7 Days in Portland and vicinity

I will be taking my wife on a 7 day trip to Portland, OR at the end of May (23-30). I%26#39;ve been there before, but not her. We are using Marriott points and will be staying in Portland for 5 nights (must be consecutive, you know how those award certs go!). Here are my thoughts on the first few days, but I would like to get in Crater Lake but 1) not sure it is worth the trip at that time of year, and 2) if it is, can we see enough in 2 half day visits?

Day 1 - fly in at noon and walk the city

Day 2 - Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood

Day 3 - Mt St Helens

Day 4 - Rose Garden, Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden (City tour)

Day 5 - Drive coast from Cannon Beach and return through McMinnville with some wineries mixed in

Day 6 - Drive to Crater Lake - visit CLNP afternoon.

Day 7 - Visit CLNP in morning drive back to Portland by way of Bend

Day 8 - Fly out in morning

Is this doable? Suggested changes? Overnight suggestions by CLNP other than the lodge?

Thanks for the feedback.

7 Days in Portland and vicinity

We visited many of the places you mention, but we went in July and had glorious weather! I%26#39;m afraid you might be too early for some of the sights you mention, especially Crater Lake. They get a lot of snow annually, and if I remember reading on here correctly, sometimes the main road doesn%26#39;t open until June. BTW, you can easily see Crater Lake in a day. I%26#39;m not sure how you will find Mt St Helens that time of year also. Both are fantastic places, but you need fair weather to enjoy them.

You asked about lodging near Crater Lake. If you still include this in your itinerary, keep in mind there isn%26#39;t much right outside, so we stayed in Bend and did a day trip. The drive was easy, and Bend has a wide variety of lodging choices. We liked the Riverhouse Resort there.

I think you can the rest of the things on your list without issue. I believe there is possibility for cool, overcast, and possibly wet weather, but the locals know best. I have read summer really doesn%26#39;t begin in Oregon until July, but if you go prepared for the weather, you should still have a wonderful time.

7 Days in Portland and vicinity

The Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mt. St. Helens is scheduled to reopen for the season on May 17. The weather and road condition gods may have different plans, however.

Wow busy schedule but great places to visit. Be sure if you get in time to visit Portland Saturday Market.

Also on Day 4 - PIttock Mansion as well as Council Crest has some romantic city views.

Also Crater Lake may not be open yet that time of year.

You can get to Crater Lake from Hwy 62 in the south, but the north entrance/exit will most likely not be open that early.

http://www.nps.gov/crla/

Great feedback, everyone! I appreciate it very much. We%26#39;ve been rethinking our schedule with the possibility that CLNP may not be an option. Shame, as I%26#39;ve never been there and would love to see it. Oh well...

We might opt for a longer ride down the cost to Grant%26#39;s Pass or so and then work our way back up to Portland for our flight out. From what I%26#39;ve been reading, the wineries may not be all that great if they are going to be charging $5 to $25 a head! I like wine, but not when I can buy the bottle for less than a taste! LOL

I%26#39;m not sure if we can fit in the Saturday market unless we squeeze it in after we get in town on the 23rd. I do like the Pittock Mansion suggestion and will see if we can work it in.

If anyone has some suggestions on the southern part of the state without CLNP, please let me know.

Thanks again!

The Pittock Mansion is lovely. I think you can probably fit it in on Day 4 along with the gardens. It%26#39;s not very far away at all. As the other poster said, the views of the city are fantastic. On a clear day, you can even see Mt. Hood from there.

If you%26#39;re still planning the first five nights in Portland, I don%26#39;t know if it makes sense to drive any further south on the coast than Newport or Florence. Even if you cut the Portland stay to four nights. Because, once you get south of Coos Bay, there isn%26#39;t a good route inland to I-5 without going all the way into northern CA. If not CLNP, what is it you%26#39;re wanting to see in southern Oregon?

I wouldn%26#39;t necessarily give up on Crater Lake either. You%26#39;d have to enter and exit from the south, but weather permitting, you%26#39;d still have plenty of time to see the lake. It does add several hours of drive time to the trip, though. And, you%26#39;d need the weather gods to cooperate.

Tasting fees in wineries are pretty much the norm here, though unless for a special occasion, I%26#39;ve not seen them higher than $15 (and that only at the more high-brow wineries). If you%26#39;re still interested, you might adjust your schedule to taste early in the trip, as Memorial Day Weekend is one of the two biggest of the year in wine country.

I think that your trip to Crater Lake is doable as well, if you really want to see the lake. I useally go in the summer and it seems like it takes about 6 hours to get there.

I googlemapped Crater Lake and it suggested it takes 5.5 hours to get there via Hwy 58/97/Crater Lake road. I hadn%26#39;t thought about it, since I usally take I-5 down to Grants Pass, but the Google mapped way probably is the fastest way to go.

I think you could see most of Crater Lake in two half days-most of the other things to do in the area are just viewing the lake at different angles, etc.

oh- lodging at Crater Lake- there really isnt much there-as you probably have found out. Some people here like the Prospect Hotel-but that is on the southwest side of Crater Lake- if you stay here you may as well go down I-5 to Grants Pass.

we did a similar trip last august without crater lake. had an awesome time in oregon- very casual and laid back, excellent food city at reasonable prices and the day trips we did ( and that u have planned )are very special.

tommys mom is right- the saturday market was great as was the pittock mansion.

also the saturday farmers market at portland state was awesome and huge- it went for like 10 blocks.

we did cannon beach and astoria one day and then did mcminnville and the wineries a different day- excellent pinot noirs.

also went to the portland art museum which had a very nice collection.

have never been to crater lake and want to go too but it is in the middle of nowhere.

Campground recs, please!

We will be in the Portland area around 7/3 - 7/6/09 and are looking for some great campground recommendations! We%26#39;ll have a VW campervan, so can use either a tent site or partial hookup, looking for clean bathrooms/showers, and preferably a campground that offers a little privacy...While we could use a partial hookup, we%26#39;d prefer not to be parked in a huge parking lot type place with huge RV%26#39;s all around. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Campground recs, please!

To stay one night or the whole time?

Either way: sauvieisland.org/sponsors/island-cove-park/

Campground recs, please!

Still finalizing plans...but I will certainly check out the link. Thanks!

That is to say, will you be camping in the Portland area for the entire stay, or staying in a hotel some of the time?

Are you looking for a spot near portland to use as a sort of ';base camp'; to explore the city/region?

Are you only interested in Portland, or do you want to check out other parts of the area?

We%26#39;re most interested in exploring Portland, and we%26#39;re open to a combo of hotels/camping. This spot will be our ';home base'; for exploring Portland, but we may also like to do some vineyards/wine tasting as well. Our trip is pretty flexible - we would like to have general ideas of area attractions and key highlights but be open to moving on to other things as we decide to...However, I realized that we%26#39;ll be in the Portland area around the holiday weekend, so I am a little anxious about making sure we have a place to stay! Our entire trip involves flying into Seattle, driving up to Vancouver, back down into Washington, stopping at Mt. Rainier and a few other places along the way, and then into Oregon and Portland....can%26#39;t wait!

Wine?

I%26#39;m a self-described ';wine geek'; who is heading up with my wife for a little vacation. We%26#39;re in NorCal and know the Napa/Sonoma wine scene quite well now but are wanting to explore (and excited about) what Oregon has to offer. Here%26#39;s the itinerary:

Astoria - 2 nights

Portland - 2 nights

Jacksonville - 2 nights

Ideally we prefer boutique style wineries with low production, but would be happy for any recommendations.

Thanks!

Wine?

For your time in J%26#39;ville...I enjoy the Roxy Ann Winery in East Medford, or Troon out in Applegate. There are many wineries out in the Applegate, and you can easily visit several in one day. I think they all are going to be the ';boutique style'; you are looking for. Enjoy your time there! We moved from the area last year, and are missing the local wineries!

Wine?

Wondering why you chose Astoria, as it%26#39;s a couple hours from any wine country. Shallon is there, but it%26#39;s mostly fruit and berry wines. There%26#39;s also the Flying Dutchman Winery%26#39;s tasting room, but their market is the coastal tourist, and they don%26#39;t really do anything very well. And, if you chose Astoria just to see the Oregon coast... well, it%26#39;s not really even on the coast.

The heart of Willamette Valley%26#39;s wine country is about 45 minutes southwest of Portland, so an easy day trip. With two days, I%26#39;d suggest one be spent between Newberg and Carlton, with stops along North Valley Road, and the other between Newberg and McMinnville. Are you looking for wineries with regular tasting hours, or those that typically taste only by appointment?

Put Abacela on your list for southern Oregon. It%26#39;s outside of Roseburg, so maybe stop by on the drive south. They%26#39;re producing a consistently nice tempranillo and an alberino that%26#39;s become one of my wife%26#39;s faves.

Hi there, I would go out to the Dundee area, we love the Pinots at Archery Summit and Domaine Drouhin there. Drouhin also makes a really nice Chardonnay.

While you are in Astoria, check out the Shallon winery, they do some nice fruit wines and we love the Cran du Lait there. The Cellar on 10th and the Flying Dutchman adjacent to the Bridgewater Bistro are nice places to wine taste in Astoria. We had dinner last night at the Ship Inn in Astoria, don%26#39;t miss it if you love fish and chips. There is also a tasting room at the Silver Salmon Grille in Astoria where you can sample some nice local wines.

We are having some gorgeous weather now, I hope it holds up for you, when are you coming to Astoria and where are you staying there? :)

%26gt;%26gt;The Cellar on 10th and the Flying Dutchman adjacent to the Bridgewater Bistro are nice places to wine taste in Astoria.%26lt;%26lt;

As I said, the Flying Dutchman%26#39;s market is the coastal tourist. ;-) So, I%26#39;m glad you like it, but you%26#39;ve never mentioned tasting there before, syrahgirl. Have you? What makes it ';nice';? My wife and I stopped by this past Saturday, just because we had some time to kill before our dinner reservation. Nice enough tasting room (but nothing special), and the guy behind the counter was obviously glad to see us (said he%26#39;d only had 5-6 ';customers'; all day). But, I don%26#39;t think their wines deserve mention in the same post that includes a recommendation for Archery Summit and Domaine Drouhin.

