family with 3 boys needing help for west coast itinerary
Apr 24th, 2017, 12:03 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
family with 3 boys needing help for west coast itinerary
Hi,
We from Africa and have 3 boys (12,9 and 6yrs). We have 8 days to get from Redding, CA to Seattle and feeling completely overwhelmed by setting up the itinerary.
We will have camping gear. We love nature (prefer to avoid cities). Spending a couple of nights at a place is preferable in many ways....
If there is any chance of snow (we there 2nd half of May) that would be amazing - even if it is touching it!
Please can there be some expert out there to help us!
Thanks
Kevin
We from Africa and have 3 boys (12,9 and 6yrs). We have 8 days to get from Redding, CA to Seattle and feeling completely overwhelmed by setting up the itinerary.
We will have camping gear. We love nature (prefer to avoid cities). Spending a couple of nights at a place is preferable in many ways....
If there is any chance of snow (we there 2nd half of May) that would be amazing - even if it is touching it!
Please can there be some expert out there to help us!
Thanks
Kevin
Apr 24th, 2017, 12:35 PM
#2
How are you getting to Redding? Do you have a rental car?
If you are driving, continue north on I-5 to Weed and take US97 north to either Bend or La Pine State Park which has camping.
From Bend go up Century Drive to Mt. Bachelor. I think the plan is to have the ski slopes open at Mt. Bachelor until Memorial Day. They had 5 new inches of snow there this morning bringing the base back up to 10 feet.
If the boys don't ski the snow tubing hill may still be open.
If you are driving, continue north on I-5 to Weed and take US97 north to either Bend or La Pine State Park which has camping.
From Bend go up Century Drive to Mt. Bachelor. I think the plan is to have the ski slopes open at Mt. Bachelor until Memorial Day. They had 5 new inches of snow there this morning bringing the base back up to 10 feet.
If the boys don't ski the snow tubing hill may still be open.
Apr 24th, 2017, 01:04 PM
#3
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This quest is unique to most others on Fodors, but it does make sense.
If I were a nature person, wanting to avoid the cities, I would definitely opt for the path up the eastern side of Oregon (through Bend, etc.).
A trip to Mount Hood (Timberline Lodge, Oregon) and/or Mount Rainier (near Seattle) would surely offer some snow to experience.
The vibe is more that your boys have never or seldom seen snow before, so I can't imagine they ski...
I don't know enough about what's out there to suggest camping spots, but you can surely use the internet to select camping sites in central Oregon for starters.
it takes 6 hours to drive from Redding, California to Bend, Oregon... so that is a good area to look for a campsite for a couple of days.
Bend itself is getting larger by the minute, but camping not far from there should be do-able.
You could even stay there for 3 consecutive nights if you were so inclined.
Then press north, and perhaps find something near to the Columbia River (Columbia Gorge) for perhaps another stay of 3 nights, with some nearby side trips in between.
Before long you will be in Seattle... but maybe remain to the east of the Cascade Mountains, and approach Seattle from Yakima, Washington direction, via Mount Rainier... where your kids should visit Paradise, for hands-on snow experience.
(last time I went there, there were 9 meters/10 feet of snow on the ground on June 30)
If I were a nature person, wanting to avoid the cities, I would definitely opt for the path up the eastern side of Oregon (through Bend, etc.).
A trip to Mount Hood (Timberline Lodge, Oregon) and/or Mount Rainier (near Seattle) would surely offer some snow to experience.
The vibe is more that your boys have never or seldom seen snow before, so I can't imagine they ski...
I don't know enough about what's out there to suggest camping spots, but you can surely use the internet to select camping sites in central Oregon for starters.
it takes 6 hours to drive from Redding, California to Bend, Oregon... so that is a good area to look for a campsite for a couple of days.
Bend itself is getting larger by the minute, but camping not far from there should be do-able.
You could even stay there for 3 consecutive nights if you were so inclined.
Then press north, and perhaps find something near to the Columbia River (Columbia Gorge) for perhaps another stay of 3 nights, with some nearby side trips in between.
Before long you will be in Seattle... but maybe remain to the east of the Cascade Mountains, and approach Seattle from Yakima, Washington direction, via Mount Rainier... where your kids should visit Paradise, for hands-on snow experience.
(last time I went there, there were 9 meters/10 feet of snow on the ground on June 30)
Apr 24th, 2017, 02:15 PM
#4
Looks like your first post; welcome to Fodor's!
By your screen name, can we guess Zimbabwe?
Anyway, your chances of seeing, touching, and possibly getting sick of snow are good. This has been a very snowy winter in the mountain West, and the higher elevations are going to have lots and lots of snow on the ground when you're here.
The idea of heading up to Bend and then coming into Portland via the Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge area is good. However, I want to ask where you'll have been before Redding. Will you be coming north from central or southern California? Will you have had any time on the Pacific coast in the process? How about seeing either the giant sequoia trees in the Sierra Nevada foothills, or the coast redwoods somewhere in California?
The reason being, while getting to the "redwood country" is a little awkward from Redding, if you haven't experienced it, the drive (a beautiful if rather slow one along Calif. Hwy 299) is worth every minute.
Here's a map showing an alternate route to the ones already mentioned - https://goo.gl/maps/JNjRjxFrq112
This takes you out to the coast at Eureka, then north through the heart of the coast redwoods (various state parks and the federal Redwood National Park.) The route then crosses into Oregon and follows the coast north from the state line. The first 60 or 70 miles of this coast are stunningly beautiful, with numerous campgrounds set in state parks above the beaches and rocks. The coast again becomes very scenic from the town of Florence up to the little town of Yachats ("ya-hots") then the route heads inland to the Willamette Valley.
