Agapanthus

Main purpose of trip is to meet with a photography workshop in redwoods forest in crescent city, Ca. Will be there 3 days from June 26-29. I'd like to add 3 days (flexible) to my trip prior to Redwoods. Coming from NY I am flexible what city to fly into. I can rent a car. I'll be traveling alone.

Need suggestions what to check out.

Thanks

tomfuller

Fly into Portland (PDX). Arrive before noon and head west on US 26 to US 101. Spend the night in either Seaside or Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach is a bit more expensive but it has Haystack Rock which you must see.
Head south on 101 the next day and make a stop at the Tillamook cheese factory for some lunch and ice cream and cheese. Try to make it at least as far as Coos Bay or Bandon for night 2.
Day 3 arrive in Crescent City and complete the mission in the Redwood National Park.
Leaving Crescent City, take US 199 back to Grants Pass OR.
Take I-5 north to Roseburg and then Rt. 138 east up the Umpqua River. Spend a night at the Diamond Lake Resort unless you can score a night at the Crater Lake lodge.
From Diamond Lake enter Crater Lake NP from the north entrance. See the lake and take some great pictures.
Leave the park by the north entrance and head east 15 miles on 138 to US 97 north to Bend.
Among the things to see in the Bend area are the High Desert Museum and Mt. Bachelor.
The chairlifts may or may not be running (check).
If you still have some time before your flight out, try to see one or more of the waterfalls along I-84 east of PDX.
Multnomah is Oregon's tallest with a great paved trail and stairs to the top.
If you still have another day to spend, spend it in Portland. In case of rain, spend a few hours in Powell's World of Books (10th & Burnside).
Portland has a great TriMet system (light rail, bus and trolley). The red line takes you out to the airport if you decide to rent a car downtown and have to get to the airport (end of the line).

janisj

How many days do you have after the workshop -- are you flying out right away?

But in any case - Fly into SFO and spend the time on the Sonoma and Mendocino coast (or a day in wine country and then the coast).

janisj

. . . Or you could fly into SMF and out of SFO (or vice versa)

sunbum1944

I would fly into Portland and out of San Francisco. The drive from Portland down is beautiful with many photo opportunities although there are parts that go inland. I think one of the prettiest parts of the Oregon coast is between Lincoln City and Florence.
South of the Florence the road becomes tree lined again until Bandon so not a lot to see. Bandon has many nice beaches, rock formations and the world famous Bandon Dunes golf course. There are hiking trails on the golf course so even if you don't play, you can get some great views.

There is much to see and do around Crescent City. South of town is the Requa Inn which might be a nice place to stay- they have a dining room with an innovative cook. Even if you don't stay there, take the road past it to the Klamath River overlook. Beautiful views, whales frequently feeding down below, hiking trails. Spent an afternoon up there watching the solar eclipse a few years ago and a photographer got many great whale shots from there.

In Crescent City I have also stayed at the Curly Redwood motel- looks like something from the 50's . A bit shabby but clean, reasonable and you can park your car outside of your room.

The drop off fee for the car might make this expensive of course, so if that does not work for you, I guess flying in out of SFO might be a better choice.

Gardyloo

Assuming photography is on the agenda, I would fly into San Francisco and take the extra days to travel up the coast using Calif. Hwy 1. While the northern portion of Hwy 1 isn't as famous as its southern sibling (Big Sur, San Simeon etc.) it's very beautiful, with lots of terrific coastline, picturesque towns like Bodega Bay and Mendocino, historic Fort Ross, etc.

Then I'd take the Avenue of the Giants byway south of Eureka, and spend a day around picturesque Ferndale (fab Victorian architecture,) then drive the "Lost Coast Loop" - http://redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=3870 - which will get you close to the last wilderness stretch of the California coastline. Definitely off the beaten path.

Agapanthus

Wow. All great ideas. I looked at everything suggested. Now I have to narrow it down based on timing.

Here's my thoughts/ what do u think?

June 23 - Fly NYC to either SF or Portland. From either airport fly to North Bend. Pick up car and travel south to Gold Ocean. Stay first nite in Gold Ocean.

June 24 - see Samuel Boardman Park. then drive to Bandon and stay over nite.

June 25th - see Bandon Dunes and then drive to Eureka.

June 26 - begin workshop

sludick

I'm not sure how feasible it might be to fly into North Bend; I think it's a pretty tiny airport. Others might speak with more familiarity. You could perhaps fly into Portland and drive to North Bend in 4 or so hours. Not sure where Gold Ocean is, sorry.

janisj

Pretty sure you mean Gold Beach -- right?

if you've decided on the Oregon coast, flying to North Bend is an option. It is served by two airlines - better from Portland w/ 4 flights most days. If you fly there my guess is rental cars would be expensive -- especially for a one-way booking.

But if it was me I'd fly into SFO and do the Northern CA coast . . . .

Gardyloo

Why not fly into Eureka/Arcata (ACV), get a car, drive up through the redwoods to southern Oregon, then back down to Crescent City for your conference, then return the car to Arcata? Probably less expensive than flying into North Bend on top of the transcontinental flights, and no one-way car surcharge.