Advise on Northwest Travel
 

We are planning a flyout from the eastcoast to the northwest and from there rent a car and do a self drive. My question is where would be a good starting point ... the best places to see and stay ... what to avoid ... and good sightseeing roads. The time we plan to spend is four weeks. We did the southwest last year and asked the same questions and received much good info. <BR> <BR>Thanks for any help and advise.

Do a search on this web site on"Seattle","Pacific Northwast and you will find a lot of info. Also Victoria and Vancouver B.C.

Consider starting in Portland, Oregon. Spend a few days around this area and make sure to get out to the Columbia Gorge and over to see Mt. Hood - go up and eat at the Timberland Lodge where they filmed "The Shining". Then head further north to the Seattle area. Drive out to see the Snoqualmie Falls and just spend time enjoying the beauty of the area. There are a ton of things to do and see in Seattle. Then head up and spend some time enjoying the San Juan Islands before heading up to Vancouver and Victoria. And then plan to fly home from Vancouver.

How great that you have four weeks! I'd do a big circle, starting and ending in Seattle (probably easiest and least expensive to fly into, and it's cheaper to not do a one-way car rental). I'd suggest spending three or four nights in places whereever possible (especially the San Juans, Tofino and the North Cascades) so that you're not constantly driving and changing lodgings. <BR> <BR>From Seatle, I'd head north to the San Juans, then ferry over to Victoria, then head up to Tofino (west coast of Vancouver Island), then maybe head to Whistler, or if not, directly to Vancouver. From there, cross the spectacular North Cascades Highway to the Mazama/Winthrop area. Come down the east side of the mountains and either stay east, stopping at the Gorge area and ending up in Bend, or coming back across the mountains and making stops at Mt. Rainier and/or Mt. St. Helens before heading through Portland and east from there (to the Gorge and/or Bend). <BR> <BR>From Bend, you may want to dip down to Crater Lake and/or Ashland (for the Shakespeare Festival), then head over to the Oregon Coast and start heading back north. I'd circle the Olympic Peninsula before coming back to Seattle. <BR> <BR>Once you've decided on an itinerary, feel free to ask about lodgings in each location. When are you coming? Advance reservations will definitely be necessary if it's between now and about mid-October.

For my money, the most scenic part of the area you plan to visit is the Oregon Coast. I particularly like the area around a village called Yachats. <BR>The coast is so varied. Cliffs that rise over 1000 feet straight out of the sea, beaches, rocky headlands, pounding surf, eroded lava flows, the works. <BR>I suggest driving it south to north because the sun tends to reflect off of the water and into your eyes if you are driving south. <BR>Mount Ranier is a good place to take a look. But Paradise Lodge was not a good place to stay when I was there. I reserved two nights and left after one. <BR>Mt. Saint Helens is worth the effort. <BR>We visited the North Cascades, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out what there was to see except a few hills. <BR>Perhaps I did not go to the right place, but we rode the boat up to Stehekin and spent two nights at the lodge there. <BR>Not something I would repeat. <BR>Crater Lake is pretty, but a boat ride is a waste of time and money on my scale. You are after all looking up from the bottom of a hole. <BR>You can see much more from the rim drive. Of course, others will think I am Scrooge or somebody for saying that.

PS Forgot to mention the international rose test gardens in Portland. They are in the park to the west of downtown. Those are the most beautiful roses that I have seen. You can see row after row of all kinds and colors of roses. The Japanese Garden is not bad either. I am not a garden person, but that rose garden is on another level.

Vancouver! Vancouver! Vancouver! <BR> <BR>Canada is lovely. The favorable exchange rate makes you feel richer than you are already. Where else can you sip coffee outside a main upscale shopping drag in full view of the snow capped mountains AND beautiful water? <BR> <BR>Take a ride out to Vancouver Island and explore. Go up to Whistler and ski. Take a drive to the natural hot springs and soak. <BR> <BR>Eat salmon. Take a ferry to Granville Island and walk around the market. <BR> <BR>

Ben, <BR>What time of year are you planning to travel? If it's mid-summer, I would add Eugene, OR, to your list, especially over a week-end. The Saturday Market in Eugene is a great experience (and you thought the 60s had ended...). Eugene itself is a wonderful place to visit. Hendricks park is lovely, there are some good restaurants, great coffee bars and brewpubs. From Eugene, I'd go east on Highway 58, stopping at Salt Creek Falls near Willamette Pass. Diamond Creek Falls are pretty, too. You can stay overnight at the cabins at Odell Lake Lodge (reserve ASAP and ask for one of the newer cabins). The air is crisp and clean and the view is fabulous. There's nothing like sitting on your cabin deck and watching the golden eagles fish for kokanee. The cabins are simple and rustic, though, no TV, etc., and you should bring your groceries with you from Eugene. <BR>The other choice is head west from Eugene on highway 126 to Florence. Go south briefly on 101 to the Oregon Dunes, then head back north on 101 to Waldport, take highway 34 back to Corvallis and then go wherever you want from there. The one place I would urge you to skip is Lincoln City. Strip malls, traffic jams. Blecchh. <BR>If you go to Port Townsend, two restaurants not to be missed: Khu Larb (some of the best Thai food, period) and Sentosa (sushi bar/Japanese restaurant). Earthenworks is a top notch crafts gallery (as is The Real Mother Goose in Portland) for some truly high quality souvenirs.