Oregon Road Trip (Portland, Salem, Grants Pass: hotel, houses, restaurant)

[drule25]

I'm planning a week long road trip through Oregon in June and need a little help. We're not really interested in shopping, museums, etc. Want to spend each day driving for an hour in the morning, taking a short 3 mile hike, having lunch, driving another hour, taking another hike, then crashing in a nice hotel after a great dinner. Only plan so far is to fly into Portland and spend the first night in Seaside. Any help would be appreciated!

[Cornerguy1]

A little more information about your goals and restrictions would help considerably.

You're flying into PDX, but do you also have to depart from PDX after your week is over?

Your plan to try and see Oregon while driving a total of 14 hours is going to limit you, especially if you're unwilling to drive more than an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.

[Terryj]

Like Cornerguy said, your really limiting yourself, with a schedule like the one you mentioned you might make it down the coast hwy in a week, there is so much to see, and that is just the coast. You also have the Cascade Range, Central Oregon and Eastern Oregon, all of these are worth seeing.

[mamh]

A thought to add to this, The Oregon Garden Resort Hotel in Silverton, its about 15 miles off of I-5 near Salem and about 2 hours from PDX, the hotel offers nice cozy rooms dinners plus, 8 miles of paths threw oregon gardens itself..the paths are paved but lots of ups and downs..its so pretty out there..I'm hort volunteer there and never tire of wandering the gardens..
Some times the hotel as offers of 2 nights including breakfast and dinner for a very reasonable price..
Well thats my 2 cents worth..

[Hawk J]

Howdy drule...

You could dine & stay the night at,

Wolf Creek Inn Southern Oregon

drive along lower Wolf Creek road to the Rogue River. Hike along the river seeing many Great Wonders & Beauty of nature downstream or upstream.

In Merlin you can arrange a one day raft trip or more, if'n ya wanna. Along the river there is a lodge & they have meals, on the way to Gold Beach.

hahaha



Out of Grants Pass or Gold Beach you can ride the Jetboat.

www.hellgate.com


Have a Wonderful Time.

[tripphome]

There is some great hiking & beautiful scenery in the Sisters area, especially if you are coming from Silver Falls ~ only a couple of hours. And when heading out go toward the I-5 corridor & take any number of stops, back roads, hiking, photo ops....it's all beautiful.
One of our favorite stops is Depot Bay, Inn at Arch Rock had good rooms & decent prices. You can tour the lighthouses, or find any number of day hikes along the coast. Have fun! Take lots of pics!

[figmalt]

Originally Posted by tripphome

There is some great hiking & beautiful scenery in the Sisters area, especially if you are coming from Silver Falls ~ only a couple of hours. And when heading out go toward the I-5 corridor & take any number of stops, back roads, hiking, photo ops....it's all beautiful.
One of our favorite stops is Depot Bay, Inn at Arch Rock had good rooms & decent prices. You can tour the lighthouses, or find any number of day hikes along the coast. Have fun! Take lots of pics!

Tidal Raves is good restaurant in Depoe Bay. It's right on the bay and has a great view, plus the food is good.

[Oregonbeachlover]

Originally Posted by figmalt

Tidal Raves is good restaurant in Depoe Bay. It's right on the bay and has a great view, plus the food is good.

I agree. Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay is a great restaurant. I love their food. Also, you can watch whales swim right under your window (if you are lucky).

[drule25]

Thanks all!

Great replies and lots of help. I know my desired schedule limits my chances of seeing alot of Oregon and after reading your posts, I'll probably change my mind and drive alittle farther each day. I took a road trip through New England last summer and found that on the days I had a long drive, say 5 hours, I wasn't as inclined to stop and see things, because I still had so far to go.......know what I mean? Plus, this trip I'll be with a 17 year old and shorter drives might be best. Anyway, I really appreciate all your help and I think we'll probably just shoot down the coast as far as we can and then drive up the 5 back to portland on the last day.

[figmalt]

I think going south along the coast is a good road trip, with plenty of hikes and a pretty good variety of activities. You should start by taking Hwy 30 out to Astoria. The hwy mostly follows the Columbia to Astoria. Once you get there, climb the Astoria Column. That's a pretty good hike all by itself, and the views are amazing. You could head south to Seaside that same day. Make sure you stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for some awesome cheese and ice cream.

You should make time for a hike through Silver Falls State Park, it's east of Salem, and the falls are beautiful. I went around Memorial Day a few years ago, and it there was still a lot of water due to the spring showers. The hike took us (at a slow to moderate pace) about 4 hours. You can do just the big falls in much less time though.