chriskd

PLEASE HELP REVIEW OUR SUGGESTED ITINERARY! MY HUSBAND AND I AND OUR 3 DAUGHTERS,21,14 AND 11 ARE PLANNING A TRIP IN MID AUGUST. WE ARE FLYING FROM NEW YORK TO SEATTLE AND DRIVING TO SAN FRANCISCO FLYING HOME FROM THERE. WE ALREADY BOOKED THE FLIGHTS SO WE ARE COMMITTED! WE HAVE 10 DAYS: WE ARRIVE IN SEATTLE ON SUN. STAY 2 NIGHTS, DRIVING TO BEND OR. STAYING AT SUNRIVER RESORT,STAY 2 OR 3 NIGHTS(MAYBE TOO FAR??)IT LOOKS NICE AND THE BIKING LOOKS GREAT(NOT INTO MOUNTAIN BIKING). THEN ONTO REEDSPORT FOR THE SAND DUNES, THEN TO GOLDS BEACH ROGUE RIVER MAIL TOUR,(NOT SURE WHERE TO STAY? THEN TO REDWOODS? MAYBE STAY IN TRINIDAD, THEN ONTO MENDOCINO, THROUGH WINE COUNTRY, HEALDSBURG ? THEN ONTO SAN FRANCISCO1 OR 2 NIGHTS BEFORE HEADING HOME ON WED MORNING. ANY THOUGHTS?? ANY OUTDOOR CONCERTS OR MUSIC FESTIVALS? IS SUNRIVER TOO FAR, IF SO ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS MAYBE MT HOOD AREA?

zuper8

Sunriver is not worth the drive for you. It is kind of boring in the summer, we've had snow there in August, so the pool may not even be bearable. If you lived in Portland, I would tell you to go for it. Also, why skip Portland? It is a great place to visit. I would stay in Portland for at least one night at the Kennedy School or Crystal Hotel, and stay on Mt. Hood at the Timberline Lodge for one night. On the way you can check out/hike around Multnomah Falls, go back to Portland via Hood River, OR and you'll run into great berry farms, vineyards and the amazing drive through the Columbia River Gorge. Spend another night in Portland, then I would drive straight out to the coast, if you are into wine, take the backroads to the coast and see many vineyards. The drive down 101 is breathtaking. Stop at Cannon Beach or Manzanita for food. Newport has a great aquarium. You are right in doing the sand dunes. See if you can stay at the Treesort, near Cave Junction, OR. A treehouse B&B. The Oregon Caves Chateau is nice too. There is also a cool drive-through safari in Turner, OR, that may or may not be a pain to get to from the coast.

sunflour

Sunriver for the past few years has been trying to revamp itself. Its mall has gone under renovation and several stores have closed down. Some of the changes may be done now, but I'm not certain. I have gone there for the past 20 years and we always rented a house, but I have heard the resort itself is nice. Sunriver is about 20 minutes from Bend. The trails in Sunriver follow the road connecting one "circle" to another and lead to the stables and marina to the village mall and resort. It is huge and will take awhile to bike ride. It is beautiful but so is the surrounding area. If you want to stay at a resort then its probably worth it but if you just want a hotel to sleep in then I would probably just go with Bend. Sunriver is basically a resort, plus a neighborhood of homes sitting on a golf course. Equipped with horseback riding, a marina, an observatory, two pools and a place to get ice cream (very good ice cream so if you end up staying there you should definitely go to Goodies. But Bend has a location as well). They have the typical touristy shops. You can also leave from there to go white water rafting but can leave from Bend too. Sun Country Tours is the company.
Also Sunriver is about 3 1/2 hours from Portland. It has always been hot while I was there during the day, at night and in the mornings I would wear a jacket as it can be a bit chilly. Its a high desert. Central Oregon is a different climate than the rest of Oregon. If you are looking more for the wetter greener version of Oregon then the Willamette Valley, the coastline and even Mt. Hood would be your best bet. I agree with zuper8 and would stay at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood but its summer and its mostly a ski resort so the snow won't really be there yet. But honestly I'd rather stay in the Bend area, there a lot of snow capped mountains to view from there. The Columbia River Gorge is wonderful and Multnomah Falls is a must see if you are driving through. I highly recommend our coastline and would suggest at least a portion of your trip must be to view it. I too like Cannon Beach, but the southern beaches are nice as well. But I haven't been there in years (long drive). We do have outdoor concerts at the zoo (Portland) and music festivals, but I'm not an expert and don't really go to them. Hopefully someone with more knowledge can post about this. Welcome!

sunflour

Also, the Bend area includes hiking, Obsidian flows, lava tubes, High Desert Museum, Paulina Peak, canoes (which can be rented in Sunriver and you will be picked up and driven back to the marina) a lot of lakes, etc. I don't know what all your interests are but these are a handful of activities/places that I forgot to mention.

