Mel

Hi. After much hunting around this site and playing with routes and dates, I think I have a plan for my September vacation to see Oregon, Washington, and Vancouver/Victoria. Please let me know what you think. I have requested tourist brochures from just about everywhere, so I should have a better idea of the sites we want see when they arrive, but for now I wanted to call on the experts to see if I am missing any obvious "must see" attractions, or if the trip needs to be adjusted. I realize it is a bit rushed, and I would love to spend more time in these places, but that will just have to be an incentive to go back. Here it is:<BR><BR>9/14 SF-Eureka (see redwoods)<BR>9/15 Eureka-Oregon Coast (Gold Beach?)<BR>9/16 Oregon Coast (drive to Newport)<BR>9/17 Oregon Coast-Portland (stop at tillmook)<BR>9/18 Portland (been before)<BR>9/19 Portland-Seattle (visit Mt. St. Helens and Snoqualmie?)<BR>9/20 Seattle <BR>9/21 Seattle (visit Mt. Rainer)<BR>9/22 Seattle-Vancouver<BR>9/23 Vancouver<BR>9/24 Vancouver<BR>9/25 Vancouver-Victoria (car ferry)<BR>9/26 Victoria<BR>9/27 Victoria-Portland (via Port Angeles. Brief stop at Olympic Nat'l Park)<BR>9/28 Portland-Bend (Columbia Gorge. Timberline?)<BR>9/29 Bend-Ashland (Crater Lake)<BR>9/30 Ashland-SF<BR>

Mel

Wanted to add that I have some specific questions. Mostly about the ferries. I understand that there can be horrible waits. Does this still hold true on September weekdays? Also, one day that seems particulary long is going from Victoria to Portland. I chose the Port Angeles ferry because I wanted to check out Olympic park. The ferry to Anacortes goes through the San Juan islands, which is appealing (any chance of seeing orcas?), but Anacortes doesn't seem to be much closer to Portland according to mapquest.<BR><BR>BTW, we will be staying with friends in Portland and Seattle, priceline hotels in Vacouver, Victoria, and Eureka. I think everywhere else we will just try to find a cheap hotel. Any suggestions there?<BR><BR>Any additional information on visiting Mt. Saint Helens? I think it right to do it between Portland-Seattle. How much extra driving time?<BR><BR>The Oregon coast towns are just placeholders (approx. driving distance) and I'm open to suggestions there.<BR><BR>Thanks a bunch for any feedback!

GP

Hi Mel <BR>The trip sounds like fun. I live near Eureka. Once you leave here, Gold Beach is no too far up the coast you might try to get up as far as Bandon. It is 4 to 5 hours to Bandon from Eureka. Of course if you spend a lot of time in the redwoods you might just want to stop in Gold Beach. Both Gold Beach and Bandon have places to stay for under $100 I do not think you would need reservations at that time. Prepare for rain but I bet at that time of year the coast is very nice. In Eureka September is the warmest and lest foggy month of the year.<BR>Have Fun!<BR>GP<BR>

steve

It looks like a great trip. I would spend an extra day in the Olympic Nat'l Park.<BR><BR>I visitied Mt. St. Helens - rte 504 out of Castle Rock to Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center. Plan on hearing at least one ranger talk.<BR><BR>Crater Lake is quite a bit out of the way (but worth it!) We went on rte 138 a very picturesque trip along th NOrth Umpqua river. Stop and see Toketee Falls on the way there

Sandra

Make a reservation for that BC ferry from Twassen (misspelled but close...it's the place you leave from near Vancouver) to Vancouver island. BC ferries take reservations and it's a real time saver. I've lived in the PNW all my life and live in a beautiful place but I must say the Oregon coast is the MOST fabulous of all!

