Help with Oregon Coast trip...
 

We will be traveling to Oregon in July and I need help with how many overnight stops to make on the coast. Here is our tentative plans.

Seattle

Amtrak to Portland

Then over to the coast.

We will be taking our 14 yr. old who loves to hike and see history things. I love lighthouses and bakeries! We are driving all the way down the coast and then over to Crater Lake and on to see the Gorge. My question is how many stops overnight on the coast. We want to spend the night in Cannon Beach and here are some of the stops that I have come up with.

Ecola State Park
Tillamook
Cape Meares

I just don't know where to stop overnight and for how long. Any advice would be great. Thanks

Cannon Beach is a nice place to stay but is very touristy. However, it would probably appeal to a 14 year old.

I would recommend at least 2 nights at the coast. Hwy 101 is 2 lane and in the summer the traffic is quite heavy. It will take you a while to drive the whole way. If you're going to Cape Meares don't miss the little town of Oceanside that is part of that loop.

If you like history, don't miss Astoria, about 30 minutes away from Cannon Beach, you may also want to spend some time in Seaside. :)

If you like bakeries, don't miss St. Cupcake in the Nob Hill area of Portland, it's a fun place specializing in all different kinds of cupcakes, Papa Haydn's is also a great place in the Nob Hill area for some goodies.

If you do make it to Astoria, go to the downtown area and spend some time in Lindstrom's bakery, they have some great baked goods here. Cannon Beach also has a bakery in their downtown area.

In the Tillamook area, stop by the Cheese Factory and the Blue Heron there, you can wine taste at the Blue Herons, also. They are well-known for their yummy Brie cheese here. Cape Lookout is also not to miss in this area, a very nice place for a picnic.

Enjoy your travels! ***kim*** ((f))

Kimamom,

I was hoping that you would reply. (Thanks also beachartist.) You were really helpful with our trip on the Ca. coast back in Oct. of 05. You are so knowledgeable. Where would yall suggest that we spend the night? Also, would you do two nights in one place and then finish down the coast or one night in a place and one night further down? Would you go all the way to the Redwoods and then back up to Crater Lake or just cut over at Gold Beach. Thanks for the help.

How long do you have for the Oregon portion of your trip? Are you planning to end up back in Portland to fly home?

We haven't narrowed down the days. My husband is taking 2 weeks off so I would guess 12 or so. We are flying out of Portland.

Most places in Cannon Beach will have minimum stay requirements at that time of year, probably two nights. A favorite of our family over the years has been SurfSand Resort: http://www.surfsand.com/.

After Cannon Beach, I'd probably aim for the central coast, either Newport or Yachats. Personal preference is Yachats, and more specifically Overleaf Lodge: http://www.overleaflodge.com/. It'll be a long day, so don't dally in Tillamook (no reason to anyway). You don't want to short-change Three Capes Scenic Loop - including Cape Meares - though.

Lots to see and do on the central coast. Stay at least two nights, more if you can. The 14 year old would probably love a dune buggy ride.

If you plan a jetboat ride on the Rogue River, you should plan on two nights in Gold Beach, too. Treat yourselves to Tu Tu Tun Lodge if it's available: http://www.tututun.com/. Unbelievable place....

Any Gold Beach local will tell you to go south to Crescent City, then northeast on US199, rather than the winding steep road through the mountains. Both routes actually take about the same amount of time.

That all said, take as much time as you can on Oregon's coast. It really is <i><b>the best</b></i> reason to visit Oregon. And I think kimamom would agree, having visited here most summers herself for however many years.....

BTW, I'd walk right past St. Cupcake and Papa Haydn's in Portland (but I don't get the recent cupcake craze...). Instead, go to either (or both) St. Honore at SW 24th &amp; Thurman - http://www.sainthonorebakery.com/ - or Pearl Bakery, in Portland's trendy Pearl District - http://www.pearlbakery.com/.

You can't miss the couple good bakeries in Cannon Beach.

Beachbum gives excellent advice, both for Portland and the coast. Surfsand is also a favorite of ours, and great for families.

The dunes at Florence are remarkable. Take a jeep tour.

Yeah, right mms! ;-) If ladynole tries to find St. Honore at that address, I've no clue where she'll end up. Should be NW 24th &amp; Thurman. ;-)

LOL Beachbum:) I didn't pay attention to the address...just the names of the places. Your advice is always from personal experience, not google or tourist maps...:)

Beachbum has outlined a nice trip down the coast. I'd also add the Ocean Lodge in Cannon Beach as a possibility in addition to the Surfsand.

