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Old 05-20-2013, 06:27 AM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,712 posts, read 58,042,598 times
Reputation: 46182

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There are literally hundreds of places to stay on OR coast. I have never had a problem finding one while there. Even peak summer I have found stuff very easy. Astoria is another place I'm not keen on. (Too big, away from the coast, lots of run down areas (and a couple real nice spots! too)

Newport, Lincoln City have zillions of nice and even cheap hotels. MUCH closer to nice scenic beaches.

My favorites to STAY on OR coast if you are going south to north... are Yachats (nice tide pools in town), Newport (nice harbor, lighthouse North side of town) Otter Crest (HUGE condo/hotel / overnight above water) Depot Bay (Whale Cove BEFORE you get there is Beautiful and has some lodging), Surfrider (south of Lincoln City, NICE views for stormy nights), Lincoln City, Pacific City / 3 capes (small towns but sandy beaches). Twin Rocks / Rockaway. ...Manzanita, Arch Cape, Cannon Beach (probably most beautiful with GREAT views and lots happening), Seaside (carnival town with promenade),

If you want to go to Portland and St Helens, and Columbia Gorge, Don't waste your time on Astoria and LongBeach, WA There is tons of nice fun stuff to do in Portland and Columbia Gorge. There is literally NO coast to see north of Seaside, except a couple sandy spots. and some nice parks, but Nothing like https://www.google.com/search?q=nort...BKvjigK1g4HACQ

Hug Point ALONE, is good enough for me, next turn off north of Arch Cape, OR. I run out (1 hr) for sunset or on hot days, or any chance I get. https://www.google.com/search?q=hug+...2&ved=0CDMQsAQ

Have a great time... don't stress about finding places. Find spots you LIKE and spend the night there!!!

Weekends on the Coast, you might be a little more diligent. Worse case you have to drive inland 1 hr to find a place. Hippie town... Consider ZigZag, OR since you are missing Eugene.
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Old 05-20-2013, 08:44 AM
 
43,011 posts, read 108,040,030 times
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StealthRabbit, you've convinced me to redo the whole trip after California. I'm excited because we can see things around Portland now too.

I'm thinking head up the coast, cut inland for Diamond Lake, go down to Coos Bay and take the coast up to Seaside, cut up to Portland and spend time at Columbia Gorge, Zigzag and the falls, get on I-5 and head towards Olympic National Park (possibly going to see Mt. St. Helens/Mt. Rainier along the way), do the peninsula, stay in Port Townsend and do the whale watching tour (possibly the all day one that goes over to Fridays Harbor), take the ferry across to Whidbey island, stay a couple days, take the other ferry Mukilteo and drive to North Bend.

Should we plan on seeing St. Helens while we are in Portland or should we catch that on the way to Olympic National Park?

I'll trust that I don't need reservations except at Whidbey Island since I'd like a cottage or a cabin while we're on the island.
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Old 05-20-2013, 04:25 PM
 
Location: Seattle area
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If you go to Portland, visit the Pittock Mansion
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Old 05-20-2013, 09:18 PM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,712 posts, read 58,042,598 times
Reputation: 46182
There is a very nice Mt St Helen's visitor's center at Castle Rock, WA Exit , 2 miles east (Your National Park pass will get you free admission) This exit is ~ 1 hr north of Portland on I-5.

In Portland you MUST see the International Rose Garden (near Zoo / Washington Park, GREAT at sunset (view of city and mt Hood)) also another Rose Garden at Peninsula Park (just off I-5 north of Portland city.

Of course Powell Books.
Locations - Powell's Books
I like to go on Weds, and take in the Farmer's Market (10 - 2pm) in the Park Blocks, near the Art Museum, free concerts at noon. (If it is hot out, NICE AC in Museum library (Free in afternoons).
Oregon Historical Museum is just across the street, and very nice.
Roses in Portland, Oregon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Portland Parks & Recreation :: Washington Park International Rose Test Garden
Portland
International Rose Test Garden - Portland - Reviews of International Rose Test Garden - TripAdvisor
(Pittock Mansion is very near, and nice gardens too)

If you go to Zigzag, go on up the Mt to Timberline Lodge, then over the top and back down hwy 35 into Hood River (very nice,) Then back to I-5 via I 84, but especially take the Scenic Highway after Bonneville Dam.
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Old 01-26-2014, 11:45 PM
 
