`The Ship Inn

Last night on our way from Seattle to Seaside, we enjoyed a very nice dinner at the Ship Inn in Astoria. This has been a family favorite of ours for years and it%26#39;s better than ever!

I had a glass of Pinot Gris, we had the clam chowder, the shrimp salad which is made with lots of fresh, Bay shrimp and the half order of Halibut fish anc chips, for dessert we took some raspberry pie home. Our service is always warm and friendly here and we like to watch the ships glide by as we dine here. This is a casual venue in Astoria with very pretty views of the Columbia River and the Astoria-Megler bridge.

`The Ship Inn

Once again, we%26#39;re so happy that you%26#39;re happy and that you let us know about your every wonderful meal, but shouldn%26#39;t this be posted as a restaurant review? I was under the impression that these forums were designed more for helping visitors with their travel plans than as a diary for an individual%26#39;s daily experiences in life.

`The Ship Inn

Perhaps the new owners (The Ship Inn was for sale and is presumed to have new owners by now) will clean the place up and improve the quality of food. I%26#39;m far from a foodie, but last I

ate there (Feb 2007) I had a miserable experience from start to finish. Needless to say, I was quite disapointed b/c this was always a family favorite when I was growing up and on into my college days and after.

Syrahgirl, which Pinot Gris did you have? Did your husband have a glass of wine too? Which one did he have?

Well, I would like to ask a question of syrahgirl here about the Ship Inn, but I know she won%26#39;t answer.

Crater Lake/Redwood National Forest Trip

My husband, two sons, and daughter in law are planning to travel to Crater Lake on June 4th. I know this is not a great time of year to visit and that roads may be closed, but we will do something else in the area if that doesn%26#39;t work out. We have about 4 or 5 days that we could spend in the area. We know that we want to travel to the Redwood National Forest. I have heard that there are lots of interesting things to do in Bend. One of my sons lives in Gresham, OR. I belive it is about a 5 hour drive to the Crater Lake area. We plan to drive along the OR coast and make a day of the travel there. My questions are:

1. How long should we allow for Crater Lake (day, half day)?

2. Would you recommend spending time in Bend? Medford? Ashland? Sunriver? If so, what are some sites, etc. that would be good?

3. How long would you allow for Redwood National Forest?

4. Could you recommend hotels?

Thank you in advance!!!!

Crater Lake/Redwood National Forest Trip

Would you clarify your comment about 5 days in the area? Do you mean Crater Lake and Bend or the whole trip? Just to be sure...

Where would they be starting and ending their trip? Would you or they provide more details?

Then we can help plot a good and scenic route. They probably want a good route and we%26#39;d be glad to be specific.

Answering your specific question, I%26#39;d spend at least a full day in the Bend area, try to see plays in Ashland (or tour the theaters), but I%26#39;d skip Sunriver and Medford.

If you mean Redwoods National Park, a full day should do it if they have only five days.

Oregon Coast: fantastic, two overnights, but unsure of their interests (hiking, galleries, small towns, vistas).

Some specific sights would include, of course, Portland itself; Columbia River Gorge (near Gresham).

Here are some websites to help you plan...

Oregon, Central/Bend Area

http://www.visitbend.com/

Oregon Coast

http://www.oregoncoasttravel.net/

Newport, OR

http://discovernewport.com/

www.aquarium.org

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

Crater Lake National Park

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

Redwoods National Park http://www.nps.gov/redw/

Redwoods National Park shannontech.com/ParkVision/鈥edwood.html

Avenue of the Giants between Eureka and SF www.avenueofthegiants.net

Crater Lake/Redwood National Forest Trip

I%26#39;m a bit confused. Are you starting in the Portland area?

You%26#39;ll need to go at least to Crescent City, CA for redwoods. The trees stretch for about 50 miles south of there, then there is another pocket farther south called the Avenue of the Giants.

