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.

fun day trips from Portland? (horses a plus!)

I will be visiting this Pacific Northwest for the first time this July or August (not sure which yet) and will be flying into either Portland or Seattle and then driving between the two to visit friends in either city. The friend with whom I%26#39;ll be staying in Portland will be working most of the time that I am there, so I%26#39;ll need to amuse myself during the day for at least a few days.

Since I%26#39;ll have a car, I would love to get outside the city as much as possible. Can anyone recommend some good day trips outside of Portland?

I am not a hardcore hiker, but I would love to see some beautiful forests. People has suggested driving out to the coast, but can anyone recommend any more specific destinations (besides Haystack beach, which I have heard of)?

I%26#39;ll be investigating this on my own, too, but I would also love tips for any stables that might have scenic rides.

Thanks in advance!

fun day trips from Portland? (horses a plus!)

Sounds like you will have fun. I cannot recall the name of the stables, but there are some up on 16snd and Foster Road in SE Portland. Argh! I cannot for the life of me get the name in my head...and I drive past the place every Tuesday. I%26#39;ll try to remember to look tomorrow.

Anyone else recall the name?

fun day trips from Portland? (horses a plus!)

Something I%26#39;ve always wanted to check out:

http://www.flying-m-ranch.com/

Although these aren%26#39;t horse related, here are some possible daytrips:

1. Mt. St. Helens--be sure to go on a clear day so you can see the mountain, and drive all the way to the top to the Johnston Ridge Visitor%26#39;s Center.

2. Cannon Beach (This is where Haystack Rock is--be sure to see Ecola State Park also)

3. Columbia River Gorge, with a possible side trip to Mt. Hood/Timberline Lodge

4. Silver Falls State Park south of Salem. There are some lovely waterfalls here set in a forested area. You can hike as much or as little as you%26#39;d like.

Portland has a lot of neat places to go as well. Pittock Mansion is very nice. The grounds offer great views of the city, and the home has lovely furnishings and an interesting history. You can also visit the Rose and/or Japanese Gardens, Powell%26#39;s Books, the Oregon Zoo, and much more.

Have fun!

I%26#39;ve been to Flying M several times, but always with my own horse. Not sure if they have rental horses or not. Two thoughts come to mind.

There used to be a place in Banks, about 30-45 minutes west of downtown Portland called Cow Creek Ranch. They used to have nice trail rides with their stock - hopefully they are still in business.

At Cannon Beach, there is Sea Ranch Stables where you can ride on the beach:

www.cannon-beach.net/searanch/stables.php

There are lots of boarding and training stables around Portland, but most do not keep rental stock.

half-Brit brought up a fun idea....riding on the beach. I did that about 6 years ago in Gerhart. Haven%26#39;t seen the lady with those horses since then. It was great!

Thre are horses in Cannon Beach - As soon as you exit off Hwy 101 and come down into the town they are on your left - big red barn behind the camp grounds. The horses do the path to the beach several times a day. After that head up to Ecola Park - amazing old growth forest and views of the Pacific Ocean. Indian Beach has surfers and a nice place to just sit on the beach. Allow 2 hours to Cannon Beach in either direction during the week.

Some friends of ours recently moved here from the east coast, and don%26#39;t the newbies always find the best stuff? A few weeks ago they did a wine tasting tour on horse back.....if you%26#39;re interested in something like that I can find out the name of the tour company from them.

The stables in Cannon Beach are called Sea Ranch Stables. There is horseback riding around Nehalem also if you want to explore that area of the coast. Have fun! :)

Here is an article from the Oregonian a couple months ago about horses and Cannon Beach.

oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/last_r鈥?/a>

So you might want to call the stables and make sure that they are still in operation. I haven%26#39;t heard anything else about this since I read this in the paper, but thought I would mention the article just in case.

Syrahgirl, perhaps you might look at my post a few above yours? That website was for ';Sea Ranch Stables';.

Good article, Mtngrl. I know both Brenda and C%26amp;M. C%26amp;M has been for sale for about two years. Sea Ranch is securely grandfathered in, but that%26#39;s not to say that he won%26#39;t give it up due to local pressure and insurance costs.

rosacea

Help, were looking for the right hotel?

