I like the present plan the best.
The Gorge is a nice day trip, really can be a half-day..from Portland..this will free you up for another day at the Coast.

I will tell you some of my favorite recommendations for restaurants in Portland and what we liked in Cannon Beach..

What is great about summer in Portland ( one of the great things) is that as many restaurants that are able to, have outdoor seating..if only 2 tables and some chairs. Everyone is so happy to be sitting outside again.

In no particular order, I am giving these with a 14 year old in mind:

Mothers Bistro - Stark & 2nd
comfort food, great atmosphere, great breakfasts
Mama Mia - Stark & 2nd
same owner as Mothers..located next door. Italian food, like Mama makes..good sauces, baroque decorating but fun and good food.
Typhoon-SW Broadway
good good Thai
Red Star Tavern - located in the Hotel Monaco..
such good food, breakfast and great spot for taking an afternoon break.

Pearl Bakery-NW 9th & Couch
there is nothing that is not delicious in this place!
Silk-10th & Glisan
Vietnamese, great pho, great salads
Cha Cha Cha's- Glisan & 12th
Funky popular Mexican

facing Powells books on NW 11th is Mio Gelato...you owe it to yourself and your 14 year old to have some, at least once a day..maybe more .

Henrys Tavern & Grill
Burnside & 12th
Great family restaurant, good food, good service & atmosphere..I miss Henrys lol

On NW 21st & Marshall=
Miso Happy
Vietnamese..more casual than Silk
Pizzacatto..spelled right?
On NW 23rd..decent pizza and salads.
I do not recommend Escape from NY pizza, unless you are fond of grease and heartburn.
There is a chocolate store called Moonstruck there that some people like, they are in town too...good for a sugar fix if the need arrives.
There are shops there that you will probably love too..
On NW21st - Mingo for pasta..
Kens Artisan Pizza for , uh...pizza!! :)


Cannon Beach-
Mo's for clam chowder outside or inside watching the waves..very close to the window.
or for different/maybe better chowder, Gower St Bistro.
There are great little pizza places that we went to but I never remember the names.
Ecola Seafood if you want to get really good take out.

I am out of ideas now :) hope this helps..
Hope this gets you started..

Cannon Beach has always been my favorite beach town, but I'd recommend Yachats for its location. And, if you want a taste of north coast scenery, do like travelinandgolfin and drive to Yachats via Cannon Beach and/or Tillamook. One day should be enough for Crater Lake. There's hiking around there, and you could take the boat ride, but it's your first view of the lake that will be the lifetime memory. Now, what was your question again? ;-)

Scarlett, thanks for all the suggestions. I have finally decided (until someone makes another suggestion) 2 days in Cannon Beach, 1 night in Yachats, 2 nights in Gold Beach, 2 nights at Crater Lake, Rogue Scenic Byway to the Gorge 1 night, and then to Portland. I think that sound more doable. Not so many different hotels. What do you think?

Thanks BB. I had a lot of those areas around Yachats down, so it's good to get some verification on my choices.

However, there seems to be more things around Cannon through Lincoln City area than I thought, so I'll have to work some on that.

How far is it if you left Yachats (after a 2 day stay) and headed towards Crater Lake? I have found a whitewater rafting trip on the umpqua river and we could stay somewhere near Crater lake for a couple of days. Is it possible to still go on down the coast and then over or is that too far? Thanks.

I know everyone is getting a little tired of me but I promise that I am really narrowing everything down. I was thinking of an extra day in Portland so we can go over to the Gorge and then on over to Cannon Beach. Since we will be there two days, we can go up to Astoria and Seaside. Then on down to Yachats for two days. That gets in the dune buggy ride, lighthouses, etc. The question here is would we miss 'must see' coast if we cut over at Bandon to go to Roseburg for our rafting trip and Crater Lake? So many people seem to love the south coast so I am not sure. The other thing is I don't really want to give up Seattle (even though we won't be there long) but if OR. is more of a 'must see' then we could skip it and add time in OR. Thanks so much You all really don't know how much you have helped me.

I thought you were getting tired of us, ladynole! ;-)

Best route from Yachats to Crater Lake would be south on US 101 to Reedsport, then along the Umpqua River on OR 38 to I-5, and OR 138 from Roseburg up to the lake. This is an absolutely beautiful drive!!! But a long one; about 5 hours from Yachats to Rim Village at the south end of the lake.

There's not a whole lot to see from US 101 between Florence and Port Orford; it's that stretch between Port Orford and Brookings people - me included - are crazy about. But, it's not as if you won't have already seen a bunch.

Regarding the white water trip.... If you're planning any time in central Oregon (Bend area), you'd probably rather do the white water there. It's guaranteed better weather east of the Cascades, and you'll want a nice warm/hot day for that river trip.

One more comment.... When we did the SW Oregon roadtrip a couple years ago, I was making reservations in March for a late August trip. So, I'd suggest you book Cannon Beach and Yachats as soon as your itinerary is firmed up. And, where are you planning to stay around Crater Lake? Not many options there.