The north entrance to Crater Lake will probably be closed, so the only way to get there would be to go up Hwy 62 from Grants Pass/Medford area on I-5. Then to get to Bend, you%26#39;d need to go south almost to Klamath Falls and back up north on Hwy 97.

And do you have only 4 or 5 days for your whole journey?

Sorry about the lack of information! There will be 5 of us traveling from my son%26#39;s home in Gresham. We will be returning to Gresham as well. The plans were to leave Gresham on the morning of June 4. I thought we would travel along the coast. We will need to return the evening on June 8. So basically we will have 5 days and 4 nights. We like hiking, scenic areas, quaint towns, galleries, etc. I would appreciate suggestions on how to arrange that time. The two things that we really want to do is Crater Lake and Redwood National Forest. I would also appreciate hotel suggestions, restaurants, scenic routes, etc.

In my opinion, you are being too ambitious.

Five days, four nights to see everything you want to see will mean getting to a spot, saying ';I saw it.'; and getting back in your car.

Why not spend all four nights in Southern Oregon, or three nights at the coast...or three nights in Bend?

Okay, it can be done in 5 days/4 nights.

Day 1- Drive from Gresham to Bandon, about 4.5 hours. South on I-5 to just south of Cottage Grove. Take Hwy 99 to Hwy 38 toward Reedsport. Then south on Hwy 101 to Bandon.

Day 2/3 - Drive south on Hwy 101 to Crescent City, CA, less than 2 hours. Two nights there. Drive 1 hour south to Orick, see big elk herd @ Stone Lagoon, drive home via Newton Drury scenic route. Drive Howland Hill Road.Visit lighthouse, historic cemetery.

Day 4 - Drive Hwy 199 Crescent City to Crater Lake, about 4 hours. Overnight at Lodge ($$$) or Mazama Motel.

Day 5 - Drive south on Hwy 62 to reach Hwy 97, then north, through Bend/Madras, then Hwy 26 back to Gresham. This will be about 4.5-5 hours driving.

It%26#39;s a lot of driving in a short time, but you will see both redwoods and Crater Lake, plus have a little time to do short hikes and see a few things.

This sounds like a good possibility. Would you recommend making hotel reservations in advance. We often like to travel and ';play it by ear.'; We did this on a previous trip out west. We did what we wanted and then stopped for the night. Luckily, we didn%26#39;t have trouble finding a hotel. Would this work? Will there be plenty of hotels from which to choose?

Please recommend hotels, restaurants,etc. on this route.

Thank you!!!

Crater Lake - absolutely book ahead ASAP and in fact you may be too late! If there is no lodging available you%26#39;ll need to adjust your plans. There are some small towns not too far away.

Bandon / Crescent City - If you have your heart set on deluxe oceanfront lodging, then you should book now. If you don%26#39;t mind smaller, older motels that may/may not have an ocean view, or may be in town, you probably will be okay without prior reservations.

I like half-Brit%26#39;s general itinerary, but suggest you consider a few changes.

The drive along the Umqua River to the coast is beautiful, but it puts you on the coast at Reedsport, which is south of one of the most scenic sections. And hwy 101 from Reedsport to Bandon is mostly inland; you%26#39;ll have to detour for any ocean views. So, I%26#39;d suggest beginning your coastal drive south at Newport (taking hwys 34/20 from I-5) or Lincoln City (hwys 99W/18 from I-5).

I also wonder why two nights in Crescent City, but only one on the Oregon coast. Guess it depends on your interests: the coast vs. redwoods. But, hwy 199 passes through Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, just outside of Crescent City, so you%26#39;ll see redwoods there in any case. And you can stop and take a short hike if you%26#39;d like. My preference would be two - three nights on the Oregon coast, and one or none in Crescent City.

I also agree that you just can%26#39;t wing it at Crater Lake, since there are only two lodgings inside the park, and it%26#39;s not unusual that they book up months in advance. If neither the Lodge nor Mazama Village Motor Inn is available, consider the Prospect Hotel: http://www.prospecthotel.com/ . Either way, I%26#39;d make reservations ASAP.

