Need help on days spent in Canon Beach and Mt. Hood

We are having trouble deciding on how to spend 6 days we have to explore the Oregon Coast and the Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge area. Here are the choices:

2 days at Canon Beach (Surfsand hotel)

2 days at Timberline Lodge (to explore Mt. Hood) and

2 days at Skamania Lodge to explore Columbia River Gorge area.

Or

3 days at Canon Beach and

Either 3 days at Timberline or 3 days at Skamania (to do both Mt. Hood and the Gorge from the same base hotel).

We%26#39;re trying to figure out if 3 days is too much or just right to explore the coast and whether the Timberline or Skamania can be a base hotel to explore both Mt. Hood and the Gorge (or would it be better to do 2 nights at each).

Thanks.

Need help on days spent in Canon Beach and Mt. Hood

Here are my questions for you -

do you like to drive and relax and see scenery or are you wanting to hike and get to know a place?

next question - of the 3 locations, which are you most interested in seeing and expecting to be different from home.

People often spend a week or 2 at the coast so 3 days are not too many.

Skamania is a beautiful, modern lodge. Timberline is historic, but old with small rooms. But Timberline is right on the mountain - make it easy to explore.

Do you have a strong preference.

With answers to these questions, we can help you decide.

Need help on days spent in Canon Beach and Mt. Hood

Off hand, I%26#39;d say you are spending too much time in some areas that a day or less will suffice (unless you are into hiking).

You can see the Columbia R. Gorge and Timberline in a full day.

Therefore, you don%26#39;t need to spend so much time, and money, at Skamania Lodge unless you wish to.

I%26#39;d suggest one day, Gorge to Timberline. One day to Mt. St. Helens, north of Portland, in WA State.

Several days driving from Cannon Beach south to Florence, and enjoying some of the most beautiful views in the US. Check it out on a map, you could return via I5 to Portland.

Some pages to help or confuse you further. :_)

Oregon Coast

http://www.oregoncoasttravel.net/

Newport, OR

http://discovernewport.com/

www.aquarium.org

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

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

Some finer galleries along the Oregon Coast.

Freed (www.freedgallery.com/), Lincoln City

Triad (Seal Rock/Windermere Office)

Lawrence (http://www.lawrencegallery.net/), Salishan)

Earthworks (www.coastvisitor.com/home.cfm?dir_cat=70112), Yachats)

Hawk Creek, (http://hawkcreekgallery.com/) (Neskowin)

OR Coast Lighthouses

Yachats, OR (La Di Da)

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

Columbia River Gorge

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

http://www.spectacularoregon.com/

Mt. St. Helens (if the weather is clear at the top; you can check the website)

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

Without knowing what your interests are, ages in your group, etc. it is kind of hard to make a reccomendation. I would almost opt for spending more time at the coast.

Depending on what you are looking to do, I would think that 2 days in the Mt. Hood area/Gorge might be enough. Personally, I can spend a whole day in the gorge, do the old highway, visit the dam/fish hatchery, etc. Then you could spend another day exploring the Mt. Hood area more in depth.

I agree, if you can, Mt. St. Helen%26#39;s is a must see!!