Believe it or not, the quickest way to drive to Reno from Phoenix is through Sacramento, so Reno would actually make it farther for us.
I do have a plane ticket that my girlfriend bought me to go see my grandfather and I never got to use (:(), but it might be hard to convince her to let me go to a dopefest when I’m supposed to be out looking for a job :).
Irvine is the best place for it. 
I was planning on going to Oregon sometime next year, so I’l see if I can plan the trips together.
Thanks SolGrundy, but I’m still relatively a newbie when it comes to the Left Coast.
I think Ashland sounds pretty neat.
I’ve never been to Oregon, and Demo and I have been talking about doing a little road trip.
Once we get closer, and a date is set, we’ll mark our calendars and do our very best to make it up there (or anyplace else.)
I wouldn’t mind Sacramento because I have relatives who live there. Well, actually it’s Elk Grove, but close enough.
But Ashland sounds OK too.
Let me just tell you. If this thing is anything north of San Francisco you can bet your ass I’m not driving. So it’s all academic from there - the plan won’t care! 
Well, you could fly into Medford and bus over, or take Greyhound, or Amtrak, or carpool with someone.
On the plus side, Ashland has tons of entertainment, beautiful parks, decent-priced hotels and motels, no sales tax, and is somewhat drivable from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and points inbetween. On the minus side, there are no direct flights directly to Ashland-you have to fly to Medford and commute over.
Heck, if we have it in Ashland, I’ll pick people up at the Medford airport.
Not just any people, just the Doper people.
I would be interested in Tahoe/Reno, San Luis Obispo, Monterey…someplace cool. I know Reno isn’t that cool in the summer, but Tahoe is!
Got in-laws near Sacramento (Meadow Vista), Carmel, June Lake/Mammoth…other good places to hang.
Eh, wherever.
Well, we have about a dozen suggestions so far. Do we want to start narrowing down?
California:
Sacramento (centrally located)
Gilroy (Garlic Festival)
Tahoe (Central and cool)
San Luis Obispo (?)
Santa Rosa (?)
Redding (Easier commute for PNW Dopers; Scenic)
Monterey (Cool?)
Nevada:
Las Vegas (Cheap flights and hotels)
Reno (Cheap flights and hotels; centrally located)
Oregon:
Ashland (Easier Commute for PNW; lots to do)
Mount Shasta (Scenic; Easier Commute for PNW)
Might work. Why don’t you give us an example of one of your pick up lines?
Sorry, I just felt like I had to post that.
“Free rides for Dopes!”
SACRAMENTO, but I am also biased and carless.
Mount Shasta is in California.
My top three votes:
San Luis Obispo
Shasta
Sacramento
I think we should take Gilroy and Santa Rosa off the list because, as mentioned, they’re too far off the I-5 corridor(and also because they’re BORING).
My top three votes:
Shasta
Reno
Ashland
(But actually I’d go to any of the places except Vegas)
My top three:
Shasta
Ashland
Sacramento
Oops. I have no idea why I thought it was in Oregon. Sorry… still learning this coast (east side!).
My top three:
Ashland
Sacramento
Reno (I’ve not been to Nevada yet)
Top three would be Ashland, [large gap] Tahoe, and Reno.
If it’s decided on Reno, I’d be happy to give you a ride up when I swing through.
Well, I’ve lived in the bay area for almost 10 years now, and I have yet to travel north of Napa, so I vote for a road trip:
Ashland
Shasta
Tahoe
That is so nice of you and I’ll definitely take you up on it. OK, I change my vote to Sacramento OR Reno then. Plus, I have never been to Reno. I always end up going to Tahoe instead.