You'd then climb up the side of Mount Hood to historic Timberline Lodge, where they'll still be skiing, then down through the lush Hood River Valley to the Columbia River at the pretty town of Hood River. Hood River is a big windsurfing center, and sits on the east edge of the amazing Columbia River Gorge. There are numerous waterfalls and vista points along the gorge walls, and your kids will enjoy meeting Herman the Sturgeon at the Bonneville Dam hatchery.
Cross the Columbia near the Portland airport and continue north toward Seattle. If time permits, detour to the Johnston Ridge Observatory, which overlooks the Mt. St. Helens volcanic caldera, an awesome sight. Then it's three hours or so into Seattle.
This route would give you the amazing redwoods, spectacular Oregon coast, a couple of snow-covered volcanoes, and the amazing Columbia Gorge. It's a superb introduction to the Pacific Northwest.
By your screen name, can we guess Zimbabwe?
Anyway, your chances of seeing, touching, and possibly getting sick of snow are good. This has been a very snowy winter in the mountain West, and the higher elevations are going to have lots and lots of snow on the ground when you're here.
The idea of heading up to Bend and then coming into Portland via the Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge area is good. However, I want to ask where you'll have been before Redding. Will you be coming north from central or southern California? Will you have had any time on the Pacific coast in the process? How about seeing either the giant sequoia trees in the Sierra Nevada foothills, or the coast redwoods somewhere in California?
The reason being, while getting to the "redwood country" is a little awkward from Redding, if you haven't experienced it, the drive (a beautiful if rather slow one along Calif. Hwy 299) is worth every minute.
Here's a map showing an alternate route to the ones already mentioned - https://goo.gl/maps/JNjRjxFrq112
This takes you out to the coast at Eureka, then north through the heart of the coast redwoods (various state parks and the federal Redwood National Park.) The route then crosses into Oregon and follows the coast north from the state line. The first 60 or 70 miles of this coast are stunningly beautiful, with numerous campgrounds set in state parks above the beaches and rocks. The coast again becomes very scenic from the town of Florence up to the little town of Yachats ("ya-hots") then the route heads inland to the Willamette Valley.
You'd then climb up the side of Mount Hood to historic Timberline Lodge, where they'll still be skiing, then down through the lush Hood River Valley to the Columbia River at the pretty town of Hood River. Hood River is a big windsurfing center, and sits on the east edge of the amazing Columbia River Gorge. There are numerous waterfalls and vista points along the gorge walls, and your kids will enjoy meeting Herman the Sturgeon at the Bonneville Dam hatchery.
Cross the Columbia near the Portland airport and continue north toward Seattle. If time permits, detour to the Johnston Ridge Observatory, which overlooks the Mt. St. Helens volcanic caldera, an awesome sight. Then it's three hours or so into Seattle.
This route would give you the amazing redwoods, spectacular Oregon coast, a couple of snow-covered volcanoes, and the amazing Columbia Gorge. It's a superb introduction to the Pacific Northwest.
Apr 24th, 2017, 11:09 PM
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gardyloo's route gives you a nice mix of terrain. Also, the skiing on Mount Hood is no exaggeration. Timberline Lodge runs the longest ski season in North America. It's possible you and your kids could take a beginner's lesson.
If you take Gardyloo's route through Florence, our kids always loved Honeyman State Park. You can rent a canoe on the lake, or go up on the sand dunes. The original craftsman style day lodge on the lake has an old fashioned diving platform you can swim to, although the water will be brisk in May. Nice trees in this park.
Also: In Bend, nights can be quite cold, possibly 32F. It's the high desert. Consider a yurt with space heater or cabin.
If you take Gardyloo's route through Florence, our kids always loved Honeyman State Park. You can rent a canoe on the lake, or go up on the sand dunes. The original craftsman style day lodge on the lake has an old fashioned diving platform you can swim to, although the water will be brisk in May. Nice trees in this park.
Also: In Bend, nights can be quite cold, possibly 32F. It's the high desert. Consider a yurt with space heater or cabin.
Apr 25th, 2017, 11:36 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow, thanks so much Fodors community for the really helpful responses.
A few answers to the questions:
1. We are from Zimbabwe but currently living in Namibia (happy to help you with reciprocal advice if you find yourself planning a trip here!).
2. We will have a hire car from Redding.
Gardyloo - I think your suggestions are the best fit as we won't have seen the coast or redwoods.
Looking at our schedule it could potentially end up being:
- Redwoods 2 nights
- Florence/Yachats 2 nights
- Mount Hood/Hood River 3 nights and a long drive (but it would seem do-able - we spend the night in Seattle) at the end from Hood River to Seattle (via Johnstone Ridge Observatory)
A few questions:
1. How does that look?
2. It seems like we can base ourselves in one place at Mount Hood/Hood River and enjoy day trips from there as we please. Is that realistic? The one place I found is Lost Lake.
3. Anyone got any specific suggestions on places (camping or cheap lodges) to stay?
A few answers to the questions:
1. We are from Zimbabwe but currently living in Namibia (happy to help you with reciprocal advice if you find yourself planning a trip here!).
2. We will have a hire car from Redding.
Gardyloo - I think your suggestions are the best fit as we won't have seen the coast or redwoods.
Looking at our schedule it could potentially end up being:
- Redwoods 2 nights
- Florence/Yachats 2 nights
- Mount Hood/Hood River 3 nights and a long drive (but it would seem do-able - we spend the night in Seattle) at the end from Hood River to Seattle (via Johnstone Ridge Observatory)
A few questions:
1. How does that look?
2. It seems like we can base ourselves in one place at Mount Hood/Hood River and enjoy day trips from there as we please. Is that realistic? The one place I found is Lost Lake.
3. Anyone got any specific suggestions on places (camping or cheap lodges) to stay?
