Two Week Road Trip: What are the "must sees" in Portland and Oregon? (Bend: 2013, loan)

[Sherwoody]

Saved to favorites.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I've heard the Oregon coast is the pretty part of our coastal trip with the exception of Big Sur.

I took this photo somewhere between Tillamook and Cannon Beach in September last year. I was speechless and didn't want to leave.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

I believe you are looking south, down on Manzanita and Nehalem bay from Neahkanie mountain.
(Nehalem Bay would be under clouds where the hills are peaking out above them, the water you sea is the Pacific.)

We used to own a little beach house to the left of where the sand bulges out.

Just a friendly reminder for vistors:
In Oregon, what everybody else calls "the beach" or "the shore" is called the coast.

An Oregonian would tell friends: "We are going to the coast to play on the beach."

By the way, as you are driving along Nehalem Bay, stop at either Brighton Marina or the Jetty Fishery.
These are marinas that have RV parking, boat ramps, docks, tackle shops, tanks full of live crabs and clams, and are pretty cool to visit.
Good places to buy some local marina T shirts and sweatshirts that are distinctly Oregon without all the touristy crap all over them.

The atmosphere is very "nautical" and you get a taste of Oregon coast fishing and crabbing activities.
My kids would always beg me to stop at one of them when we were out there so they could peek in the crab tank!

[Hopes]

That's a BEAUTIFUL picture! I can't wait to spend time on the Oregon Coast.

My husband and I have a question that is very important to us.

FOG.

Does it have a schedule? Does it roll in at night and leave in the morning?

We're just wondering how the fog will interfere with our travel plans.

If we plan to get up early in the morning and head to our next destination, will fog postpone our departure until lunchtime?

Alternately, if we're planning to arrive at a hotel late in the evening, will fog make it difficult to get there?

I know weather can change at anytime, but some things are likely to happen at certain times---like it will often rain in the late afternoon where I live.

[Hawk J]

Imho it's hard to predict about the FOG. It depends on what the recent temps have been, humidity, wind speed, direction, etc.

Meteorologists try to predict the Fog. Sometimes they are right.Sometimes they are wrong...
They may say 2mile visibity.....5mile visibity.....10mile visibility

You can keep track of what they are predicting on the TV at

www.kobi5.com

www.ktvl.com

www.kdrv.com

I live in the mountains...Don't usually have Fog...

[kadylady]

Originally Posted by kadylady

Pix don't really do it justice. It's a beautiful lake!
http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...pse68d97e4.jpg

I seem to be having problems with photobucket. Sorry for posting Crater Lake again.

[PNW-type-gal]

Just saw the mention of Crater Lake on the first page - the full Rim Road is NOT open, only the drive through from the North entrance to the South entrance (which does take you by the west end of the lake and the main lodge). The full drive around the lake and the road down to Pinnacles will likely be open by late June or so. Don't recommend camping at Crater Lake until at least end of July or beginning of August (those campgrounds are HIGH elevation and snow stays a long time in the shade). You might try camping at either Diamond Lake which is north of Crater Lake, Collier State Park down on Hwy 97 or staying in one of the guest lodges south of Crater Lake (you can get anything from a cabin to a B&B to a hotel room).

There are a ton of lovely little lakes in the area - you might look at camping at Waldo or Odell for less crowded options, although the international tourist crowd at Crater Lake sometimes outnumbers the American tourist crowd and makes for interesting conversation.

Also, depending on when you'll be in the Cascade Mountains - bring mosquito repellant. Depending on when the snow finally really melts, the mosquitoes can be fierce on first hatch out. I generally stay out of the mtns until July or so.

[Hopes]

I'm rethinking Crater Lake since we'll be there the first week of June. I looked at the webcams and it's still winter there. I'm not a winter wimp, but I spent a significant portion of my winter in Vermont. I'm done with winter. Someone mentioned Diamond Lake in the Washington forum too. I'm definitely checking that out. I may cancel my reservations for the lodge in Grants Pass and make reservations in a small town near Diamond Lake.

[Sherwoody]

I would stay right at the resort. They offer a wide variety of room choices and price ranges.

http://www.diamondlake.net/

[kadylady]

Hopes....It looks like we may be getting some snow as low as 2500 to 3000' in the next couple of days. That might affect Crater and Diamond Lakes. We wanted to camp at Diamond Lake last May, but the campground was closed due to snow. Crater Lake we did in the Fall.
There are so many beautiful things to see in the PNW. You'll never see it all. So, if I were you, I would make it a comfortable trip. Have time to enjoy the places you choose to see! You'll have a wonderful time, I'm sure.