Drive the coastal highway. We found it absolutely fabulous. Going through Oregon, you might keep your eyes open for a nice myrtle wood stock blank. Very pretty wood. Going for walks in the northern California redwoods is good, and a stop at San Simeon (hearst castle) is worthwhile...
http://www.hearstcastle.org/
We also drove to California through the "inland" highway in Oregon. We did hit a blizzard, but getting off the main roads was well worth while once we were in California. BTW, California fruit was more expensive there than it was in Canada, at that time anyway...