chriskd

Thanks for the feedback. Any other suggestions would be great.Considering we are driving from Seattle to San Francisco, should we stay on the coast or is it a good idea to go inland? Some of the sites look so peaceful and serene! I want to go there(without driving forever)! We are interested in staying somewhere we can kayak or canoe, bike ride(preferably paved I'm a fairly new at biking). Not interested in motels,like b&b's but difficult with 3 kids! We also need some recommendations on a place to stay when we go to the sand dunes and golds beach rogue river?? Any thoughts on the redwoods? What's a must see on the way down to San Francisco? Places to stay in that area?

zuper8

Portland is great for biking, there are a lot of bike paths and rental places down in the waterfront area. You can kayak at Smith & Bybee Lakes in North Portland. I rented a f
House in Florence when I went to the dunes. Most B&Bs and rentals seem to have 2-3 night mins on the Oregon coast. Look into Ashland if you like Shakespeare. Bandon has a nice resort. Redwoods are a yes.

tomfuller

I have stayed at the Seaside HI hostel several times. http://www.seasidehostel.net/
They rent canoes and kayaks and have river access. I like walking the PROM and the sandy beach. In Cannon Beach at low tide you can walk out to Haystack Rock.
Even though I live less than 50 miles from Sunriver, I think you would enjoy the coast more. If you have the time, think about heading to Crater Lake for at least a few hours before heading over 199 from Grants Pass to Crescent City/Redwoods NP.

Gardyloo

Anywhere east of the Cascades is going to be very hot in mid-August - 100°F is not uncommon. (Well, most Augusts - this is a pretty weird year so far.)

I would suggest you consider the following:

From Seattle head down to Mount Rainier NP. Visit the park (day trip or overnight if you want) but then continue east on US 12 to Yakima. Connect to US 97 and take US 97 south through the Yakama Reservation to the Columbia River near Goldendale, WA. (Visit the Maryhill museum if time allows - very interesting and eclectic place - www.maryhillmuseum.org

Then follow the Columbia River west through the Gorge. Stay on the north (WA) side until Hood River, where you could consider spending the night. (You can make the Seattle - Rainier - Hood River route in one longish day, or a day and a half with ease.)

From Hood River you can drive up the gorgeous Hood River Valley to Mt. Hood, visit Timberline Lodge, and get back to Hood River in time to tour through the heart of the Gorge on the "historic" Gorge Highway into Portland, passing waterfalls etc. as you go. You might consider staying at either the Kennedy School in Portland, or the Edgefield in Troutdale, both properties part of the fabulous McMenamin chain of funky and fun lodgings - www.mcmenamins.com/hotels

Then from Portland head out to the coast. My preference for this is to follow the north bank of the Columbia River - very interesting historic and scenic route - but if time is a constraint you can blast across to Cannon Beach or the Newport area (we prefer the town of Yachats for overnights - "Yah-hots" - and like to stay at the Fireside when we do - www.firesidemotel.com

From there, it's US 101 all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge and SF. IMO the Northern Redwoods are simply not to be missed in one's lifetime, but I get all sappy about the big trees. But most of the visitors (US and foreign) that I've taken there have heartily agreed.

Fodorite018

I would opt for Sunriver. We go several times each year and never run out of things to do in the area. Our kids are high school and college age, and love all the activites. The resort itself has lots of options for lodging. Homes, condo's and the lodges themselves. It does get warm there in August, but not unbearable by any means. It is the high desert, so not humid at all.

BTW, there is no drive thru safari in Turner, it is down near Roseburg in Winston. It is a fun stop if you go in the morning when the animals are more active. I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but if it is on your route and the timing works out, then go for it.

chriskd

Well, I'm not sure if Sunriver is the right choice for us, mostly due to the high temperatures! if its that hot will we be able to bike or will it be too uncomfortable! Whats the weather like around Mt Hood in mid August?

tomfuller

If it gets too hot for you in Sunriver head up the back road to Mt. Bachelor. There will be some snow up there all summer.
In August head on south on the Cascade Lakes Highway and see Elk Lake and Sparks Lake.

NorthwestMale

I can't exactly decide what you have committed to, aside from the flights, and what is negotiable.

Were it me, flying from NY to the Pacific Northwest, with three daughters, who have perhaps never been to the area before(????), and I'd already budgeted/committed to 10 days, flying into Seattle and out of San Fran...

The first thing I'd do is reason that both the start and end locations (in this case) rate TWO nights each.

So that would leave 5 nights (???) (if "10 days" means 9 nights).

As others have said, Portland certainly rates at least one night.

