Cannon Beach, Yosemite,Amtrak
 

I'm planning a trip for me & my college-age son--likely last vacation w/mom!! Thinking of fling into Portland, renting car to Cannon Beach+area for 2 nites,back to Portland to catch Amtrak to near Yosemite, rent car & stay in Yosemite for 2 nites.
He really wants to do the Train, but should I plan less for Yosemite to do more on the Oregon coast? Planning to stay at Ocean Lodege in CB--good choice?
Thanks!
Alice in Little Rock

Hi Alice!!! I'm a former Hot Springs, Ark resident...

Cannon Beach is a great choice... and you picked one of the best places to stay there as well. I've been to Cannon Beach over the last 20 years as a child and then during college and with my husband and family more recently. It will always be one of my favorite spots on the coast... Yachats/Waldport are my other favorites for a quieter and less crowded vacation. I've been to the Ocean Lodge twice now and am going back in August for my 3rd trip! Great lodge... great breakfasts... great beach, and a great town. I'm not sure what your son's interests are... but there are plenty of hiking options in the area as well as a few hours at low tide at Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach!

Can't help you on Yosemite... haven't been there. You'll love the Ocean Lodge though. Plan on having a bonfire out front (get your spot early!) and do the smores thing! It's a gorgeous sunset and a very tranquil experience!

How nice that you are doing this together. My boys are just 4 and 7... I pray they'll do something like this with their mom too someday when they're older!
Good luck!!!
Maria
Issaquah, WA

I'll too offer my 2 cents on Cannon Beach. It's a quaint little town with a beautiful beach. But, you won't see much of the coastline unless you drive. I might recommend spending one night in Cannon Beach and one night in Newport (the stretch of coast from Lincoln City to Newport is great), then perhaps try to return the car and catch the train in Eugene, Oregon? You'll see more of the coast that way without having to drive so far back to Portland.

See if you can get the Oregon Coast tour map from AAA if you are a member - great map.

Andrew

Thanks to both of you for your help. There's so much to do in OR & WA, we're dropping the CA portion. Lewis & Clark sites, & maybe a whale watching cruise & lazing on the beach will take our 6-7 days. I spoke too soon re:lodging in CB--will take Andrews sugg. for others.
Thanks again.
Alice from Arkansas

You will have plenty to do on the Oregon Coast. Make sure you visit Seaside and Astoria, and make a trip over the bridge to see the WA coast, also. The entire area is gorgeous if you're a beach lover! I'm on my way over there for a couple of weeks right now!

Yosemite is gorgeous (about an hour from where I live). You will definitely want to come back to CA sometime to visit this gorgeous place.

I hope you enjoy seafood, the Oregon Coast is the best for it! Don't forget your camera, especially if it's one of your last trips with him.

This will be a very memorable trip for us also, my oldest son is proposing marriage in a carriage ride through Portland! Then to the Portland City Grill to celebrate. Have fun! ***kim*** :)

Astoria area is having lot of stuff going on all summer--Lewis & Clark Festival. I was told there is a train that goes from Portland to Astoria--in conjunction with Festival --don't know any details however. Astoria Visitors Bureau would know details
You will love Cannon Beach. I think you made a good choice to omit Calif. for now

A neat side trip is the Tillamook Cheese factory, a free tour in Tillamook, OR on the coast from Lincoln City to Astoria.