Were going to cannon beach for a friends wedding in aug. we desided to make the trip into a vacation too. Were staying for 4 days. We have a 21 and 18 yr old traveling with us and a 21 month old grandaughter.

what would be the best hotels for our family? Ive came up with Surfland resort, Schoores Cove Inn and Inn at cannon beach.....any ideas?

Help, were looking for the right hotel?

I think SurfSand Resort is the best choice in town for families; we%26#39;ve been going there for years, and my kids love it. But since they remodeled a few years ago, most of the rooms won%26#39;t accommodate more than four, and even then it%26#39;s with a pull-out hide-a-bed, which is awkward and inconvenient in the smallish rooms. So, I think you might have a better chance of finding acceptable sleeping arrangements at Schooner%26#39;s Cove.

I don%26#39;t know much about Inn at Cannon Beach. You%26#39;d probably prefer either of the other two, as they%26#39;re both beachfront, and much more convenient to the center of town. Other places to consider: Ocean Lodge and Hallmark Resort.

That all said, the choice might come down to what%26#39;s available. You should make reservations ASAP.

Help, were looking for the right hotel?

What is your budget?

im not to worried about the budget....just want our family to have an enjoyable vacation.

Like Mistletoe, our family has enjoyed many stays at the Surfsand. If the regular rooms don%26#39;t work, call and ask about the two bedroom suites.

Not sure if you%26#39;ve checked the TA reviews list?

tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g51790-Cannon_Beach_O鈥?/a>

surfsand resort is full, schoores cove inn is full, i have a choice of ocean lodge or hallmark inns?

Ocean Lodge is newer, and the nicer of the two properties, but it%26#39;s over a mile from there into the small town center, where most of the nicer restaurants are. So, if you%26#39;re okay with that, and the rooms that are available are in the Lodge (with a view), and you%26#39;re comfortable with the sleeping arrangements, I%26#39;m betting you%26#39;d prefer it over the Hallmark. Yeah... a lot of ifs.

What bad economy? Two of the pricey hotels are full for August already . . .

So true, half-Brit. Probably a lot of those ';Staycations';. Although, flights to Europe are dirt cheap right now too.....airlines and hotels are doing whatever they can to entice travelers.

Too bad that we can%26#39;t purchase travel, now, to be used years in the future. ;-)

I would go with Ocean Lodge, it is oceanfront and in a nice location, right next to the Stephanie Inn. Go to Ecola State Park while in Cannon Beach, take the drive back to Indian Beach. Have fun! :)

Ashland, Oregon

My husband and I are going to the Shakespeare festival and will be in Ashland for Thursday, July 23. Any suggestions for a place to stay where we may walk to the Elizabethan Theater? We don%26#39;t want to spend an arm and a leg. Thanks.

Barbara

Ashland, Oregon

osfashland.org/visit/accommodations/inns.aspx

http://www.bandbashland.com/browseinns.asp

Here are a couple of Ashland b%26amp;b directories with links. You%26#39;re coming in high season, so an arm and a leg may be the going rate...depending on what value you place on your limbs. Seriously, what one person thinks is exorbitant another finds reasonable.

There are quite a few on these lists that I think are quite reasonably priced, but I am thinking that he most reasonable and attractive options may already be booked solid. Good hunting!

By the way, do you already have tickets for the plays? If not, I%26#39;d get them ASAP online or check with the b%26amp;bs to see if they have package deals that include the tickets. http://www.osfashland.org/plays/

Ashland, Oregon

We have enjoyed over a dozen stays at the Ashland Plkaza Hotel, we also like the Ashland Springs Hotel. There is a Best Western Bard%26#39;s Inn across from the Plaza if the rooms at the Plaza are out of your budget. Also, check out the Winchester Inn in Ashland, around the corner from The Springs.

Have fun in Ashland and let me know if you would like dining recs for the area, we have several favorites. :)

Yes, we love to eat! Recs are always welcome. Thanks

Right in the downtown area and walking distance from the Ashland Springs Hotel is Chataulin, a small little French restaurant with very good food, I love their Fixed Prixe menu there, check their website to see what they%26#39;re offering the day you want to eat there.

Peerless is good in the historic Railroad District of Ashland, they have a nice outdoor area there. Liquid Assets Wine Bar has good food and a nice selection of wines, ask your server to help you pair your wines with what you want to eat.