So maybe begin

(nights)

SEATTLE
SEATTLE
***MAYBE stop @ Mount St. Helens enroute?***
PORTLAND

***Drive Portland to Bend***

(VIA HOOD RIVER, OR, and Hwy #35 - see the Columbia Gorge! Study glaciallakemissoula.org for understanding to go with it: http://glaciallakemissoula.org/virtualtour/index.html )

BEND
BEND


Sigh - I think when it comes down to it, you should probably pick EITHER inland Oregon OR the Oregon coast (and not both). For while that night in Portland isn't THAT important in some ways, it is priceless as a strategic location for a quick start in the morning.

My effort here only has TWO remaining nights... and I just don't think ONE night on the Oregon coast is 'fair' to you... and I KNOW you want to have one night somewhere down on/near the California coast, perhaps not far from Eureka, as a strategic location for what will then be a 270-PLUS mile coastal path into San Fran.


IF by chance you graciously informed that it was "10 nights", then I would feel 'saved'... and more comfortable with BOTH inland Oregon and coastal Oregon.

The thing is, you DON'T want to skimp on either 'end' location, particularly for your daughters' sake.

It's just... 'awkward'.

And maybe, eventually, the hot weather dictates that the coast is your preference... OR, perhaps the grey, gloomy weather inspires you to go to Bend instead.

If you went ONLY down the path east of the Oregon mountains, you could include Crater Lake on your trek down to California.

And MAYBE you can get your needed coastal fix with just the California segment of your journey.

(deep breath) (Maybe I've convinced mySELF now: )

(again - nights)

SEATTLE
SEATTLE
PORTLAND
BEND
BEND
CRESCENT CITY-EUREKA AREA (both in CA)
CRESCENT CITY-EUREKA AREA
SAN FRAN
SAN FRAN


Even that isn't fair to Portland (once deemed the unhappiest city in America http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow....tid=18184152#2 )

Yet Portland IS important BOTH so you could leave Seattle via Mount Rainier paths if you wanted, OR visit Mt. Saint Helens on the way down (and not have so far to go after doing so) AND so you could get the full effect of The Columbia Gorge with an early start leaving Portland in the morning.

What my long, convoluted thought process does is preserve and maintain the importance of your daughters getting a good taste of Seattle and San Fran.

NorthwestMale

Laugh

Let me just throw in there... that IF you want a truly scenic path on the way from Seattle to Portland. Use the net to map a route from Seattle, WA to "PACKWOOD, WA"...

and then a second segment from Packwood, WA to Portland, OR

That is most ideal if the weather is CLEAR. If it is cloudy, then not so much...

chriskd

Wish I had more time!! Anyway, its 10 days 9 nights, I looked into Mcmenamins Edgefield and the Kennedy School,looks interesting,just wondering if this is more of a singles place or will it be fine with 3 girls,ages 21,14,and 11? If its ok which is the better choice?What is the shared bathrooom deal? If we go there I think we may forego on Sunriver and explore Mt Hood and Gorge area for the 2 days. Any thoughts??

Fodorite018

McMenamins is fine with the girls ages. The shared bathrooms have never been a problem for us at any of the McMenamins that we have stayed at. We joke that someone must keep a lookout for people going in and then clean them right after since they are always spotless. The Edgefield has concerts and other events going on, so check their website and see if anything interests you. But for myself, if it came to the Edgefield or Bend, it would be Bend hands down as there is so much to do! Most of the gorge can easily be done in a day as long as you are not planning on doing lots of hiking.

tomfuller

I wish you had more time as well. There is a Mcmenannins in Bend. If you are going to Crescent City from Bend, think about at least driving through Crater Lake NP. You could spend one of the Bend nights at Crater Lake, Diamond Lake or the Prospect Hotel to cut the distance to Crescent City.

sunbum1944

I would not eliminate Sunriver due to concerns for hot weather- as MMS says, it may get hot but not unbearable.
I don't think Sunriver is boring in the summer- I think there is a lot to do- the bike trails are great, you can rent canoes, kayaks, go to the pool, lots of great hiking close by, rafting- one of my favorite destinations and I only live a couple of hours away.

Not far from Sunriver is Elk Lake which is an excellent place for a day kayak trip- you can rent kayaks at the resort ( if you are doing on a weekend, you might want to reserve in advance)
Its a beautiful small lake, snow capped mountain in the background- nice little restaurant where you can have lunch.

The Edgefield is a fun place to stay though- McMenamins also owns a hotel in Bend - Old St Francis School- which is a fun place to stay, but my preference would still be Sunriver.

There are some great hikes in the Gorge area, Eagle Creek being one of them.

On your way down to SFO, there are lots of great stops in the Redwoods.
Driving from Eugene we spent first night at the Lodge at the Oregon Caves, 2nd night we stayed in Trinidad at the Trinidad Inn which was a great place to stay- some units with kitchens- very clean and nice and owners were great about giving us advice on hiking and must sees.

Enjoy