I second RoxyAnn. Their wines are really good. I have never been to their winery, but as a wine biz pro, I have tried their wines with others in the biz. We all agree....a winery to pay attention to.

As far as other wineries.....I have to say, avoid Archery Summit (never have liked them, nor the fact that a former ';employee'; claimed to own the place when in fact he was a shareholder), DDO and Domaine Serene...again, unless you like to spend a lot of money on something simply to say that you did.

Are you hoping to see wineries that are open to the public? Or are you serious about seeing some great wineries and spending some dough at them? There are some that will open for you, if you will make a decent purchase.

So, I guess I need more info before I give advice. ;-)

I must add, a visit to Shallon is well worth the stop. His wines are unique and, some, although we ';snobs'; may hear of them and scoff, are actually quite good. He makes a blackberry wine that most would mistake for Cabernet Sauvignon. Strange but true.

He is also open 365 days a year...again, strange but true. LOL!

Astoria is just one of our stops. We%26#39;re not looking to do wine every day since we%26#39;re actually going all the way up to Seattle (for a wedding) and to Eugene for a night as well.

Appointment places are nice, but with the amount of time we%26#39;re there, I don%26#39;t see us making any appointments. We prefer to just drive and hit places. But... since we%26#39;re not going to be spending a large amount of time in these areas, I don%26#39;t want to waste the day ';hitting'; the wrong places. So if there is a can%26#39;t-miss appointment winery, I%26#39;m open to suggestions.

Thanks!

you don%26#39;t need an appointment at Shallon, we are headed over to Astoria right now! :)

Just Back- Trip Report- Oregon

First of all, I just want to thank all the kind people on here who gave me such wonderful suggestions for my trip. As you will see by my trip report, I followed the suggestions given almost to the letter. Without those suggestions, I would have had such a memorable trip. I was able to see the highlights of the Oregon coast in the time that I had. It was just spectacular and your advice was invaluable to the planning. The Oregon coast was absolutely spectacular and the weather was perfect except that it was a bit windy on the top of the cliffs, but I was imagine that to be expected.

I started out driving from the Washington area, and arrived in Florence by 10am. I wanted to picnic somewhere along the coast. I was given the suggestion that Safeway in Florence makes great sandwiches...and they were right. We stopped at the Safeway in Florence and we got to order exactly what we wanted to our specifications. The sandwiches were fresh and very good. We then drove to Sea Lion Caves and took pictures of Heceta Lighthouse and the sea lions on the rocks. We then drove to Heceta Lighthouse. There is a nice picnic area on the beach near the lighthouse. We sat there at the beach area and watched people flying kites. Then we went up to the lighthouse. I was disappointed that the lighthouse gift shop and lighthouse were closed. I really wanted to get some of the great sweatshirts that I had heard about. But the walk was great and the view was awesome, so it was worth it.

Our next stop was Cape Perpetua. We took the drive to the top and got spectacular views of the entire coast. We stopped at two other areas, one with spouting horns and the other for Devil%26#39;s Churn and took several of the trails there. There were several nice areas to walk around right from the parking area. We bought the Oregon Passport here so we could see several things.

I believe the next stop we made was the Ocean Drive which was just before entering into Yachats. It was a short scenic side trip off Highway 101 and had nice benches to sit and enjoy the view.

Our next stop was Yaquina lighthouses. We followed the lighthouse compromise given to us by half-Brit to the letter. Great advice!! We took the first bend after the bridge and saw the Bay lighthouse and only spent a short time there...and then went on to the Yaquina Head lighthouse. I really enjoyed this stop. The giftshop/visitor%26#39;s center was nice and I got a couple things at the gift shop. They had nice long sleeve shirts and magnets. We went to the lighthouse and took the tour. It was a beautiful area and we walked around here for a while.

We then stopped at Cape Foulweather. More amazing views here!! I also saw nice jackets in the gift shop and got a nice mug with all the pictures of the Oregon lighthouses on it. I spent a little bit of time just taking in the view.

Our next stop was that we did the loop around Cape Mears. I was getting weary of driving at this point, but I was very glad that I stopped. We took a tour of the lighthouse...again beautiful views of the beautiful coast. The sun was shining and there wasn%26#39;t a cloud in the sky. We walked around here a bit and just soaked up the sunshine and view.

We then went to Tillamook Cheese Factory. We stopped to eat, tour the factory, and have some of the homemade icecream. I went a bit overboard and got the 3 scoop sampler in a waffle dish, but you are supposed to enjoy your vacation so I was glad that I did.

From there, we went on to Ecola State Park. This was a great park!! There was a nice drive through big tall trees to get there..almost like a tree tunnel making it like an adventure. There are great trails to walk around all the gorgeous views. We sat and just watched the water for a bit and took some nice pictures. This was a beautiful park.

From there, we went to our hotel, the Stephanie Inn. (another suggestion from someone on this forum). We had a bit of a hard time finding it. Pacific Avenue isn%26#39;t that easy to find. We had an oceanfront room and strolled on the beach and watched the sunset. We had a nice Roman tub in the room and the staff was very nice. When we left, they even gave us some water for the road.

I got up early and strolled the beach before breakfast. I got to see some birds on Haystack Rock and since it was low tide, I got to get close and explore around Haystack Rock. We did a jigsaw puzzle in Stephanie Inn%26#39;s sun room before breakfast. Their breakfast was very good. They had apple sausage and yogurt and eggs, I believe as well as this really good coffee cake. We then moved on and made the drive to Columbia River Gorge.

Once again, we followed suggestions given to us on this forum. It was absolutely excellent advice. We stopped at Portland Women%26#39;s Forum to admire the view, then Vista House..again lovely view...then Lautrell Falls, a beautiful high waterfall. Then on to Multnomah Falls. Multnomah Falls was simply spectacular!! We took the trail to the bridge, but not the top of the waterfall, and stopped at the giftshop to stock up on more treasures.

We had been given the suggestion that if it was clear and sunny to proceed to Mt. Helens and go to Johnston Ridge, but if it was cloudy, go to Bonneville Dam..so that is exactly what we did. It was sunny, so we went to Mt. St. Helens.

The road to Mt. St. Helens was not very awe inspiring at first, but the further, we went, the better and better the views. We stopped at a Forest Learning Center and there were very nice views here. Then we stopped at the Johnston Ridge Observatory. Here the views of Mt. St. Helens was fantastic! It was very clear. I got a nice jacket in the gift shop and I took the trails to several lookouts to see the area. It was great!

We then proceeded on to Seattle. Traffic was horrible, but we managed okay.

Once we got to Seattle, we tried to go to Pike Place Market. We went there briefly, but it was wall to wall people, so we stayed a short time, but it looked like fun. We decided to skip eating dinner at the Space Needle, but instead ate dinner at Elliott%26#39;s on the waterfront at Pier 54 or 55. We had a great meal and they even brought out little bowls to wash your hands after the fish. We took a carriage ride around Pioneer Square which did almost an hour long city tour. We then briefly went by the Sculpture Park on the way to Seattle Center.

We walked around Seattle Center, and then went up the Space Needle to watch the sunset over the city of Seattle. It was a great sunset. Once again, I hit the gift shop and bought Space Needle socks.

We stayed overnight in Everett, and then left at 6am the next morning to Snoqualmie Falls. The falls were all fogged in, but I got to see a glimpse of them. We ate breakfast at the Lodge with a table that looked out on the top of the falls. THe staff was very attentive and gave us great breads, and I had the steak and eggs, I believe for breakfast. It was great. The staff dropped honey on our bread from a spoon held high up, telling us it was honey from heaven..lol. We then went on to Seattle airport to catch our transfer to the cruise.

Once again, I thank you for the wonderful advice. I would like to get back to Oregon/Washington again and see some more of the beautiful area.

Just Back- Trip Report- Oregon

Sounds wonderful, we loved being up in the Space Needle this past weekend at night. We just returned from some time in Cannon Beach, going to the bakery, browsing through the art galleries and enjoying Ecola State Park.

It sounds like you had a wonderful trip and I enjoyed reading about your travels! :)

Just Back- Trip Report- Oregon

What a fantastic trip you had !

It is so good to hear how much you saw and did on your visit, and that you got to see so much.

It was a pleasure to read your report .. Thank you :)

I still remember my evening in the Space Needle .. I got motion sick or altitude sickness or something and had to leave lol ...Isn%26#39;t Vista House wonderful ? did you take a gazillion photos? lol I have ..

angeleyes--your trip report was a wonderful closure to all the posts and replies on TA over the past few months. You started with so many possibilities and worked thru to find the very best of them. Honestly, you have visited several places on the Oregon coast that I take for granted (like the lighthouses) and really need to visit. I was just at the Space Needle and the Seattle waterfront with my granddaughter and saw it thru her eyes (8 year old). I spent so many years working in the area that it took her to remind me how special it is (we fed fries to the seagulls at Ivar%26#39;s).

Thanks for taking the time to report back, and thanks for all those visits to the gift shops...you%26#39;re our own economic stimulus: LOL.

Hope your cruise was great, too--I%26#39;ll check the Alaska forum for your impressions.

Cheers, Linn

Sounds like a really nice trip, and thank you for sharing:) Where did you stay in Everett? We used to live nearby and will be back up there in a few days:)

Thanks for the trip report!! It is always nice to know how our advice actually worked out!! Sounds like you had a wonderful vacation!!

Hi! I%26#39;m so glad that you enjoyed your trip and were ablt to take advantage of so many of Oregon (and Washington%26#39;s) ';best';. You made spectacular use of your time in our area.

