[bartonfink]

From Australia? Absolutely it's worth an extended visit, although 2 weeks is a long time. If you stay busy, you could probably explore the Bay area thoroughly in just one week. If you want to stay on the Pacific coast, I'd probably check out Seattle for another week just so you get the most bang for your visit.

[bugsy]

If you do this, take the Coast Starlight train from SF and stop in Portland on the way.

[AndrewO]

Portland's one of my favorite cities in the country (and I'm a lifelong East Coaster) and it's definitely worth a visit.

That said, if Stanford and Berkeley are in the mix, I don't know if any schools in Portland can quite compete.

[bugsy]

Oh sorry, to clarify, I didn't mean stop to look at schools, I meant if you are headed to Seattle for whatever (not sure what there is to do in Seattle, I lived there and don't really think of it as a tourist destination of any kind, but maybe Vancouver?), definitely take the train since it's a fun train (even though it will leave 6 hrs after it is scheduled to leave) and then might as well do a stop in Portland on the way. Just to hang out and check things out for a couple days since there's lost of fun things going on and interesting people. Not to look at schools.

[AndrewO]

You know, I reread what I wrote and it does sound like I was calling you out. Sorry about that. Let's just say Portland's awesome and if he gets a chance he should go. :)