tom's trip to oregon in december 2012
Dec 22nd, 2012, 01:06 PM
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tom's trip to oregon in december 2012
My SO and I decided to see if we liked oregon as well in the stormy winter as we did in the warm sunny summer. We get up at an ungodly hour to catch an early flight from houston to portland. my SO sleeps on the flight adn I am envious.
advantages of going in december. some things are cheap. like car rental-$100 for 6 days, Thrifty.. can you believe it?
we are off to Astoria. Astoria is not much of a town, at least on first glance, but is does have the interesting Columbia River Maritime Museum, which has interesting exhibits about the current in the columbia around astoria and how dangerous it is for harbor pilots to get on and off the ships in the river/ocean. also, there is a replica of fort clatsop, lewis and clark's winter home during their adventure. we stay at the benjamin young inn b & b. it's an historic home and the host is very nice.
DAY 2
the next morning we are off to yachats. we get to cannon beach and look around. the stephanie inn is getting redone and looks pretty nice. we also discover a glass blowing store/studio (Icefire) where the artists talk to us about glass after they finish a piece. highly recommended,.
\
we realize that oregon is pretty far north and for that reason it gets dark early now. the sun sets at about 4:30, and pretty soon it is very dark-no street lights of course in the country on 101. . and it is very confusing driving on 101 in the north, particularly at night. the speed limit is supposed to be 55, but then curves arrive unannounced. or you come into a small town and the speed limit suddenly is 35 or 25. driving down 101 in the north is very slow going, even during the day.
so we drive for moer than an hour in the dark to find one of the highlights of the trip-the surfrider inn. we got a room on the water, with a deck, fireplace and big flat-screen TV for $90. quite a deal. we also loved a restaurant known as "Tidal Raves". the food was very good. they also had a winter special- a few option for a -course meal for $18,
DAY 3
Cape Perpetua is just below Yachats. a great place to hike, even in the cold. a great view of the coast, adn there is also a light house. Photo opportunity!
we are driving all the way to gold beach, so we get a move on. we zip down 101. later in the afternoon i get a bit peckish adn we stop at the bandon dunes golf course. its a pretty nice day (55 degrees or so) and the golfers are happy. so we stop in the pub for a late lunch. it's very good -my signifcant other has a good thia dish adn i get a massive club sandwich. adn i buy my brother a ball marker from bandon.
we once again are driving in the dark. we get to about where we are to turn off to find the Tu TuTun Inn. ..but their directions are not the best. so we spend some time getting lost. and the we find it. it's a bit disappointing in that the main lodge (wihc is very pretty) closes at 6PM in the winter. so we go to our room, which is nice, but the fireplace in the main lodge would be nicer.
MORE TO COME
advantages of going in december. some things are cheap. like car rental-$100 for 6 days, Thrifty.. can you believe it?
we are off to Astoria. Astoria is not much of a town, at least on first glance, but is does have the interesting Columbia River Maritime Museum, which has interesting exhibits about the current in the columbia around astoria and how dangerous it is for harbor pilots to get on and off the ships in the river/ocean. also, there is a replica of fort clatsop, lewis and clark's winter home during their adventure. we stay at the benjamin young inn b & b. it's an historic home and the host is very nice.
DAY 2
the next morning we are off to yachats. we get to cannon beach and look around. the stephanie inn is getting redone and looks pretty nice. we also discover a glass blowing store/studio (Icefire) where the artists talk to us about glass after they finish a piece. highly recommended,.
\
we realize that oregon is pretty far north and for that reason it gets dark early now. the sun sets at about 4:30, and pretty soon it is very dark-no street lights of course in the country on 101. . and it is very confusing driving on 101 in the north, particularly at night. the speed limit is supposed to be 55, but then curves arrive unannounced. or you come into a small town and the speed limit suddenly is 35 or 25. driving down 101 in the north is very slow going, even during the day.
so we drive for moer than an hour in the dark to find one of the highlights of the trip-the surfrider inn. we got a room on the water, with a deck, fireplace and big flat-screen TV for $90. quite a deal. we also loved a restaurant known as "Tidal Raves". the food was very good. they also had a winter special- a few option for a -course meal for $18,
DAY 3
Cape Perpetua is just below Yachats. a great place to hike, even in the cold. a great view of the coast, adn there is also a light house. Photo opportunity!
we are driving all the way to gold beach, so we get a move on. we zip down 101. later in the afternoon i get a bit peckish adn we stop at the bandon dunes golf course. its a pretty nice day (55 degrees or so) and the golfers are happy. so we stop in the pub for a late lunch. it's very good -my signifcant other has a good thia dish adn i get a massive club sandwich. adn i buy my brother a ball marker from bandon.
we once again are driving in the dark. we get to about where we are to turn off to find the Tu TuTun Inn. ..but their directions are not the best. so we spend some time getting lost. and the we find it. it's a bit disappointing in that the main lodge (wihc is very pretty) closes at 6PM in the winter. so we go to our room, which is nice, but the fireplace in the main lodge would be nicer.
MORE TO COME
Dec 22nd, 2012, 01:20 PM
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How far south are you going on 101? Are you going to cross the Coastal mountains and come back north on I-5?
Before you turn in your car at PDX, go east on I-84 at least as far as the viewpoint for Multnomah Falls. (left exit parking lot in the median).
Just FYI US 199 from Crescent City CA to Grants Pass is not very good when there is snow on it.
If you go back north to Reedsport and take Rt. 38 east you should be able to see some Roosevelt Elk about 5 miles east.
Before you turn in your car at PDX, go east on I-84 at least as far as the viewpoint for Multnomah Falls. (left exit parking lot in the median).
Just FYI US 199 from Crescent City CA to Grants Pass is not very good when there is snow on it.
If you go back north to Reedsport and take Rt. 38 east you should be able to see some Roosevelt Elk about 5 miles east.
Dec 22nd, 2012, 07:07 PM
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Brave souls. We just got hit hard by the
storms of the last few days.
Perhaps you should descend into the Oregon Caves
for some warmth, then stop at Taylor's country store
for a homemade sausage snack and warm drink.
storms of the last few days.
Perhaps you should descend into the Oregon Caves
for some warmth, then stop at Taylor's country store
for a homemade sausage snack and warm drink.
Dec 23rd, 2012, 03:14 AM
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Greatly admire your sense of adventure to visit the Oregon Coast during it's beautiful/"wild" stage. 
Not sure if you are a fan of smoked salmon/fish - but they have a couple of great places for that in Astoria.
And I love the Surfrider Inn (tried to broker a deal once to sell it) and glad to hear the restaurant is still doing a great job. http://surfriderresort.com/ Just such a beautiful setting overlooking the ocean - and you can see whales from there some of the time.
The times I stayed at the Coast - I pretty much knew the roads - but even then - don't remember driving too much at night. And yes, it does get dark early in the winter months - so further admire your pluck for continuing on.
If you get back by Bandon Dunes - in town - they have some great salt-water taffy.
Hope the rest of your journey goes smoothly.
Not sure if you are a fan of smoked salmon/fish - but they have a couple of great places for that in Astoria.
And I love the Surfrider Inn (tried to broker a deal once to sell it) and glad to hear the restaurant is still doing a great job. http://surfriderresort.com/ Just such a beautiful setting overlooking the ocean - and you can see whales from there some of the time.
The times I stayed at the Coast - I pretty much knew the roads - but even then - don't remember driving too much at night. And yes, it does get dark early in the winter months - so further admire your pluck for continuing on.
If you get back by Bandon Dunes - in town - they have some great salt-water taffy.
Hope the rest of your journey goes smoothly.
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