Hope you will come back soon!

Thanks so much for your nice TR! I am glad that we all could contribute and that you had a lovely time. Also pleased the weather cooperated - we drove from Gold Beach to Waldport today and the entire coast was foggy :-(

We%26#39;ll be looking forward to hearing from you again as you plan your next visit . . .

I am VERY grateful for all the great advice that I received on this forum. Without it, I could have never been able to know what to do. I had so many ideas in my head. I thought about staying at the Heceta Lighthouse and driving to Crater Lake..it was so hard because I could only get so much time off. If you notice by my itinerary, it was all based on the advice given here. I copied the suggestions and took it with me and followed it. It is so difficult to know what to do without advice from people like you. I would have been on the forest roads or who knows where or scrambling around trying to figure out what to do!! Going to Mt. St. Helens if it was clear, stopping at Safeway for a picnic lunch, the lighthouse compromise, stops along the coast, Devil%26#39;s Churn, etc were all from the people on this forum. THANK YOU!!

I do try to buy as much as I can carry from the local businesses. If the Heceta Lighthouse shop would have been open, I would have gotten a sweatshirt from them as well. We bought 4 decks of Oregon playing cards (2 of the Oregon coast, 1 of the Oregon coast lighthouses, and one of the coastal animals), also about 6-7 magnets of Oregon; 2 long sleeve shirts from Oregon(one was of Yaquina lighthouse); a coffee mug with the Oregon lighthouses from Cape Foulweather; cheese, candy and a video from the Tillamook Cheese Factory; a book of the Oregon coast from Yaquina Head, Oregon lighthouse socks and a number of things from the shop at Multnomah Falls as well as magnets and socks from the Space Needle, a jacket and magnets from Mt. St. Helens, etc. A local told me that there are nice sweatshirts in Depoe Bay and I wanted to stop there as well, but there was only so much I could do. The Space Needle was nice and surprisingly, the line wasn%26#39;t bad to get to the top. It was such beautiful weather and so clear. It was also beautiful at Cannon Beach the night before where I watched the sunset. I will have to post some of my pictures when I do reviews of attractions.

Another place that I stayed at was the Phoenix Inn. It was very nice. I will have to figure out where it was in Everett. It slips my mind for some reason.

As far as photos, between the two of us, we took over 500 photos of Oregon/Washington. And yes, Vista House and all the stops were wonderful. I wanted to stop at the Pelican Pub, but I was anxious to try some of the ice cream at Tillamook so we just decided to eat there.

Just read your trip report and now I am more excited than ever. We leave next Friday for our trip and I feel like I have been on vacation in my mind for the past month, reading all the trip reports and advice. We are going the opposite direction as you, flying in to Portland, spending time at Hood River and then on to the coast, but plan on visiting most of the attractions you mentioned. I dream at night of lighthouses and ice cream!

I want to thank everyone for all the advice as well, even if it was not given to me directly, it has helped me plan what will be a memorable vacation. Can%26#39;t wait to have a trip report of my own.

NON-FAST food places to eat?

Going to Eugene to visit mother-in-law, need places to eat that are not chains! Have been there many times, never really found good food. Maybe there isn%26#39;t any? We thought Ring of Fire was overly-pretentious and not that great compared with CA.

NON-FAST food places to eat?

Most of the really good restaurants in Eugene are NOT fast food or chains. Give me some idea of what sort of food you like and I%26#39;ll give you several recommendations. If you like Thai and think Ring of Fire pretentious you might like Sweet Basil, Mekala%26#39;s or Tasty Thai. Don%26#39;t know where you%26#39;ve been munching, but there%26#39;s something wrong if you couldn%26#39;t find good food in Eugene! Even the Saturday Market offers great, freshly prepared dishes. Have you been to Beppe %26amp; Gianni%26#39;s, Cornucopia, Koho Bistro, Papa%26#39;s Soul Food, Poppi%26#39;s Anatolia, Cafe Soriah or...oh, well, tell me what you%26#39;re looking for!

NON-FAST food places to eat?

I guess my problem is that we listen to my brother in law for recommendations. When we%26#39;re up there we are staying in Creswell :( and don%26#39;t have a computer with us! So I%26#39;m doing research before we go this time! We like Italian, Chinese, Indian %26amp; Thai,

also a good chunk of prime rib-we%26#39;ve never found that there! My niece is a cook at Olive Garden-not to excited about that!

Thank you for your suggestions,I will look them up! We don%26#39;t expect fancy,or even tablecloths, just good cookin%26#39; Is there anything like Chez Panisse or the French Laundry there?

Also, my son %26amp; wife are coming with us, she has never been to Eugene, we are outdoorsy, like to hike,

any suggestions?

Pardon the interruption, but given today%26#39;s date and Ducklady%26#39;s last post, I don%26#39;t know if I%26#39;d take the time, oregonpoppa. Makes me wonder who on this forum Ducklady might be related to....

Just took a look at your past inquiries and discovered that I did answer you on a couple of places to eat with your kids. Did you take my advice then? Those recommendations still hold. Our counterpart to Chez Panisse and the Laundry would have been Chanterelle, which closed over a year ago. The Zenon was once highly recommended for all visitors, but declined over the years after a change in management and closed a few months ago. The good news is that the owner of Cafe Soriah has announced plans to reopen Zenon. Many of our restaurants feature locally grown produce and meats and sustainable regimens. You thought Ring of Fire was pretentious and then asked about restaurants and chefs in the class of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. So, I have to ask, are you really looking for a fine meal at a reasonable price...or haute cuisine a la $$$?

OH, I missed the April Fool date. Doesn%26#39;t matter. I aim to please. Although following up a do we have a Chez Panisse request with where she can get a decent prime rib doesn%26#39;t compute. Not clear exactly what is being sought. We have a new restaurant called Rabbit which serves its namesake in a variety of ways...and Belly, which worships the swine side of the menu. We even have a great ramen restaurant...but that might be a bit too pedestrian.

Didn%26#39;t answer the hiking inquiry. Depending on the season, hiking options are unlimited. Give me some idea of yout comfort zone (distance, elevation gain, etc.), how far you%26#39;re willing to go to get to your hike (urban hike, coastal, Cascades, etc.) and date of your trip (since most of the mountains are still under snow). Might also be able to hook you up with a scheduled Obsidians hike. If you%26#39;re serious.

Sorry if you%26#39;re not happy with my responses. I%26#39;ve given you several restaurant suggestions that I think are worth your trying. There are a few steak houses in Eugene where you can check out their prime rib (I haven%26#39;t been to them yet)...and some of the restaurants in the area offer prime rib specials. One of the places I do like that has prime rib is the Original Roadhouse Grill in the Gateway Mall area (but it%26#39;s part of a chain).

As for hikes, suit yourself, but you should know that I am an active hiker and leader with the Obsidians, the largest and oldest outdoor organization in Lane County. Websites don%26#39;t always tell you what you need to know for your own comfort zone. You might also get a copy of William L. Sullivan%26#39;s hiking guides for the coast and central Cascades. His guidebooks are considered gospel by most Oregonian hikers. He%26#39;s an Obsidian, by the way.

The more you tell us about yourself and your interests the more we can help you. There are, indeed, many new restaurants that have opened in Eugene since 2007; but there are also many still around that you apparently haven%26#39;t experienced (other than Ring of Fire). I%26#39;ve given you enough leads to get you through your next several visits, I think.

Ducklady, there is no need to insult any Oregon poster.

It is also against the TA rules.

As you have had very few posts perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the posting guidelines.

Have a nice holiday.

I really think we can give ducklady what she wants, if she%26#39;ll discuss things with us. It%26#39;s very frustrating when those asking for advice don%26#39;t respond to our questions. We have that problem even among some of our forum regulars who don%26#39;t respond to follow-up questions. I would like to know if our previous suggestions for family dining met with her approval (or whether she ever made use of them). Such feedback is like manna from heaven for us because it verifies the value of our advice. When I moved here from Southern California I was struck with the wonderful flavor of locally grown produce and the whole Pacific Northwest cuisine, which is available at most of our fine restaurants. I know we would all like to introduce visitors to these pleasures...but they have to give us more than that they thought a restaurant was pretentious (how was the meal?) or that they were looking for the ubiquitous prime rib (but not at a chain).

As I said, I think we can give ducklady what she wants...if she%26#39;ll just talk to us.

Tide Pools around Otter Rock and Northern Coast

We%26#39;ve travelled along the Oregon Coast a few times now and I am looking for different experiences for this upcoming trip in September. We%26#39;ll be doing a day trip up from Florence to Lincoln City before our return to Portland. Could some locals share some tips on where the best tide pools are and give me route specifics for accessing them. (I have a tide schedule already to help with timing our destinations.) Will be taking a lot of pictures so suggestions for interesting scenery is appreciated also. We%26#39;ve been to Punchbowl, Churn, Seal Rock, etc.--attractions that are on the map. Looking for the not-so-obvious sights this time. Thanks for all suggestions.

Tide Pools around Otter Rock and Northern Coast

About 17 miles north of Florence you will enter Neptune State Scenic Area (just south of Cape Perpetua). There are a total of 4 small parking lots with beach access. Each offers something a little different. The first one you will come to (heading north) will be Bob Creek. There are some nice pools just north across the creek. There are alos some nice agates on this beach. Just a 1/2 mile further north is Strawberry Hill. Not only are there some GREAT tide pools here, but you get the added bonus of a resident population of harbor seals!!

Next, and just another 1/2 mile north, is Cummins Creek (Signed as Neptune) and just a a few hundred yards beyond is Gwinn Creek. Both of these beaches have great tide pools as well and you can access both from the beach at low tide.

Tide Pools around Otter Rock and Northern Coast

Den great post. I will store that away. we have stopped in those places but never to check tide pools. I even Boy Scout camped at Cape Perpeuta and did not go there.