Location: Oregon, Pacific Northwest
68 posts, read 308,902 times
Reputation: 125
I like your plan, but I would take out out Bend and Diamond Lake. Neither Bend or Diamond Lake are that scenic, and nothing compared to what you can find in Washington. Most of the Oregon Cascade Range is a vast plateau---not very scenic or rugged. Crater Lake is nice, but rather out of the way. Going to Diamond Lake would be like driving through nonstop dry forest, with occasional views. Anything you can find in Oregon, you can find it in Washington, but usually much better. The exception is the Oregon Coast, which is probably better than the WA coast (with the exception of the Olympic National Park Coast.) Also, someone mentioned Oregon Sand Dunes. I would point out that it is not a national park, and not really that worth it to stop and see. For Mt. Hood, I would skip it, since its just a very tiny and inferior version of Mt. Rainier in Washington. You don't get that same awe feeling at Hood like you get at Rainier. Same with St. Helens, which is also not nearly as big or tall. Still, St. Helens is a worthy destination since it is a volcano that recently blew up, which is pretty cool, I'd say!

What I would do, is take Hwy 101 along the Oregon Coast, take OR Hwy 6 across the lush Oregon Coastal Mountains to U.S. 26, which leads to Portland. Then I would go straight through Portland, since there's not much to do here (I should know, since I live here), then take I-84 East, detour onto the Historic Columbia River Hwy, to Crown Point (best view of the Gorge from above), then down to Multnomah Falls, and a number of other scenic falls. Get back onto I-84 and cross the Bridge of the Gods into Washington, and take the (arguably more scenic) Lewis and Clark Hwy east (WA-14), passing under several cool tunnels, and in my opinion gives the most scenic views of the Gorge. Much better than travelling on freeways. Plus, Hwy 14 is much sunnier, which gives you a much less tree-obstructed view of the gorge, including a great view across to Oregon's side as well. Continue on WA-14 east until you reach White Salmon and WA Hwy 141. (If you want to skip White Salmon, take ALT-141, which bypasses the town.) Travel north on WA-141 to the lovely small town of Trout Lake below Mount Adams, one of the tallest and most impressive mountains in the Cascade Range. Travel north from Trout Lake on the Mount Adams Recreation Hwy for a very short distance, then make a Y turn left onto the scenic Forest Road 23, which passes through beautiful old growth forests, and leads up to a very beautiful viewpoint of Mount Adams. Continue on FR 23 and when you come to another Y fork, stay left again, which becomes Forest Road 90. The road to the right (continuation of FR 23) becomes gravel. Continue on FR 90 along the scenic Lewis River, make sure to stop at the Lewis River Falls. Continue heading west, until you come to an intersection with Forest Road 25. Take FR 25 north (right) for several miles until you come to an intersection with Forest Road 99, which branches off to the left towards Windy Ridge. Take FR 99 to Windy Ridge Viewpoint for the best views of Mount St. Helens. Head back on FR 99 to FR 25, turn left (north), and take it all the way to U.S. Hwy 12 (White Pass Scenic Byway). Turn right on U.S. hwy 12, and head east, toward Packwood. From Packwood, take the Curly Creek Road (FR 55) to your left (north) to WA-Hwy 706. Turn right on Hwy 706 to Mount Rainier National Park, head up to Paradise, and then east on the very scenic Stevens Canyon Road. Once you reach WA-Hwy 123, turn left towards Sunrise/White River (north). Take 123 to a Y-intersection with WA-Hwy 410. Turn right and swichback up and over Chinook Pass, stop at Tipsoo Lake (very beautiful reflections of Rainier), and head down to meet up with Hwy 12 again, then take Hwy 12 east (left) to Yakima, WA. From Yakima, take I-84 north to Ellensburg, merge left onto I-90, and get off I-90 just as you leave Ellensburg. Take U.S. 97 north to Leavenworth, you can make the short detour there if you wish, then continue along U.S. 97 along the Columbia River (or alterlately U.S. 97A), which takes the west side of the river and passes the town of Chelan (near Lake Chelan). Continue on U.S. 97 and take the shortcut WA-Hwy 153 (on your left). Meet up with WA Hwy 20 (North Cascades Scenic Byway), and turn left (west) heading towards Washington Pass. Take WA-20 past Diablo Lake and Ross Lake, and down to Deception Pass. Cross here, and take the ferry across to the Olympic Peninsula. Don't bother to stop at Hurricane Ridge, since you have already seen mountains more rugged than this by travelling over North Cascades and Mount Rainier. Take U.S. 101 and loop around the peninsula, then start heading south. Turn left and head up to the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center. Then backtrack back to 101, and head south, perhaps stop at the Olympic NP beach (right off the Hwy), then take U.S. 12 east, then WA-8 east to Olympia, WA (Washington Capitol). Then head north a ways on I-5 to Seattle.
See this map of what I just described: https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msid=...01022,5.410767
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Old 01-26-2014, 11:54 PM
 