%26gt;%26gt;But, hwy 199 passes through Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, just outside of Crescent City, so you%26#39;ll see redwoods there in any case.%26lt;%26lt;

Ah, but not very many along the main road :-(

I had remembered this road as passing through a bunch of redwoods, mistletoe, but when we were there a few months ago (driving 199 from Grants Pass), I paid special attention to see just how much of the highway was flanked by redwoods. The answer is - not a whole lot. Lots of trees, yes, but few big redwoods right alongside the road.

You need to turn off of Hwy 199 and into the day use park a couple of miles east on Hwy 199. Which is fine, of course, but allow at least 30 minutes for this stop, as the parking lot is a couple of miles from the highway, and the road is slow.

For the Crater Lake overnight, Ashland (south) or Bend (north) might be your best bet. Both of these are pleasant towns with excellent lodging and restaurants. Each have good sized, pretty parka in which to take a leisurely stroll. Which to choose depends you the direction you are heading.

Yurts

Often people are interested in staying in yurts, and the ones located in the State Parks seem to book up very early.

We just stayed in our 5th wheel at Oceanside RV park/campground in Gold Beach, and they have two yurts :-)

It%26#39;s a pleasant location just a few hundred feet from the beach and river and the office folks are very nice.

http://www.oceansiderv1.com/

Copper River Salmon at the Wayfarer

Copper River salmon will be on the menus for another couple of weeks in the PNW, tonight we had an amazing dinner at The Wayfarer in Cannon Beach which offered the Copper River salmon as a special. It was topped with lots of goat cheese and served with sides of arugula and risotto. OMG, this was soooo wonderful! The salmon was perfectly prepared and our server was very nice, we brought in a bottle of Pinot Noir that we picked up at the Wine Haus earlier, the corkage fee was $15 at the Wayfarer.

If anyone is looking for the Copper River salmon, go to The Wayfarer, it will last a short time on the menus. I preferred this entree to the Copper River salmon we had at Etta%26#39;s in Seattle this past Fri. night. :)

Copper River Salmon at the Wayfarer

I take it this trip is your first time trying Copper River Salmon. Yes, those of us that live here are aware that it runs for a short time, and yes, it is very good.

Glad you finally listened to some of us for the Seattle recommendations. Well, sort of:)

Copper River Salmon at the Wayfarer

All Copper River Salmon is not the same and various varieties have been available in the markets for a few months. Did you have King, Sockeye, Coho?

And, for such expensive and special fish I can%26#39;t imagine wanting to smother it with ';lots of goat cheese'; (feta?)

This is just another of your daily diary accounts that leave out the most useful information. This is what blogs are for and where those who care about your daily fantasies could tune in.

oregonpoppa--You said it much nicer than I could. No way would I put anything on CRS! And yes, the different varieties. But then again, I think we know salmon here sort of like we know the different between party cloudy and partly sunny, lol!

Party cloudy? Isn%26#39;t that the conditions in Oregon all the time? Party on!

Nope, we%26#39;re optimists---it%26#39;s partly sunny in Oregon :)

I%26#39;m guessing that you can%26#39;t buy Copper River Salmon in Fresno, syrahgirl? It%26#39;s been on menus and in stores for a while now around here.

It%26#39;s ironic that you would like the Wayfarer%26#39;s preparation better than Etta%26#39;s, one of Seattle%26#39;s highly touted and often recommended Tom Douglas restaurants. I do like the Wayfarer, but to me it hardly compares to Etta%26#39;s in terms of quality of ingredients and talent in the kitchen. Maybe the goat cheese masked the difference?

Looking forward to your next installment.....

