range, and the majority of the road is at high elevation on top of a long ridge."

Regarding the Kim example, it was a tragedy and no one wants to blame the family. The local reporting was that it was a GPS device that was to blame. Says something, doesn't it? Because of potential lawsuits, they kept not wanting to talk about it or give the brand name. I am well aware there is no snow in August. I hemmed and hawed about mentioning it, but felt it was something that should be in the record for people who stumble upon this thread later. I find the smiley face patronizing.

Regarding my other example, I talked to the staff a few years ago at Oregon Caves National Monument, and GPS is responsible for multiple attempts at reaching the Caves by a route through Forest Service Roads other than hwys 199/46. This route IS in places a near 3-foot clearance that the GPS services sent them on. If they did make it through, it took them perhaps 2 hours to go 10 miles. They then complained to the staff about the lack of road maintenance. Thus a comment was placed on the NPS website: http://www.nps.gov/orca/planyourvisit/directions.htm

I usually don't join these discussions because I disagree with the amount of driving that is encouraged on some of these threads for the West Coast. I think people would enjoy more if they would edit their trips a bit and decide which things they want most. I would encourage them to do the math on the mileage and confirm that's what they really want.

I started on this whole Fodors' membership in 2005 with a trip to Italy and was heavily influenced by the opinions of some of the people on the Europe board who were big believers in slow travel; see a place well and soak it in. I do recognize other people travel differently than me. Most of all, I apologize for the rather lengthy diversion to the Original Poster's Thread.

Best,
Five Alive