Destination: Victoria BC
Apr 11th, 2016, 08:33 AM
#21
Day 1 Sacramento to Grants Pass (dinner with friends)
Day 2 Portland -
Day 3 port Angeles- catch 2:00 ferry to Victoria
Day 4 Victoria
Day 5 Victoria - catch 4:00 ferry spend night in Tacoma (?) would like to see Chihuly museum
Day 6 Portland, Gorge
I'm really not loving this very much. If it was me I'd push from Grants Pass to PA on Day 2 and have time to breathe, then take the morning boat to Victoria. Use the day you've saved back in Portland and the Gorge - there's so much to see that giving it just one day (at most, you'd still have to get to Portland from Tacoma) doesn't do it justice at all. Granted Grants Pass to Port Angeles is a long way, but I've done Ashland to Seattle umpteen times and it's about the same distance, albeit with more traffic than you'll encounter.
I'll stick to my guns on the way back; go from Portland to Bandon or Gold Beach using Oregon Hwy 38 from I-5 out to the coast. That will give you ample time to see the best part of the coast (between Port Orford and the CA state line) as well as the redwoods. Remember it's early May you're talking about, and rain on the coast happens.
A note on the "Chihuly museum:" Don't get confused. The Tacoma facility is the Museum of Glass - http://museumofglass.org/ - which can be accessed by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass over the train tracks. The Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit - http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/ - is in Seattle.
Day 2 Portland -
Day 3 port Angeles- catch 2:00 ferry to Victoria
Day 4 Victoria
Day 5 Victoria - catch 4:00 ferry spend night in Tacoma (?) would like to see Chihuly museum
Day 6 Portland, Gorge
I'm really not loving this very much. If it was me I'd push from Grants Pass to PA on Day 2 and have time to breathe, then take the morning boat to Victoria. Use the day you've saved back in Portland and the Gorge - there's so much to see that giving it just one day (at most, you'd still have to get to Portland from Tacoma) doesn't do it justice at all. Granted Grants Pass to Port Angeles is a long way, but I've done Ashland to Seattle umpteen times and it's about the same distance, albeit with more traffic than you'll encounter.
I'll stick to my guns on the way back; go from Portland to Bandon or Gold Beach using Oregon Hwy 38 from I-5 out to the coast. That will give you ample time to see the best part of the coast (between Port Orford and the CA state line) as well as the redwoods. Remember it's early May you're talking about, and rain on the coast happens.
A note on the "Chihuly museum:" Don't get confused. The Tacoma facility is the Museum of Glass - http://museumofglass.org/ - which can be accessed by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass over the train tracks. The Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit - http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/ - is in Seattle.
Apr 11th, 2016, 02:48 PM
#22
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I think we'll stick to the 3 day trek north. We'll have some time to relax in Victoria. Staying at the Parkside Resort and Spa so may take in a massage to decompress from the drive. It also gives us a little more time in Portland. We love Portland and figure if we get in early afternoon we can walk around downtown, along the river, providing it's not raining, visit Powell's, Pearl district and then dinner at Jakes Seafood Grill. One of our favorites. Then get to PA to catch the ferry the next day. Should we pass on Tacoma and spend the night in Portland? We want to take a trip out to the Falls and then visit the rose test gardens and then head south. Hope it's not too early. My roses are in full bloom, but I'm win So CA. Is the 38 more scenic then the 126? Saw in another post there are some good wineries east of Florence. The 38 was the original suggestion so driving time from Portland to Bandon via the 38? Suggestion for lodging in Bandon?
This is a lot of driving, and the weather can be dicey, but we decided driving was the only way to see the most and have some flexibility. We've been very lucky weather wise on all our trips to Oregon. Hope our luck holds out.
This is a lot of driving, and the weather can be dicey, but we decided driving was the only way to see the most and have some flexibility. We've been very lucky weather wise on all our trips to Oregon. Hope our luck holds out.
Apr 11th, 2016, 03:19 PM
#23
Should we pass on Tacoma and spend the night in Portland?
I'd skip Tacoma.
The 4 PM ferry from Victoria will get you to PA around 5:30, call it 6 or a bit later by the time you're through immigration/customs and on the road. So you wouldn't get to Portland until something like 10 PM, or later if you want to stop for food or necessities. And maybe in the dark and in the rain? Meh.
If you stopped around Olympia you'd be in Portland by mid-morning the next day, plenty of time to visit the Columbia Gorge and any other Portland spots.
Yes SR 38 is more scenic than the other roads out to the coast, and it's quicker. I know people like the section of the Oregon coast between Lincoln City and Florence (Newport, Yachats etc.) but I don't think you have the time for this. And as for wineries, well, you're heading to the Napa and Sonoma valleys, so really...
As for lodging in Bandon, look at the Bandon Inn or the Best Western. Even if you don't have a view, Bandon is good for its nice waterfront "old town" with several decent restaurants.
I'd skip Tacoma.
The 4 PM ferry from Victoria will get you to PA around 5:30, call it 6 or a bit later by the time you're through immigration/customs and on the road. So you wouldn't get to Portland until something like 10 PM, or later if you want to stop for food or necessities. And maybe in the dark and in the rain? Meh.
If you stopped around Olympia you'd be in Portland by mid-morning the next day, plenty of time to visit the Columbia Gorge and any other Portland spots.
Yes SR 38 is more scenic than the other roads out to the coast, and it's quicker. I know people like the section of the Oregon coast between Lincoln City and Florence (Newport, Yachats etc.) but I don't think you have the time for this. And as for wineries, well, you're heading to the Napa and Sonoma valleys, so really...
As for lodging in Bandon, look at the Bandon Inn or the Best Western. Even if you don't have a view, Bandon is good for its nice waterfront "old town" with several decent restaurants.
Apr 11th, 2016, 03:43 PM
#25
What's the drive time approximately from Portland to Bandon? Thanks again for your guidance.
Around 5 hours depending on Portland traffic, construction along SR 38 or US 101, and stop-and-go nonsense through North Bend and Coos Bay. Just before Reedsport on SR 38, there's a big wildlife reserve just south of the highway, where you can usually see numerous elk doing elkish things - there's a roadside lookout. http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recr....php?siteid=31
Around 5 hours depending on Portland traffic, construction along SR 38 or US 101, and stop-and-go nonsense through North Bend and Coos Bay. Just before Reedsport on SR 38, there's a big wildlife reserve just south of the highway, where you can usually see numerous elk doing elkish things - there's a roadside lookout. http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recr....php?siteid=31
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