I stopped at these pools on one of my Oregon jaunts ... I remember that they were beautiful and unique and the location being really peaceful. I wish I%26#39;d seen the harbor seals ...

Thanks, Den, never explored there.

Thanks Dengay--I have not previously stopped at Neptune State Scenic Area so will be looking forward to discovering the pools there.

I second strawberry hill!!

Have you been to Yaquina Head? Yes, it%26#39;s an obvious location, but quite nice :-)

Yes, Yaquina Head has afforded some beautiful shots, especially from the Sea Lion Caves. The fun shot I took, however, was below the lighthouse where the freshwater enters the surf--the seagulls were having a ball bathing in the river while the crows looked on. Oregon is such a diverse and beautiful state to visit. Luckily, we have relatives there, so lots of opportunities to plan vacations on the west coast.

Another spot worth checking out, but does take a bit of time to fully appreciate, is the Historic 804 Trail, which is most easily accessed from Smelt Sands State Park on the north end of Yachats. From the gravel parking lot, walk west 100%26#39; then turn north. The 3/4 mile path follows along the top of the bluff where there is access to 20 or more small ';pocket beaches';

804 = front of Overleaf and Fireside lodges. Good idea.

rosacea

Beautiful Day in Cannon Beach!

We are having some gorgeous weather this week on the Oregon Coast, yesterday after some surfing at the cove in Seaside we headed over to Cannon Beach to spend some time at Ecola State Park. Our first stop was the Cannon Beach bakery where picked up some goodies to take back to our beach cottage in Seaside. We also enjoyd strolling through some art galleries and I found a painting I loved called ';Sandcastle Girl.';

Ecola State Park is a gorgeous area to spend time in, I took several photos of Haystack Rock and we enjoyed relaxing at the picnic tables, there are many set up here making this a perfect place for a picnic lunch.

We picked up some Steamer Clams and a Crab and Shrimp Cocktail at Bell Bouy and headed back to Seaside for some beach time and bike riding on the Promenade. We%26#39;re having a wonderful time on the Oregon Coast, it%26#39;s nice to be back! :)

Beautiful Day in Cannon Beach!

%26gt;%26gt; We are having some gorgeous weather this week on the Oregon Coast...%26lt;%26lt;

Hmmm, now that is downright puzzling to me.

I live on the central Oregon coast, and the weather here has been pretty much EXACTLY what o%26#39;poppa quoted above.

Today I am sitting here looking out and it is rather dreary, to be honest. It is drizzling lightly and the low clouds are hanging in so visibility is very poor. Current temp is 56潞

We had a friend drive down to Newport yesterday afternoon from Cannon Beach and she said it was foggy and very cool the whole way.

So, syrahgirl, is this a case of getting your posts mixed up? It appears that your information above is quite inaccurate.

Perhaps you meant to post this referring to LAST WEEK, which was beautiful from May 25th through to May 30th.

Beautiful Day in Cannon Beach!

For general information (not just this post or poster), is there a prohibition against writing frequent trip updates and/or blog type posts? I just scanned the Community Guidelines as I was curious but didn%26#39;t see anything...perhaps I%26#39;m missing it?

From TA%26#39;s ';Guidelines for Posting in the Forums';:

';Orientation to neighborhoods, travel logistics, visa requirements, or even post-arrival ';thanks, everyone'; updates are welcome, whereas asking for help finding roommates, buying/selling furniture

or ONGOING PERSONAL UPDATES are not considered travel-related.'; [my caps]

Hi everyone,

We recognize that due to the diversity of our members, there will occasionally be disagreements about what is helpful information to provide on the forums. It is fine to disagree -- that is after all what makes TripAdvisor such a good resource! It is our expectation that members can offer their differing opinions without discrediting, insulting, or challenging another member%26#39;s right to post on our site.

If at any point you are concerned about a forum post, please send us an email or use the ';Report as inappropriate'; button and we would be happy to investigate your concerns right away. Reporting your concerns rather than responding to posts that you find inappropriate will greatly reduce the amount of disruption on the forums and keep them on topic. We will remove disruptive posts that do not meet our forum guidelines. Travel related forum posts, however, that do meet our guidelines are allowed to remain in public view.

Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about our guidelines. I am going to close this topic now as it has gone off topic.

Thanks so much for your participation and your cooperation!

TA_Louise

Recommended RV route from Gold Beach OR to Ashland OR

I%26#39;ll be driving a rental RV (30%26#39;) later this month during vacation with family. I%26#39;m finalizing return route now from Gold Beach via Ashland and Interstate 5 back to Sacramento. The route I have selected to get back inland from the coast is Hwy 199 from Crescent City toward Grants Pass. I have driven Hwy 20 in CA from Willits to Fort Bragg and that was definitely curvy for an RV. What can I expect on Hwy 199? Is it an appropriate route for an RV? Are there any recommended alternatives?

Many thanks for feedback.

Philip

Recommended RV route from Gold Beach OR to Ashland OR

I have not been Willits to Fort Bragg on cal-20.

I have been on US 199 Crescent City to Grants pass, it is curvy but not miserable. We owned a 26%26#39; RV for 8 years and would have been ok with US-199.

We just did cal-175 Lakeport to Hopland. It is miserable, no way would I take RV on that. If that helps with your comparison

Recommended RV route from Gold Beach OR to Ashland OR

You%26#39;ll find the road a bit curvy as you go inland from Jedidiah Smith SP, but you%26#39;ll want to go slower there and enjoy the scenery anyway. Everything after that is gentle.

Like others have said, near the summit on hwy 199, there are about 11 miles of curves. Other than that, it%26#39;s a plesant, very scenic drive.

BTW, you don%26#39;t have to drive south all the way the Crecent City to get on hwy 199. About 7 miles south of the Oregon Boarder is a short cut-off rd that takes you right to hwy 199 near the entrance to Jed Smith State park. I can%26#39;t remember the name of the road, but it%26#39;s well signed.

By the way, do not let anyone talk you into Gold Beach to Agness to Galice to GP over Bear Camp Road in an RV. I have done that road severl times, but would not have taken my RV.

There are many RV%26#39;s that use this route, as well as a fair number of large tractor-trailer rigs (big trucks). It is a main route and there really are no alternatives.

There are three short sections of curves, and it is signposted where they are. One is about 8 miles long, the other two are shorter. Going eastbound, you will not be hugging the hillside and will have a bit more room to play with. Much of the road is straight and wide with passing lanes.

We just drove this two days ago in our 8.5%26#39; wide dually, and the only time it got hairy was on one of the few really sharp curves where we were against the rock hillside, and a MH coming toward us was over the center line.

I would suggest you do not take the Hwy 197 cutoff, as that road is a tad narrow, and you will miss nearly all the redwoods.

Last minute -vacation - planned itinerary June 2009

Last minute -vacation - planned itinerary June 2009

3 nights in Seattle (Crowne Plaza Hotel)

Pick up hire car - drive to Port Angeles- stay overnight (Red Lion)

Drive to Quinault - stay 2 nights (Quinault River Inn)

Drive to Astoria - stay overnight (Holiday Inn Express)

Drive to Newport - stay 2 nights(The Whaler)

Drive to Hood River - stay 2 nights (Villa Columbia B %26amp; B)

Drive to Ashford = stay 2 nights (Stormking Spa)

Drive back to Seasttle for final night. (Radisson Tacoma Airport)

Any suggestions for ';must sees'; would be welcome. We love mountains / rivers / waterfalls / coast / wine / real ales / nice food / short hikes.

Thanks

(Also posted in Washington forum)

Last minute -vacation - planned itinerary June 2009

Looks like a wonderful plan, the Holiday Inn Express in very nice Astoria, we were just there today. I would not miss spending some time at the Maritime Museum in Astoria, there is also a nice riverfront trolley that is fun to ride. The Bridgewater Bistro is a great place for a meal, we enjoyed their Clam %26amp; Nussell Chowder and Prawns on the outside deck today. The Flave House and Fort Clatsop are also interesint things to see in Astoria. www.oldoregon.com is a nice website for Astoria.

I hope you enjoy your travels and let me know if you have any further questions on the Astoria area. :)

Last minute -vacation - planned itinerary June 2009

If you have time between Hood River and Ashford, driving into see the Mt. St. Helens crater is amazing.

Lots of great beer in Hood River.

On your drive between Newport and Hood River there will be lots of waterfall opportunities.

The easiest and prettiest would be to take the Old Columbia River Highway off Interstate 84 and drive that, stopping at a few of the many waterfalls. Watch the signs, there is more than one exit - Exit 22 is one of them.

woo, you don%26#39;t give us much time here to respond. Overnight places seem secondary.

Do you know what you want to see? Guess we can assume from route that you plan. Only thing in question may be Mt ST Helens, sort of off your planned trip. though not clear how you plan Hood River to Ashford

My questions are:

Why stay in Astoria? It is interesting, but you could go further to more interesting overnights, e.g., Cannon Beach (you might have to shop for lodging for the one night, usually two nights required during summer).

Newport area has much to offer, two nights, good. However, for a very scenic lodging location, either Fireside or Overleaf lodges, just north of Yachats, ask for ocean FRONTage rooms. Nice historic trail in front.

Why two nights Hood River?

Ditto, Ashford, unless you%26#39;ll be hiking at Mt. Rainier.

I, too, suggest that you see Mt. St. Helens, on your way northbound to Mt. RNP.

Some websites and Inside Pages, both OR and WA.

Oregon Coast

http://www.oregoncoasttravel.net/

Newport, OR

http://discovernewport.com/

www.aquarium.org

Yachats, OR (La Di Da)

http://www.yachats.org/events.html

Yachats/Cape Perpetua fs.fed.us/r6/鈥?/a>

http://www.el.com/to/yachats/

Columbia River Gorge - take the scenic highway as shown, eastbound, much easier to see and to park.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/

http://www.spectacularoregon.com/

WA State

Options for self drive itineraries in the Seattle Region, with websites.