There is also Amuse across from the ASH, I have a review of our last meal there, the food is very good but call for a reservation. In nearby Talent, New Sammy%26#39;s Cowboy Bistro is excellent, we have enjoyed two wonderful lunches there, our last meal a few days ago was very memorable. Hope this helps! :)

To compound your search, I%26#39;ve found that some of the nicer B%26amp;Bs in town have minimum stay requirements. So, for that reasons oregonpoppa stated, Ashland Springs or Ashland Plaza may be your best bet. Of the two, try Ashland Springs first. It at least has some character beyond the cookie-cutter Plaza.

Dinner reservations may conflict with theater tickets, and/or you might want to show up early for the Green Show. If that%26#39;s the case, Liquid Assets opens early, and stays open late. Or, maybe just have appetizers at Lark%26#39;s, in the Ashland Springs (also very good), and head to Liquid Assets for a bite after the play.

Geez.... I need to proof read a little better, especially when responding to a ';teacher';! ;-)

Since you said you didn%26#39;t want to pay an arm and leg for lodging, I am also guessing that you don%26#39;t want to pay more for supper than you do for lodging. There%26#39;s nothing wrong with the eateries suggested above, but you might like to also consider

www.StandingStoneBrewing.com

http://www.greenleafrestaurant.com/

www.dragonflyashland.com

www.theblacksheep.com

I%26#39;d also like to add Sesame (a newer restaurant) and Pasta Piatti to the list, plus add my ';second'; to the recommendation for Greenleaf (slow service, good food).

For a late night (after theater) snack on a warm night, try the Yogurt Hut.

Another hotel that might suit your needs is the Stratford Inn. I%26#39;ve not stayed there but the B%26amp;B we stayed in last month is across the street. It%26#39;s a 10 minute walk from the theaters.

The Bard%26#39;s Inn is close but I haven%26#39;t stayed there for years. We had issues with cleanliness and the breakfast offerings.

http://www.morninggloryrestaurant.com/

The biggest drawback to staying in a b%26amp;b is that you won%26#39;t get a chance to experience breakfast at the Morning Glory! On our trip last year, we purposely stayed at Super 8 because we were going to spend so little of our time there...and because the Super 8%26#39;s ';continental bkfst'; wasn%26#39;t likely to dissuade us from going to the Morning Glory. There%26#39;s always a waiting list, but the wait is worth it. Fantastic menu... but, alas, only one stomach.

Wonderful trip............

I have posted some individual reviews of accomodations and restaurants but wanted to share our experiences on our first trip to Oregon. First of all - we loved Oregon.

After a bad start with Avis (more on that later) our first night (5/26) was spent at the Clarion at PDX. We arrived at 10:30 PM and appreciated the welcome provided by the staff. We had a great rate and thought this was a good property and had no complaints.

5/27 - We stopped at the Rose Gardens in Washington Park and were disappointed that we were a week or so too early for the roses. A tour bus driver told us he thought the Japanese Gardens would be a little too much walking for an asthmatic and we heeded his advice. We did love Washington Park as we drove around. We then drove to Astoria where we enjoyed some chowder and then continued down the coast, stopping at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Tillamook Cheese factory (great ice cream). We spent the night at Rivertide Suites - quality accomodation at good price. Dinner at McKeown%26#39;s was a disappointment.

5/28, 29 and 30 - drove down the coast staying in Yachats, first at Overleaf Lodge for two nights and then at Ocean Cove Inn (budget consideration). We were blessed with sunny weather and enjoyed stays at both accomodations. This Floridian got a sun burned face in Yachats (go figure). We had our meals at the Drift Inn and Luna Sea. Most enjoyable. We did a side trip to Florence where we did a dune buggy ride on the dunes (what a hoot) and had lunch at a little diner type place featuring cars from the 50%26#39;s (the name escapes me).

5/31 - headed down to Florence and then over to Vida, Oregon. Loved the scenery along the way and weather was really great. Stay at the Eagle Rock Lodge was mixed - great views, gardens and breakfast - accomodation could have been better.

6/1 and 6/2 - we headed over to Bend and enjoyed a visit to the High Desert Museum. We stayed for two nights at the Cricketwood B%26amp;B and are still raving about the wonderful accomodations, refreshments and breakfasts at the B%26amp;B. We would highly recommend staying here. We enjoyed our dinners at Anthony%26#39;s and the Phoenix Cafe (wonderful meal) in the Old Mill District. We stayed at the B%26amp;B one whole day just to rest and relax - venturing only out to have dinner. Its was a great B%26amp;B for R%26amp;R.

