Hi:

We are planning a trip end of August (flying in/out of Portland Airport) but only have about 4 days -- maybe 5. We don't want to spend much time in Portland as we are more interested in seeing the beautiful sights - wish we had a bit longer. What route would you suggest? We like a combination of active and sightseeing. There is so much to see and do that sounds awesome - Gorge, Sand Dunes, Mt. Hood, Crater Lake -- but I know with 4 days we cannot see it all. Appreciate any itinerary suggestions!

I would spend two nights on the coast and two or three if possible in Hood River. Late August (including the Labor Day weekend) is VERY busy in both areas, so I'd make some bookings asap.

For the coast, I'd shoot for Ilwaco (WA) or Astoria, Seaside or Cannon Beach on the north coast of Oregon. I'd try to include visits to Cape Disappointment on the Washington side of the (awesome) mouth of the Columbia River. The lighthouses, waves-on rocks scenery, Lewis and Clark interpretive center, and Waikiki Beach (the other one) are must-sees. Around Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park is the gem. If you're VERY energetic and don't mind some extra hours in the car, you can include a stop at Mt. St. Helens on the way to or from the coast.

The Hood River area is a fabulous location for families with kids, and I'd also be tempted to stay there the whole time. There are numerous water activities at Hood River - kite- and windsurfing, SUPs, hikes into the Mt. Adams wilderness area from Trout Lake (WA), visits to waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge, visit the fun Maryhill Museum and nearby Stonehenge replica 45 min. east of Hood River... You can ride a chairlift up to the permanent icefields on the side of Mount Hood, visit U-pick farms, orchards and wineries in the gorgeous Hood River Valley, say hello to Herman the Sturgeon at the Bonneville hatchery, go fishing on the Zigzag River.... too many activities to list.

Here's a map showing the location of these various things: https://goo.gl/maps/hv82ER43tDC2

With just 4 days, and a late start to planning, you will definitely come up against some obstacles. The coast is wonderful, but places do book up far in advance, especially on the north coast around Seaside and Cannon Beach which also tend to have 2-3 night minimums during this time. If you cannot get a place in this area, try for Newport. As much as I love Crater Lake, I wouldn't even attempt it unless you can squeeze in that 5th day. Even then it would be a rush, but IMO worth it as it is such a great place to visit. The gorge is great, but do know that there was a massive fire last summer that has closed most hiking trails on the OR side. You can still see the highlights such as Portland Woman's Forum, Crown Point Vista House, and Multnomah Falls. At MF though, you cannot take the trail to the top, as that is still closed due to the fire, but you can view from the Benson Bridge. BTW the old scenic highway is closed from Bridal Veil to Ainsworth State Park, which also happens to be the most scenic stretch. All that said, if you want to hike, just cross over into WA and hike the trails on that side. There are some fantastic ones, and we hike a lot in this area, so if you are interested and need personal suggestions, just ask. Hood River is nice too, and there are some great areas around there. Lodging books up fast in the summer though, so again you would need to get on that asap. One place we enjoy in this area is Lost Lake. We camp, but they do have cabins there and it is just a short drive to Hood River itself and to the sights around there.