Location: Oregon, Pacific Northwest
68 posts, read 308,902 times
Reputation: 125
Some photos of what you would see if you took this route. All photos are presented exactly in the order that I mentioned them above:

Oregon Coast:
http://insidenanabreadshead.files.wo...tal-beauty.jpg

Oregon Coastal Mountains along Hwy 6:
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...malo-falls.jpg

Historic Columbia River Hwy:
http://www.wildnatureimages.com/imag...40530-158..jpg

Crown Point:
http://www.strengthinperspective.com...ista-House.jpg

Multnomah Falls:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-Multfalls.jpg

Bridge of the Gods crossing into Washington:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ter_Murphy.jpg

Lewis and Clark Hwy/Evergreen Hwy (WA-14), travelling on the north side of the gorge:
https://static.panoramio.com.storage...e/64694887.jpg

More Columbia River Gorge from the Washington side pics:
https://www.google.com/search?q=diab...+side&tbm=isch

Mount Adams from Trout Lake (WA-141):
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...lake-motel.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...x-Mt_Adams.jpg

In Winter:
http://www.gophotoevents.com/wp-cont...04/mtadams.jpg

More Mt. Adams from Trout Lake:
https://www.google.com/search?q=diablo+lake&espv=210&es_sm=122&source=lnm s&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=g97lUpPcG8HqoASI14H4BA&ved=0CAo Q_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=667#q=trout+lake+mt+adams+wa+-map&tbm=isch"]https://www.google.com/search?q=diablo+lake&espv=210&es_sm=122&source=lnm s&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=g97lUpPcG8HqoASI14H4BA&ved=0CAo Q_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=667#q=trout+lake+mt+adams+wa+-map&tbm=isch"]https://www.google.com/search?q=diablo+lake&espv=210&es_sm=122&source=lnm s&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=g97lUpPcG8HqoASI14H4BA&ved=0CAo Q_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=667#q=trout+lake+mt+adams+wa+-map&tbm=isch

Viewpoint along Forest Road 23:
http://images.everytrail.com/pics/fu...dams05-001.JPG

Lewis River Falls along Forest Road 90:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ewis_River.jpg

More Lewis River Photos:
https://www.google.com/search?q=diab...+-map&tbm=isch

Windy Ridge:
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/oldro...ndyRidgesm.jpg

Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park:
http://blog.roadtrippers.com/wp-cont...nt-Rainier.jpg

More Paradise Pictures:
https://www.google.com/search?q=diab...adise&tbm=isch

Pictures of Stevens Canyon Road, east of Paradise:
https://www.google.com/search?q=diab...+road&tbm=isch

Road Swichbacking up to Chinook Pass in Spring/Summer:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3120/2...97512728_o.jpg

Same place in winter:
http://landscapephoto.us/Events/Rain...s/DSC01541.jpg

Mount Rainier from Chinook Pass. Tipsoo Lake in foreground:
http://mahugh.com/wp-content/uploads...s-20100814.jpg

Chinook Pass and Tipsoo Lake in Winter:
http://mahugh.com/wp-content/uploads...s-20100713.jpg

U.S. 97 along the Columbia River:
https://static.panoramio.com.storage...e/26909759.jpg

https://static.panoramio.com.storage...e/26909821.jpg

Washington Pass along WA-20 (North Cascades Scenic Byway) during mid spring:
https://static.panoramio.com.storage...e/59321490.jpg

https://static.panoramio.com.storage...e/31958219.jpg

Rainy Pass on WA-20 in the North Cascades Area:
https://static.panoramio.com.storage...e/60852286.jpg

More Pics of the North Cascades National Park from the Highway:
https://www.google.com/search?q=diab...+-map&tbm=isch

Diablo Lake, North Cascades National Park:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...iablo_Lake.JPG

More pictures:
https://www.google.com/search?q=diab...w=1366&bih=667
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Old 01-28-2014, 12:12 AM
 
Location: Oregon, Pacific Northwest
68 posts, read 308,902 times
Reputation: 125
A note on the map, you can click on a photo icon and see a picture(s). Making maps are pretty much one of my favorite things. You can use it to help you decide what to see. If you want recommendations on where to camp at, please ask! I'm most familiar with the Portland area, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount Rainier National Park, and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. I've been visiting Mt. Adams for so long, I've pretty much gotten the maps memorized like the back of my hand! lol! I can help most of all with Mt. Adams, Gifford Pinchot NF, and Mount Rainier, since I'm most familiar with those areas. But again, my recommendation is skip Oregon's Cascades, go for the Oregon Coast, definitely make sure to see Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and the North Cascades National Parks. The North Cascades are the most rugged portion of the Cascade Range, and will feel like you're in the Swiss Alps! :O
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