6/3 - we headed north to Hood River enjoying the scenery. We overnighted at the Best Western Hood River where we enjoyed a very nice room with a great view. Dinner in the hotel restaurant was surprisingly good as were the choices for the complimentary breakfast. Nice little town.

6/4 - we toured along the Columbia Gorge enjoying both the drive and our stops along the way for waterfalls and viewpoints. Lovely. We then continued down to Silverton where we had accomodation at the Oregon Garden Resort. Included dinner and breakfast were ok. The room however was outstanding both in quality and comfort.

6/5 - intending to enjoy the Oregon Gardens we awoke to a very rainy day (the first on our whole trip). We waited a while but it was clear weather was not going to improve very much so we headed north to Portland and spent an enjoyable few hours at the Grotto. Well worth a visit. Our overnight stay was at the Oxford Suites which we highly recommend.

6/6 - we were scheduled for an 11:30 PM flight and staff at Oxford Suites extended our check out to 2 PM. We very much appreciated that and found the staff at this hotel exception. We spent the day by driving up the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge and crossed over at Hood River stopping to watch the wind surfers and then enjoying a nice meal at Nora%26#39;s. We then headed to the airport and an end to our vacation.

Overall impressions - we loved the coast, we loved our trip along the Mc Kenzie and enjoyed the high desert area around Bend. Hood River and the Columbia Gorge were very enjoyable and so very scenic.

We found the Oregonians very friendly and willing to assist travelers in enjoying their State. Thank you all for a great vacation. We felt we made good choices in both accomodations and restaurants - mainly due to recommendations on Trip Advisor.

Wonderful trip............

It sounds like a Fantastic trip! You saw and did so much !

Thank you for posting, I enjoyed reading about how much you got around .. good for you!

I agree with you about Oregonians.. we were always treated well and enjoyed their friendliness and helpfulness when we lived in Portland ... sigh, you make me homesick :)

Wonderful trip............

Sounds like a great trip, and thank you for letting us know how it went. When people ask questions, we always wonder how it turned out:) The storm that rolled through on 6/4 was pretty interesting. From the news, it looked the area you were at that evening was in the thick of it. At least it moved fast!

Sounds like a nice trip!!!

BTW, the restaurant in Florence is Bliss%26#39; Hotrod Grill.

Great trip report!!

The storm you encountered was unusual for here. We get our fair share of rain, but that was a little much. Usually the thunderstorms and tornado warnings are minimal around here, LOL!

So glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Oregon. I also enjoy the Drift Inn... our family has had fun and tasty meals there. I always forget about the Phoenix Cafe (less than a mile from my office) and really need to make an effort to get there. Also thanks for posting about Cricketwood, as I%26#39;ve wondered about that place too.

Hope you will come back to visit again soon!

Thanks for the report, it was enjoyable to read, today is beautiful in Seaside, on the northern coast. Your trip sounds really fun! :)

Thanks for the nice trip report and glad that you had a lovely time here :-)

We have often stayed at the Oxford Suites and I%26#39;m not surprised at their accommodating you with a more convenient late checkout.

Did you sit in one of the cars at Bliss%26#39; diner?

Thanks for great report always enjoy hearing from those who got TA help, keeps us going.

Unfortunately the cars were already taken but we sure did enjoy looking at all the old Chevy%26#39;s on the roof. I neat place for sure!

The Schooner 12th Street Bistro is No More

Employees were notified Sunday not to come in, and that their services were no longer needed.

Here%26#39;s hoping that the ramp-up to the high season finds jobs for those displaced by this closure.

The Schooner 12th Street Bistro is No More

That%26#39;s too bad, we enjoyed several nice meals at Schooner%26#39;s, the most memorable was a Father%26#39;s Day brunch one year with my brother-in-law and his 3 children. Thank you for the information, I%26#39;m sorry to see them go. :(

The Schooner 12th Street Bistro is No More

Bummer for people staying across the street at the Eliot.

We were really sad to see that the Columbia River Day spa is also gone, across from the Hotel Elliott. I think they may be in a new place this Fall, that%26#39;s what their message said when I called. I%26#39;ll miss this place! :(

Oh too bad syrahgirl ... but I am sure you will find plenty of new places... when you return in the fall, it will be fun to see what moved in to that space ..

