If 5 Pines is available, take it. If you have decided against going by way of Crater Lake and Steamboat, the most scenic way is to take Rt. 242 over the McKenzie Pass from Sisters. At the top of the pass stop at the Dee Wright Observatory. You have a great view of many Cascades peaks from there.
When you get down to Rt. 126 you have the choice to go north to US 20 or southwest into Springfield and through Eugene to get to the coast (US 101).
If you go from Sisters using US 20 it is 4 hours to Newport.
US 20 goes over the Santiam Pass and the Tombstone Pass.

How long would it take to get to Yachats from Sisters taking Rt 242 and then the 101 down the coast?
Along Rt 242, are there other places to pull over and explore (other than the observatory)?

Thanks!

Rt 242 over McKenzie Pass is scenic but definitely not fast! It's a very twisty road two lane road.
There is a beautiful hike off the Hwy though- Proxy Falls.

Day trips from Sisters- you could hike around Clear Lake- formed by a volcano and is a beautiful Aqua color. The hike is easy but likely farther than a 4 yr old would want to hike. You could just do part of it. You can rent rowboats there so you could also row around. There is a small restaurant for snacks.

You could drive over to the Metolius. There is a nice trail along the river there is a deli at the Camp Sherman store for sandwiches etc.

If you go through Eugene on the way to the coast, stop at Sahalie Falls. There is a nice trail there too that goes along the McKenzie River.

Down near the intersection of 242 and 126 along the McKenzie River is the Belknap hot springs. $7 pp for an hour with $2 for a towel if you don't bring your own. Going north on 126 toward US 20 you will be going up the McKenzie. Before you get to US 20 there is a turnoff to Clear Lake which is the headwaters of the McKenzie. There is a nice CCC era picnic pavilion near the lake.
Plan on 5.5 to 7 hours from Sisters to Yachats if you take the scenic route - longer if you stop for a soak or picnic and walk at Clear Lake.

Dee Wright is worth a visit regardless of whether or not you take Rt. 242. From Sisters to Yachats taking Rt. 242 (to Rt. 126 thru Eugene to Florence and north on US 101) should be about 4.5 hours, but IMO is worth the extra time.

Besides the trail(s) along the Metolius, there's a short one to the head of the river, where it comes up out of the ground. Very scenic spot with the river, Mt. Jefferson on the horizon, and the scent of ponderosa pine in the breeze. The kids would also enjoy a visit to Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, about 4.5 miles downriver from the Camp Sherman General Store. Couple of our favorite hikes in the area are Tam McArthur Rim and Canyon Creek Meadows.

Yes, the Fruit Loop is scenic, maybe even more so than the Willamette Valley, but compared to the coast and mountains of central Oregon, not so much. Your kids might love eating fruit, but they'd tire of picking it in about 10 minutes. Their favorite stop would probably be the Alpaca Farm.

Between Hood River and Bend/Sisters, you'll want to stop at Smith Rock State Park if for no other reason but to watch the climbers. But I'd advise against taking the Misery Ridge trail. We did it with our daughter when she was 3 - 4, and its name is well earned.

Wow! Those are some great ideas!

How far from Sisters are Proxy Falls, Clear Lake, Metolius River, canyon creek meadows, and Sahalie falls? I'll probably be going on day trips and not on my way to Yachats. Or maybe some side trips on the way to Yachats as long as they are not too far out of the way and make for a longer drive. Considering that, which ones do you think we should do on the way, and which ones would make for good day trips? Also, with luggage in the car, I get nervous about leaving it unattended.

I think 7 hours in the car makes for a super long day... I'm not sure I'm up for it...

What about from hood River to Sisters? How long would that be?

So you guys think that Sisters would make for a good base considering all the side trips in the area that we could take? Is it the most central?

Thanks again!

And I think my kids would pick fruit for hours.... As long as they got to stuff their face at the same time. Although I'm not sure if that's allowed...

Would berries be in season at mid July or just cherries?
Is the lavender at peak at that time?

How much time would you allow for the fruit loop, and how far is it from hood River?

Link to a lavender farm you would pass if coming through Eugene

http://www.oregonlavenderdestination...r-Lavender.php

There are probably some U-pick berry picking places along the way too although I don't think you could stuff your face unti you paid for them.

Wild blackberries grow like crazy in Oregon so you could find yourself a patch and pick all you want as long as you aren't trespassing. The thorns are brutal though so with kids you would have to be careful.

My preference for central Oregon would still be the Bend area but Sisters is good also- would not turn down a weekend there.

