A week on the Oregon Coast
Jun 22nd, 2013, 06:24 AM
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A week on the Oregon Coast
In mid-September my wife and I will be flying to Portland, renting a car and then driving to the coast for a week, probably staying in either Seaside or Depoe Bay. Could anyone please suggest a few places we should definitely visit, within about 100 miles of these places? It'll be our first trip to Oregon. Maybe I should mention that we're not hikers (one of us has a disability). Quaint, pretty towns will probably be just right for us and presumably Portland too.
Jun 22nd, 2013, 06:56 AM
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Our favorite places to stay on the Oregon Coast are Brookings, Florence, Yachats, Newport, and Cannon Beach (off-season).
If you stay in Seaside and are willing to travel only 100 miles south, you will end up in Depoe Bay (108 miles), and if you stay in Depoe Bay you will be able to drive as far as Coos Bay (111 miles), which doesn't have much to offer travelers or sightseers.
With the restrictions you have placed on yourself, you will miss the stretches of Highway 101 that offer the most extensive ocean views: Lincoln City to Florence and Port Orford to Brookings.
HTtY
If you stay in Seaside and are willing to travel only 100 miles south, you will end up in Depoe Bay (108 miles), and if you stay in Depoe Bay you will be able to drive as far as Coos Bay (111 miles), which doesn't have much to offer travelers or sightseers.
With the restrictions you have placed on yourself, you will miss the stretches of Highway 101 that offer the most extensive ocean views: Lincoln City to Florence and Port Orford to Brookings.
HTtY
Jun 22nd, 2013, 06:57 AM
#3
Welcome to Oregon! The nicer but more expensive places to stay are in Cannon Beach instead of Seaside. Be sure to see Haystack Rock. Going south from Cannon Beach make sure you stop at the Tillamook Cheese factory for some great cheese and ice cream.
You can take the elevator up to the second floor to see the production floor from above. The samples line is good too.
If you make it as far south as Newport, visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium just south of town.
Take US 20 east from Newport to get back to I-5. Try to take US 26 east to the Mt. Hood area and then Rt. 35 back down to the town of Hood River. Take the old Rt. 30 route to see great waterfalls including Multnomah on the way back to Portland. You will wish that you had more time in Oregon. Try to get back another time to see a lot more of Oregon including Crater Lake.
You can take the elevator up to the second floor to see the production floor from above. The samples line is good too.
If you make it as far south as Newport, visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium just south of town.
Take US 20 east from Newport to get back to I-5. Try to take US 26 east to the Mt. Hood area and then Rt. 35 back down to the town of Hood River. Take the old Rt. 30 route to see great waterfalls including Multnomah on the way back to Portland. You will wish that you had more time in Oregon. Try to get back another time to see a lot more of Oregon including Crater Lake.
Jun 22nd, 2013, 07:07 AM
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Places I loved along the Oregon Coast:
Boiler Bay State Viewpoint
Yaquina Head Scenic Area
Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park
> Take the old Rt. 30 route to see great waterfalls
> including Multnomah on the way back to Portland
I'll second Tom's recommendation: the Columbia River Gorge is as wonderful a drive as you're going to find in Oregon. Do NOT miss it!
Boiler Bay State Viewpoint
Yaquina Head Scenic Area
Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park
> Take the old Rt. 30 route to see great waterfalls
> including Multnomah on the way back to Portland
I'll second Tom's recommendation: the Columbia River Gorge is as wonderful a drive as you're going to find in Oregon. Do NOT miss it!
Jun 22nd, 2013, 08:36 AM
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I love the central coast of Oregon between Lincoln City and Florence. I usually stay in Yachats.
The Fireside, the Adobe and the Overleaf and 3 nice motels north of Florence all overlooking the ocean. There is a paved path between the Adobe and the Fireside and benches to sit and view the ocean. The Adobe has a nice oceanview restaurant and some of the rooms have kitchens. The Overleaf is the most expensive of the 3. Staying here makes for easy drives into Florence or Newport.
