Four days on Oregon Coast

Old Apr 18th, 2012, 07:59 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Four days on Oregon Coast

My husband and I would like to take a short trip, at the end of May, in advance of the birth of our second child (in August). Oregon keeps coming up in conversation. We're clueless about the coastal region, but would love to learn more and consider a vacation spot on the coast. We'd like a small town feel, great views of the ocean and yummy dining options. Any suggestions?
TIA,
cdg
ChicagoDallasGirl is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 08:12 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Probably the easiest would be to fly in to Portland - from where you could drive over to Astoria (2 hours or so) - taking a quick spin to see the Victorian Architecture - and then head down the Coast for the main event.

There are a number of places to stay - but my favorite for it's setting perched on a cliff overlooking the beautiful Pacific and reasonable rates and a good restaurant with the same spectacular view is just south of Lincoln City - the Surfrider Resort. http://surfriderresort.com/ It also has a grassy area in front where you can sit and enjoy the view while giving the toddler a little fresh air.

BTW - don't forget to try the saltwater taffy.

If you head back to Portland the night before your flight and have some time - in Washington Park - the Rose Garden http://www.rosegardenstore.org/ and nearby Japanese Tea Garden are both beautiful - and the Portland Zoo is only a couple of miles away. If you have more time - drive out the Gorge - about 30 plus minutes east - just off I 84 (take the frontage road when you get there) - to see some of the incredible waterfalls, such as Multnomah: http://www.multnomahfallslodge.com/
Tomsd is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 09:09 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hey there, Tom - Sounds good! I'll def check out these spots! Thanks for remembering our little one. He's staying home this time.
ChicagoDallasGirl is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 10:30 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't think you need to go any farther than Cannon Beach, which is 90 minutes from Portland, to find what you're looking for. Plenty of good options for lodging, the iconic Haystack Rock dominating the beach, "yummy" dining choices, and more beautiful scenery than you'll have time for within an hour's drive north, or south.

But, are you looking to stay in more than one place?
islandaze is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 11:03 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Agree with Cannon Beach suggetion. Lovely, charming town with spectacular beach and good restaurants. Perfect place to just relax and enjoy. Recommend a drive up to bordering Ecola State Park for breathtaking views and a great picnic spot. The drive for the waterfalls near Portland is also beautiful if you have time.
texasjo is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 11:44 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Another vote for Cannon Beach. There are lots of great places to stay for all budgets, and lots of shops and restaurants. Haystack Rock is right there, and at low tide it is exceptional. We like to rent the funcycles (3 wheeled recumbant style bikes) at low tide too and go up and down the beach. Not sure if you would be up for that or not, but thought I would throw the idea out there Ecola State Park is beautiful and has much to offer.

The nice thing about CB is that it offers so much, but is also a good location for doing day trips to other coastal areas.
Fodorite018 is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 02:18 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with the initial drive up to Astoria for sightseeing, and then down the coast... and the wave of endorsements for Cannon Beach are enough to cause me to side with them too.

If you have anybody in your circles back home who is in to the "Twilight" movies, you can take a slight detour to the town of St. Helens, Oregon, to see Bella Swan's house in the original movie when enroute to Astoria.
NorthwestMale is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 02:19 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cannon Beach is filled with obnoxious Portlanders.
Tomsd is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 02:20 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's super crowded in the summer, but can't say for sure about the end of May.
Tomsd is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 02:29 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And as for movies - for Astoria - see Arnold Schwartznegger in Kindergarten Cop - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099938/ and if you want to see old world charm - but up to Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood (a little over an hour from the Portland Airport)- where they filmed part of Jack Nicholson's scary movie - The Shining. http://www.timberlinelodge.com/ and for some history: http://www.timberlinelodge.com/visit/heritage/

Actually - depending on when you arrive - you could drive from the Airport out the Gorge - see the waterfalls - turn south at Hood River (you might see some windsurfers out on the mighty Columbia) and go through the pretty valley around to the south side of Mt. Hood and up to Timberline Lodge.

From Timberline - you can see all the way down the Cascades to the 3 Sisters in Bend - and they have fine dining at Timberline as well as a great pub - both with views.

Also - don't forget the Paul Bunyan tribute - the Blue Ox. http://www.timberlinelodge.com/visit...s/blue-ox-bar/
Tomsd is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 02:34 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
FYI - parts of The Shining were filmed at Timberline Lodge - as were some other movies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shining_(film)

And for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timberline_Lodge
Tomsd is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 04:55 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow, y'all have given me some great food for thought. Thank you! CB sounds pretty awesome. Going to research it and Lincoln City now...

Islanddaze - I'd like to stay in one place for three nights.
ChicagoDallasGirl is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 05:04 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The difference between Cannon Beach and Lincoln City is like night and day. Lincoln City is like one big sprawling strip mall, and CB has charm and a much more interesting coastline, IMO.

