Message: My husband and I are planning a trip to Oregon in August. We are not into touristy areas or resorts but are looking for a cottage/small home/condo for about 4 days on the coast and 4 days in the woods/mountains. We'll fly in and out of Portland and rent a car from there. Although I've been to Oregon about 12 years ago, I've forgotten all the beautiful areas. I liked the dunes and the Heceta Head Lighthouse area, plus I've also liked Diamond Lake area crater lake, and Multnomah Falls area. Any suggestions on towns/areas would be greatly appreciated.

I like Oceanside for a coastal destination. It is very convenient as a base and is a small town without much commercial excess (like, say, Newport-ugh!)

For the woods/mountain experience you might try the Metolius River Resort in Camp Sherman, at the foot of the Cascades in central Oregon. A very cozy little resort amongst towering ponderosa pine on the banks of the Metolius, it's convenient to fishing (lake or stream, fly or bait), bicycling, great hiking, and golf. And when you do get the itch to be a tourist, the town of Sisters is nearby.

Didn't really mean for this to read like a travelogue. But this is really a neat little place

Sisters is a nasty dull little strip mall of a town. One street with tacky plain storefront shops and the the views from the town are not of mountains as the tourist bureau leads one to believe. If you go to Sisters and expect much of anything you will be very disappointed. I know we were.

Odell Lake Lodge off highway 58 near Willamette Pass rents cabins that have great views of the lake. However, some of them are quite rustic, you have to ask for one of the newer ones. Even those will be simple--no TV, no dishwasher, but modern plumbing, electricity, and incredible views--sit on the deck with your morning coffee and watch the golden eagles fish for their breakfast. But remember that most places will already be booked for August. Your best chance will be for a week-day stay. Many Odell Lake cabins are reserved a year in advance. It's a a great location for hiking to Diamond Creek Falls and also Salt Creek Falls. Be sure to pick up a copy of the map/guide 50 Old Growth Day Hikes in the Willamette National Forest.
From the coast, depending on where you stay, a scenic day's drive to the cabins would be to pick up highway 126 in Florence, take that to Eugene, stock up on groceries at one of the supermarkets there (Albertson's, Oasis, etc.), then take highway 58 to the Lodge. Eugene is a nice place to stop for lunch and stretch your legs before continuing on to the mountains.

If you have any interest in quilting, there are some great quilt shops in Sisters.

Denise

I disagree with Paul. I have been visiting the Sisters area yearly for the last 13 years, my in-laws live there and I visit because I want to.

As beachbum said the Metolius River Resort in Camp Sherman is nice. Near by is the Black Butte Ranch. Lots of nice day hikes in the area.

In addition there is the Cascade Lakes Highway outside of Bend and Sunriver, cabins and condos for rent there.

Try this link for more information
http://www.covisitors.com/

Have fun!
GP

ON HWY 101 IS NESKOWIN IT IS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ON THE COAST, HAS SMALL MOM AND POP MOTELS AND RESORTS THAT ARE SECLUDED AND QUIET, IT IS MIDWAY BETWEEN LINCOLN CITY AND TILLAMOOK, VERY NICE AND BEAUTIFUL OCEAN VIEWS AT DECENT PRICES.

We have always enjoyed our visits to the coast of Oregon. My husband had a meeting in Portland last fall and we had four days to tour the coast. We found a very nice place, quite by accident, called The Inn at Otter Crest. We actually went to a small winery close by and saw the signs but at first we thought it was a private community. To our surprise we rented a very nice condo with a wonderful view (yes we saw many, many otters from our balcony) and they offered us a special which for $25 more we could have dinner for two. We were both skeptical but it was one of the best dinners we have had in a very long time, and a nice selection was offered. You may want to look them up at www.innatottercrest.com. The Inn is located 15 miles south of Lincoln City and 7 miles north of Newport. It was a wonderful unexpected treat. Diane Moll.

You might find some charming b&bs at the website pillowpoints.com.