Hood River to Sisters - Rt. 35 south from Hood River on the east side of Mt. Hood connecting to US 26 east.
Once you are out of the mountains, pull over and look back at the mountains including Mt. Hood.
In Madras you will join US 97 south to Redmond. There is a nice Sleep Inn in Redmond which has an inside pool.
From Redmond take Rt. 126 west to Sisters. The 5 Pines is on the left just as you are coming into town. The most iconic place for lunch in Sisters is Bronco Billy's. I also recommend the SnoCap for some ice cream or a burger.
Coming south from Madras you should stop at the Peter Skene Ogden rest area next to the Crooked River Gorge.
Just east of Terrebonne is the Smith Rock area if you wanted to watch some climbers.
There is an antique store in Redmond if you like that sort of thing.
The annual Sisters Quilt show is on Saturday July 9. Unless you love quilts and huge crowds, don't be there on the second Saturday of July.
For a trip out of Bend use Century Drive to get on the Cascade Lakes Highway out to Mt. Bachelor and Sparks Lake and or Elk Lake.

I think I need a good map...
Could you please give me ball park estimates of driving times from hood River to sisters and sisters to Yachats?

Do ever use Map Quest or Google maps? Just enter your starting point and destination and it will tell you how to get there and how many miles.
I would have to look up to answer your question- maybe Tom can answer without looking up?

Almost forgot to tell you about one of the prettiest hikes of all- Iron Mountain. There are 300 and some varieties of wild flowers that grow there and the hillside looks like a Monet painting. The trail is pretty steep- however there is logging road you could take that will shorten the hike and make it easier for everyone.
If you can find a Bill Sullivan hikes of Central Oregon book, he does a great job of describing hikes and directions.
There is also a ranger station or visitors center in Sisters where I am sure you can get info.
The flowers are usually in peak bloom the 2nd week of July- but that is dependent on how much snow there has been up there.

I think one of the prettiest parts of the coast is between Florence and Lincoln City.
Don't miss a stop at Devils Elbow State Park ( also know as Heceta Head).
It's a nice sheltered cove with an easy trail up to the lighthouse- the most photographed lighthouse in the U.S.
This is a place where you could spend hours as kids love to explore the caves, play in the river that comes down to the ocean.

Are we making you crazy with options?

You can find everything you ever wanted to know about the Fruit Loop (and likely more) here: http://hoodriverfruitloop.com/. How much time to allow depends entirely on how many places you plan to stop, but we've never spent more than 3 - 4 hours. Always anxious to get back into Hood River and Double Mountain Brewery. As for travel times and distances, I've found Google Maps reasonably good for ballpark estimates: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.1454465,-120.5834016,7z. Click the blue box with the directional arrow to input locations.

I see you beat me to the punch, sunbum!

Ha ha! I use google maps ALL the time! But, I have to figure out if the route you recommend is the same as the Google route.
I just plugged in Dee Wright Observatory to see how long it would take to get there, and Google couldn't find it!

I have the lonely planet book and an iPad (and fodors), so I am doing my best!
Maybe one big map of OR would be nice too....

You guys are making me want to have more time so I can do everything!

Hood River to Madras is 2 hours (101 miles) via Rt. 35 and US 26. From Madras to Sisters via Redmond is an hour counting a 10 minute stop at the Ogden Rest Area for a bathroom break and a look at the Crooked River Gorge.
The old bridge is open to walk above the gorge (300 feet to the river).
Total driving time 3:00 to 3:15.
Both Sisters and Bend have breweries if that interests you.
Be sure to visit the High Desert Museum and the Lavalands Visitor Center south of Bend.

Another vote against the Sea Lion Caves and its gift shop that does not sell surgical masks to help with the smell.

Funny Dee Wright is not on Google Maps. That's because the road is so curvy the Google mappers didn't want to take the time to go there. Or because the road was still closed due to snow!

Just kidding of course.

So much to see and do. I have lived lived here for 25 years and still have a lot to explore.

Link says 15 miles from Sisters. Would have thought farther but I always come from the other end

Hmmm ! Having trouble with copy and paste.
I just Googled " driving time from Sister Or to Dee wright and up it popped.

Proxy Falls

https://www.theoutbound.com/oregon/h...to-proxy-falls

Hmm... I must have fat fingers....or I broke gmaps...
I still can't get a route to Dee wright Observatory...

So right now I'm getting times of about an hour to most of these day excursions.
Proxy falls (1:15)
Sahalie falls (1:15)
Clear lake (45 min)
Iron mountain (1 hr)
And about 20 minutes to Camp Sherman.

I have 3 nights in the area before heading out to Yachats. some decisions will have to get made on what not to do...

Land at PDX from Phoenix get rental car drive to gorge
2 nights Gorge (drive to waterfalls, do fruit loop)
3 nights Sisters
3 nights Yachats (aquarium, cape perpetua, heceta pt)
4 nights arch cape (I know, probably too long here)
2 Portland

What do you guys think?

Thanks again for all the suggestions! And please free to give more. You have been so helpful!