Oregon: First Time!
 

Hi, I'm rewriting a previous post. I am vacationing in Oregon for 2 weeks in Sept. I would like help/comments on our plans. We want 3 days in Portland. (Could use a hotel recommendation here), 1 in Bend, 1 at Crater Lake (we have reservations here), 1 in Roseburg and 6 on the coast (3 in Bandon area and 3 in Newport area), and returning to Portland.
Are there good vineyards in the Roseburg area and do you have any favorites.
I am reading a lot about Hotel Oregon. Is that a good location for our 3 days in Portland?
Thanks in advance. I know I'll have more questions as I firm up lodging.

Hotel Oregon isn't in Portland--it's in McMinnville in the wine country.

My favorite hotel in Portland is the Hotel Monaco.

I'd spend another night or two at least in Bend and skip Roseburg and/or spend a little less time on the coast. I'd also prefer to stay in Cannon Beach over Newport, personally.

I'm also wondering why just the one day in Bend. You'll regret not having more time there.

If you're thinking Roseburg for wineries, as NWWanderer implied, you're looking in the wrong area. There are a few decent ones around Roseburg - Abacela comes to mind - but Oregon's wine country is generally considered to be the area around McMinnville, Dundee, Carlton, and Newberg, southwest of Portland about 45 minutes. Many visitors plan wine tasting as a day trip from Portland.

I think Newport is fine; Bandon too, especially if you're planning to play golf. But, I think you'd prefer Yachats and the previously recommended Cannon Beach to both. In particular, there's not much to do/see around Bandon.

For Portland lodging, what's your budget?

Hi there! I responded to your other post, also. If you stay in McMinville, I would get over to Archery Summit, Domaine Serene and Domaine Drouhin for some nice Pinot Noir. We picked grapes in this area this past October and are making our own Pinot Noir, fun! Sokkol Blosser and Torii Mor are a couple of other good ones in this area. :)

If you go to Carlton, check out the Winemaker's Studio, a nice place to taste several wines at once and an outdoor area there with tables, also. Scott Paul is a good place to check out in this area also. Tina's in Dundee, Joel Palmer House in Dayton and Dundee Bistro are all good places for meals. Cheers and enjoy your trip! ***kim*** ((#))

Try the Sylvia Beach hotel for a really unique experience! (Google it for exact location etc). I think I wrote about it long ago on Fodor's..I will try to find the link...

Thanks for all the good information and ideas. Here's the scheduling problem. We arrive in Portland Wed. night and have reservations at Crater Lake Sun. night. That's why I planned on Bend for only 1 night. I thought Roseburg would be a good stop on the way to the coast especially if we spend most of the day at Crater Lake. How long a drive would it be from CL to Cannon. (Cannon seem to be a hit with everyone)
Kim, I'm thinking now that we can return to the Portland area a day early and do some of the wine country at the end of our trip. Thanks for the suggestions.
In Portland I would like to stay under $150.00. What is a good location?
Thanks again.

here I go again. The Rogue Valley
is the other major wine growing area of Oregon. Drop down to Ashland for a night or two, then head over to the coast on 199 and you'll experience lots of wine and spectacular scenery.
Stay in Gold Beach to Bandon area, Yachats, and Cannon Beach if you must.
Roseburg? No.
http://www.sorwa.org
http://www.southernoregon.org

Okay, I understand the dilemma... Hmmmmm..... Bend certainly works as an overnight. Three hours from Portland, and 1.5 from Crater Lake. Just put your blinders on. There's enough to see and do there to keep you occupied for a week or more. As an alternative, consider spending the night at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, then high-tailing it through Bend to Crater Lake.

Crater Lake to Cannon Beach is 6+ hours, depending on traffic, so not a good idea. But why not Crater Lake to Yachats (or Newport or Bandon) as you'd originally planned? Lots of stuff on the central coast you wouldn't want to miss: Oregon dunes (dune buggy rides!!!), Cape Perpetua, Haceta Head.... Then head up to Cannon Beach.

Like your idea of putting the wine tasting towards the end of the trip, maybe even with a night at Hotel Oregon (quintessentially Oregon), or another nice wine country B&B (Youngberg Hill or Black Walnut). Once you settle into an itinerary, we can help with other recs. Specific ones made so far are those that Kim and pretty much every other visitor to wine country has done. We can do bettah!

And as for accommodations, I'd be most concerned about firming up dates and locations on the coast. It'll be busy, even into September. If you settle on Yachats, think Overleaf Lodge, maybe the best setting on the entire coast. Several good choices in Cannon Beach too, both beachfront and not, depending on what you're willing to spend. Portland should be easy. You'll want downtown. Check out ACE Hotel. Decent downtown location, and great trendy-PNW-hip restaurant just off the lobby.

What about putting your time in Portland on the back end of your trip, then, and just spending the night in Portland on Wed and then heading down to Bend on Thursday?

I wouldn't drive all the way to Cannon Beach from Crater Lk in one day (very long drive) but you could definitely make it to Bandon or Yachats easily enough.

I agree with beachbum, there are much better wineries here than those mentioned already.

I like NWWanderers suggestion of doing Portland on the backend of the trip. As beachbum says, there is so much to do and see in the Bend area, and so you would really be missing out if you only had 1 night there.

Hotel Oregon is fun, and right in the heart of McMinnville which is a neat little town. But if you want luxury, you will need to go to one of the many B&B's in the area.

You're welcome! In Southern Oregon, there is a winery we really like called Paschal. Stop in Central Point at the Rogue Creamery for some fantastic award-winning Blue Cheese, you can sample several of them here, also. ***kim*** ((#))

You need to buy a decent map, kimamom. Or do you really think Rogue Creamery and Paschal are worth a 200 mile detour??

Actually BB, our friends the hotdog vendors from Wisconsin thought the Rogue Creamery was the highlight of their month long visit to Oregon so far. Of course, they are food and drink fans so sampling and buying cheeses that are world champs means more than hanging with the beautiful people in Cannon Beach to some folks.Crater Lake to Central Point isn't that far for people with open minds.

Thanks for the chuckle bbqboy. I understand and appreciate that you love where you live; I like the area too. But, for people with open minds, "hanging with the beautiful people in Cannon Beach" ain't bad either! ;-)

I love Stumptown too, I just have to give you top of the state folks some trouble from time to time. :)
(It is really good cheese though)

Your responses have been a big help. Roseburg is out and 2 days in Bend are in. I am saving the wineries till the end of the vacation. I have more questions. I am thinking of doing the Columbia River Gorge drive in one day. The guide books talk about a loop, but they always take you from Portland and stop at The Dalles. Do they assume that you backtrack to Portland or continue around toward Government Camp and back.(Timberline Lodge is booked) So is it feasible to do the entire loop in one day or should we stop in Government Camp for the night and head out to Bend the next day.
Also...how long a drive would it be from Crater Lake to Bandon?
I looked up Sylvia Beach Hotel. Awesome!!!
Thanks!

It's easy (IMO) to do the Columbia Gorge/Mt. Hood loop from Portland in a day--go out as far as Hood River, then south on Rt. 35, then up to Timberline for lunch then back to Portland.

Or you could just continue on from Timberline to Bend--it would be a long-ish day but do-able.

The questions keep coming. Is Mt. St. Helens a must see? Could it be done in 1/2 day? I don't know how I can squeeze any more in without giving up precious coast time.

St. Helens is almost a half day, just in the driving. Is it a must? I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but I've been living in the area since before the mountain blew, and have only been up there twice since.

I agree that you can do the Gorge - Mt Hood loop (per NWWanderer's suggested rout) in a day, as long as you're not planning much hiking. And if you do that, suggest you take a different route to Bend: I-5 south to Salem, then hwys 22 and 126 over the Santiam Pass through Sisters.

Crater Lake to Bandon should be about 4 hours +/-.

I'm back. Here is what I have so far.
Wed. arrive in late pm staying at a Comfort Inn in Troutdale.(Thought it would be close enough to airport if we arrive late and a good place to start on the Gorge in the morning.)
Thurs. Gorge loop stopping at Government Camp for the night. (Mount Hood Inn???)
Fri. Drive to Bend for 2 day to stay at Mt Bachelor Village, Riverhouse or Marriott's Town Place Suites. (Comments)
Sun. Crater Lake Lodge
Mon. and Tues. Bandon at one of the cabins on the cliff at Sunset Motel.
Wed and Thurs. Yachats, ocean view room at Shamrock Lodgettes.
Fri. head back toward Portland with winery stops and perhaps a stay at Oregon House.
Sat. and Sun. nights back in Portland. (no hotel yet)
So, what do you think? Please feel free to comment even if it is negative. I really value your insider advice.Thanks!