Thanks mms and ellen. Let's say I wanted to add TuTuTun to this trip. What would be the best way to do it? After Crater Lake? Drop Crater Lake? Before Crater Lake? It looks like I would either have to dip way south back into California or arc way up and back down the coast again to reach it. Any ideas? Thanks!

Drop Crater Lake, which is a long way in and a long way out--not very interesting in either direction.

You seem more eager to stay at Tu Tu Tun Lodge than to make the trek to Crater Lake, and there is no more-or-less direct route between the two destinations.

However, if you or your partner have never been to the Columbia River Gorge, it is worthwhile and could be easily added to your itinerary.

HTTY,

Would we do the Columbia Gorge as day trip from Portland or as an overnight somewhere near the Gorge? I confess that I don't the geography of that area well and haven't looked at a map yet.

The gorge is an easy day trip from Portland. It is only about 15 miles from downtown. That is where it begins. You can go as far as you want, but most people only go to Hood River and back.

Okay. How does this sound?

1 night TuTuTun
1 night Yachats
2 nights Cannon Beach
1 night Portland (Columbia Gorge)
2 nights Lake Crescent

I can easily add another day or two to this, but I think this is a good template. Driving all the way to TuTuTun from the Bay Area in one day might be too much, if so we'll overnight somewhere along 101.

The coastline from the California border up to Gold Beach is supposed to be gorgeous and grea for exploring.

Looks great!

I suggest:

1 night TuTuTun
1 night Yachats
1 night Cannon Beach
1 night Hood River
1 night Portland
2 nights Lake Crescent

Going to Hood River I would drive the Historic Columbia River Highway, investigating as many waterfalls as time allows.

In the early evening I would drive to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood (1 hour) for dinner.

The following morning I would drive I-84 to Biggs, cross the Columbia, and drive to Portland via WA 14. On a clear day, this drive affords great views of the gorge and Mt. Hood.

(In Maryhill, WA, there is the intriguing Maryhill Museum and the Maryhill Winery.)

Most places on the northern coast have at least a 2 night minimum during high season. So the 2 nights in Cannon Beach is pretty much a must. Some places have a 3 night minimum.

Thanks to all of you for the help! You are awesome.

Bill

<i>Okay. How does this sound?

1 night TuTuTun
1 night Yachats
2 nights Cannon Beach
1 night Portland (Columbia Gorge)
2 nights Lake Crescent</i>

I like it too!
But I don't like the part where I won't be in Portland when you get there
Stay at the Monaco in Portland (Kimpton) and stay at the Surfsand in CB ( or if you want 30s cozy..stop at Arch Cape ( just about 15 miles south of CB)
www.innatarchcape.com

Scarlett--Come visit...we can do a big GTG then

Your itinerary sounds good, but let me just say one thing about Crater Lake - it is unique. Nothin' else like it.

hey, mms, if I make it home this summer to see the family (sis lives in Vancouver), perhaps we could do a GTG or mini-GTG? I'll bring the Florida sun with me. ;-)

321go--That would be fun! Beachbum is here too.

That would be great!

Thanks Scarlett. The Inn at Arch Cape looks like our kind of place.

Ok, here is the latest iteration:

Benbow Inn in Garberville - 1 night
TuTuTun - 2 nights
Yachats - 1 night
Cannnon Beach - 2 nights ( maybe 1)
Lake Crescent - 2 nights ( maybe 3, My parents might drive out from Seattle and spend a night there with us)

I might takeaway a night in Cannon Beach and add a night in Portland. It's just that historically we don't like on nighters all that much.

Any suggestions on a place midway between Lake Cresecnt and Cannon Beach besides Quinalult or Kalaloch that would break up that long driving day?

The Benbow is nice, I stayed there last April. I'd recommend the terrace rooms over the original building.

There's really not much to recommend between Cannon Beach and Lake Crescent--I'd stay at Quinault if you feel you need to break up the drive.

So, I've been thinking some more...

The latest tweak:

One night in northern California en route. I now want to spend the night somewhere a little closer to Redwood National Park so we can spend some time the next day exploring the park. Any suggestions for places to stay in Eureka, Trinidad, etc???? I thinking around 6 hours of driving that first day would be okay.

TuTuTun for two nights
Yachats for one night
Cannon Beach for two nights
Portland for one night

We'll then make a bee-line for Seattle and spend 5 nights there with my folks. When my mom heard me mention Lake Crescent, she said, &quot;I want to come. Take us!&quot; So we will do a two nighter with them to Lake Crescent sometime during our stay with them.

I think that's it. Any thoughts on places to stay that first night in northern California would be welcome.

On one of our trips from the bay area back to Portland, we stopped just north of Eureka in McKinleyville. There is a Holiday Inn Express that is actually very nice. It was in such good condition we thought it was brand new. There is a small airport just up the road which a decent restaurant inside. You can sit and watch planes take off and land. The hotel told us to show our room card and the restaurant would give us a discount, which was around 10% or so.

Thanks mms! I just read some reviews of the place and it sounds great and the location is what I am looking for. Many thanks.