travelinandgolfin

I've broken it down to areas we'll just be doing a drive through (get to a lookout, take a couple pictures, then hit the road), as opposed to spending some time at (say a couple hours to overnight).

The "quickies":

*Cascade Head.
*Ecola Park.
*Oswald Park.
*Haceta Lighthouse.
*Cape Meares (will NOT be doing the entire 3-capes loop).

However, at these locations, are there pullouts where you can just park your car, get out take some pictures then be on your way again? Or do you have to hike to get to the "scenic" views? If so, are they long walks?

Also, we'll be doing the following "scenic drives," but aren't planning any stops:

*Mt. Hood (the gorge to Hood River to Timberline).
*Oregon high desert (Mt. Hood through Bend to Crater Lake).
*Northern section of Willamette Valley.
*Umpqua River (from Crater Lake to Roseburg).

For these drives, I would assume we can just pull the car over at points in the drive and just snap a few pictures.

I've planned on spending at least a couple hours (or overnight) at:

Cape Perpetua.
Cannon Beach.
Astoria.
Yachats (staying overnight).
Newport (aquarium). Is 2 hours enough?
Bandon (staying couple nights).
Port Orford.
Gold Beach.
Brookings.
Oregon Dunes (outside Florence).
Columbia Gorge and the numerous falls.
Crater Lake (overnight).

Any modifications or other areas you folks might suggest? Basically, we'll be driving the entire coast, but may miss the portion between Lincoln City and Netarts.

Much thanks.

NWWanderer

Any chance you could lay out your day to day itinerary? I think we could help you more if we saw these things in context of your whole day and what else you have planned for each day.

One thing that struck me right away is that it doesn't make sense to go out to Cape Meares and back to 101--you *should* do the whole 3 capes loop because it'll take as much or more time to go out and back than to do the whole loop.

travelinandgolfin

Well, it's a bit strange because the T, W, Th, night stays HAVE to be at Bandon (due to golf commitments of course!!). I'm also trying to keep each day at the most, about 9-10 hours long (leaving the hotel around 9:00 am).

Soooo....

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Friday night: arrive in Portland around 10:00 pm.

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Saturday: Touring northern coast. Taking OR30 to Astoria, continue down to Tillamook (do only the Cape Meares drive) then back to Portland on OR6.

On this day, we'd be doing:

QUICK PHOTO STOPS (maybe 10-15 minutes) only:

*Cascade Head.
*Ecola Park.
*Oswald Park.

Longer stops at:

*Astoria.
*Cannon Beach.

A 9:30 hour day, so I couldn't fit anything else in (like the entire 3-Capes loop).

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Sunday: Leave Portland and head on up to the Gorge to Hood River, then up to Timberline Lodge (lunch), then down 26 to Bend, ending up at Crater Lake (stay overnight)

Pretty much a drive by of everything, but with longer stops along the Gorge (Scenic Highway) to check out the numerous falls.

Also check out the western half of CL on the drive to the Lodge (QUICK PHOTO STOPS only).

A 9:30 day.

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Monday: Leave Crater Lake (go around east rim, with QUICK PHOTO STOPS only) and head out to the Yachats (38 to I5 to 138 and stay overnight).

Stop along the Umpqua river for QUICK PHOTO STOPS, but no prolonged stops (except for lunch).

May check out Winston Safari, since we'll hit I-5 around that area.

Arrive at Yachats late afternoon and just check out the town and take a couple walks along paths outside hotel.

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Tuesday: Stay on the central coast area.

QUICK PHOTO STOP of Heceta Lighthouse.

Prolonged stops at:

*Oregon Dunes
*Cape Perpetua
*Sea Lion Caves
*Florence (for lunch at Mo's, since I've heard so much about this place).

At the end of the day, head to Bandon and arrive around 4:00 pm. Check out the town.

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Wedneday: Morning...GOLF!

Afternoon, drive down to Brookings and back with prolonged stops at:

*Port Orford.
*Gold Beach.
*Brookings (dinner).

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Thursday: Morning....GOLF!

Afternoon, check out the *Bandon Safari Park and the town. Pretty mellow day, taking a break from all the driving.

