vclacherty

Hello,
My family and I are planning a road trip at the end of June/early July from LA to San Fran and then up to Portland. We are pretty planned out for the California portion of the trip, but we have a few days in Southern Oregon (we are staying at a house in Bandon) and are looking for suggestions for good family activities. We were thinking white water rafting but will it be too cold in early July? any advice for the best places to go? There are a few young kids with us so we need activities that span all ages. and are we missing out if we do not go to Crater Lake?

Thanks for any feedback you have!

tomfuller

You'll never forget it if you take a jet boat up the Rogue River. http://www.roguejets.com/
Are you coming back to California via I-5 after the trip up the coast? After the first of July the north entrance to Crater Lake should be open. You may still see some snow at the edge of the roads in Crater Lake NP. Turn east on Rt. 138 at Roseburg to get to the north entrance. If the north entrance is still closed, you will use Rt. 230 to get to the south entrance off Rt. 62.
Some people say that Crater Lake is the most beautiful lake in the US.

Bobmrg

If you take the jet boat up the river from Gold Beach...an experience I highly recommend...take time to eat at the Indian River Cafe at the north end of town (turn right at the yellow flashing light).

nanabee

There is a lot to do in the city of Portland:

1. Washington Park Washington Park
is a public urban park. It includes a zoo, forestry museum, arboretum, children's museum, rose garden, Japanese garden, amphitheatre, memorials, archery range, tennis courts, soccer field, picnic areas, playgrounds, public art, and many acres of wild forest with miles of trails.

2. Columbia River Gorge
a popular destination for hiking, biking, sight-seeing, fishing, and watersports, waterfalls, with over 90 on the Oregon side of the Gorge alone. Many are along the Historic Columbia River Highway, including the notable 620-foot (190 m)-high Multnomah Falls.
Trails and day use sites are maintained by the Forest Service and many Oregon and Washington state parks.

bbqboy

Well, rafting and the jetboats are 2 different things.
...and everyone, young and old, should see Crater Lake.

Fodorite018

I agree, everyone should see Crater Lake. The boat ride is excellent, so anyone that can do the 1 mile trail down should, IMO.

As for white water rafting, it is not too early. We have done it numerous times around Bend in late June/early July. The trick during this time is to schedule a trip in the afternoon instead of the morning. It will be warmer FWIW, I highly recommend Sun Country Tours for this. They have various trips and various locations, but the Big Eddy is a great one for all ages, especially beginniners. We have done it with 3 generations and everyone loves it.

I agree that the gorge is wonderful, but it is not in Portland. It is east of there, starting about 20 miles outside of downtown. Hood River is about a hour from Portland and is what many of us locals consider the heart of the gorge.

Are you looking for more ideas around Crater Lake/Bend? If so, how much time are you planning in the area?

michele_d

This is the Rogue River trip we took http://www.hellgate.com/

We did the lunch trip and loved it. I think the kids would have a great time.

sunbum1944

The jet boat ride out of Gold Beach is really fun - I usually do the longest of the trips offered.

You don't say how old the children are so that makes a difference on the activities suggested.

I think dune buggy riding would be fun for them too. I usually go out of Florence but I would guess there are some around Bandon too. In Florence Sandland Adventures is where you go-
You go with a driver who takes you just flying over the dunes. They have a couple of different sizes of buggys- I go on the one with a driver and maybe 4 riders.

If the kids are skate boarders you can go sand boarding in Florence too.

And I second everything mms says- the Big Eddy is a great family raft trip.

vclacherty

Thank you all for your tips! we are a group of 13 ranging in ages from 5 years old to 60 and we will be staying in Bandon for 2 nights before driving up to Portland for 3 days before departing for NY from there (so we will not be driving back down through CA). it sounds like Crater Lake isnt a must so ill look into the rafting and jet skiing and possibly the Dune buggy riding as well. great advice!

tomfuller

What type of vehicle(s) are you taking north and are you paying a big drop off fee? Traveling with such a large group can be a challenge.
When you leave Bandon, continue up US 101 to Reedsport and turn east on Rt. 38. About 4-5 miles out of Reedsport make a stop at Deans Creek Elk viewing area. Last time I stopped I saw over 40 Roosevelt elk in 2 groups.
If you still have an extra day before you have to be in Portland, you could turn on Rt. 138 in Elkton and go through Sutherlin and Roseburg to get to the north entrance of Crater Lake. The kids will love seeing snow and the lake.
Exit back through the north entrance after going all the way around the lake.
When you exit the park, you have the choice of going back to I-5 or going 15 miles east to US 97 and going north through Bend on the "dry" side of Oregon.

vclacherty

we will be in two minivans or three cars. no drop off fee as far as i know.

thanks for the directions tomfuller - hopefully we can try that!

Surfergirl

Wow that's a huge group of people traveling in one go!

you will have the time of your life, and all of the other comments have been pretty spectacular.

So I have nothing to add except to say, of all of the states I've been to (45) in my lifetime, and all of the National Parks I've visited (too many to count), our visit to Crater Lake was right up there at the top of our favorite moments -- there is simply no place on earth that equals the magic! We are itching to go back. The two things we found most astounding was: (1) the daytime trek down to the lake and back up (1 mile) that -- with the switch-backs -- a piece of cake even for ME who HATES to hike. And as you descend, the color of blue becomes so wildly breathtaking that you almost can't contain yourself! (2) The night-time. The sky was simply busting with star energy I don't think I have ever seen before on earth.