SeeingtheSights

For you many Oregon folk, can you give me your opinion if the following are worth a look, and if so, how long should we budget for them?

We have a tight schedule, so right now, these are the ones that are "on the chopping block" so to speak. We'll be in the area, but right now, aren't sure about doing them. Much thanks.

-High Desert Museum in Bend.
-Smith Rock Park in Bend.
-Newport Aquarium.
-Mt. Hood railroad ride.
-Columbia Gorge riverboat ride.
-Columbia Gorge old scenic highway (thinking of sticking to the main highway and just pulloff at Multnomah and the other sites).
-Crater Lake (we'll be driving by from Bend to Eugene and was thinking of just taking the western portion of the drive to the lodge, have lunch, then back out the same way. Do you really need to drive all the way around the lake?)

Thanks again for the help and I may post others later, so be prepared!!

bob_brown

I can comment on just a few places on your list. The Bend museum is good. Most people don't realize just how dry the interior of Oregon is! The coast ranges of mountains cut off the moisture.

The Columbia Gorge is pretty. It is not the wild river now that it once was in the days of the Oregon Trail.

Crater Lake is definitely worth a stop. It is after all a national park. The drive around the rim of the old volcano is worth the time and effort. I took a boat ride on the lake and was disappointed. The view from the lake surface is analogous to one from the bottom of a funnel.

From the rim you can see the whole crater in full perspective.

Too bad you are not taking in some of the Oregon coast. I had rather do that than the interior.

Fodorite018

High Dessert Museum is excellent as is Smith Rock.

Aquarium is good.

Have not done the railroad ride.

Old scenic highway is excellent, definitely stop as well at the Portland Women's Forum for great views as well as Vista House. Walk to the very top of Multnomah Falls, not just the little bridge.

Crater Lake is excellent. The boat tour is very good if you don't mind the walk down/back and if you have time. You do not need to do the full rim drive.

Fodorite018

Missed one, the Sternwheeler ride in the gorge is just ok. I wouldn't suggest it unless someone was looking for time to kill, and even then I would suggest something else. Yes, I know, that doesn't make much sense

SeeingtheSights

Thanks for the quick replys.

mms, can you do the stops you mentioned along the CG from the main highway or do you need to be on the old scenic highway.

I guess I should also ask, how much time would you save if you did take the old highway as opposed to staying on the main highway? Maybe it's not that much time.

bob, we will also be on the coast. That may be part 2 of my post!

Fodorite018

You need to be on the old scenic highway for those stops. You can get to Multnomah Falls from the freeway, but that parking lot is more of a zoo than the closer one on the old highway. If you are coming from Portland on I-84, get off at either exit 17 (Troutdale) or exit 22 (Corbett, which is the one I almost always take). If you do the Corbett one, just go up the hill, at the stop take a left and you are on the old highway. Very easy

SeeingtheSights

Thanks mms.

Scarlett

Absolutely take the Historic Highway..small road winding through dense deep green forests, come around a curve, there is a waterfall on the right, as far as you can see across the river to your left.... and so on......

beachbum

Just in case you need more confirmation, ditto to everything mms said.

Not sure I understand your question here; ...how much time would you save if you did take the old highway as opposed to staying on the main highway?

SeeingtheSights

bb, I was just wondering if that old scenic highway was like some I've been on. Quite long and a difficult drive as opposed to the primary highway that usually parallels it.

If it was a longer (timewise) drive, I would stick to the primary highway and just stop at the falls along the way.

But according to mms, it looks like you have to take the scenic highway to see a lot of the sights, so we'll be taking that one.

Orcas

Here are my ratings:

High Desert Museum in Bend - Good. The lava butte and the lava tube are also quite interesting and worth a visit. It is cool inside and they will give you a lantern when you enter, which you need.

-Smith Rock Park in Bend. - Haven't been. People go rock climbing on Smith Rock. If you don't rock climb, I'd suggest you spend your time in the lava tube.

-Newport Aquarium - Wonderful. So is Newport and the Oregon Coast.

-Mt. Hood railroad ride - Pretty, but you will see similar things if you drive over Mt. Hood. With limited time, I'd suggest you visit Timberline Lodge in your car and see the movies, have soup, walk the paths.

-Columbia Gorge riverboat ride. Ok if you're into going on a riverboat ride.

-Columbia Gorge old scenic highway (thinking of sticking to the main highway and just pulloff at Multnomah and the other sites). Do NOT miss the scenic hwy. Visit other falls along the scenic Hwy., like Vista House and other Falls. The interstate is not a substitute for this.

-Crater Lake (we'll be driving by from Bend to Eugene and was thinking of just taking the western portion of the drive to the lodge, have lunch, then back out the same way. Do you really need to drive all the way around the lake?) Crater lake is out of the way. Unless you have lots of time, I'd focus on the Bend, high desert area and the coast. Crater Lake is pretty much of a single attraction. I know it gets a lot of good press and is very pretty, but it takes a long time to get there. If you go, you may as well spend some time there. We liked the boat ride, which another poster did not.

SeeingtheSights

Orcas, thank you for your thoughts. Very helpful.

Seems like Bend maybe a hidden gem in Oregon. You don't hear much about it as a tourist destination, but seems like the Oregon folks think highly of the area.

Since we'll be in Bend and need to get back to I-5 anyway, I thought we'd just drive into CL and check out the sights. But it seems like (as beautiful as it is), I don't need to drive around the entire lake, so I think we'll just go to the lodge for lunch then just exit the park instead of driving all the way around.

Scarlett

The Historic Highway is a road that takes you past all of the waterfalls and look - outs and Vista House..as opposed to taking I 84 and getting off at the last one which is Multnomah Falls.
If you want to do it right, go on the scenice highway.

Scarlett

The Historic Highway is a road that takes you past all of the waterfalls and look - outs and Vista House..as opposed to taking I 84 and getting off at the last one which is Multnomah Falls.
If you want to do it right, go on the scenic highway.

panhandle

The railroad wasn't worth the money. Better off driving. There are brochures for "orchard drives" that can be found in the area. Nice drives and tasty jams and fruit along the way.
The sternwheeler as mentioned...ok not great. We did the dinner ride and the food wasn't great.
Vista House and the old highway as mentioned were great.
I live near Crater Lake and its absolutely worth seeing but is a LONG way out of the way. Spend a little time down south and visit the scenic Rogue River while your here!

johnthedorf

Just a heads up on Smith Rock. It's in Terrebone not Bend and is spectacular. Good for an hour if you aren't going walk around and explore.

beachbum

Second that jthed. Smith Rock isn't just for climbers. Dramatic landscape, with a couple nice trails. I remember my then young daughter whining and crying all the way to the top, then ooohing and aaahing at the views, and pleased as punch with herself that she'd done it.