Help With Oregon Trip Details
 

My wife and I are spending two and half weeks this summer in Oregon with the following itinerary. I realize that some people will think I am spending too much time in certain places, but my wife and I prefer to spend some parts of our vacation actually relaxing and doing "nothing" instead of cramming everything in.

Days 1&2: Portland (staying in Downtown Portland)
Day 3: Leisurely drive along Columbia River Gorge (staying at Timberline Lodge)
Day 4: Mt. Hood area (staying at Timberline Lodge)
Day 5: Driving from Mt. Hood to Crater Lake (staying at Crater Lake Lodge)
Days 6&7: Crater Lake (staying at Crater Lake Lodge)
Day 8: Driving from Crater Lake to Grants Pass, evening concert at Britt Festival (lodging undetermined)
Day 9: Jetboat on Rogue River (lodging undetermined)
Day 10: Driving from Grants Pass to Gleneden Beach south of Lincoln City (staying at Salishan Lodge)
Days 11-13: Central Coast area (staying at Salishan Lodge)
Days 14-16: Willamette Valley Wine Region (most likely staying at Youngberg Hill Inn near McMinnville)
Day 17: Return to Portland (staying in Portland)
Day 18: Fly Home

I am still trying to fill in a few details, and would appreciate any suggestions/help for the following:

1. Suggested scenic driving route from Mt. Hood to Crater Lake. Weyll have all day to do it, since we donyt have to be at Crater Lake until late in the day. Is there a reasonable way to make McKenzie Pass part of the trip?
2. Suggestions for what to do between Crater Lake and Grants Pass, without going too far out of the way. We plan to check in someplace late afternoon prior to heading to the concert.
3. Suggestions for lodging in Grants Pass. My preference is to be here both nights (instead of someplace like Jacksonville, for example, because we will be doing a Jetboat trip and weyd be starting a bit further north for the long drive to Salishan).
4. Thoughts on which Hellgate Jetboat "trip" to take. I am trying to figure out the real difference between the 36-mile roundtrip "Quick and Scenic" tour (with or without the stop for a meal at the OK Corral) and the 75-mile roundtrip "White Water Adventure." I am not worried about the additional cost or the opportunity to eat. I really just want to know if the scenery is that much more spectacular further up the river to warrant spending the additional 3 hours, and if the comfort of the ride deteriorates significantly because of the rapids. (My wife generally handles powerboats and large sailboats well, but sometimes gets a little seasick on small sailboats).
5. Suggested scenic driving route from Grants Pass to Gleneden Beach. I was thinking of heading north on I-5 past Roseburg, and then cutting over to the coast at Reedsport via 138/38 to follow to Umpqua River. Also, once we reach the coast, where is the best place along the way where we could take a short walk to see the dunes? Or will we be able to get a good enough sense from the car?
6. Favorite wineries in the Willamette Valley (and why).
7. Is Youngberg Hill as great as other postings and the guidebooks make it out to be? (It does look very nice but they have a cat, and my wife is allergic to cats, so we may have to change plans)
8. Other than Youngberg Hill, what other B&Bs do you recommend in the wine country? Any thoughts on Lobenhaus or Bethell Lodging?
9. Is it worth taking the time to go to Silver Falls State Park (as a side trip from the wine country)? Or will we have gotten a good enough sense of Oregon waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge?
10. Any other suggestions you care to make would also be appreciated?

I'll take a stab at a few of these:

From Mt Hood to Crater Lake, go east to US 97, then south. Going back west in order to get to McKenzie Pass isn't worth the detour IMO. If you have time, cross the river at The Dalles and visit the Maryhill Museum on the Washington side.

From Crater Lake to Grants Pass, just drive and get it over with.

Don't have any recommendations for GP lodging. Aside from the usual chains, pretty meagre IMO.

The Umpqua River route to the coast is the most scenic way. Good plan. Leave early and don't underestimate how long it will take - many places to stop and sightsee.

Pack your mashie and niblick for Salishan. Fore!

Actually looks like a great plan, allowing for good time to see lots of places without being rushed. The Columbia Gorge offers lots to see and do (especially if you like to walk/hike). Personally I think Hood River would be a better place to stay before heading up the mountain. You might be rushed to see it all in one day, it would just save the trip up the mountain, plus more places to eat in Hood River. The next night you could stay at Timberline though.

It would be possible to go out Hwy 26 to Madras, probably a bit slow but the terrain is different, then west to Sisters then Hwy 20 to the McKenzie pass cutoff. Then take the freeway down to make up some time (stop in Rice Hill for some ice cream at the very ugly truck stop on the right - huge scoops of excellent ice cream!) OR from Eugene/Springfield take hwy 58 to Crater Lake. A long day of driving and definately backtracking but possible. OR you could possibly take the entire McKenzie pass from Sisters, this road is not plowed during the winter so depending on snow it may not be open. Check this website for info, Hwy 242.

http://www.tripcheck.com/RoadCond/izone5.htm

Crater Lake is beautiful, the lodge is great but there isn't a ton to do so be sure you have a book or a deck or cards or something to do while enjoying the lodge.

The Umpqua valley from the north exit of Crater Lake to Roseburg (hwy 138) is gorgeous. Lots of places to stop and see the river and trees. Could take a day if you want to stop and soak it up. However, that is headed north but you could take the freeway south. It may also be just as pretty from the south exit, I just haven't done that before.

I would recommend Jacksonville but see your reasons for wanting Grants Pass. If you like B&B's there are some out in the middle of 'nowhere' that might be in between....