I am sure when we return to Portland, the same thing will happen.

I just feel bad for those poor employees ... no advance notice.. what a shame.

Very sorry to learn of the Bisto%26#39;s demise. We always enjoyed stopping here before concerts at the nearby Liberty Theater.

portland for 2 days

We will be in Portland for two days in July (6th and 7th) after attending a wedding in Hood River. We enjoy urban walking, stopping at cool cafes and bakeries, window shopping,galleries, open air markets, etc. We typcially like to stay in center of cities, so we can just walk from our hotel.

Do you have any recommendation of where (either a specific hotel or section of town) to stay and what we ';must do';. We are on a very limited budget. I have already looked on various websites and determined that the most value seems to be at the airport, but that seems to be far from where we will want to walk around. (we will have a car)

thank you

portland for 2 days

www.pova.com

See if you can find some deals in town ..

Look into the Mark Spencer Hotel in downtown ..

Just staying in Portland, wandering around, taking the streetcar etc, you will get your fill of walking, cool cafes, bakeries ( the Pearl Bakery) and plenty of galleries , boutiques to window shop and browse.

Here are hotel websites... look at the Mark Spencer and the Ace.. good luck !

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i892-Sleeping_i鈥?/a>

portland for 2 days

Travelzoo usually has some good deals on downtown hotels, but it looks like they have all dried up.

You could also try Priceline, for what it is worth. www.biddingfortravel.com might help you out there.

Luckily, this is right after the blues fest, so maybe some of the crowds will clear out and some deals will open up by then.

Thanks for your responses. I have looked at the Mark Spencer and tried Priceline. I am hoping that the prices might come down in the next couple of weeks because they are still almost 2 times what we would pay near the airport.

What neighborhoods do you recommend staying in? Where is the part(s) of Portland that we will enjoy walking? Priceline breaks it into sections such as: North harbor (Janzen Beach),downtown, convention center, northwet, and south waterfront district.

Also - I am a litte concerned about going through priceline becuase state that the rooms are for two people and that you have to pay an undetermined amount for additional people. We are two adults, two teens and I am worried about how much more the hotel will charge. Anyone have experience with this?

thank you very much!!

Regarding prices... it is summer, prices are always higher, I don%26#39;t know of why they would drop until the end of summer, but you can work on that ... ask for any discounts, etc.

My son stayed at the Country Inns and Suites out by the airport when he had to fly in for 3 nights.. he said it was extremely nice .. not as nice as he expected, with free breakfast and nice rooms.. if that helps.

The main area for hotels is downtown Portland with some on the Eastside .. Downtown, is what I think you need, especially since your time is limited.. you don%26#39;t want to spend too much of it traveling back and forth. I will add the Streetcar map here and you can use that as a map for where the hotels are and where it would work best if you stayed in the downtown area. Mark Spencer is in a great location .. there is a hotel on NW 27th that I cannot remember the name of .. it might be a Holiday Inn .. see if you can find any rates on that ..

Two teens will probably be charges as 2 adults.

You will pay a higher rate for 4 adults than 2 people..

You can also get the toll free numbers and call the hotels directly and see what you can work out with them. I never used priceline or any of those services, I just called the hotel and worked it out .. you can use all sorts of things for discounts .. Good luck !!

regarding my sons stay ... I meant that to read... it was extremely nice, nicer than he expected lol ...

Also ..

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i1396-Portland_鈥?/a>

We have stayed at The Benson, Heathman and Riverplace, all of these are on Priceline under 4 star hotels, a lot of traveler%26#39;s have found rooms at these places for under $100/night.

I would also check out the Inn @ Northrup Station in the Nob Hill area. This is a cool neighborhood with quaint boutiques, shops and restaurants.

Enjoy your time in Portland and let us know how it goes! :)

syahgirl, you should take a look at that list of mine, hotels in Portland. You can get an idea of prices :)

Embassy Suites downtown is a nice place to be. I think rates may be a little higher than you planned on but the location is perfect for walking to the waterfront, The Pearl, and downtown.

Another option might be the Inn at Northrup Station. Check it out to see if it is something you would like. Easy access by streetcar to almost everything urban in Portland, walking distance to The Pearl, 23rd, Downtown.

Call direct to all hotels for best rates. Have fun on your visit!

We just got a (prepay) deal at Modera for $89/night via their website. Check them out.