John

I think you could cut a whole day out northbound - from Eureka it's easy to reach the central coast (even as far as Newport) in a day, even counting time to stop for numerous pictures of redwoods and coastline (note some of the finest redwood groves are between Eureka and Crescent City). <BR><BR>I think you'd need that extra day southbound - Victoria to Portland via the Port Angeles ferry and Hurricane Ridge/Olympic NP is much too long a day. You might consider going down the west side of the Olympic Peninsula instead, visiting the rain forest centers at Hoh or Quinault - maybe stay somewhere on the coast, then cut back over to Portland at Hoquiam/Olympia - that would put you back on your schedule, and add a wonderful day on the Olympic National Park coastal strip.<BR><BR>In September the mobs waiting for the PA ferry should diminish - I'd prefer that over returning to the mainland via Anacortes or Tsawwassen (which would also entail border delays on the freeway.) <BR><BR>Otherwise I think it's a pretty comprehensive tour of the NW - a lot of driving but you already know that.

Ms. Ghost

John gave you some excellent pointers! And even though you stressed that some of the Oregon towns are just to overnight, there are a couple of "Don't Miss" things: Newport has a wonderful aquarium that's well worth a stop. Bend has an incredible natural history museum--I believe the name is the High Desert Museum, and it, too, is well worth your time. It's located just at the edge of Bend. Between Timberline and Bend, you drive through the Warm Springs Indian Reservation which also has an interesting museum, kind of out in the middle of nowhere. If you only have time for one of the two, however, I'd choose the one in Bend.

John

Thanks, Ms. Ghost...<BR><BR>I just wanted to add that the radio this morning said many people visiting Crater Lake are having a lousy time due to smoke from nearby wildfires - some couldn't even see the lake from the rim (?!) - and that the problem is big enough that some of the NPS types say it might not be until the rains (Oct?) before it's back to normal. No fire inside the NP but close. Might be wise to check on things closer to your travel dates to make sure you still want to take the Crater Lake route (which IMO is barely worth it in the first place.)<BR><BR>You asked about Mt St Helens - the in-and-out drive from I-5 to the Johnston Ridge Visitors' Center runs about 2 1/2 to 3 hours depending on stops, so it makes Seattle to Portland around 6-7 hours, i.e., a whole day counting stops. Very weather-dependent.

katie

I just did Newport/Mt. St Helens trip. If you go to St. Helens watch the film at the last visitor center near the mountain (worth seeing) and skip the others (1970-s educational quality). Newport is fine for just getting a snapshot of the bridge and seeing the aquarium, but unless you plan to go out on a boat, not much else to see or do there. Depoe Bay between Newport and Lincoln city has nice views. There are some nice sand dunes outside of Florence, can't remember the name of the park, but you can stop and see it--pretty impressive. Also do you need to go through Portland after Tillamock? (I don't know the area that well, but if you have been to Portland before, maybe you can stay on the coast and climb the Astoria tower--very nice views. Also, are you going to hike on Rainer or just take a scenic drive?? <BR><BR>Oh just noticed you have friends in Portland so I guess that can't be a miss.<BR><BR>Should be cheap hotels in Lincoln City (or used to be) prices have gone up since they got their casino. I used to stay at the Coho which in a safe area with ocean views from all rooms--off season it was about $60 a night but someone recently said they were thinking of the Coho @ $119 a night. <BR><BR>But there are a lot of hotels in Lincoln city and it is less than an hour south of Tillamook. Ithink surftides and shiloh are also decent, but have not stayed there. Might want to check the web for prices in Lincoln City.<BR>

Jim

For my taste you are spending way too much time on the Oregon coast where you're likely to be fogged in. I strongly urge you to drive from San Francisco to Eureka via Highway 1, stopping for the night at Mendocino (used as a location for "East of Eden"). If you do, you will forever be glad you did.

alberto_pulido_96

I am planing to do a road trip in July with a family of five (including 3 kids)
I want to do this on seven days round trip, do you think is possible, any ideas?

sf7307

Alberto, you'll get more replies if you start a new thread rather than tacking onto an 11-year old thread. For example, I'm not even sure where you're starting and ending on your trip.