First Visit to Oregon - Tentative Itinerary-Feedback please

Hi, planning our first visit to Oregon. Have reviewed many of the forum postings and other websites and the coast looks BEAUTIFUL. Have put together the following tentative itinerary and very interested in your feedback on how it could be improved, any favorites that are missing, etc. Will be traveling with two teenage daughters (15/18). Have not considered accommodations yet - want to get the general itinerary down first.

Day 1 (Fri) - arrive evening in Portland; enjoy some wonderful food somewhere :-D (not sure what time we%26#39;ll get in -- any recommended nighttime attractions - or lovely views if time permits?)

Day 2 (Sat) - drive to Columbia River Gorge/Multnomah Falls for views/hiking (approx. 40 min drive); drive to Cannon Beach (approx. 2 hr drive); stay in Cannon Beach

Day 3 (Sun) - explore area/horseback riding on the beach; stay in Cannon Beach

Day 4 (Mon) - drive to Newport (approx 2 hr drive); explore on the way; perhaps Tillamook cheese factory; Cape lookout state park hike; stay in Newport

Day 5 (Tues) - drive to Bandon (approx 3+hr drive); explore on the way; Sea Lion Caves; Golden %26amp; Silver Falls State Natural Area; stay in Bandon???

Day 6 (Wed) - enjoy the coastal beauty for a few hours and then drive back to Portland (approx 5hr drive); stay in Portland

Day 7 (Thurs) - visit the Japanese and/or Chinese gardens and then fly out in the late afternoon or early evening

I really, really, really wanted to do Crater Lake, but didn%26#39;t feel like I could fit it in the above itinerary because of the extra driving time - if you disagree and think there is a way to make it work, let me know.

Also very interested in your feedback on the towns I%26#39;ve identified for staying in ... let me know if you think there is a better choice in the same general vicinity. Was trying to break up the drive time down the coast so that it was still very enjoyable and not just drive, drive, drive.

While I didn%26#39;t specifically call it out above, our intent would be to take the drive slowly and pull over for any of the views or attractions that catch our eye along the way (lighthouses, beautiful rocky coast line, etc.). Having said that, are there any ';must see%26#39;s'; that I didn%26#39;t include? Does the pace seem reasonable. Anything I%26#39;ve listed that you would recommend we skip?

I also see there is some kind of music festival going on in Coos Bay while we are in the area, so going to look into that further???

Thanks in advance for any feedback!!!

Diane

First Visit to Oregon - Tentative Itinerary-Feedback please

One other question on the itinerary above, if taking out Columbia River Gorge/Multnomah Falls meant we could find a way to put in Crater Lake, which would you recommend? The Gorge/Falls or a day at Crater Lake?

First Visit to Oregon - Tentative Itinerary-Feedback please

Diane,

I will leave most of this to the locals, but I will make a few comments.

I%26#39;d skip the Sea Lion Caves; they are really overrated and overpriced, and you can actually see the sea lions for free just before the cave entrance. Instead, I%26#39;d opt for a dune bus ride out of Florence. This was one of the highlights of our coastal trip.

Fitting in Crater Lake would be kind of tight for a week trip. You might be able to fit it in instead of going down the coast to Bandon. We actually didn%26#39;t go any further than Florence before heading over to Bend. We used Bend as a base for touring Crater Lake. Crater Lake can be seen in a day, and the Bend area has some interesting sights, including Newberry Crater and the High Desert Museum.

Have a great trip!

I%26#39;m not sure when you are planning to visit the area, but you may still find some snow in Crater Lake NP. I believe all roads open up throughout the park by July.

I agree with the PP about Sea Lion caves...I%26#39;ve gone and wouldn%26#39;t recommend it. I%26#39;d agree that the dunes are a lot of fun.

I prefer Yachats to Newport, in large part because I love the Overleaf Lodge in Yachats so much.

I think Crater Lake is beautiful but I just don%26#39;t think you have enough time to make driving all that way worthwhile with just a week. Hopefully you%26#39;ll decide to come back another time and spend time in, say, Bend, Crater Lake, Ashland and the Redwoods.

Hi, you plans look great, I would go to the Gorge, it%26#39;s a beautiful area to explore. In Cannon Beach, you may want to consider The Ocean Lodge, it is an oceanfront property in Cannon Beach. What is your budget for lodging? :)

Diane - This is a wonderful trip to the Oregon coast and I think you will enjoy it very much. You could do Crater Lake, but it would be very busy with lots of driving. It would be a tour of Oregon and not just the coast and Portland.

Better to do 2 trips, but if that%26#39;s not likely, here%26#39;s a possible itinerary. I%26#39;m not recommending it - just sharing a very busy option.

advantage - see Crater Lake, Umpqua River, Mt. Hood, high desert

disadvantage - lots and lots of driving; skipping Bandon and Cannon Beach.

Day 1 - arrive

Day 2 - drive to south of Bend - Sunriver or Lapine. 4 1/2 hours if direct over Mt. Hood. You could go up to Timberline Lodge as a side trip or 5 1/2 hours if via Columbia Gorge and Hood River.