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60878-c112037/Seattl鈥?/a>

WA State Highway Map

www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/highwaymap/

Whidbey Island (Great day or more getaway that is iconic of the Pacific NW, with key websites.)

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g58824-s2/Whidbey-Isl鈥?/a>

Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park

http://www.olympicpeninsula.org/

http://www.nps.gov/olym/

You will need the following, and can pick one up at any ferry terminal - or, print it out.

Ferry Routes and Schedules, WA State Ferries

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/

Mount Rainier National Park http://www.nps.gov/mora/

Washington State has some truly beautiful and interesting State Parks.

www.parks.wa.gov/parks/region/鈥?/a>

Specifically, Lewis %26amp; Clark State Park; nice trail to lighthouse, excellent interpretive center.

Ooops, last line, Lewis %26amp; Clark Interpretive Center.

Wow! Thanks everyone for the prompt suggestions / advice. I will check it all out and amend plans as necessary. Sorry for the short notice - my other half doesn%26#39;t like to plan ahead so its like this every year. We just love the USA and my lifetime ambition is to set foot in every state. (I%26#39;ve managed 20 so far - so this trip will make 22). I must admit that in some states I%26#39;ve literally set foot in the airport whilst waiting for connecting flights but until I can do them all in detail - it will count for now!

Thanks again!

tide pools and sea stacks

I am leaving tomorrow to drive up the coast from San Francisco to Newport, Oregon and then over to Portland.

What are the best beaches in Oregon from the California border up through Newport that have the best tide pools and sea stacks/dramtic coastal landscape?

Any inexpensive but clean hotel recommendations up through Newport would be appreciated.

Thanks!

tide pools and sea stacks

Leaving tomorrow? Not much time for answers to come in!

Where are you planning to stop for your overnights? There are a lot of inexpensive motels along the coast, but what do you call inexpensive?

Most dramatic sea stacks are along the southern coast up to Port Orford, and then again at Bandon. You will see most of them from Hwy 101, and/or there will be an Oregon State Park sign directing you to lookouts. The landscape is dramatic between Florence and Yachats also.

The coast has been quite cool, and foggy/cloudy the past few days with some rain, so hopefully you will find some sunshine somewhere :-)

tide pools and sea stacks

saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/oregonsites.h鈥?/a>

As far as tidepools go, you should check this website for best times for where you%26#39;ll be. Taking Port Orford just as an example, low tide (a minus tide) will be at 6 a.m. (not too convenient for you I would guess) and again at around 5:30 p.m. High tide is around noon -- 5+ft, enough to eliminate most tidepooling.

With such tide swings you need to be very careful and keep an eye out for sneaker waves.

Best Stop Over - San Fran CA to Portland OR

hi

we%26#39;re looking to drive from San Fran, CA to Porland, OR in 2 days. firstly does this seem like a good time-frame to cover the distance without driving all day, and secondly, which two places would be good to stop over. we%26#39;re keen to explore some of the redwood coast area (part of the reason for the trip) and would prefer to stay away from tourist traps and enjoy some of the natural beauty along the way.

thanks

south africans in london

Best Stop Over - San Fran CA to Portland OR

Hi there-

Sort of confused by your message... you have 2 days, but then it says you%26#39;re trying to find places to stay for 2 nights-does that mean you will have three days or two days to complete your trip?

It takes one full day~11 hours to get from SanFransicso to Portland on Interstate 5-without much more than stopping to gas your car and grab lunch.

If you have two days-it will be real hard pressed to see the redwoods and enjoy them, but if this is all the time you have, its probably doable, but will be a whirlwind. I;d probably spend the night near Eureka, CA.

If you have 3 days, that would be preferable. Don%26#39;t think there are too many tourist traps to avoid, unless you feel the need to visit Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox-which is a tourist tourist, recomended by yours truely.

Best Stop Over - San Fran CA to Portland OR

Are you planning to drive both directions? If so I would take the coast highway through California as far as Crescent City, then take 199 to Grants Pass. Just east of Crescent City on 199 you can camp at Panther Flats (USFS campground - very nice).

On the way back drive down the Oregon coast. (Driving south, it%26#39;s easier to pull off for the ocean viewpoints.)

Hope this helps!

Hi, and welcome to TripAdvisor.

To assist you more effectively, we need a bit more info!

Are you planning two nights or one in-between SF and Portland? One night is really far too much driving for your two days of travel. Two nights and three days is better.

Do you want to see some of the spectacular Oregon coast?

There aren%26#39;t many tourist traps along the northern CA and OR coasts, but it will take longer to travel as the roads are all two lane with limited passing (overtaking) sections.

It will take you about 6 hours to get from San Fran to Eureka. If you are looking to visit the Redwoods then you should leave in the morning so you have time to get up here. About an hour before you get to Eureka you will come to the Ave of the Giants, this is the old Hwy 101 that winds through all the Redwoods. There are plenty of places to pull over and explore. Founders Grove is a great spot to stop, large parking area, bathrooms and a great short trail. Then continue north and you will come to Eureka. Eureka is a small town, not really a tourist trap. Plenty of things to see there as well. Then you can leave the next day and continue up 101 to Hwy 199 then over to I-5 to Portland. You could take 101 all the way north, it will be a much prettier drive but it will take alot longer. While going north on 101 you will still be in the Redwoods, all the way through parts of Hwy 199. Taking 2 days to get to Portland from SF is a good idea, too long to do it all in one day. Drive Safe...

Bridgewater Bistro/Flying Dutchman Wine Tasting Room

We stopped by the Flying Dutchman for some wine tasting in Astoria today after going over to Seaview to see the cranberry bogs. The tasting room is very upscale and offers many fine wines to taste.

The Bridgewater Bistro is absolutely gorgeous and has been open now about 5 weeks. The dining room is spacious with a fireplace and has amazing views of the river and bridge. There is also an upstairs area that has a fireplace and is very, very nice.

We enjoyed appetizers of the Quail and Meatballs. The bistro offers wine flights with food pairings, small plates, desserts and entrees. The menus look very good we will be trying dinner here soon.

The Bridgewater Bistro is now my favorite restaurant on the Oregon Coast and looks to be a very nice addition to the Astoria food and wine scene. It is located right in front of the Cannery Pier Hotel.

Bridgewater Bistro/Flying Dutchman Wine Tasting Room

%26lt;%26lt;We stopped by the Flying Dutchman for some wine tasting in Astoria today after going over to Seaview to see the cranberry bogs.%26gt;%26gt;

SyrahGirl, I backed you up many a time...then I read this. Girl, do you really know where the Flying Dutchman is? NO WHERE NEAR Astoria!!!

It is 15 miles SOUTH of Lincoln City! Two to three hours from Astoria!

*shaking my head*

Guess it is a bit like Archery Summit and North Plains.

Bridgewater Bistro/Flying Dutchman Wine Tasting Room

Just out of curiosity, I looked further online and did find several sources stating that Flying Dutchman just opened a tasting room in Astoria (20 Basin Street, remodeled ';Red Building'; next to Cannery Pier Hotel, just as syrah mentions...).

One source I found was the Agenda from the October Astoria City Council Meeting; sure enough, Flying Dutchman had applied for and was being approved for a liquor license...

So I%26#39;m buying the story, for whatever my opinion%26#39;s worth. Thanks for the report...

Exactly, Brian! Cool place, we just returned from an amazing dinner at Bridgewater Bistro, we spent over 2 hours having appetizers, enjoying wine and dinner and desserts. We met a really nice couple there and ended up chatting about the are for over an hour.

The place was full, it is doing very well! :)

oops, make that ';area.'; :)

My appolgy for not finding that info and thinking you%26#39;d been sniffing too much salt water. :-)

There is a very nice article on the Bridgewater Bistro in Northwest Palate this month by Lori McKean, the food critic for the Daily Astorian who took Richard Fensack%26#39;s place. :)

Northwest Palate? How nice, is this how you keep up with Oregon foodie news between visits? I wish I had known about this when we were living in Portland :)

Bet you are looking forward to visiting Oregon again this summer..see how things have changed in a year .

Do you know what happened to Fensack, syrahgirl? I remember reading one of his reviews on Shoalwater before we had dinner there a couple years ago. It read like he%26#39;d been to a completely different Shoalwater than the one we experienced. And isn%26#39;t Bridgewater Bistro owned and operated by the same folks as Shoalwater? What makes it better?

Maybe we should start a thread for you, and provide a link every time something is written about one of your favorite places here. As Scarlett implies, it must be tough keeping up on things from your home in CA.

I went to the Northwest Palate web site and was able to find mention of the Bridgewater Bistro with a link to apparently the Bistro%26#39;s website, interesting menu.

We will be staying in Seaside tonight but I promised bw she could pick the restaurant, if I can stretch our overnighter to include Saturday and dinner it definately looks worthy of a visit. If we go I will be happy to report back.

Please do, Tyr52. Always nice to have more than just one opinion.

Have a great weekend. It%26#39;s supposed to be windy on the coast again, isn%26#39;t it?

rosacea

New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro

We had an amazing lunch at New Sammy%26#39;s yesterday. I had a Spinach Ravioli dish that was the BEST pasta dish I have ever had. I had a couple of half glasses of some white wine from Franch, both were wonderful. The server brought out a complimentary little dish of cold Sorrell soup that was outstanding, the bread was housemade and out of this world. For dessert we shared a Lemon Tart with Honey and Lavender ice cream. It was the perfect lunch, New Sammy%26#39;s is better than ever, can%26#39;t wait to return! :)

New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro

Be sure to post this in the Reviews Section too ...

What kind of wine was that ? Franch ? How much did you have? lol, just kidding.. it all sounds great... housemade/homemade bread is always a treat, I wish I could get more of that around here.. in Argentina.

New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro

Lunch in Talent yesterday and reports from Seattle today. That means you must have gone straight through and arrived last night. Or did you overnight in Eugene or Portland? Did you drive straight through from California to Seattle in one long stretch?

