kerrydd

Next summer, 2017, my family of 5, 2 adults & children ages 15, 10, & 9, will be visiting the Pacific Northwest. We are planning to spend 2 weeks traveling around Oregon and Washington. Would be open to venturing into California but are planning a separate trip to travel that area so it's not necessary. We have never been to this region so we are looking for input about the stops that should be on our itinerary. We are planning to fly in and out of the area. We are considering renting an RV but are unsure of the feasibility of this as we enjoy visiting National Parks. We are open to staying in hotels or in rental homes. We enjoy camping but don't plan to take our gear across the country.
We enjoy visiting National Parks, hiking, mountains, waterfalls, etc. Don't need much time allotted for big cities, unless there are events/sites that are not to be found anywhere else.

I would love to hear when and where you would go if this were your trip.

sunbum1944

For sure I would spend a few days in central Oregon. There is so much to do- hiking, rafting, biking, rafting. It's our summer playground.
Sunriver Resort, close to Bend is a great family place with many options for house rentals. I have a friend who rents out her house through Flipkey but there are other options such as property management. It's a great family vacation place.

Of course you want to see the coast but unfortunately the coast weather is a bit unpredictable- can be cold and windy when it's warm inland. My favorite part of the coast is between Florence and Lincoln City. My favorite beach is Devils Elbow also known as Heceta Head. Nice little cove with trails up to lighthouse and beyond if you choose. The kids would love the dune buggy rides just south of Florence or horse back riding on the beach just north of Florence.
Newport is a nice location for a few days.

And most people want to see the Columbia River Gorge with all the waterfalls. Beautiful but very busy. I prefer waterfall hiking along Hwy 138 between Roseburg and Crater Lake.

So that's a start.
I can suggest some hikes and other activities as it gets closer.

Gardyloo

Looks like your first post; welcome to Fodor's!

Well we have to start someplace so I'll throw out a couple of ideas to get the conversation started.

There are so many things to see that two weeks isn't enough, so a bit more about you and your kids' traveling style would help. You can choose a smaller number of destinations and spend more time in them, or a larger number of places to see, leading to a more mobile plan.

A couple of specifics... First "summer" means different things in different places. For example, in the first half of July (most years) there will still be several feet of snow on the ground at the main visitor centers on Mount Rainier; the famous wildflowers won't appear until August. The same goes for other high-altitude areas in the Cascades.

On the other hand, in June the many waterfalls along the walls of the Columbia Gorge will be at their best, as melting snow in the mountain increases the flow over the falls. But in Seattle the saying goes that the first day of summer is the 5th of July; we've had too many fireworks shows the night before only illuminating the clouds.

Meanwhile, the terrific "old west" country east of the Cascade mountains in central and eastern Oregon and Washington will warm up and dry out to the point that by mid-August it can be very hot and almost desert-like in some areas. Fine if that appeals, and a huge contrast to the western "wet" side of the mountains.

So my suggestion would first be to pin down some dates and start in-depth planning from there.

I'd also nix the RV idea; our region has a LOT of scenic but twisty and narrow roads, and an RV big enough for five would - probably - be unwieldy if not downright scary in too many situations. On roads like the Columbia Gorge Highway, one or two roads in Mount Rainier NP, and many others an RV would be unwise or just prohibited. Add the cost and "extras" and it probably doesn't pencil all that well either.

So, a couple of ideas. First is a Seattle - Seattle loop that includes the southern Oregon coast and a glimpse of the redwoods in extreme northern California, but which bypasses Crater Lake. https://goo.gl/maps/vaRchhToiVL2

I know you're visiting California later, but this is a case where one of the highlights of the Pacific Northwest, the southern Oregon coast, is basically adjacent to the redwoods, so it's a twofer. Trust me, the kids will go NUTS for the redwoods.

This route includes Olympic National Park and a drive-through of Mount Rainier, then transiting the Columbia Gorge, so this would be a good "early summer" route.

Or here's a route better for later in the summer - https://goo.gl/maps/uVJ8ZZDN3fq . This doesn't include the redwoods but does include Crater Lake, and adds the San Juan Islands at the tail end (accessed from Anacortes on the map.) You'd visit Mount St. Helens en route from Seattle to Hood River, and Mount Hood en route from Hood River to Crater Lake.

Hopefully this will start the gears turning, and again, welcome to Fodor's!

fun_family_vacations

Hello,

Our children were similar ages to yours when we took our train vacation in 2013. We also try to see the National Parks whenever we can. We loved Mount Rainier! I would also recommend Seattle - it's a nice city. We took a walking tour (Free Walking Tours w/ Jake) and loved it. If you decide to go south into northern California, I'd also consider Muir Woods & Yosemite. I posted lots of itinerary guides, pictures, and stories on our site (link in bio).

Have a great trip!

- Mike

dawnp

Hello. I am researching this same trip for next year. My kids will be 14, 10, and 8. I would love to hear any insights you learn on your trip! We definitely want to hit the redwoods as we probably won't make it back that way, at least with the kids. We also have a love for the national parks. I hope your trip is all you hope it will be and I will look for an update on how it went.
Dawn

tomfuller

Dawn, please start a new thread with your questions and the month you intend to travel. Let us know what you want to see and where you are coming from.