Party is not equal to partly. Just joking around.

suzie and oregonexplorer--LOL! I love the humor we get going on here:)

mistletoe--I agree, while the Wayfarer is good, it is no way compares to Etta%26#39;s! Not even close.

suzie, Oregon is party cloudy, party sunny and party rainy :O)

I ate SO much salmon in Portland !! and crab... I miss the crab ..

I am not a lover of things topped with cheese, except maybe PIzza but I could never eat cheese covered Fish! blech!

An Italian would throw it in the garbage lol

My little boy used to be like that .. he didn%26#39;t care what the dish was, just as long as he could pour a pound of grated cheese on it , he was happy. Amazing that he grew out of that !

syrahgirl, you really should put your food reviews in the Review sections. That is why they have Review Sections .. although, there aren%26#39;t that many reviews on just a dish , a fish , are there? ( did I just sound like Dr Seuss? ) lol

Now for some commentary on fish and Syrahgirl%26#39;s dish:

here%26#39;s a bit of info taken off the web re Copper River salmon:

';The Copper River Kings (running mid-May to mid-June) are the fattiest with the most beneficial Omega 3 fats. Copper River Sockeyes (May-July) are the reddest. The Copper River Coho, which start running in late-July and are strong through September, are relatively unexciting but available longer.';

Disclaimer: I%26#39;ve never eaten at the Whaler and, so, my comments are strictly my own gueses and opinions.

Savory sauces for fish and game were developed for much the same reason the French developed perfume...to cover up less attractive aromas. In many cultures, wild game are allowed to hang around and get ';ripe'; for days. The decomposition helps breakdown muscle and sinew and supposedly tenderizes the flesh. The sauces and slow cooking mask the gaminess of the meat.

Fish shouldn%26#39;t require such sauces. Usually, any sauces accompanying fish are light and are designed to enhance or contrast with the fish itself. This does not apply to cioppinos or heavy pasta dishes. They%26#39;re a whole other matter.

Fish does not keep well. It%26#39;s best pulled out of the water and slapped right on a grill. The next best thing would be flash freezing as many commercial fleets do. The sports fisherperson always has an ice-filled chest handy (or leaves the fish on a stringer dangling in the icy waters of a lake or river). As a rule and given time constraints, fresh is always better than frozen and thawed (and fish should never be refrozen if it can be avoided). In Oregon, markets always indicate in their ads and in their fish cases if a fish has been previously frozen (and, if so, should be taken home and eaten ASAP). Also, fresh fish should smell only of the sea...not fishy. If it smells fishy, don%26#39;t buy.

Unfortunately, restaurants are not apparently required to tell patrons any of this. Not even whether a fish was wild or farm raised (not sure that any Copper River salmon is farm raised). Farm raised salmon and steelhead have gray flesh and have to have color added to make the flesh look like salmon. Markets also indicate this, but restaurants usually do not.

Some restaurants get daily deliveries, but most get their weekly deliveries on Thursdays and Mondays (again, I do not know about the Whaler). If it comes in ';fresh'; chances are it is still arriving a day or two after being caught (at best). That means by Sunday (when Syrahgirl had her meal), the fish might have been at the restaurant several days and, perhaps, had been out of the sea for almost a week.

Checking Whaler%26#39;s website, I don%26#39;t see Syrah%26#39;s dish on the menu. Of course, it might be a seasonal special...or a Sunday special. And I am NOT suggesting that the Whaler was serving fish past its prime. As a quasi knowledgeable consumer, however, I would want to know and would ask my waiter or the manager.

That doesn%26#39;t always yield informed info, however. Last time I was at Jakes in Portland I asked where the sturgeon had come from, because there had just been a big news article about sturgeon from one region of the Columbia being full of chemicals. The waiter didn%26#39;t know what I was talking about. Just for the heck of it I also asked him what the difference was between wild and farm raised salmon (besides the price difference). He didn%26#39;t know that either. In an upscale seafood restaurant in Southern Californa a few years ago I overheard a couple with young children asking what mahi mahi was. The waiter said it was dolphin...';you know, like Flipper!) Before the kids had a fit I jumped in and told them it was dolphinfish...not dolphin and was a fish not a mammal. In Mexico, it%26#39;s called dorado.

