Road Trip Report (Portland, Eugene, Bend: for sale, real estate, houses)

[Mol1112]

It's been over a month since we traveled (SLC-Boise-Bend-Newport-Bend-Boise-SLC).

Everything between SLC and Bend is OK to see - ONCE. That is one seriously long haul. We won't do it again.

Bend was a letdown. I can't put it any other way. Yes, it's beautiful..... But perhaps because I've lived in similar areas...it just was familiar yet less than. But YMMV.

The beer was good (at the Deschute Microbrewery) - and so was the food....but we were saddened that this is an upscale (read: expensive) restaurant. Wish we'd found other "wateringholes" that were less expensive..

Trader Joes - also a highlight (we're envious - Trader Joes has not yet come to Utah).

Corvallis (not a stopping place) was a brightspot. Small intimate college town. Electric cars on the road!~ And when we got lost - hubbie went into a sandwich shop on campus and a student whipped out his PDA - and printed a map for us!~ Just damn friendly!~

Newport was also wonderful. We actually arrived at our place (Shilo Inn - $89 a night) in the early PM and the SUN WAS SHINING. Mind you it was 50 degrees with a 30 mph clip (coooooooold!~) - but we actually got to walk the beach in the sun.

However, you can tell there's a serious recession going on in Oregon. While there - watched the local news in Bend - 16% unemployment. Higher in other Oregon locales. Yikes.

You can sense the lack of activity with the recession. Belt tightening. Putting on a smile when it really, really hurts.

Our drive down the coast was mostly sunny (with areas of fog - but not the kind where you feel you need to walk in front of your car before you slip off the cliff)...

TONS of beachside homes for sale. These must be second homes? I'll bet there are deals to be made. But I wouldn't want a home on a fogged in beach.

Florence was lovely. Then inland to Eugene (which I visited some 40 years ago). Big impersonal university town. We didn't spend much time - and then back to Bend.

TOO MUCH DRIVING.

Am I glad we went? Yes. But the realities of what's happening in Oregon made me very, very sad.

Glad we spent our vacation dollar there.

[skinem]

Nice report, thanks for taking the time to post.

Not picking a fight, just curious--why was Bend a let-down? What were you expecting?
Which route did you drive between SLC and Bend? Depending upon your route there's a lot of empty between the two, but if you know what's out there, it can be interesting.

You're right about the coast houses--deals to be had if anyone still has any money!

[Mol1112]

I think I was comparing it to Park City - waaaay back when Park City wasn't the tourista place it is now. Also comparing it to other mountain towns I know. I just never got a sense of cohesiveness or community. Perhaps we were there for too short a time to get a sense.

Also? You can see/read where the real estate is out of reach for average folks. The restaurant was expensive and most of the patrons seemed to me to be elderly retired rich.

I can't put my finger on it - but it just rubbed me the wrong way.

Park City has lost my respect too.

We traveled to Bend via Boise (I-84). Yep. Lotsa nuthin. But it was the fastest way to get there. By car.

[Nell Plotts]

Bend is no Park City. SunRiver is more like Park City.

I have taken the drive from Portland to Boise many times. The leg I love is east from Emigrant Pass (the climb east of Pendelton) through the Blue Mountains, but don't tell a soul.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by skinem

You're right about the coast houses--deals to be had if anyone still has any money!

I have been checking on beach houses. Deals? Price drops yes-bargains? NOPE

[Mol1112]

Oh - thought I'd post my pix of our trip:

Central Oregon & Oregon Coast - a set on Flickr

Enjoy!~

[puerco]

I have the same impression of Bend. With the exception of the vegetation, Bend feels like a suburb in Washington County. Auto-dependent, franchise businesses. Not the most interesting town east of the mountains. Actually, when Bend was a small lumber town in the '60's and '70's it had more character.

[skinem]

Bet you don't remember, but there's a desolate stretch (to a lot of people it's desolate) along I-84 where you see a sign that says "Blowing Dust Next 40 Miles".

We lived 20 miles past that sign...

Lived there for 8 years. Live there a while and Bend looks great. Live there a while and ANYWHERE looks great.

[EnricoV]

Visiting anywhere with a preconceived notion that it's comparable to somewhere else is a formula for disappointment. Better to judge anywhere on its own merits, and appreciate each's individuality.

I'm less familiar with Bend than I am with Park City, and I can say with surety that they are nothing alike, whatsoever.

[Mol1112]

Like I said - I wasn't there long enough to really tell.