Coastal Trip this month (Portland, Beaverton: how much, motels, construction)

[jenlion]

Hi! Hoping for some advice.

I live in the Seattle area and I keep hearing about how much better your coast is than ours. Planning a trip to go see and play on it the week of Sept 12th with my husband, our 3-year-old-son, and my mother in law.

My husband wants to get all the way down into northern CA and see redwoods, and we have about a week altogether. Since she's old, I've got a screwed up ankle, and the kid is only 3, we don't move as quickly as I'd like to.

Can anyone help me with a rough itinerary? Maybe a night or two near Cannon or Rockaway beach... a night or two further south (but *where*?!), maybe a night in Crescent City CA, then turn back up I-5.

I'm having a hard time narrowing it down, and I'm about out of time. Suggestions anyone?

Thanks!

[Rob Allen]

Seaside for the Jersey Shore-boardwalk experience

Tillamook Cheese Factory

the brewpub in Pacific City

the casino in Lincoln City

whale watching out of Depoe Bay

Newport - the bayfront and the aquarium

the Oregon Dunes between Florence and Reedsport

What sounds good to you?

[Silverfall]

There is no way I'd trek all the way down the coast in one week. It is slow driving down 101 due to all the small coastal towns along the way.

I'd definitely hit the aquarium with your 3 year old.

Cannon Beach is beautiful and you can eat lunch at Ecola State Park which has an amazing view. I also really like Manzanita. So I'd stay in Manzanita and you can head to Astoria or Cannon Beach easily from there.

Then I'd head south and spend time at the aquarium in Newport, the cheese factory and there is a cool air museum in Tillamook if you hit a rainy day. My son played in the cockpit of the plane for an hour when he was that age. We have some really cute photos.

I'd also hit the Oregon dues and Bandon. I'd plan to stop at Bandon which has amazing rocks. There is loads to do along the coast but you'd be killing yourself and in the car all day long trying to do it all in a week.

We just got back from Orcas Island in the San Juans and it will take you 4 hours to get to Portland and then another 2 to get to the coast. You'll spend one day just driving.

[darjoh]

I agree that a week is not suffice to really see the Oregon coast from border to border. I took a week from Newport, Or to Arcata, Ca. and then boogied back to Newport in 2 days. I wish I took more time on the way down to stop and see/absorb some more than I did. There is just too much to see.
The small towns along the coast and all the speed changes really makes things slow, as well as the scenic cliff driving from Yachats to Florence.
A week can be done, but I feel it wouldn't be as fulfilling, to need to rush through it.
Good luck on your trip.

[figmalt]

Originally Posted by Rob Allen

Seaside for the Jersey Shore-boardwalk experience

Tillamook Cheese Factory

the brewpub in Pacific City

the casino in Lincoln City

whale watching out of Depoe Bay And eat lunch at Tidal Raves.

Newport - the bayfront and the aquarium And visit the Devil's Punchbowl (Oregon State Parks and Recreation: Rates)

the Oregon Dunes between Florence and Reedsport Also checkout the Sea Lion Caves between Florence and Newport (Sea Lion Caves - The World's Largest Sea Cave!)

What sounds good to you?

My comments in red.

[mdvaden]

Personally, I'd plan a trip like that in reverse. Not going down the coast first, but starting in the redwoods first and working my way up. The redwoods are too monumental of a component to leave on the backburner or final leg. And no need to go as far as Avenue of the Giants. With a 3 year old, I'd consider driving the straight 8 hours to Crescent City, arriving maybe 4pm to 6pm. Then begin the adventure the next day.

You've got Trees of Mystery for a tourist thing. Then Prairie Creek redwoods has many places to explore and stretch with a child. Plus the beach there, and several beaches along that area. Pretty much Prairie Creek and Jedediah Smith redwoods have all you would need. You may even see elk near Prairie Creek. And Redwood National Park Lady Bird Johnson grove is close by, but not an essential.

The south Oregon coast near Brookings is as nice as anything up north. And Gold Beach area. Near Port Orford, there is this Jurassic Park kind of tourist thing that children should enjoy. Forget the name off the top of my head. Then add whatever coastal stuff I could coming back up the coast.

If you need, there is wifi at several motels and restaurants too.

[Silverfall]

It's more than 8 hours to the Redwoods from Seattle, but I do agree that maybe driving to your furthest point first might not be such a bad idea. I just wouldn't go all the way to the Redwoods on this trip. You really need two vacations for all that you want to do.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

It's more than 8 hours to the Redwoods from Seattle, but I do agree that maybe driving to your furthest point first might not be such a bad idea. I just wouldn't go all the way to the Redwoods on this trip. You really need two vacations for all that you want to do.

If someone drives strictly the speed limit, probably a tad bit longer. Portland to Seattle is 3 hours 2 minutes at strict speed limit. And Portland to Hiouchi for Jed Smith redwood park is 6 hours 9 minutes at strict speed limit. Most folks on I-5 utilize an extra 5 mph or so over the speed limit. So maybe 8.5 hours would be the average driver's time from Seattle to Hiouchi.

Provided I don't have my trailer in tow, I arrive in Hiouchi from Beaverton in about 5 & 1/2 hours usually. 6 hours if I have the trailer attached.

Prairie Creek Redwoods near Klamath is usually another 45 minutes with or without a trailer.

Attached Image Prairie Creek Redwood, Brown Creek Trailhead along Drury Parkway

Found the name of the Dinosaur place.

They told me in July that a website was coming. Here it is:

LINK > Prehistoric Garden

Haven't been in it myself. Looked well-maintained from the outside.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by jenlion

I keep hearing about how much better your coast is than ours.

Oh, really? Have you ever been to Hoh Head or Rialto Beach?

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by mdvaden

If someone drives strictly the speed limit, probably a tad bit longer. Portland to Seattle is 3 hours 2 minutes at strict speed limit. And Portland to Hiouchi for Jed Smith redwood park is 6 hours 9 minutes at strict speed limit. Most folks on I-5 utilize an extra 5 mph or so over the speed limit. So maybe 8.5 hours would be the average driver's time from Seattle to Hiouchi.

Provided I don't have my trailer in tow, I arrive in Hiouchi from Beaverton in about 5 & 1/2 hours usually. 6 hours if I have the trailer attached.

Prairie Creek Redwoods near Klamath is usually another 45 minutes with or without a trailer.

Attached Image Prairie Creek Redwood, Brown Creek Trailhead along Drury Parkway

Found the name of the Dinosaur place.

They told me in July that a website was coming. Here it is:

LINK > Prehistoric Garden

Haven't been in it myself. Looked well-maintained from the outside.

But the OP has a three year old. They aren't sitting in a car for 8-9 hours straight. It would take them 10 hours from Seattle with the necessary potty breaks, not to mention there is loads of road construction in Tacoma right now (as we just went through it a week ago) that will slow them down. Unless they like being in the car, I think heading all the way down there and up the Oregon coast in one week with a three year old is a guarantee to have a whiny kid.