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Friday: Leave Bandon and head to Newport, then on to Lincoln City and up 18 back to Portland.

Only prolonged stop will be at the *aquarium in Newport (giving it 2 hours....is that enough?).

QUICK PHOTO STOP at *Cascade Head, since it's so close to Lincoln City.

Then driving through 18 (through McMinnville, Newberg) to get a flavor of your wine country. QUICK PHOTO STOPS only.

Back in Portland around 5:30.

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Saturday: Fly out in the morning.

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My main question I guess (assuming it looks ok in general) are the areas I have pegged for just QUICK PHOTO STOPS and whether there are pull outs for the car along the main route, or if I have to drive well off the main road or hike to the scenic areas.

Thanks for whatever critique you can give me!

Fodorite018

T&G--Overll, I think it looks relly good. I only have a couple of comments. You can definitely do the 3 capes loop. It really is worth it,and you should be able to fit it in since you will have lots of daylight. The Winston Safari is ok...not great, but not awful. We were there in the afternoon on a hot day, so the animals were not very active. So just try and time it for the morning so you can see them. Once you enter the safari, you are stuck and cannot turn around if you decide partway through that you want to leave. Coming through McMinnville is really pretty. I don't know if you are interested, but the Evergreen Aviation Museum is there and houses the Spruce Goose. It is a nice museum, and doesn't take too long. I can't remember if it was you or someone else, but if you need directions after Newberg to avoid a couple really bad roads getting back to I-5, let me know. This is my area, and we always take the backroads.

travelinandgolfin

Thanks mms.

The areas where I plan to do just QUICK STOPS, are they on the main roads where there is a pullout to get out the car and take pictures......or do you have to drive off the main road a few miles, and/or actually hike to get to the scenery?
I'm thinking specifically of:

*Cascade Head.
*Ecola Park.
*Oswald Park.
*Haceta Lighthouse.

I know the parks are huge, but was hoping there was sort of a "main area" where you could just park and snap a few pictures.

I do have your suggestions on avoiding the traffic from Newberg. I will definitely keep those tips in mind!

Thanks.

sunbum1944

At Heceta Head there are several spots along the road that you can pull off and take pics
or you can drive down to the beach at Devils Elbow State Park and walk up to the lighthouse

It would be a great place to stop for a picnic lunch - or stretch your legs

travelinandgolfin

Thanks sb. Actually for Heceta, we may take a bit more time there and walk to the Lighthouse. Will depend on how we're doing for time that day. But the pictures I see look beautiful.

Any thoughts on the other quick stop areas? Easy areas to pull over and take pictures?

NWWanderer

Ok, see context is everything ;-). It now makes more sense as to why you wouldn't do the entire 3 capes loop since you'll just be on a day trip from Portland, although as mms said, you would have time if you wanted to include it. You can kind of see how you're feeling at that point in your day.

I know you can get some good pics down the coast to Haystack at Ecola State Park without walking far from the parking lot (and the park isn't a long drive from downtown Cannon Beach). And as someone else has said, Heceta is easily accessible. Not sure about the other places you mention.

NWWanderer

A few additional comments:

I'd give Sea Lion Caves a miss. There are other places along the coast to see sea lions and I just wasn't very impressed with it (it's really stinky for one thing ;-)).

2 hours should be plenty for the aquarium. I enjoyed it greatly but was probably through it in an hour.

travelinandgolfin

Hey, thanks NWW.

As you say, I think how long we stay at a lot of these places will come down to how we're doing time-wise and feeling at that point in the drive.

Good to know about Ecola. Glad there's a close-by picture taking area. Also about the Aquarium as I didn't want to spend more than a couple hours there.

That Sea Lion place is iffy. I keep hearing not very nice things about the place, but we'll probably stop by, just to see it once (we'll hold our nose!).

sunbum1944

You know I dont mind the Sea Lion Caves- especially if there are a lot of sea lion in the cave ( they will tell you at the office if there are) and you will get some good shots of the Heceta lighthouse from there.