So, we are still left with the question: why smother a trophy fish with goat cheese? I%26#39;ll leave you with your own suppositions. And your own judgment regarding the reliability of reporting from someone who would order such a dish and gush, ';OMG, this was soooo wonderful';

I won%26#39;t go into why one would drink pinot noir with seafood (old rules don%26#39;t apply much anymore anyway), unless it was needed to cut through the goat cheese. And what does she mean by ';perfectly prepared?'; Was it on the rare side or flaking with a fork?

Enough. I%26#39;ve invested far too much time in this, but I wish there was some way to put an asterisk on all of Syrahgirl%26#39;s daily dining reports.

asp hosting

Rose Garden

We%26#39;re thinking of visiting the Rose Garden this weekend. Does anyone know if the roses are blooming yet? Thanks

Rose Garden

Yup, the Portland Rose Test Gardens are in full bloom-right in time for our Rose Festival. It will be really crowded, though, as the Grand Floral Parade is this weekend and that draws lots of folks to the gardens after the parade. I didn%26#39;t want to scare you away, just to be fore-warned. Have fun!

Rose Garden

I was just there at the beginning of last week (Memorial Day) and there were a ton of buds, but no roses! :-( Guess I was a week too early. Hope you have better timing and enjoy!

Hi, captsprocket

Oh so sorry you just missed the roses! We had an unusual amount of sunshine last week which opened up the blooms. Hope you can make it back to Portland and area again-hope you had a great trip.

Regards.

rosacea

Need help with Coast trip in September

My husband and I are planning our first trip down the Oregon Coast for our annivesary and I need some advice on where to stay. We are starting to Portland and then have 5 nights on the coast. Here is what i was thinking, but please provide feedback. We don%26#39;t want to drive too far inbetween so we can stop along the way and not feel rushed.

#1 Cannon Beach, Manzanita or Wheeler? We prefer nice B%26amp;B type accomodations, but just want somewhere nice, maybe not too large. I know Manzanita is smaller, but which would be better for first timers?

#2 Newport? - Heard mixed reviews. I wanted to stay in Yachats but we are staying at Heceta Head Lighthouse the 3rd night so i didn%26#39;t know if it was too close. Any recommendations for where to stay in Newport? Any place that would be better?

#3 Heceta House Lighthouse - this looked really romantic. Any hesitations?

#4 Trying to decide if we should stay at Coos Bay/Bandon or go to Port Orford and stay at Wildspring Guest Habitat. Has anyone stayed there and think it is worth it? If we decide to stay in Coos Bay or Bandon, any recommendations?

#5 Gold Beach - Tu Tu Tun Lodge. The other option is skipping this and using this as our Port Oford night. Which is better?

I know i am very vague, but we have no idea. We want to explore the coast by day and stay in a nice, romantic accomodation at night. It doesn%26#39;t have to be expensive, just inviting and warm enivornment.

Thank you very much!

Need help with Coast trip in September

Cooper75 - my suggestions are below

First of all, I think you are doing too much driving for only 5 days. I would spend two nights in Cannon Beach and explore such places as Ecola State Park aand Astoria

My husband and I are planning our first trip down the Oregon Coast for our annivesary and I need some advice on where to stay. We are starting to Portland and then have 5 nights on the coast. Here is what i was thinking, but please provide feedback. We don%26#39;t want to drive too far inbetween so we can stop along the way and not feel rushed.

#1 Cannon Beach, Manzanita or Wheeler? We prefer nice B%26amp;B type accomodations, but just want somewhere nice, maybe not too large. I know Manzanita is smaller, but which would be better for first timers?

Cannon or Manzanita, I like them both. Cannon would be a better first place to visit.

