Camping and B&B between Seattle and Portland
 

Hi-<BR><BR>My boyfriend and I are planning an 8 day trip in mid-June starting in Seattle where we will stay the weekend and ending in Portland where we will stay for a day or two. The remaining 5 days we plan on driving from Seattle to Portland and camping because we hear that part of the country is just beautiful. We are not expert campers, hence the need for a recommendation of a terrific Bed and Breakfast along the way, but I love the ocean and wilderness and this will be the best way to experience it. Any suggestions for routes and campsites? Thanks!

Actually, I have decided to try Hotel Vintage Plaza for the last 3 nights in Portland and discover the wine country that way. Now I need a recommendation for an area along the coast for a few nights of camping.

I am sorry to say this but I think that mid-Washington is not so pretty. Seattle is nice, Portland is great (yes I am biased) but in between isn't. If you did want a fun place to stay in between I would recommend Mt. St. Helens (thought it is not really in the middle) We stayed in at Eco Park http://ecoparkresort.com/lodging.htm and loved it. It was so quaint and cute. The logging show is fun (kinda corny) but fun, probably interesting if you don't come from a logging community. This area is very pretty and interesting because of Mt. St. Helens. Do take time to see the intrepretive areas. <BR><BR>Another idea that might work for you is to stay in a yurt. Many of the Oregon State campgrounds have them. They have a heater, lights and bunk beds. You supply the camp stove and food. We have stayed in one and really enjoyed it. Go to the state park web site, you can even make reservations (do it quickly, the yurts fill up). http://www.oregonstateparks.org/searchpark.php<BR><BR>Rather than typing it all over again go to the other post in Oregon titled Oregon Coast and hopefully you'll get some ideas. <BR><BR>Could you tell us a bit more of your plan and maybe I'll have more suggestions. Here is what I can say for now. Take I5 from Seattle to Portland (ugly but fast), stop at Mt. St. Helens for the day or spend the night. Spend some time in Portland. Also the Gorge is beautiful, you would probably enjoy it, it is quintessentially Oregon, wet and green. Then head to the coast to Cannon Beach. Explore your way south to either Newport or Florence and head back to the Valley, spend at least one night on the coast. Then take Hwy 99W back up the Valley through Corvallis and McMinnville to see the wineries, staying in a B&amp;B along the way.<BR><BR>Oh I had better mention, weather in mid-June is very unpredictable! You could (read probably will) get rain. Camping in a tent would not be my preference or recommendation. The yurts would be fine though. It won't be cold but could be wet. So you can wear shorts and a raincoat like the rest of us! <BR><BR>Any futher questions contact me at [email protected]<BR><BR>Enjoy Oregon

This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Thank you. I believe our tentative plans now are 2 nights in Seattle, drive to Mt. St. Helens for a night and day (Eco Park looks great), then spend 2 nights at the Gorge. Then spend a day at Cannon Beach and head to Portland where we can be in the city and explore the wineries. I believe the wineries are a 40 minute drive from Portland.<BR><BR>Thanks for the tip about unpredicable weather in June. I'm kind of bummed about that. Were does one stay at the Gorges if there is no tent but you want that feeling? Do you recommend a part of the Gorge to stay at? I don't think there are yurts there...<BR><BR>Is this a feasible trip?<BR>Thanks again!

ami, we go to the wineries all the time as weekend trips from Seattle. This website should help you out. If you are interested in a fantastic Europeon style meal definately check out the Joel Palmer House!<BR><BR>http://www.yamhillwine.com/index.htm

After Mt. St. Helens, the Gorge is a good idea. I probably wouldn�t go beyond Hood River on the Gorge, it gets pretty dry fast. Mt. Hood might also be something to put on your list. As for places to stay you are right there are no yurts in the Gorge. I looked up cabins in the Columbia Gorge and found these. http://w3.gorge.net/serenitys/ These cabins are a bit north of Hood River. My map program says about half an hour. They look pretty cute though. cgriversidelodge.com These look nice too, wish I had seen them when I was planning my tour of the gorge. Probably your best bet would be a B&amp;B in Hood River. I really like this website for B&amp;Bs in Washington and Oregon bbexplorer.com. Be sure to take the old highway (exit off I84 in Troutdale). It is curvy but beautiful, that is where most of the waterfall hikes take off of. Also stop at the Bonneville Dam and see the fish and go see the sturgeon. While it could certainly take longer 2 full days in the Gorge would be sufficient. One up to Hood River and one back, if you are feeling pressed for time - might give you a night at the coast.<BR><BR>Just to be sure, you will be going through Portland to Cannon Beach. Another option would be to finish at the coast, after the wineries. There are two properties that might work for you in Portland. The McMenamin hotels are fun and people generally like them. Edgefield is in Troutdale - a good starting or finishing place for visiting the Gorge and the Grand Lodge is in Forest Grove which would be an ideal spot for the wineries. www.mcmenamins.com The highway leading to lots of wineries nearly dead ends into the lodge. It would probably not be the best place for exploring downtown Portland though, it is a bit of a drive back into town.<BR><BR>At Eco Park you won�t need a sleeping bag and I think they serve breakfast at the lodge so you won�t need camping supplies. The yurts would require at least a sleeping bag and flashlight (to get to the bathroom) so if you aren�t bringing camping stuff they wouldn�t work very well.