My favorite beach is Heceta Head- nice little bay, there is a trail up to the lighthouse and lighthouse keepers house and the lighthouse is one of the most photographed in the USA. It has been newly reopened after some repairs. The handicapped person in your party could not walk the trail but its still a nice place to sit and enjoy the views. The lighthouse keepers house is actually a B&B and a great place to stay- spent a weekend there a few years ago.
Each of the beach towns has their own charm- Newport has Old Town which is touristy but still a working fishing village, sea lions come and lay on the docks during the day - and of course there is the Oregon Coast Aquarium to visit. Many good restaurants - one of my favorites there is the Local Ocean- not fancy but very good food.
At one of the Newport lighthouses there is a handicapped access to the tide pools-
Florence is also a cute coastal town- the only hotel there on the ocean is the Driftwood Shores- it also has a restaurant and is on a long, broad beach great for walking. I think some of the rooms are time shares now.
In Florence my favorite place to eat is Travellers Cove- not because food is so wonderful - but it has a deck overlooking the river which is a great place to sit on a sunny day.
The Waterfront Depot is a very good restaurant in Florence- likely need a reservation if you plan dinner here. Cute little town to roam around in.
The dunebuggy rides outside of Florence are very fun and gives you a better idea of how extensive they are-
And I agree the Columbia River Gorge is spectacular - maybe spend a night at the Edgefield in Troutdale- it is a unique experience. It used to be a poor house, then a nursing home and now a resort. There is a theatre, a brewpub and winery and amazing art throughout. The downside for some is that every room does not have its own BR - which was not a problem for me- but I understand there are some rooms that do.
Enjoy your travels
The Fireside, the Adobe and the Overleaf and 3 nice motels north of Florence all overlooking the ocean. There is a paved path between the Adobe and the Fireside and benches to sit and view the ocean. The Adobe has a nice oceanview restaurant and some of the rooms have kitchens. The Overleaf is the most expensive of the 3. Staying here makes for easy drives into Florence or Newport.
My favorite beach is Heceta Head- nice little bay, there is a trail up to the lighthouse and lighthouse keepers house and the lighthouse is one of the most photographed in the USA. It has been newly reopened after some repairs. The handicapped person in your party could not walk the trail but its still a nice place to sit and enjoy the views. The lighthouse keepers house is actually a B&B and a great place to stay- spent a weekend there a few years ago.
Each of the beach towns has their own charm- Newport has Old Town which is touristy but still a working fishing village, sea lions come and lay on the docks during the day - and of course there is the Oregon Coast Aquarium to visit. Many good restaurants - one of my favorites there is the Local Ocean- not fancy but very good food.
At one of the Newport lighthouses there is a handicapped access to the tide pools-
Florence is also a cute coastal town- the only hotel there on the ocean is the Driftwood Shores- it also has a restaurant and is on a long, broad beach great for walking. I think some of the rooms are time shares now.
In Florence my favorite place to eat is Travellers Cove- not because food is so wonderful - but it has a deck overlooking the river which is a great place to sit on a sunny day.
The Waterfront Depot is a very good restaurant in Florence- likely need a reservation if you plan dinner here. Cute little town to roam around in.
The dunebuggy rides outside of Florence are very fun and gives you a better idea of how extensive they are-
And I agree the Columbia River Gorge is spectacular - maybe spend a night at the Edgefield in Troutdale- it is a unique experience. It used to be a poor house, then a nursing home and now a resort. There is a theatre, a brewpub and winery and amazing art throughout. The downside for some is that every room does not have its own BR - which was not a problem for me- but I understand there are some rooms that do.
Enjoy your travels
Jun 25th, 2013, 03:54 AM
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Thanks for all the great ideas. Most of the places are within each reach of where we're likely to be staying. The Mt Hood area is a bit further afield, but maybe we could visit there first before heading to the coast.
Jun 25th, 2013, 05:55 AM
#8
If you are renting the car as soon as you get to PDX, head east on I-84 and see Multnomah Falls (Oregon's tallest) and maybe other waterfalls. Try spending a night in Hood River. Head up Rt. 35 on the east side of Mt. Hood to get to US 26. Maybe see Timberline? Follow US 26 just south of Portland to get to the coast. US 26 intersects US 101 in between Seaside and Cannon Beach.
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