Did you also stop at King Estates (another of your favorite places that you promote extensively)?

With your continuing promotion of Sammy%26#39;s, did they comp you on the lunch?

Please, tell us all about it.

oregonpoppa--From her posts, this was only her 2nd visit there. So not sure where the ';better than ever!'; came from. Sure hope she had someone else driving after several glasses of wine...

Why is it called ';New'; Sammy%26#39;s?

So you had a *little* dish of cold Sorrell soup, bread and half a dessert for lunch? Plus the wine of course. Nothing else?

I know of course, that you won%26#39;t answer these question, syrahgirl, since quite frankly you never do.

But maybe somebody else has eaten there? I really am curious about what happened to the old Sammy?

I remember not too long ago, a sandwich was a sandwich then Rachel Ray made them Sammies... does this restaurant have anything to do with that?

Or am I just too far behind the times ?

I am curious about the sorrell soup though, I have never had it and wonder what it is like, what you can liken it to?

Honey/Lavender ice cream I have had and it tasted too much like soap ... but sorrell is interesting to me ...

Let%26#39;s be fair, half-Brit. She did say she had the best pasta dish she EVER had (spinach ravioli).

And that is after having reported on the yummiest meals at the finest Italian restaurants in Portland, Ashland and, of course, on the north coast. Don%26#39;t know if she%26#39;s ever been to Italy, SF%26#39;s Little Italy, NY, New England or Philly.

I haven%26#39;t eaten there yet, but I have heard good things about the place. The original Sammy%26#39;s was in an old hotel. When it moved to the new location it became the New Sammy%26#39;s Cowboy Bistro. Even though we try to make annual visits to Ashland, we aren%26#39;t even keeping up with the restaurants that open there every year. They%26#39;re more convenient to the theaters and after our final matinee we head for home. I think it probably is a great place and we shouldn%26#39;t hold our resident shill%26#39;s reports against them.

Oregonpoppa--By her accounts, nope, never been to any of those places. A shame about that as there are some amazing places around the world!

Wonder if I can get some Franch wine when we go to France in 2 weeks;)

Why go to Europe when the world%26#39;s best pasta is at New Sammy%26#39;s Cowboy Bistro right here in Talent, OR?

I realize Franch is just a typo, but am wondering why our resident wine expert didn%26#39;t specify the variety, vineyard or vintage of the ';half glasses of some white wine.'; Nothing wrong with having a house wine, but why not say so? Could have been a Sauvignon Blanc, a Pinot Blanc, a Chardonnay, Chablis... Strange that she would have the world%26#39;s best pasta and not be able to recommend the wine she had with it.

I was thinking, perhaps that Franch was a new Cali winery? LOL! Then perhaps, simply a typo.

As far as the ';New'; heck the New Copper Penny, in SE Portland has been ';new'; for decades. Not that any of us should ever go there...scary place.

As for the honey and lavender ice cream...I HATE lavender...that is the scent that too many old ladies wear....makes me wretch. When I detect that scent, I literally gag.

%26lt;%26lt;Why go to Europe when the world%26#39;s best pasta is at New Sammy%26#39;s Cowboy Bistro right here in Talent, OR?%26gt;%26gt;

Amazing! I could have sworn that I had some of the best in San Gimignano, Italy! Who knew that Talent was so talented!

%26lt;%26lt;I realize Franch is just a typo, but am wondering why our resident wine expert didn%26#39;t specify the variety, vineyard or vintage of the ';half glasses of some white wine.'; Nothing wrong with having a house wine, but why not say so? Could have been a Sauvignon Blanc, a Pinot Blanc, a Chardonnay, Chablis... Strange that she would have the world%26#39;s best pasta and not be able to recommend the wine she had with it.%26gt;%26gt;

Great point. I too, would like to know which wines she enjoyed. Does Sammy%26#39;s have their wine list on a web site?

Places to Eat in/near Washington Park

We%26#39;ll be in Portland for a week this summer and thought it made sense to spend one of the days at Washington Park: the Children%26#39;s Museum and/or Oregon Zoo for our daughter, then the Japanese Garden and International Rose Test Garden for the grown-ups.

Just wondering: are there any nice places to have lunch within the park or nearby? It doesn%26#39;t have to be haute cuisine, but it might be nice to have something a notch up from the cafeteria fare at the museum or zoo (unless one of those places is some sort of hidden gem).

It looks like about a 20-minute walk over to NW 23rd Ave., where I know there are some restaurants, though it%26#39;s hard to tell how steep the terrain is in beween (we%26#39;ll be pushing a stroller). We%26#39;d even be curious to check out one of Portland%26#39;s famous food carts if there is a good one nearby. Or is packing a picnic lunch and enjoying the scenery in the park our best bet?

Places to Eat in/near Washington Park

It is steep in areas going from the Rose Gardens down to NW 23rd. But that is where I would suggest going to eat.

You can eat in the zoo. They have a wonderful area for picnics .. better would probably be to pick up something in town and take it with you, or take your chances and buy something at the zoo.

. which lol is not a hidden gem..

I never saw a food cart up in that area at all.

I think the picnic is the best idea..

Places to Eat in/near Washington Park

If you go to Nob Hill, Escape From New York has some really yummy pizza. We also love Moonstruck Chocolates in this area, they have wonderful candy and truffles and decadant chocolate milkshakes.

Enjoy your time in Portland! :)

I agree with Scarlett that a picnic is your best bet, weather permitting. As she said, some sections of the hill between the park and NW 23rd are quite steep, and the stroller wouldn%26#39;t make it any easier. In any case, I certainly wouldn%26#39;t walk all the way down to 23rd for pizza, which you can probably find at the zoo.

Massachusetts Member writes NW 23rd Ave; you write Nob Hill, syrahgirl. Any reason to try and confuse her/him?

It is called Troublemaking, mistletoe.

Massachusetts Member ... last time we went to the Zoo, there were many Many families there, many moms with babies and strollers and toddlers... in the area near the Elephants, is where there is a huge grassy place where everyone was picnicking.

And little ones were toddling around without worry of getting in someones way which was great... in case your little one gets antsy after a certain amount of time in the stroller..

You can hold her up to the glass partitions where the monkeys are and one might come right up to it .. I have the best photo of one hanging in his hammock, looking at us, looking at him .. everyone was quite relaxed lol..

I will suggest getting a fabulous picnic from the Pearl Bakery ..

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I was not thrown by the reference to Nob Hill since my guidebook uses the same name, though as I recall, locals seem to prefer ';NW 23rd'; or even ';trendy-third';. And confusing tourists is one of our big pastimes here in Boston, though it is usually inadvertent.

It%26#39;s a true hike around Washington Park down to good lunch at good restaurants on 23rd. Not sure how old your daughter is, but if she is young a picnic might be just the ticket! Have fun whatever your choice.

%26lt;%26lt;Thanks for the info and suggestions. I was not thrown by the reference to Nob Hill since my guidebook uses the same name, though as I recall, locals seem to prefer ';NW 23rd'; or even ';trendy-third';. And confusing tourists is one of our big pastimes here in Boston, though it is usually inadvertent. %26gt;%26gt;

LOL This is an ongoing battle between 3-4 people everytime this term is brought up. I have lived here most of my life and have heard both names referenced, not to mention, many businesses have ';Nob Hill'; in their names.

Too funny, about confusing people in Boston. I love your city. Had a great time there and I need to get back sometime soon.

%26lt;%26lt;Just wondering: are there any nice places to have lunch within the park or nearby?%26gt;%26gt;

I think part of this may have been missed. Everyone is responding about picnics in the park. There are several restaurants nearby, as the park is downtown, but not a restaurant in the park. If it is a nice day, getting something at Zupans and heading up to the park for a picnic would be fun.

%26lt;%26lt;Or is packing a picnic lunch and enjoying the scenery in the park our best bet?%26gt;%26gt;

While I thought posters did address the idea of going down from the Gardens to NW 23rd ( pushing a stroller on that hill, lack of sidewalks in spots) .. this is the part of the question that required the picnic answers...

Before even going up to the Park/Zoo/Gardens, a picnic could be put together from Zupans, Pearl Bakery or any of many great places that will do that .. Whole Foods and Trader Joes also put together great picnic lunches..

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;Or is packing a picnic lunch and enjoying the scenery in the park our best bet?%26gt;%26gt;

While I thought posters did address the idea of going down from the Gardens to NW 23rd ( pushing a stroller on that hill, lack of sidewalks in spots) .. this is the part of the question that required the picnic answers...

Before even going up to the Park/Zoo/Gardens, a picnic could be put together from Zupans, Pearl Bakery or any of many great places that will do that .. Whole Foods and Trader Joes also put together great picnic lunches..

%26gt;%26gt;

Ah, I think you misunderstood my point....it seemed as though the original question included a restaurant IN the park. ';Just wondering: are there any nice places to have lunch within the park or nearby?';

Sorry to confuse you on my post. ;-)

Driving the coast

Greetings,

We (two families of four) are heading from BC down to the Avenue of the Giants for a few days. Our plann is to just get down there as quick as we can, but, on the way back we%26#39;re going from there to Yachats, where we%26#39;ve rented a vacation house for 5 nights.

My question is about the drive from northern California back up to Yachats. We want to drive the legendary scenic Oregon cast, but what route do we take? Do we take our time on the way from Cali to Yachats (along 101), or is the better choice north of Yachats. We%26#39;ve got four kids 10 and under involved, so days of driving joy are limited.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

Driving the coast

Best of Oreg coast is Brookings to Port Orford. Reedsport or Florence to Depoe Bay.

with 5 nights in Yachats you can do coast near Florencea as day trip. Kids will enjoy dune buggy rides near Florence, aquarium at Newport.

and the would probably enjoy jet boat ride from Gold Beach on Rogue. but you need an overnight near GB to do that. 4 hr minimum trip

Driving the coast

phirl is right - the southern end and the central portion of the Oregon Coast are arguably the ';best';. I am more knowledgeable and partial to the central coast and with Yachats as a base you can check out the sand dunes in the Florence area, check out the view from Cape Perpetua, walk the 804 Trail (very easy and child friendly), see the touristy setting and sites in Newport and view the Hecta Lighthouse (spectacular setting...near the ';could be avoided'; Sea Lion Caves.)

