Portland, OR to Grants Pass, OR with Teens
Jan 30th, 2014, 07:06 AM
#1
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Portland, OR to Grants Pass, OR with Teens
Good morning,
We will be spending a couple of nights in Grants Pass, Oregon this July. We will have about six nights to work with total (including the 2 nights and 3 days in Grants Pass).
I'd be interested in knowing some of the things we can stop at overnight from Portland, OR to Grants Pass and back. What would be a good route, places to stay for a night, etc.? It's likely that this will be our only trip to the Pacific NorthWest, but I don't need to cram everything in. Just want to have a good family experience with teens.
Our other option would be to fly into San Francisco, but I suspect we will do that sort of trip on its own one year, so the Oregon seems like a good option for us. But I'd be willing to hear thoughts if someone felt strongly about it.
If you have any advice, I would be very grateful.
Rosebud
We will be spending a couple of nights in Grants Pass, Oregon this July. We will have about six nights to work with total (including the 2 nights and 3 days in Grants Pass).
I'd be interested in knowing some of the things we can stop at overnight from Portland, OR to Grants Pass and back. What would be a good route, places to stay for a night, etc.? It's likely that this will be our only trip to the Pacific NorthWest, but I don't need to cram everything in. Just want to have a good family experience with teens.
Our other option would be to fly into San Francisco, but I suspect we will do that sort of trip on its own one year, so the Oregon seems like a good option for us. But I'd be willing to hear thoughts if someone felt strongly about it.
If you have any advice, I would be very grateful.
Rosebud
Jan 30th, 2014, 08:16 AM
#2
Do you have some special event planned in Grants Pass?
My thought would be to see some of the central part of Oregon as well as Grants Pass. If your flight arrives early enough, rent the car and head east on I-84 and make a quick stop to see Multnomah Falls (parking lot in median-left exit). Continue east to Hood River. If the weather is good, ask the kids if they would like to try sailboarding on the Columbia River. Spend a night at Hood River. Next day travel south on Rt. 35 on the east side of Mt. Hood. Head east on US 26 and then south on US 97 to Bend or Sunriver. Spend a night in Deschutes County. See either the Lavalands visitor Center or the High Desert Museum Both are south of Bend.
Next day see Crater Lake. Enter by the north entrance and drive all the way around the lake before exiting by the south entrance to Rt. 62. From Rt. 62 you can go over Rt. 234 through Gold Hill to get to Grants Pass avoiding Medford.
If you still have an extra day leaving Grants Pass try going over to the coast and maybe see the Oregon Coast Aquarium on the way back to Portland.
Near McMinnville, you can stop at the Evergreen Aviation museum. You can see the "Spruce Goose" and many other great planes there.
My thought would be to see some of the central part of Oregon as well as Grants Pass. If your flight arrives early enough, rent the car and head east on I-84 and make a quick stop to see Multnomah Falls (parking lot in median-left exit). Continue east to Hood River. If the weather is good, ask the kids if they would like to try sailboarding on the Columbia River. Spend a night at Hood River. Next day travel south on Rt. 35 on the east side of Mt. Hood. Head east on US 26 and then south on US 97 to Bend or Sunriver. Spend a night in Deschutes County. See either the Lavalands visitor Center or the High Desert Museum Both are south of Bend.
Next day see Crater Lake. Enter by the north entrance and drive all the way around the lake before exiting by the south entrance to Rt. 62. From Rt. 62 you can go over Rt. 234 through Gold Hill to get to Grants Pass avoiding Medford.
If you still have an extra day leaving Grants Pass try going over to the coast and maybe see the Oregon Coast Aquarium on the way back to Portland.
Near McMinnville, you can stop at the Evergreen Aviation museum. You can see the "Spruce Goose" and many other great planes there.
Jan 30th, 2014, 11:59 AM
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It isn't clear if you are spending time in Portland. If you are, I suggest you explore the Columbia River Gorge as a day trip from Portland and then drive the coast from Cannon Beach to Newport on your way to Grants Pass.