If you know what your budget is, we can help narrow down lodging choices.
Fodorite018 is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 05:35 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, mms. Our budget, including air from DFW, is $1,500-1,700. However, we could use points or miles for the airfare and that would leave us a bit more room to play.
ChicagoDallasGirl is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 05:56 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here are some hotels to think about and see what fits your style and budget the best.

One that we have been going to for years and absolutely love is the Surfsand. The rooms are very nice, and many rooms are full ocean front views. It is a great location as it is a short walk on the beach to Haystack Rock but also a really short walk to the heart of downtown. There are sidewalks, so you can go that way or along the beach. The hotel is also the only one on the entire OR coast with cabana service. If the weather is nice, they will have adirondack chairs and umbrellas set up on the beach right in front of the hotel. The onsite restaurant, The Wayfarer, is quite good too.

Another one that we have had a good stay is Schooner's Cove. It is closer to downtown, so a tad further from Haystack Rock. Rooms are oceanfront and nice, but I give the edge to the Surfsand by just a tad. Schooner's Cove has thinner walls so you hear more of your neighbors.

Another one we have stayed at and like is the Cannon Beach Hotel. It is next door to the Surfsand, but the way it sits it is not oceanfront as the Wayfarer sits between the hotel and the beach. There are a couple rooms that do have views, but I have not stayed in those so am not sure just how much of a view they have.

A few others that have ocean views include the Stephanie Inn (very expensive) and Ocean Lodge, but the drawbacks with these are location and price. They are near each other but far from downtown, and no sidewalks to use. A couple other more reasonably priced are the Hallmark and Tolovana, but I have not stayed at those either, so can only comment on the location. They again are not ideally located, IMO, but they have good word of mouth.

There are many other hotels, but the ones I mentioned first I think would fit your trip really well. Definitely go for an ocean view since it is really nice and will be a treat
Fodorite018 is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 06:40 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To review this again for all you loyal "CB" fans: I am not suggesting staying in Lincoln City - but just south of there - overlooking spectacular Depoe Bay, at the Surfrider Resort - http://surfriderresort.com/aspx/m/730404 which is much less congested than Cannon Beach.

And some people think the drive from Depoe Bay south is the prettiest along the Oregon Coast.

There are also plenty of other nice places south of Lincoln City - including the world class Salisan resort. http://www.salishan.com/
Tomsd is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2012, 07:24 PM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mms and Tom, thanks for the follow up! I'm going to share this info with the hubs.

Has anyone been to Newport? What's that like and is it worth a day visit to see the aquarium? Hubby enjoys aquariums...
ChicagoDallasGirl is offline  
Old Apr 19th, 2012, 06:55 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Newport is the largest town on the entire coast. I like it much better than anything around Lincoln City. The Nye Beach is a great area and has it's own little downtown area with shops and restaurants. Not large, but nice.

Elizabeth Street Inn is where we stay when we go there, and all rooms are oceanview. It sits on a small bluff though, so to get down to the beach you either go to the hotel next door where there is a bunch of stairs to get down, or walk the other direction towards the downtown (a block or two) and you can walk right down to the beach. If you go to this area, Cafe Stephanie is really good for breakfast or lunch. It gets swamped, but is worth it.

The aquarium in Newport is excellent. There is also the marine science center. Easy to spend one day doing both. Yaquina Head and Yaquina Bay both have lighthouses and are great areas to explore.

Personally, I think Salishan is way past it's prime. In the 80's it was all the rage and was a spot companies chose for conferences.
Fodorite018 is offline  
Old Apr 19th, 2012, 08:29 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'll jump back in to agree with everything mms has said (and not just because she's another "obnoxious" Portland area resident). One other north coast town you might consider is Manzanita, 15 miles south of Cannon Beach. It's smaller, with fewer lodging and dining options, but might fit better into your budget. Sunset Surf is pretty old-school, but probably the least expensive direct ocean/beachfront view in the area: http://sunsetsurfocean.com/.

If you were to stay on the central coast instead, I'd recommend Yachats, and specifically Overleaf Lodge: http://www.overleaflodge.com/. One of the best settings on the coast, IMO. Yachats (pronounced yaw-hots) is definitely small-town, but still has some nice dining options. And it's in the middle of that section of beautiful scenery Tomsd referred to, but still close enough to the attractions of Newport. The one potential drawback is 3+ hours to get there from Portland.
islandaze is offline  
Old Apr 23rd, 2012, 08:52 AM
  #20  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hey, y'all! Thank you SO much for the wealth of info on Oregon. After a bit more research and discussion with the hubs, we decided on Seattle versus the OC. It has been on our list for a while and DH prefers a more walkable destination where a rental car isn't necessary... We'll still likely rent a car for a day to visit the Capitol, one of our hobbies. Thanks again!!!
ChicagoDallasGirl is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -