vicahe

Planning a trip to PNW in September. We will be flying into Seattle. I think I have too much planned for 3 weeks....any ideas and suggestions would be appreciated...It's hard to choose there is so much to see.....here goes:
leave Seattle to Mt. Rainier
Mount St. Helens
over to Columbia River Gorge to Dalles
down to Bend
Crater Lake
over to the Oregon Coast from Coos Bay
head north along the coast to Astoria (stopping along the way)
back to Washington to ONP
Victoria, BC
arriving back in Seattle to see the city
I will put this on the Oregon Forum as well! Hubby and I are retired, we are interested in seeing the mountains and the forests, not into hiking, strolling would be better! Not into wine country either.....just enjoying the scenery! Anything we should not miss or cut out? Thanking you all in advance!

suze

Actually I think that sounds fine since you have 3 weeks. Often people have that same list but only 1 week to do it!

soundnesss

Vicahe, We did some of the Fruit Loop out of Hood River and I would definitely recommend that. One day we'll be back to do the whole thing. Lots of farms, orchards, lavender fields. It was beautiful.

Sound

voyager61

You might want to post the amount of days that you are planning in each location/stops per day, so people can help with whether you are planning too much or too little and how the distances/terrain will affect your travel. If you already have accommodations set, that would be a good thing to know also.

If you are coming at the beginning of September, might not have to worry about rain...end of September, it could start coming into play a little more, although sporadically.

Depending on where you are from, our September evenings might seem cool, so light jackets/layering options are definitely a good idea.

Everywhere you are going has some pretty good scenery, so that's not a worry. I would get advice from the ranger stations at the national parks regarding good options for walking, not hiking, although I know at Sunrise and Paradise (Mt. Rainier) you can just stroll around not too far from the parking lot and be impressed by what you are looking at if you haven't been there before. Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park are highlights on the Oregon Coast.

While in Seattle, do the Bainbridge Island ferry (walk on if possible) to Winslow for lunch, unless you are planning to take the ferry to Victoria, Whidbey Island or the San Juan Islands, in which case the Bainbridge Island ferry would be unnecessary. Near Seattle, Snoqualmie Falls is a good day trip for lunch and a stroll.

Definitely, try some of our great seafood, salmon, mussels, halibut, dungeness crab, etc.

And the Space Needle and Pike Market are popular for good reason.

Have a nice trip.

Cranachin

The coast south of Coos Bay is also beautiful, and if you have time and have never seen the California redwoods, you can dip across the border to the area around Crescent City.

happytrailstoyou

I like Cranachin's suggestion. With three weeks, if you haven't seen the redwoods, you have time to do so and the stretch of the Oregon Coast from Brookings to Port Orford is spectacular.

From Crater Lake you would drive to Grants Pass and then on Highway 199 to Crescent City. On the way you will pass through Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park are just south of Crescent City.

We like to stay in Brookings at the Best Western Beachfront Inn and have dinner at a place of the type we don't have in Seattle: Superfly Martini Bar & Grill.

HTtY

vicahe

We didn't know about how much time to alot to each area.....any help there would be appreciated! Would we have time to add the redwoods? While in Seattle what area should we stay in? We thought downtown area but I'm not sure if that includes Belltown, do all hotels charge extra for parking? We're from Fla. so for us, it'll be cool weather! We were thinking of taking the ferry to Victoria....

spirobulldog

Redwoods are certainly awesome. Oregon Caves might work for you too. Love the Oregon Caves Chateau.

Buy a National Park Pass to save some $$$

Really one full day at each place is about right to me.
ONP will need 3-4 days though. Mount Rainier could use 2 days.
It just depends on what you are doing(hiking, etc). Of course, the coast would likely take more than a day.

You left out Portland? Also San Juan Islands. Mt. Hood is pretty cool too. But Rainier is the King. It's a great place. We spent 13 days in Oregon(including Redwoods) and 12 in Washington. My wife and I are going back for a long weekend(leaving this Thursday) We are doing San Juan Islands and Mt. Rainier(2nd time for both).

tomfuller

Only thing I see to change is to go south on Rt. 35 from Hood River on the east side of Mt. Hood. US 197 south up over the Criterion Summit from The Dalles is rather barren. US 26 has a lot more trees and a better view of Mt. Hood. You hit US 97 to Bend in Madras.
There is a good gas station at the Safeway as you enter Madras.

Fodorite018

Voyager wrote most of what I was going to

I do agree with tom fuller on going from Hood River down to Bend instead of from The Dalles. From Hood River down it is much more scenic, IMO.

Since you are not hiking, you don't need a lot of time at a few places, like Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens.

For Seattle, yes, stay in downtown. Hotels in the core area there do charge for parking, but you can self park for less. Also check specials for the hotels as sometimes they include parking.

If you take the ferry from Port Angeles over to Victoria, that is on the Coho and I highly recommend making a reservation for that. You do not need a car in Victoria though if you just plan on staying in the downtown part. If that is how you want to go, there is an area near the dock in PA that you can leave your car and just go as a walk on.

happytrailstoyou

Parking is expensive in downtown Seattle. Ask about parking charges when you inquire about room rates.

HTtY

vicahe

Thank you all for your suggestions. I think we have completely rearranged our trip. Here's the latest plan.....out of Sea Tac to Astoria arriving evening. Planning on 1 full day there and maybe over to Cape Disappointment. Leave next day to Oregon Coast, planning at least 5 days to get to Cresent City. Redwoods 2 days, over to Crater lake, (taking 1day) to Bend, overnight, to Hood River (area) and Columbia River Gorge (3 days total) Mt. St. Helens, 1 day, to Mt. Rainier 1 day back to Seattle 3 days, giving us a few days extra. I think we have given up going to Victoria, BC. Have I overestimated travel and sightseeing times or given too much time to any one area? We are really interested in the history, museums, and the scenic areas and drives...we're not into hiking, but we do want to see as much as we can! Also ideas for staying in Seattle downtown, so we can walk or take the trolley to the main sites, Pikes Market, Space Needle, sculpture park etc..... thanks agains for your replies

tomfuller

If you have extra days please spend one of them in and around Bend. See Mt. Bachelor and the High Desert Museum at a minimum.
It sounded like you were using Bend as a place to sleep after a long day and then leaving for Hood River in the morning.

sunbum1944

Agree with an extra night in Bend- much to see and do around that area-

Would not do the High Desert Museum ( sorry Tom) unless its raining or snowing- It is interesting but so many other things to see and do.

tomfuller

Skipping the High Desert Museum, stay 1 night at the LaPine Best Western and the next morning head out to the Newberry Caldera and Paulina Peak, Paulina Lake and the Obsidian area.
Head back to US 97 and then spend another night in Bend.
I'm thinking that the top of Paulina Peak is the highest place you can drive to in Oregon with a 2WD car. The view is spectacular.

sunbum1944

That sounds better Tom. You can take a gondola up to the top of Mt Bachelor- I think there is a restaurant up there - but not sure if open in Sept

sunbum1944

Just checked- restaurant only open until the end of August but you can ride chair lift up- fabulous views

http://www.mtbachelor.com/summer/ser...hairlift_rides

vicahe

Thanks again for the travel tips! Maybe this is a crazy idea...but would it be viable to stay outside Seattle near the airiport and just use public transportation to visit the downtown area?

tomfuller

The motels out near SEATAC are not as good as downtown Seattle.
Portland is easier to get on the light rail into the city than SEA.
You do have to ride 2 ski lifts to get from the bottom of Mt. Bachelor to the top. (9000+ above sea level)

Bobmrg

vicahe: That is not a good idea.