I haven't done the jetboats on that part of the Rogue (only the west end) but I loved it. I generally recommend the longer tour because it gets more exciting to ride. I like the speed and excitement. I have been 2 times and never heard of anyone getting sick, certainly not like a sailboat! As for scenery you get to see more and the further from civilization sometimes nicer. Living here I tend to take it for granted so it looks just like home but the ride is great.

Silver Creek Falls is beautiful, I think the main difference from the Gorge is that there is a waterfall you can walk behind. As silly as it sounds, I always am impressed with that, it is really fun. Probably I wouldn't recommend it coming from clear across the valley would take a while. If you have spare time thought it is a wonderful park.

I need to stop before this gets any longer....

I can babble but I like to be well informed.

In the Gorge stop at Bonneville Dam and watch the fish coming up the ladders and see the sturgeon - awesome dinosaur fish (ugly too). Be sure to take the old highway (exit in troutdale). It is curvy and slow but so pretty. The hike to the top of Multnomah falls is probably not worth the time, since there is so much more to see in the Gorge, but it is good exercise.

Timberline lodge is old and pretty but some people are disappointed because it is slightly rundown/shabby. I haven't been to stay there - just don't expect luxury. As I mentioned earlier I do recommend Hood River for the first night.

Your drive from Mt. Hood to Crater Lake is going to be long so expect a long day. If you do go through Sisters it is a cute touristy town to stretch your legs.

On the coast I really like Newport, it has a nice aquarium, marine science center, fun little downtown area with some nicer touristy shops (and those that are less nice are always fun to see how much junk there is out there) :) Embarcadero has a nice Sunday brunch with good seafood. Newport also has great beaches and some lighthouses to visit. There is also a tidepool area (admission) that is fun, go and (gently) poke the sea anenomes. Lincoln City has a nice outlet mall if you like that type of thing. Just so you know Salishan is not on the beach and I don't think it has a view of the ocean.

Hwy 99 through the wine country is beautiful, take your time and enjoy the wine. One of them in Rickreall has a great Sunday brunch, food is great but it is in a wharehouse so don't expect great views! In McMinnville there is the McMenamin's Hotel Oregon. I have enjoyed a few meals there and liked staying at some other properties they own. Quirky but fun and clean.

http://www.mcmenamins.com/McHO/index.html

Enjoy Oregon, it is a beautiful place and you have plenty of time to get to know it. Let us know if you need more help or have more questions.

Hi - just a couple of comments here...I echo the previous poster...Timberline Lodge is "historic" but the rooms are kind of shabby and the walls are paper thin...i.e. you can hear the toilet flush in the next room! But it is a bit of history if that's what you're looking for and the restaurant there is decent.

Re: wineries. We have lived in Portland 3 years and go to wineries on a regular basis. Here are some recommendations. If you are REALLY into wine, call and schedule a tour at Archery Summit (they offer 3 times per day). Usually a private tour; they are the only OR winery with actual caves where barrels are stored. They only do reds and very high end. They charge $20 for the tour pp, but if you decide to join their "Bad to the Beaune" club, you get the tour and tasting for free. If you want TOP notch Pinot Noir that rarely leaves the state of OR, this is where you'll find it. Chateau Benoit also has decent wines and a gorgeous setting...beautiful mountain views and you can sit outside and bring a picnic lunch if you like. Elk Cove has fabulous wines also in a very beautiful setting (in the summer we often see them setting up for weddings there). Skip these wineries: Sokol Blosser, Argyle, Erath, Rex Hill. I have also heard that Domaine Serene will be opening their tasting room this summer. You have got to see this place! They spent a fortune building it and the wines are also excellent. Hammered copper doors, a spiral staircase with solid granite slab steps etc...and fab wine that also never leaves the state of OR! We also love the reds at Cuneo Cellars (owner Gino is a great guy) but the setting there leaves a bit to be desired. There is also a small tasting room on Hwy 47 called 24 Brix where you can taste and buy various wines from small producers who don't have their own tasting rooms. OR is beautiful in the summer so you will love your visit!

Here's my input as an Oregonian and someone who lived in Southern Oregon for 11 years and has seen much of the state. ((L))
Yes, there isn't much to do at Crater Lake and I speak as a big day hiker. I love to hike, but the scenic trails there are short and the longer trails are not very scenic. CL's a very long way from anything else too BTW.

You want to STAY in Grants Pass? Well...hmmmmm. Okay but heavens knows why. JV is 100% nicer and only 20 minutes away via scenic back roads and you're already going there for the Britt. Grants Pass is not the ugliest town in Oregon, that is true. And I'm sure someplace is more boring. Yes, the jet boats do leave from there. And yes the long raft trip is far, far more scenic than the jet boats as it goes into pristine areas beyond the roads.

Like someone said Salishan is nice (love the indoor pool size) but don't expect to see the ocean as it's past the other side of highway 101 and a mini mall and a golf course and all the beach home developments.

You can walk through/on the dunes (and please do as looking down on them just will never give you an idea what they are like) at many places, the most known and convient right off the highway is Oregon Dunes Overlook south of Florence.((K))

Your plans look great. for lodging in Grants Pass try the "WEASKU Inn" (Phone # 541-471-8000)they have beautiful little cabins right on the river. Located between the "city" of the Rogue and Grants Pass. I believe it is owned by the Riverside Inn (in Grants Pass but have much nicer accomidations.It is a ten minute drive to Grants Pass and it would be a shorter drive to Jacksonville as well.