#2 Newport? - Heard mixed reviews. I wanted to stay in Yachats but we are staying at Heceta Head Lighthouse the 3rd night so i didn%26#39;t know if it was too close. Any recommendations for where to stay in Newport? Any place that would be better?

See suggestion above. Visit Cascade Head on you drive south, or the Pelican in Pacific City.

#3 Heceta House Lighthouse - this looked really romantic. Any hesitations?

No hesitations.

#4 Trying to decide if we should stay at Coos Bay/Bandon or go to Port Orford and stay at Wildspring Guest Habitat. Has anyone stayed there and think it is worth it? If we decide to stay in Coos Bay or Bandon, any recommendations?

Bandon is my choice.

#5 Gold Beach - Tu Tu Tun Lodge. The other option is skipping this and using this as our Port Oford night. Which is better?

Tu Tu Tun is the better option.

I know i am very vague, but we have no idea. We want to explore the coast by day and stay in a nice, romantic accomodation at night. It doesn%26#39;t have to be expensive, just inviting and warm enivornment.

Thank you very much!

You are welcome. Bring warm, water proof clothes, including a nice warm stocking cap and gloves - it can be quite chilly right on the water.

Need help with Coast trip in September

If you stay in Cannon Beach you will be close to both Seaside and Astoria. We just returned from an afternoon in Astoria where we rode the trolley and had lunch at T Paul%26#39;s Urban Cafe. I would suggest you schedule some time for the Maritime Museum in Astoria, also. If you%26#39;re there on a Sunday the Astoria Sunday market is fun, it was busy today!

For lodging in Cannon Beach, check out the Cannon Beach Hotel, there is a nice Bed and Breakfast in nearby Seaside called the Gilbert Inn that is just about a block from the ocean.

Astoria is known for their many Bed and Breakfast Inns, there is also the Hotel Elliott, Cannery Pier Hotel and the new Commodore Hotel, we toured the Commodore a couple of days, it%26#39;s very cool and rates start at $69/night for a small room with a shared bathroom. www.oldoregon.com

I hope you have a wonderful trip and enjoy your planning as well! :)

My input is to not move around so much--choose 3 places rather than bounce from location to location.

I%26#39;d do 2 nights Cannon Beach (Ocean Lodge would be my choice, or maybe Arch Cape B%26amp;B just south)

1 night either Overleaf in Yachats or Heceta Head lighthouse.

2 nights Tu Tu Tun. I%26#39;ve stayed at both Tu Tu Tun and Wildspring and while the latter is very nice, Tu Tu Tun is in a class by itself--if you can stay here, DO!

Starting in the middle here (it will make sense in a sec!), the Heceta Head lighthouse is rather special. The only teeny drawback would be that you need to drive into Florence (12 miles) for dinner, or for anything for that matter. But the road is fine and it%26#39;s not that big of deal!

Okay, so that will be the one that will be the most difficult to get a room in. I%26#39;d try reserving it *right now*, don%26#39;t wait.

Everybody seems to think that the coast is deserted after the begining of Sept , but Sept and Oct are still quite busy here.

Bandon is a pleasant little town. Port Orford is, well, not much of a town to be honest. It%26#39;s looking pretty run down with several closed businesses, and there really is not much there. It%26#39;s far smaller than Bandon, which is prosperous and moderately busy.

Here are some Bandon choices:

tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g51758-c2-Bandon_Oreg…

You probably realize that Tu Tu Tun is not on the ocean, in fact it is about 8 miles upriver. If that is okay, it gets good reviews and the couple of regular posters who have stayed there enjoyed it.

I%26#39;m going to suggest you look at Arch Cape instead of Cannon Beach. For one thing, CB may still have the two night minimum in effect; also it is a busy, congested town even in Sept. Arch Cape is a bedroom community, so you%26#39;d have to drive the few scenic miles to CB to eat dinner. Check these out:

tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g29995-Arch_Cape_Oreg…

I too would suggest two nights in the north.