If you have time, spending a night among the redwoods in northern CA would be great--I loved my stay at the Lost Whale Inn in Trinidad. Then you could head towards Crater Lake via Rt. 199, spend a night or two in that area (consider using Ashland as a base, then you can go to the Shakespeare festival too if that's of interest), then if you have time, go over to Bend/Sisters for a couple nights, then up the east side of the mountains to Mt Hood and/or the Gorge.

Depending on your flight time, you could stay out in Hood River and easily drive to PDX for your flight via the old historic highway to see the waterfalls. Another lodging option for your last night closer to the airport that I think your 14 year old would particularly enjoy is Edgefield in Troutdale.

Astoria Museum
Pick up some groceries for dinner &amp; breakfast at Safeway next door.
Cross the 4 mile long Astoria Columbia River bridge turn Left and go into Fort Columbia on Washington state side of the river or stay at the Lighthouse keepers house on Cape Disappointment a little further but at the end of LOng Beach
PREBOOK old Oficer qtrs on Fort Columbia (parks.wa.gov)
Lots of wild open space, deer, Fort ruins and ocean view.
If you have a 4 wdrive car drive on the (hardpack) sand at Long Beach WA or fly a kite or boogie board in the surf
Visit the Ocean Spray cranberry farm on a self guided tour

Check out oregonstateparks.gov
great maps to sow you all the parks, some where you can stay and the lighthouse. Fort Stevens Oregon just south of Astoria is another option if you do not want to cross into Washington

BTW this is Lewis and country country..lots of parks with great history lesons.
You won't be disappointed..lots of great food, lighthouse hiking beach...
You could spend your whole trip on teh Wash ORegon coast and never regret it...

I think the previous poster was referring to the Astoria-Megler Bridge that goes over to WA. I agree, the WA coast is cool, we did the drive up to Oysterville this past October and were able to see some of the cranberry bogs. There is a neat little cranberry museum over there, we also love Seaview. Have a meal at the 42 Street Cafe in Seaview, The Depot is also excellent for dinner. This is the area where you will want to sample oysters if you like them, they are fresh out of Wilappa Bay. :)

If you want to overnight in Astoria, the Cannery Pier Hotel is stunning, right on the Columbia River, dine at the Bridgewater Bistro there. The Holiday Inn Express is also right on the river. If you want to stay downtown, the Hotel Elliott is nice, walking distance to Fulio's and the Silver Salmon Grille, two of our favorite restaurants in Astoria. There are also many quaint Bed and Breakfasts such as the Benjamin Young Inn, The Rosebriar and Clementine's.

Any further questions on the northern Oregon Coast feel free to ask! ***kim*** ((#))

It's a little off your planned route, but Cape Disappointment State Park is well worth a visit, even if you don't plan to overnight there. As 1JAR states, this is Lewis &amp; Clark country, and the Interpretive Center in the park is the best in the area IMO. Plus, it overlooks the mouth of the Columbia River, another jaw-dropping view.

And if you do spend time in Astoria, if yours is like mine, the whole family would enjoy climbing the Astor Column and sailing balsa wood airplanes from the top. Another spectacular view from up there, too.

Yep, you can't miss the bridge in Astoria..... it's the only one crossing the Columbia.

You guys are great! I love that you all are willing to give such great advice and I love all the Bakery ideas. In Portland we are staying at Northrup Station (I think that is the name) and the front desk told me about a french bakery close to them. I wander if that is the same one in Portland? I do think that it is important to take our time at the Three Capes Scenic Route. The stop in Tillamook shouldn't be that long at the cheese factory but not sure about the DH and son at the WW2 place. Any ideas about that? Thanks for helping me decide about the Redwoods. We Floridians only see pines and palms. *grin* We did see the Rockies in Co. and I thought my husband would go nuts. He LOVE mountains and beautiful trees. I love the ocean. When we traveled the Ca. coast, we drove through the wine county and cut over to go to Mendocino and that drive had beautiful huge trees. Anyway, it is late and I know that next week I will have more questions because I am really trying to get the trip planned out so then I can concentrate on the food! Thanks everyone. Anymore thoughts, just send my way.

Yes, that would be St. Honore that is close to your hotel. I personally would skip the cheese factory, but definitely do the air museum. The Three Capes loop is beautiful. At Cape Kiwanda, your son will love to go up to the top of the dune there and either board and run back down. The top back area of the dune is interesting, so spend a few minutes up there checking out the views.

I'm wondering why you are flying into Seattle? The train ride between Seattle and Portland is not scenic if that is what you were hoping. If you had other reasons to visit Seattle, of course, then it's a different story.

We just thought it would be nice to see Seattle for a day or so since we will be out there and someone suggested taking the Amtrak down to Portland. My husband works for CSX (the east coast railroad--was once a train engineer) and I thought it would be something fun for our son. I know that Amtrak and the trains that my husband drove are completely different but I thought the experience would be nice.