Another stopping point you might think about is Cape Perpetua- there is a is a road to an overlook of the coastline- short drive- you can stop at the Visitors Center for directions and there is a nice short walking trail across the road from the visitors center ( they can give you a map) that goes along the coast with close up views of the Devils Churn - its a pretty walk

Scarlett

Hi t&g, I am not ignoring you, I just don't have enough experience with all of these places to be that helpful.
mms and beachbum were the people I turned to when we lived in Portland..
But I think your itinerary sounds pretty great

travelinandgolfin

sb.....

We will definitely be stopping at Cape Perpetua for at least a couple hours and do some of the hikes. That's actually the #1 spot on my list! Thanks for the info about the visitor center.


Scarlett, hey no worries! All you Oregon folks have been very helpful!

travelinandgolfin

Ok, looks like Heceta Lighthouse gets more than just a drive by stop. It really looks great (hope the blue skies are out that day), so we'll do the walk and tour.

Can't find anything on Cascade Head or Oswald Park though regarding parking and lookouts. Seems like you have to hike at both of them?

sunbum1944

The beach by Heceta Head is my favorite in the area - nice walk up to the lighthouse and lighthouse keepers home ( did you know its a B & B)

There is also a trail from behind that goes down to a secluded beach
and there are some different views of the lighthouse from the trail

It is a beautiful place

beachbum

I hadn't seen this before now, tandg.... And I haven't read all the posts, so please pardon me if I'm repeating.

Day 1-Saturday; Cascade Head is waayyy down the coast (six miles north of Lincoln City), so you won't be doing that.... In Oswald West, it's a short hike (1/2 mile?) into Short Sands beach, but worth it, especially for your wife. This is Oregon rainforest.

Day 2-Sunday; Check out the east side of Crater Lake on the way to the Lodge (assuming you're entering from the north). Drive the west side the next morning.

Day 4-Tuesday; I'm guessing others have told you to pass on Sea Lion Caves, a blight on the coast, IMO. Looking south from Haceta Head Lighthouse, you'll understand what I mean. Best place to photograph Haceta Head though, is from the roadside turnout just north of Sea Lion Caves. Can't miss it; lots of cars and people with cameras.

Days 5&6; If it's breezy, swing easy! Nuff said. You planning to hire a caddy?

Day 7-Friday; See the sea lions on the docks of Newports waterfront (rather than Sea Lion Caves). There are no roadside pullouts for photos from Cascade Head. It's a hike; shortest route about 45 minutes. Post back if you think you'll have the time. I'm doubting it.

One other comment.... I'm out of breath just from reading your itinerary. ;-) Give yourselves time to enjoy and experience what you're seeing, even if it is at the expense of missing something else. After all, the only "must" on the whole itinerary is Bandon Dunes. ;-)

travelinandgolfin

Hey bb...I was hoping you'd see this thread!

Yes, it's pretty full, but I don't know if we'll ever be back to Oregon, so I wanted to fit as many things in as possible, even at the expense of maybe doing things more in depth. Hopefully, it will work out.

I'll try and see if we can fit in the short hike in Oswald Park. If you had to choose, would you do that over say.....the drive around Cape Meares?

Regarding Cascade head, my mistake. We wouldn't be doing that the first day, but planned to on the last day on the drive back to Portland since we're going to be going through LC. But it's a 45 minute hike huh? Maybe we'll just see how we feel at that point.

Not sure about the caddie yet, but I've got my tee times!!!! Playing Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes. Wish I had time to squeeze in Bandon Trails. Just hoping for good weather!

travelinandgolfin

bb, forgot to ask, but when you say :45 minute hike for Cascade Head....is that one way or round trip?

Also for Oswald, the 1/2 mi. hike, how much time would you estimate for that round trip? Thanks.

Fodorite018

T&G--My brother does a lot of work (and play) at Bandon. If you see a guy with a bright orange OSU golf bag, give him a hard time

beachbum

Hey tandg,

The hike out Cascade Head is 30-45 minutes one way, starting just uphill from the Riverhouse in Cascade Head Ranch. There's a trail head on 101 too, but that adds another 45+ minutes each way.

For Oswald West, allow yourselves an hour. At least.....

As a single, it's probably hard to justify paying a caddy. They are pretty helpful though, so hope someone in your group has one.