Quote:
Originally Posted by andresl
hi
who can give some do and donts, of some cities,suggestions
we have the idea to travel with our family-2 adults and 3 children from Amsterdam-Portland(we have been there in 2002)-Salem? - Eugene? -Crater Lake (have been there in 2002)- Bend ? and back to....
in a 3 weeks summerholiday in a KOA or a lodge or B&B
many thanks from Holland
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First a note of caution. The Oregon Coast is rugged, the cliffs are unstable, and the water is cold. If there is a storm, stay away from the ocean. Be very careful not to be caught by the tide. Observe all caution signs. People die at the coast every year. Stay safe.
Reservations are required during tourist season, particularly for the more desirable B&B and camping spots. If you are tent camping there is almost always space available, but if you are travelling by caravan, reservations can be arranged at
http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/reserve.shtml
Now, on to the fun stuff.
From Portland, take the Columbia River Highway (30) all the way to the Pacific, then drive down the Oregon coast. If you like to hike, Oswald West State Park between Cannon Beach and Nehalem is a must-see. Hike Cape Falcon and then hike to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain. Don't be fooled. The only thing you see from the highway is a parking lot. You have to hike in to visit the park. There are hiking trails from Oswald West through the Clatsop and Tillamook State Forests.
The drive west from Tillamook over Cape Lookout is pretty spectacular. Netarts Bay is a national estuary, and you don't need a fishing license to fish there. There's plenty of clamming on the mudflats too. Check local regs for limits and such. I don't know what the razor clam status is nowdays. For that matter, a charter fishing tour is an excellent idea, and a good way to get nice and close to nature. ;>
The rest of the coast is waiting, so don't dawdle. There is about 350 miles of public highway and public beach, with a couple hundred viewpoints, and state or county parks every five miles. Drive fast until you get south of Newport. That will put you past the worst of the Portland strip city development.
Don't get mesmerized by the ocean. The Lower Siletz River Loop is a beautiful drive, and only about 20 miles. If the weather is hot, there is a fabulous swimming hole just a few miles up the Smith River (just north of Reedsport). It's popular with the locals, but not much visited by tourists. Bring your own food and drinks, there are no tourist facilities.
Sea Lion Caves are interesting. Be sure to stop at Cape Perpetua, and plan to spend some time if it is low tide.
At Gold Beach, a mail boat ride is great fun.
http://www.mailboat.com/
The Southern Oregon Coast is fairly undeveloped, mostly owned by the government and large timber companies. You may have to drive a ways between accommodations,
A trip into California to the mouth of the Klamath River to see the Redwoods is worth the trip.
On your way back north take the Redwood Highway (199) toward Cave Junction. Not only do you get to see some redwoods, that is the road to The Oregon Caves. The Oregon Caves are not all that big, but unlike the big limestone caves, The Oregon Caves were eroded out of marble. They are miniature gems. Wear a coat.
At this point you are in the middle of the North Klamath Formation, otherwise known as the Siskiyou Mountains. The geology is highly varied. A visit to local rock shops is often worth it. Remember, gems are just rocks. If you are not careful, you will exceed your luggage weight limit with precious and semi-precious stones. There's a nice little rock shop in Cave Junction, and Fire Mountain Gems is in Grants Pass.
You say you have seen Crater Lake before, but there are several nice day drives across the Cascade Mountains. I'm very fond of highway 138 from Roseburg to Crater Lake (stop at all the waterfalls) and the McKenzie highway (242) from Springfield to Sisters. Both roads are best approached from the West, so head east on 138, take the Willamette Pass (58) back to I-5, go north to Springfield and drive up 242. You gain a mile in altitude in a very short time, so pack sunglasses
and sun lotion. The McKenzie pass usually doesn't open until July 1 because of snow, so you may have to skip it if you are too early.
Go on through Sisters to Redmond and take Hwy 26 across the Ochocos. The drive across the Ochoco Mountains is worth it all for itself, but on the other side of the Ochoco National Forest is the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. It is sort of spread out, about 60 miles from side to side. The visitor center is at the Sheep Rock Unit.
http://www.nps.gov/joda/
From the fossil beds, continue on 26 to Mount Vernon, head north on hwy 395 and hang a right at Ukiah toward LaGrande. Continue north out of LaGrande to Minam, then angle SE to Joseph, just because it is an interesting spot. If you have $50,000 to spend, you can pick up some really nice tourist trinkets in Joseph.
It's an artist's colony. There are three bronze foundries in a tiny little mountain village.
Take the back road south out of Joseph to the Hells Canyon Overlook for a look at the deepest canyon on the North American continent. Then head on south to Hwy 86 and hang a left to the river. It's a good idea to check your brakes before making this drive. Take a jet boat ride on the Snake River.
Take 86 back to Baker City. Did I mention that you need to stock up on Dramamine if you get motion sick?
I'm sorry, but the last leg of the trip is on a freeway. I-84 is the only way to get to Multnomah Falls. Hey, you get to see the Columbia Gorge. You can hop into Washington at Biggs and see Stonehenge and Maryhill too.
That just leaves out two spots on my Top 10 list, Silver Creek Falls and the Valley of the Giants. To get to Silver Creek Falls, head south out of Oregon City on 213 to Silverton. Hang a left on 214 to the park.
The Valley of the Giants is harder to get to. The jump off point is Falls City, west of Monmouth. The BLM has printed directions for you so you can find the place.
http://www.or.blm.gov/salem/html/rec/vog/giants.htm
for more information.
Also recommended:
- Driving down the Nestucca River from Carlton to Beaver
- The Siuslaw River road from Lorane to 126
- Hwy 34 from Alsea to Tidewater
- The Coos Bay Wagon Road from Lookingglass to Coos Bay.
If you are diligent, you could make this entire trip in 3 weeks, and it would be filled with "look at THAT!" moments. However, feel free to settle in one spot and just relax. It takes a lifetime to see it all, and sometimes multiple visits. I have been to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain a dozen times, and it has been different every time. There are even museums that would interest someone from Europe, though you have cornered the market on museums. The Evergreen Air-Space Museum at McMinnville is great if you are interested in airplanes and rockets.
Have fun.
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Roundtrip in Oregon for Dutch Family in Summer !
'healthy? American milk.
). Our visitors during last August enjoyed picking the berries for their desserts, tho children tire quickly...and get very messy! Everyone had a good time, and we have hot water for showers
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