BB,

Thanks for replying. I am soooo trying to pin this down so I can get the lodging done. The rafting trip I found was on the Umpqua River but you think it would be better around the Bend area?
I just thought it would save us some time to cut over and go to Roseburg and stay there (or near the rafting) and then see Crater Lake. It would be a couple day trip, not all the way to CL in one day. I knew that you loved the coast from Port Orford to Gold Beach, so I was curious to see if you'd skip that and cut over to save time. The more I think about it the more confused I get. BUT I have decided on the days at each place and that has taken a burden off. Let me know which you would do. Cut over or go down and over. Thanks so much.

Just to complicate things ;-), one other possibility for a rafting trip would be the White Salmon river, which is on the WA side of the Gorge area. It would make for a long day but you could combine a half day rafting trip with seeing the waterfalls on the historic highway on your day trip from Portland, and then maybe you wouldn't have to cut out the southern OR coast and the jet boat trip.

It's a pretty exciting river though so if you're looking for more of a float, it might not be a good fit.

Of course my husband and son want the 3 & 4 stage rapids. I am the one who wants to float. What would you do about the coast? Cut over or go all the way down?

I'm not sure what you're getting in return for the time saved. And, if you did go all the way down the coast, would you spend the night in Crescent City, or where? If you're thinking Yachats - Crescent City - Crater Lake in one day, you won't have much time to stop anyway, so I'd definitely suggest cutting inland at Reedsport.

The popular white water river in central Oregon is the Deschutes. It has something for your whole family. And this year, with all the snow we've had, the 3's and 4's should be a lot of fun.

Are we tracking? ;-)

I would go all the way down the coast IF:

--You can get into the Tu Tu Tun Lodge (don't know if it's in your budget or not but it's an amazing place to stay IMO)

--You want to do a jet boat trip and

--You want to get at least a glimpse of the redwoods.

OTOH, if the only reason you'd be going further down would be for the scenery, then as wonderful as that stretch is, I'd probably spend 2 nights in Yachats and then cut over.

I think you should try the Jet Boat ride out of Gold Beach
It is very fun - there are some pretty good rapids and there are some more quiet spots but lots of scenery. We saw
The jet boats get into water fights with the rafters coming down - and you stop along the way for lunch.
I have done it several times and always enjoy!!

Just to add to my earlier reservations comment..... I just saw that TripAdvisor is promoting Overleaf Lodge in Yachats as one of the "Top 10 Hidden Gems" in the country. So, if you're thinking about staying there.....

Okay everyone, I have the Seattle, Portland, Cannon Beach, & Yachats hotel reservations made. Can't decide about the southern coast or cutting over at Reedsport. Suggestions?

Ahh, good ladynole. To your question....

If your schedule would require that you drive from Yachats down the coast through the redwoods back north to Crater Lake in the same day, cut across at Reedsport instead.

Or, if by spending a night in Gold Beach or Crescent City you would miss the white water trip, cut across at Reedsport instead.

My $.02 anyway. ;-)

I have been thinking last night about all of the suggestions about this trip and want to see what yall think.
If we cut out Seattle altogether, that would leave more time for everything we want to do in Or. We could go all the way down the coast and see the Redwoods, we could go rafting near the Gorge, and we could see Crater Lake.
If we go to Seattle, we will have to give up going all the way down the coast and cut over at Reedsport. That is really the choice now. I have reservations in Seattle (that can be canceled) and in Portland, down to Yachats. I can change the days because each hotel still has room. Help me make this last decision. Is Seattle worth giving up to go all the way down the coast to the Redwoods or not. I would love to see the Space Needle, ride the ferry & see Pike Place Market but we can change it if we have to. Thanks so much for your help.

To me it depends on if you see yourself visiting Seattle another time. Washington a fun place and has plenty to for another trip. If you dont see yourself going back...go to Seattle. I live about an hour to Crater Lake and a couple hours to Gold Beach and the Redwoods while both are nice I dont that another trip would be worth it catch them now and save the trip to Washington for another time. Kind of a vague answer I know. My vote is keep Seattle unless you can do another trip.

ladynole--I would save Seattle for another visit. There is SO much to do and see up there that it is worthy of its own 2 weeks. Otherwise I think you will be disappointed that you won't have time to fully enjoy everything you see on this trip.

Thank you all for helping me with our trip. I talked to my two boys (dh & ds) and they would rather do Or. and the Redwoods than Seattle. My husband wants to see the Canadian Rockies and we thought it would be a good trip to fly into Seattle and do all that with one trip. I am glad that the decision has been made. I will see Seattle one day but I think my son will really enjoy the coast and the redwoods. He loves to hike. He once got lost in the woods behind our house when he was about 2 yrs. old (oh the panic) and 911 had to be called. He has always loved the woods! (as you can see) You fodorites are really great. You help everyone so much. If you think of some great places to eat along the coast, let me know. Also, would you do the jetboat trip even if we go whitewater rafting? Thanks all.