This would be ideal if your family likes waterfalls, great expanses of beach, and spectacular scenery.
The drive back to Portland from Grants Pass is about 250 miles and it takes four hours.
HTtY
This would be ideal if your family likes waterfalls, great expanses of beach, and spectacular scenery.
The drive back to Portland from Grants Pass is about 250 miles and it takes four hours.
HTtY
Jan 30th, 2014, 12:44 PM
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I would also ask is there a special reason you are staying in Grants Pass? If not - the kids might prefer the more college atmosphere of the next town over - Ashland.
There are more things to do and see in/around Ashland - plus more choices of restaurants.
You might also consider taking in Crater Lake.
There are more things to do and see in/around Ashland - plus more choices of restaurants.
You might also consider taking in Crater Lake.
Jan 30th, 2014, 03:37 PM
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Yes, from Grants Pass you have access to great rafting or jetboating. Make an afternoon of it and Ashland isn't far if you want to see a cute town. You should def. spend a day and night in Portland. If a weekend, expl the Saturday mkt and farmers mkt. Otherwise walk the waterfront, maybe check out the Japanese garden, hike in hoyt arboretum, wander Forest Park or check out the OMSI.
Not sure how your 6 nts fall or how fast you want to travel but I'd say:
Land, explore and overnight in Portland.
Head out on I-84 to see the waterfalls, easy hikes and Multnomah Falls, check out Hood River, and then drive S to Bend and overnight in that area. Spend part of day in Bend and head to Grants Pass. If you can squeeze in Crater Lake it's worth the view.
Coming back you could head up I5 and cut through Corvallis to Newport OR. Really fun fishing village with great coastal views, aquarium, etc. Stay overnight, Head N on 101 to Cannon Beach, overnight, then to POrtland to go home.
If all that is too much, pick either the Gorge/Bend or the Coast (vs. a full circle) and add a night at the end also in Portland (Plenty to see and do here).
Not sure how your 6 nts fall or how fast you want to travel but I'd say:
Land, explore and overnight in Portland.
Head out on I-84 to see the waterfalls, easy hikes and Multnomah Falls, check out Hood River, and then drive S to Bend and overnight in that area. Spend part of day in Bend and head to Grants Pass. If you can squeeze in Crater Lake it's worth the view.
Coming back you could head up I5 and cut through Corvallis to Newport OR. Really fun fishing village with great coastal views, aquarium, etc. Stay overnight, Head N on 101 to Cannon Beach, overnight, then to POrtland to go home.
If all that is too much, pick either the Gorge/Bend or the Coast (vs. a full circle) and add a night at the end also in Portland (Plenty to see and do here).
Jan 31st, 2014, 10:37 AM
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I just visited last summer with my teen daughter. Favorite experiences for her were seeing waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park, dune buggy ride near Florence on the sand dunes, jet boat out of Gold Beach on the Rogue River and river rafting on the White Salmon River (actually in Washington, about 20 minutes from Hood River). While she enjoyed the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, she found the Japanese Garden "boring". Perhaps it's because we had already seen so much beautiful scenery in the Columbia River Gorge. The aquarium was nice, but small. So much to choose from, you'll have a great time.
Jan 31st, 2014, 03:33 PM
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Ashland has a beautiful park right in the middle of downtown - Lithia - not to mention the renowned Shakespeare festival.
And I have found that many teens - if they are thinking about college - like to check out college towns.
If it were me - I would base in Ashland and drive to the raft tour? or whatever else it was you were planning to do in/near Grants Pass.
And I have found that many teens - if they are thinking about college - like to check out college towns.
If it were me - I would base in Ashland and drive to the raft tour? or whatever else it was you were planning to do in/near Grants Pass.
Feb 3rd, 2014, 10:23 AM
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Thank you all very much for your responses! I'm sorry that I haven't responded earlier - I wasn't near a computer. We are going to Grants Pass for a rafting trip so that can't be changed. I am going to take all of your responses and organize our trip. Thanks very much, I will post a trip report when it is all done!
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