The entire coast of Oregon is absolutely beautiful.

HOWEVER....

There is a definite difference between the North Coast and the South Coast. They are two seperate beauties!

North is cliffy, rugged vistas, and the South is more rolling hills with rock formations jetting out of the surf.

From Brookings up to Coos Bay, North Bend %26amp; Charleston is about 2 1/2-3. Just north of North Bend starts the Oregon Dune National %26amp; Recreational Area where the dune go north up to Florence.

There is LOTS to do on the Southern portion of the Oregon Coast!

There are MANY different opportunities to stop between California and Yachats along the Oregon Coast, so let those kids out and play!

Pick up a ';Oregon Coast Mile-by-Mile'; guide, or have one sent to you.

www.visittheoregoncoast.com

The Oregon Coast is 363 Miles of adventures!

Thank you all very much for the information. It%26#39;s all so helpful. We plan on spending a somewhat leisurely day driving from around Scotia, California up to Yachats. Then, with Yachats as our base we plan on spreading out and checking out the area a little more - that includes a day trip to the dunes, a trip to Newport, the 804 trail runs virtually right past the vacation house we%26#39;ve rented, and, of course any other wonders we encounter.

So, thanks for all the advice so far (I%26#39;ve ordered the mile-by-myle guide), and please keep the suggestions coming.

Hi Callicles, I hate to tell you but the drive from Scotia to Yachats will take you about 6.5 to 7 hours of driving -- with *no* stops.

I often drive from the Yachats area where I live to the Eureka area, and there is no getting around the time it takes. It is over 300 miles.

I think you would be better off if you allowed one night in between, as then you will have time to stop and see some things. There are a lot of State Parks to visit with great views, and the children might enjoy visiting the Prehistoric Gardens (dinosaurs!) between Gold Beach and Port Orford. There is also the Wild Animal Park in Bandon.

If the tide is out, you can all walk across the causeway to visit Battery Point lighthouse in Crescent City, as it is the only lighthouse on the west coast accessed this way.

Gold Beach is about half way and has a variety of lodging.

Oh, it can%26#39;t possibly take that long - we Canadians drive in metric!

I%26#39;m joking of course. Thanks for the note half-brit. By leisurely, I mean that we won%26#39;t be rushing to get to Yachats. If it takes all day, it takes all day, that%26#39;s fine with us. Then, from Yachats, we%26#39;re willing to strike out on a couple of day trips, but I take your point about all the things to do in between. Never enough time.

We love the northern coast, the Seaside/Cannon Beach area has been a favorite of ours for years, we are at our beach cottage in Seaside where we have been having a great time. I also love the scenery around the Astoria area, the Columbia River is gorgeous. There are lots of things for kids to do in Seaside and Astoria. Here are some website for our favorite places in this area:

www.oldoregon.com

www.cannon-beach.net

www.seasideor.com

I hop you have a great time on your road trip and please report back with us after your travels! :)

Possible to stay 1 night in Cannon Beach on 6/13

I am traveling with a girlfriend down the Oregon coast and we really want to stay for 1 night in Cannon beach, and then the next night further south near Tillamook before we head back to Portland. But I am having a really hard time finding a place in Cannon beach for one night! Is our quest impossible? We want to spend a good day checking out Cannon Beach, and then visit Tillamook and do a little sightseeing along the coast the next day.

Any advice is welcome!!

Possible to stay 1 night in Cannon Beach on 6/13

If it weren%26#39;t a Saturday night you might succeed in getting the 2 night minimum waived as bookings do appear to be a bit soft this month (I just got an email yesterday from the SurfSand offering discounted rates for this coming weekend), but I would imagine most places are going to hold out for a 2 nighter. Waiting until the last minute (e.g. next Wed or Thurs) might help as lodgings will be more flexible about filling the rooms the closer to the date it gets.

Possible to stay 1 night in Cannon Beach on 6/13

When we lived in Portland, we tried a few times to get that 2 night minimum waived.. any time of the week .. it was always a No.

Even in Arch Cape there are minimums..

Try the Arch Cape Inn .. a B%26amp;B, maybe they don%26#39;t have a minimum, Arch Cape is only 10 mi south of Cannon Beach ..

Assuming you are coming from Portland, you could stay in the Seaside area, it%26#39;s not far from Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach, BTW, can be seen as a nice walkthrough, but worth seeing Ecola State Park, north end. Then continue south for your first overnight?

Depending on your time, the coast south of Tillamook is much more scenic and the latter is inland. If time permits, I%26#39;d go as far south as spectacular Cape Perpetua; see that and Newport; then return to Portland if necessary, by I-5. The Three Capes Route outside of Tillamook is on rough roads and you need to walk/hike a bit to enjoy what is more accessible, and IMO, more stunning, further south.

Try either Seaside or Manzanita, both are close by. Be aware that Seaside has traffic congestion, however.

Not knowing your price range, try:

http://seasidelanai.com/our_hotel.php

You do know that Tillamook is inland?

Yes, try Seaside, www.seasideor.com is a nice website for this area, I am there now so let me know if the3re any specific places you want to check out, try Rivertide Suites, they are a fairly new property,I have toured the rooms, they are very nice. :)

I was just by the Lanai at the Cove, they have painted their outside and have beautiful hanging flower baskets now, there is also an outdoor pool at the Lanai. Thisproperty is by Ave U, a more quiet area of Seaside. :)

Since it%26#39;s only 40 miles between the two towns, I%26#39;m wondering why you%26#39;d split your stay between Cannon Beach and Tillamook. So, if it%26#39;s the 2-night minimum that%26#39;s creating the problem, consider spending both nights in Cannon Beach. There aren%26#39;t many good options around Tillamook anyway. And if you get a fairly early start after the 2nd night, you%26#39;ll have plenty of time to see sights around Tillamook, and still make it back to Portland by dinner time. I%26#39;ve done the same loop many times. Heck, you%26#39;ll have daylight until almost 9:30pm.

Now there%26#39;s a good idea ;-)

Oh, good suggestion, mistletoe--I read the OP as saying they were heading to Portland the 2nd night after visiting Tillamook for the day, but I think you read it right.

mistletoe has the answer. No doubt about that.

Also, for anyone looking for a one night stay...I wonder if there will be concessions due to the economy? Although I would doubt it during the summer as far more Oregonians will be spending time ';at home'; than going elsewhere.

Crater Lake and Sunset Beach in Oregon

Hi,

I am planning a trip from San Francisco in July to Lake Shasta, CA, then to overnight in Klamath Falls, OR. We will drive to Crater Lake the next morning, and will spend half day there and drive to Sunset Beach at the coast. We will camp there for 3 nights. On the way back to San Francisco, I am planning to stop by the Redwood park.

Can you please advise the best route to get to these places and what ';must see'; and ';must do'; for this trip. We are two adults, and two teenage boys.

Thank you so much for the advices in advance.

Crater Lake and Sunset Beach in Oregon

First of all, are you talking about Sunset Beach between Seaside and Astoria on the north coast...or Sunset BAY State Park near Coos Bay? I am guessing it is the latter. If so, take the north exit from Crater Lake and Hwy 138 along the scenic Umpqua River to Roseburg; and #42 through Coquille to Coos Bay.

If, by chance, you do mean Sunset Beach on the north coast, your route options are many...but since it would take you at least 8 hours or more to get there from Crater Lake I%26#39;m betting you mean Sunset Bay, not Beach.

As for stopping by ';the Redwood Park,'; tain%26#39;t that easy. Hwy 101 will take you through portions of Redwood National Park and by a number of beautiful California state parks in the redwoods. South of Eureka you%26#39;ll come to the Avenue of the Giants (the original 101, now a scenic side road), which is a MUST for anyone visiting the redwoods.

Crater Lake and Sunset Beach in Oregon

Am waiting to hear which. we will be at Sunset Bay in Aug then on to Crater Lake area

Sorry, and yes it is Sunset Bay. Thank you so much for pointing this out.

From K Falls you could tae the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway along west side of Klamath LakeThen into Crater Lake on OR-62. Go to Rim Village and stop there then along west side of Crater Lake making 2 or 3 stops. The go out north entrnce to hit OR-138 past Diamond lake and down the N Umpqua to I-5.

WWe usually take the north bank road just beyond Glide and come on old 99 near Winston. it is shoter and you miss Roseburg.

From Sutherlin on I-5 take 138 again to Elkton then along Umpqua on OR-38 to Reedsport where you hit 101

I think it may be a bit shorter to take OR-42 from Roseburg but 38 is prettier toute.

Nice little golf course next to Sunset Bay.

At Sunset Bay in the evening take your chair down to the beach to watch the sunset.

Take phirl%26#39;s advice!!!!!

Phirl gave excellent directions.

As far as Redwood NP, these will give you lots of info:

shannontech.com/ParkVision/鈥edwood.html

http://redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=2464

http://avenueofthegiants.net/

Thank you Phirl, I will take your advice.

Any suggestion on what to do at K Falls and Sunset Bay?

Not a lot to do in K Falls. If you asking advice of good way to got. I would spend night in Ashland. Sakesperean Festival there much of year. You can some times catch the lesser shows at a late date. And the drive up from Ashl and along OR-62 is nice near Union Creek.

From Sunset Bay you can get the the Dunes fairly easily and take a dune buggy os bus ride. We crabbed at Charleston, This year think we will visit the Shore Acre Gardens nearby.