Newport - mixed reviews? Perhaps I can help with more info since I live just few miles away, and am in town 3-4 days a week. Were the mixed reviews for lodging, or the overall atmosphere?

Cannon Beach will be busier than Manzanita, if that matters to you. There are more dining options in Cannon Beach, but other than size and dining, the two towns have a LOT in common. The two towns are only about 15 miles apart, so you could easily explore one while staying in the other.

Like Cannon Beach, Newport is MUCH busier than Yachats (population 10,000 vs ~600). Yachats is more scenic IMO as well, but as you noted, it%26#39;s only about 15 miles from Heceta Head.

Heceta House is indeed a special place. Steven and Michelle run a fantastic business and the views are unsurpassed. As half-Brit noted, they are VERY busy, so make reservations soon!!!

Another vote for Bandon over Coos Bay or Port Orford.

For first timers, I think Cannon Beach is your best bet, and agree with others; spend two nights there. Two night minimums could still be in place, anyway. It%26#39;s true that the small town is often congested, but, once you park your car, it%26#39;s fine. Since it%26#39;s an anniversary, Stephanie Inn might be the choice, though it%26#39;s a budget buster. Cannon Beach Hotel is cute, quaint, charming, and all that, but not on the beach. The Courtyard, owned and operated by the same company, would also be a good anniversary choice, though it%26#39;s not on the beach either.

I%26#39;m also going to suggest two nights on the central coast. There is so much to see and do in the area that I think you might be frustrated at having so little time. So, maybe one night at Newport or Yachats, and one at Haceta Head? If Haceta Head is booked, I%26#39;d go with both nights in Yachats, Overleaf Lodge if available.

I%26#39;ve not stayed at Wildspring, but have at Tu Tu Tun. It%26#39;s truly wonderful, but not the kind of place I%26#39;d think of as a base for exploring. Another thing you might want to know.... they do meals at communal tables, which may not fit with your idea of ';romantic';.

Thank you so much for all the suggestions. I think I have a better idea of where to go.

-Portland for one night

-Cannon Beach or Arch Cape for 2 nights

-Heceta House for 1 night (i was able to get reservations)

-Wildspring Guest Habitat in Port Orford (1 or 2 nights)

The last thing i am debating is staying 1 night in Newport or Yachats or 2 nights at Wildspring.

Is there more to do in Central coast vs Southern Coast? Wildspring looked really relaxing which is what we were looking forward to but we do want to explore. After Wildspring we are heading back down the CA coast.

If we stay in Newport, any recommendations.

Thanks again!

There is really nothing much at all in Port Orford, and the only road out of town is Hwy 101. (Wildspring is not on the ocean, btw.)

Cape Blanco is a pleasant drive, but the lighthouse will probably be closed. There is hiking at Humbug Mtn south of town.

Yachats has several natural attractions - Devil%26#39;s Churn, Cape Perpetua, the blowhole, driving up the Yachats River Road . . .

Newport has lots to do - two lighthouses, the aquarium, Marine Science Center, bay tours, small museum, tidepools, oyster farm . . .

I%26#39;d stay two nights on the central coast and use one day to explore Newport and the northern section, and the second day, Florence and the southern section.

You could do the Rogue River jet boat trip from Port Orford on your layover day (if that%26#39;s something that interests you; it%26#39;s a pretty cool trip IMO) although you%26#39;d have to get up early to drive down to Gold Beach...but it is doable.

The main drawback IMO of staying 2 nights in Port Orford is lack of good restaurants there--driving to Bandon would probably be your best bet for dinners. So while I personally would prefer to minimize your one-nighters, staying in Yachats or Newport would probably be a better bet in terms of things to do/places to eat--that%26#39;s assuming you can%26#39;t get another night at Heceta Head, since it%26#39;s very close to Yachats.

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.