Day 3 - visit Crater Lake. Reservations at Crater Lake are very rare. Possible 2 hour drive from lodging - then further drive to lodging along Umpqua - 2 1/2 hours if go all the way to Roseburg.

Day 4 - drive to Florence OR on coast about 2 1/2 hours. Horseback riding is available there, I believe. Also buggy rides on the dunes.

Day 5 - spend a day in Florence at beach

Day 6 - Florence to Neskowin or Lincoln City - 2 1/2 hours actual driving time without stops.

Day 7 - Neskowin or Lincoln City direct to Portland airport - 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

I prefer Florence to Newport if you can get a reservation at Driftwood Shores on the beach - more to do!

I like your itinerary, but am wondering what you%26#39;re hoping to pick up by going the added distance to Bandon. There is a lot to see and do on the central coast, and I think just the one night in Newport might leave you frustrated at not having enough time. So, consider spending two nights, either in Newport or Yachats, depending on your interests, and skipping Bandon altogether.

Agree with others that it would be a stretch to fit Crater Lake in here. BUT.... if you%26#39;re feeling crazy, and day 6 dawns bright and sunny, why not? ;-) A couple hours up at the lake is enough to last a life-time, and if you%26#39;re not planning to get up this way again anytime soon.....

When are you planning on coming?

Thank you everyone for your input - this is why I love Trip Advisor!

We%26#39;re coming in mid-July, so I need to get very busy with reservations. Regarding budget, we%26#39;ll be looking for nice clean, comfortable at a reasonable rate (%26lt;=$150 would be great) - don%26#39;t need luxury, but would love ocean front.

So, based on everyone%26#39;s feedback, I think we%26#39;re going to pass on Crater Lake. Big sigh!!!! Not sure when we%26#39;ll be back to this area, but this will give us a reason to come back some time and I don%26#39;t want to miss Cannon Beach - lots of friends have highly recommended. (Of course I reserve the right to change my mind and take a lonnnngggg side trip on Day 6 if we%26#39;re feeling high energy!:-D)

Consensus seems to be to skip Sea Lion Caves. I read about another place north of Florence/south of Cape Perpetua - Neptune State Scenic Area for tide pools and the added bonus of harbor seals. And also noticed Seal Rock State Recreation Site. If we wanted an opportunity to see Sea Lions or Seals, would you recommend one of these?

I%26#39;m debating the dunes - we%26#39;re coming from Arizona so have access to dunes - I%26#39;ll have to put that one to my daughters for input :-D

Will definitely take your advice and look at Yachats or Florence over Newport.

northwestwanderer - can you tell me why you prefer Yachats and the Overleaf Lodge?

IluvOregon - can you tell me why you prefer Florence - you mentioned more to do... are there some specific things that stand out to you?

As far as Bandon, the primary reason for continuing South after Florence was to visit the Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area. Are these falls worth the drive? Especially if we%26#39;ve seen the Gorge/Falls earlier in our trip?

As I type this, I%26#39;m kind of wondering if I take the Golden/Silver Falls out (in essence stopping at Florence) and don%26#39;t add the dunes, if this might free up time to make a side trip to Crater Lake a possibility???? will have to ponder this... decisions, decisions :-D

the difference between Newport and Yachats is vast - Newport is the county seat with about 10,000 people plus it draws from all around. It is the third largest city on the coast and is busy, busy but also quite attractive. Yachats is a teeny town of about 600 with one small grocery store and a few other shops, and has more up close natural beauty since it%26#39;s so much smaller. (Has a small river but no bay)

If you reeeeeally want to see Crater Lake, I%26#39;d say skip the Golden and Silver Falls. Multnomah Falls is very impressive, plus there are a half-dozen other falls within 10 miles or so in the gorge.

The very best place to see sea lions is on the bayfront in Newport. Park and walk out on the short dock next to a restaurant called Port Dock 1, and you will be about 15%26#39; above them. Search youtube videos for Newport Oregon sea lions and you%26#39;ll see what I mean :-)

Harbour seals are just about everywhere, busy sleeping, sunning, and eating salmon.

The Overleaf is very nice, and the same owners have a less expensive motel right next door called the Fireside, but with no spa.

I think you could do 2 nights Cannon Beach, 2 in Yachats or Newport, then shoot over to Eugene and up Hwy 58, and go to Crater Lake. That would be about 4.5 hours or so. The problem is where to stay . . . lodging is very limited and/or very expensive and/or very very old . . .

IMHO, Creter Lake is a must see but it is definitely up for debate as you can tell from the responses.

You could cut over to Crater Lake from Newport, Reedsport or Florence and visit Creter Lake. Any of these inland routes are scenic; especially east of the I-5 corridor (Eugene/Roseburg).

As for spending the night, you may want to consider Bend.

The Overleaf is just a really nice place to stay--doesn%26#39;t cost an arm and a leg for the quality, and has an amazing ocean view. And Yachats is smaller and quieter and close to Cape Perpetua where I like to walk/hike.