We just visited the redwoods last month. Be sure to drive the Newton Drury Parkway. several stops you can make there tkae the hike out from parking loat at Big Tree. and at Prairie Creek VC.

We drove up to see Lady Bird Johnson grove started on the hike and quit. Road is quite steep, even down gearing we had to ride the breaks a lot. d We figured we were better to spend time on Avenue of the Giants which we did.

we drove that maybe 5 years ago. It is not Park Service so they do not produce map, but there is a good brochure about it so be sure to find it. first time we did not have it and missed several things. signing is not wonderful.

I want to buy an atv or dune buggy

Can someone recommend a good, safe, inexpensive brand of dune buggy? My daughter is going to Jr. College near the dunes and I%26#39;d like to buy her something with a roll bar if possible.

Also, does anyone know if there are places near the dunes where she could store it during the week?

I want to buy an atv or dune buggy

Hmm, this is a borderline ';travel question';, but which town are you referring to? The dunes stretch for about 40 miles or so. I might be able to help you with your storage question if I knew where she needed it stored.

I want to buy an atv or dune buggy

I have some doubts that good, safe and inexpensive are words that can be used when discussing dune buggies. Roll bar or not, these dunes are not for novices (we lose one or two each year!). Some of the dunes are 200-300 ft w/sheer dropoffs. And, in poor visibility it is very easy to get horribly lost in the dunes.

I know that our kids will do things whether we like them to or not...but I%26#39;d want to know my daughter was skilled before considering such a purchase.

Thanks!

I haven%26#39;t been there myself and was picturing small little mounds, like we have in CA. I may need to rethink.

There is miles of dunes that range from small bumps like you mentioned to the high ones others have mentioned. I agree cheap is not going to be a common word when looking at ATV%26#39;s. The safety depends on her for the most part and also others. Many shops have riding classes. But she should be sure to go with others familiar with the dunes until she knows their hidden qwerks. And should always ride with a friend and a phone. A full cage type is a good choice. But you will pay more. If they have arm restraints and the riders use them it%26#39;s probably the safest vehicle out there. There is a couple places that you can find them.

In Hauser a few miles North of North Bend (About 10 minutes from SOCC) is Tiger motor sports.

http://www.hausermotorplex.com/tiger%202.htm

In North Bend the is Parkers ATV. They sell new and used equipment. They had a nice looking older Honda Pilot out today. Full cage and it%26#39;s probably 15 years old but may be a lot cheaper than something new.

http://www.parkersatv.com/

There are several other shops around but I think these two will be your best bet especially for something with a cage. And either of those places will most likely be your best bet on finding a storage facility. I don%26#39;t know of any specifically for ATV%26#39;s. There is many locked storage places and RV storage facilities around though. Find one with good security though. ATV%26#39;s disappear around here frequently.

I just wanted to add more about safety. I have never ridden on the dunes but hubby did as part of a ';team building'; activity. It wasn%26#39;t a pleasant experience for him. You need to hit the dunes at the correct speed. Too slow and you could flip backward, too fast and you might run into your buddy over the crest. Don%26#39;t go up or down at the correct angle and you could be rolling down on your side.

If you want to spend money on this activity for her, pay for her and her friends to go with an outfitter. It%26#39;s not a completely safe activity but it will be safer with someone in the know. Then they can all go out for ice cream at Dairy Queen.

%26gt;%26gt;...was picturing small little mounds, like we have in CA.%26lt;%26lt;

Err, you%26#39;ve not seen Dumont Dunes? Out of Barstow?

Spent many a weekend flying off the top of dunes way back when in my young and stupid days, LOL!

.....Would not do it now for love nor money ;-)

www.duneguide.com/images/DumontCompHill-3.jpg

rosacea

Which driving route is best for me???

I need help in narrowing down my choices.

I am thinking of a driving vacation through Oregon for the end of July. I%26#39;ve read through many posts on this forum, but there is just SO MUCH.

To me, this is a ';last minute'; vacation. Usually I plan my trips about a year in advance and do lots of research. Although I%26#39;ve started reading about all the recommended ';scenic drives';, there is SO MUCH to absorb in a small amount of time. So I am hoping that there are some experienced Oregon travellers out there who will give me some SHORTCUTS.

I have 5 or 6 days starting out from Portland. These are my requirements:

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

Good weather - not too hot, not too rainy

Preferably no more than 2 - 3 hours driving per day. (I am not expecting to see all of Oregon in one week.)

Peaceful, restful places...avoid too many crowds and traffic.

Very nice bed %26amp; breakfasts/hotels/resorts along the way. We can budget up to $300 per night. It would be okay to stay in one place for 2 or 3 nights if it is really nice and lots to see in that one area.

Visiting wineries is good too.

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.

THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER.

Which driving route is best for me???

This one is hard to answer w/o more specifics. Do you want to see the coast? Mountains? Rivers? Waterfalls? Desert? How far from Portland are you willing to venture?

If I had a week, I would do the Columbia River Gorge (1 day) w/either Portland area or Hood River as a base, spend a couple of days in/around Bend (include a visit to Crater Lake) then head to the coast (2-3 days) then back to Portland. This would give you diverse look at Oregon in a short time.

To include the wineries in the above itinerary, you could head back inland from the coast at Lincoln City then on to Portland.

Which driving route is best for me???

Central Oregon (Bend) gets very hot in summer. I wouldn%26#39;t go further than the Columbia Gorge if you want to avoid hot weather, maybe loop back around Mt Hood instead.

Thank you both for your replies.

The reason I didn%26#39;t include info about whether I want a coastal drive as opposed to gorges, mountains, etc., is that I DON%26#39;T KNOW.

I am open to any suggestions.

As far as driving distance...we will arrive and leave by plane in Portland. And I don%26#39;t want to spend too many hours of vacation sitting in a car.

Thanks also for the advice about the temps in central Oregon. We are looking to escape heat if possible. We have enough of that in Florida.

I will start reading about your suggestions. Thanks for giving me some pointers.

Hi, we love the beautiful scenery on the northern coast, with your budget you could stay at The Stephanie Inn in Cannon Beach, this is one of the nicest places for lodging on the entire coast, they have a great restaurant there, also where we have enjoyed several meals. I would not miss Ecola State park in Cannon Beach, we loved our time there a couple of days ago, the scenery is spectacular, take the drive back to Indian Beach for some of the prettiest scenery on the Oregon Coast.

You could also explore Seaside where I am, Gearhart, Warrenton (go to Fort Stevens State Park) and Astoria from Cannon Beach. All of these places are just about a 30 minute drive from Cannon Beach, 20 minutes from Seaside. Here are some nice websites for the northern coast:

www.cannon-beach.net

www.seasideor.com

www.oldoregon.com

Enjoy your travels! :)

Thank you Syrahgirl, for the great suggestions, descriptions, and links.

Unlike Syrahgirl%26#39;s recommendations, I%26#39;ll respond to what you have asked. For example, although the northern coast is indeed beautiful and much different than Florida%26#39;s, Seaside is not the place you want to be in late July if you want to ';avoid too many crowds and traffic.';

What you DON';T have in Florida are volcanic mountains. And, so, let me suggest another itinerary for your consideration.

1. Portland through Columbia Gorge (seeing Multnomah Falls, etc.) and continue on Mt. Hood loop to Timberline Lodge for night (advance reservations ASAP).

2. Timberline to Bend (Sisters even better if it%26#39;s not too long a drive for you).

3. Sisters to Eugene

4. Eugene to Yachats

5. You could either plan another night in Yachats or head back to Portland, with a stop for a hike at Silver Falls State Park just east of Salem.

This would give you a chance to see wonderful snowcapped mountains, waterfalls, forests and the spectacular central Oregon coast...all within your driving time limitations (all on good, easy driving roads).

If this itinerary appeals to you, let us know and we can provide lots of additional info, websites, etc. to help you in your planning. If you had an extra day to spend anywhere, I%26#39;d give Portland the extra time. It%26#39;s a wonderful city with lots to do and see and, if you do it at the end of your loop, it%26#39;ll give you a break from major driving the day before you take off for home.

Oregonpoppa...

You make a very good point....while I love the seashore, and Syrahgirl%26#39;s suggestions sound beautiful, seeing snow-capped mountains is VERY appealing to me now that you mention it. And I would appreciate being able to avoid as many crowds as possible.

So...if you have some more recommendations in this direction, please let me know.

It sounds like Oregon has a wealth of beautiful things to see all over the state.

I%26#39;ve tried three times to get all these listed and lost them each time! Let%26#39;s see if I can get it right this time.

if this doesn%26#39;t fit, I%26#39;ll break it down and you can cut and paste...

traveloregon.com/Explore-Oregon/Mt-Hood-Colu鈥?/a>

fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/maps/Mt_Hood_Loop.pdf

http://www.timberlinelodge.com/

http://www.el.com/to/sisters/

thesisterscountry.com/sistersCountry.php

http://www.el.com/to/mckenzierivervalley/

http://www.travellanecounty.org/

http://www.yachats.org/

http://discovernewport.com/

sites.google.com/a/mcbsinthecloud.com/sfpark/

www.salemoregon.com/silverfallsstatepark/

Whoopie! I did it! Browse through these sites and I think you%26#39;ll find nature%26#39;s wonders galore. Others on the forum will be able to chip in with their personal recommendations regarding lodging and sightseeing opportunities. If you like this route, I can give you tips of things to see and do enroute through my general neck of the woods...and I do mean ';woods.';

Well, that first link didn%26#39;t fit...but I checked it and it still works.

July in Oregon can be hot, even at the coast. Though less often at coast. It will not be that humid heat of the south.

your 2-3 hour desired driving time limit really limits your options. The only way you can see coast is to drive there and stay somewhere. From Portland Newport can be reached in that limit so can Cannon beach from portland. Either can be a nice 2 or 3 day stay.

From Newport next day tou can drive south and see some nice coast.

Gorge can be done in that time, but not doing the Mt Hood loop.