Wed/Thur festivities (Portland, Seaside, Hood River: renting, college, closing)

[kanatastar]

Hey everyone! I'll be flying in on Wednesday and staying until mid Thursday. I am very excited! I am looking for fun things to do. I am open for anything and everything. I want to explore the land, and take a million pictures. Is there anything exciting going on in town that I should check out. What's the weather going to be like (according to weather channel)? As long as the sun is shining, I think I'll be happy. I'm leaving 100 degree temps behind, so any temp will be welcomed!

[StealthRabbit]

new forecast today looks like sun for the 15 & 16th, but cool ~ 65F
Definitely go to the rhodie gardens on Weds
Portland Parks & Recreation :: Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

there should be some color in the Rose gardens as well
Portland Parks & Recreation :: Washington Park - International Rose Test Garden

Plenty of other parks nearby + walks along the River.

Where have you been out here? Planning on City or outside the city for pics?
I would consider the loop into the gorge to Cascade Locks, via Scenic Highway and return via WA SR-14 ~ 2hrs + stops
or a trip to the beach Hwy 26 to Cannon Beach and South to Manzanita is the quickest for optimal scenery.

Silver Falls (SE of Portland) is nice, as well as a trip over Mt Hood and down to Hood River.

For your brief visit, I'd head to the Gorge when you get off the plane, then loop back to the Rhodie Gardens for afternoon, and Rose Gardens for evening, OR... see below for the "Full Meal Deal".

Full Meal -... do the gardens and head to the beach for sunset, and do the Gorge Thursday AM

Fastest way to Rhodie gardens from airport... South on I-205 to Foster. west to 82nd, south a couple blocks south (left) to Woodstock, Turn RIGHT, (west) follow till Reed College and T intersection, turn Right, Rhodie Gardens first left ~ 1 block. After that head back north out of Gardens (way you came in) then turn Left on Holgate till T and go Right on Mcloughlin (main drag) It will take you to points downtown *based on what bridge you want, OR, just go North To Burnside ST, then turn Left (west) and go into downtown. Stay on Burnside, you will go past Powell's books (which you will want to return to after dark) then continue west through ~ 10 more blocks of city, then into forest, and first Left will take you to Washington Park and the Rose Garden (follow signs). From Rose Gardens, follow sign to Zoo, then you can get on hwy 26 and jet to the coast (1.2 hrs) in time for sunset. Take the first turn to Cannon Beach, and before you get into town, follow signs (right) to Ecola Park, very nice visa, but for sunset you may want to be at Cannon Beach or Hug Point (5 mile south). You can hurry back and hang out at Powell books till closing. In AM be in Gorge at Crown Point for Sunrise, and enjoy the scenery down to Cascade Locks, can still make it back to airport in 45 min.

You can sleep on the flight home, just don't 'burn any daylight' while here

Remember it is light till 5:30A - 9 PM, so plan on having some long days.

[kanatastar]

Thanks so much for all the time that you put into that post! That's awesome! I'm going to print those directions out and see where they take me. I've never been to Portland, or out to the West coast for that matter. I love taking pictures of all things outside, structures, nature, bridges, flowers (you catch my drift). I'm actually renting a car and driving up the coast, staying in Portland (Wed-Thur), Seaside (Fri-Sat), Olympia WA (Sun), and then Seattle (Mon-Tues). I don't really have many things planned. All I know is I want to see all the places where the Goonies was filmed. Anything else I'm open for.