oregon trip -- portland, coast, bend and gorge
 

We are trying to figure out a vacation this year that will be budget friendly. One of the places we are thinking about is Oregon. It is an area I have wanted to explore for a long time. The time frame -- I am thinking either the end of July. beginning of August or the end of August beginning of September as I think, that is the best weather. We are pretty open as to when we can travel -- no children.

Traditionally, we try to plan a 2-3 week vacation every year. I am thinking about trying to cut this down a little -- maybe 12 days. We are open here and, if we can find some inexpensive lodging to mix in it could be longer.

Traditionally we have been bed and breakfast fans. We have tried to stay under $200 per night on average. I would like to get down to $125 average and we would consider a mix of places to stay -- maybe some la quinta inn type places to balance out. Suggestions on where to stay would be greatly appreciated.

A tentative 12 night itinerary is 1 night Portland; 2 nights Cannon Beach; 2 nights Lincoln City; 2 nights Bandon; 1 night Crater Lake; 2 nights Bend; 1 night Mt Hood or somewhere along the Columbia River Gorge (would love Timberline) and last night in Portland or Troutdale. I usually prefer at least 2 nights in a place but a couple of one nights are ok. Prefer to drive 2-3 hours to get from one place to another.

Types of things we are interested in would be the Sea Lion Caves; a couple of Light Houses -- preferable very different ones from each other; Seeing local artists at work -- I believe there are several glass art studions around Lincoln City; some hiking -- mayber 4 or 5 mile himes. some waterfalls; Tillamook Air Museum; Oregon Under Seas Garden in Newport; Bandon Morse National Wildlife Refuge; Newbury National Volcanic Monument; Three Sisters in Sisters; Old Mill District in Bend.

Would appreciate feedback on places to stay, other things to consider doing; route choice and times; if this is a good itinerary; places that might require another night or one less night and anything else you can think of that would be helpful.

Thanks much for all assistance.

Just saw this, mpkp; hope you're still around!

Yours is a well thought-out itinerary. Hope the following suggestions help.

Cannon Beach - Check out Ecola Creek Lodge a nice little place on the north end of town with access to the most quiet section of the beach. It's also just up the hill from there to Ecola State Park.
Drive at least the northern section of Three Capes Scenic Loop on the day between Cannon Beach and the central coast. Be sure to stop at Cape Meares State Park for views and a lighthouse.
There's also a glass art studio in Cannon Beach: http://www.cbgallerygroup.com/icefire.htm. Offering this only because Lincoln City is not the usual pick. I think you'd much prefer Newport or Yachats. That said, Lincoln City might have more lodging options within your budget.
Stop at Yaquina Head for that other, and different, lighthouse. Incredible!
Oregon Coast Aquarium is much more interesting and educational than the Under Sea Gardens. And you'll have a more up-close-and-personal experience with sea lions at the docks in Newport than at Sea Lion Caves.
Cape Perpetua for some short, but big bang for the buck hiking. And Haceta Head for yet another lighthouse.
Dune buggy ride; better than any amusement park roller coaster.
Consider extending the drive further south, into northern California, so you could see the redwoods. Easy return to Oregon via hwy 199. Maybe cut a night in Bandon to do it. For most, the best reason to stop in Bandon is for the golf. To be hones, I've never heard of Morse Wildlife Reserve.
Last night in Portland at Edgefield Manor. Retro, funky, quintessentially Oregon.

Hopefully this gives you some things to think about. At least it tops your post for other Oregon posters. Once you've settled into the itinerary, we can maybe help more with places to stay. You should be making reservations along the coast ASAP. Might be too late for Crater Lake if you're hoping to stay at the Lodge. As for dates, I suggest late August into September. Labor Day will be busy every where, but things quiet down some after that. And the weather's usually great at that time of year.

I was going to suggest Edgefield in Troutdale for their last night as soon as I saw the post! Glad you agree, beachbum. It's a fun place to stay and very budget-friendly.

I think it's a great idea to cut to the east of the Cascades and take 97 up. There is a great cave you can go in south of Bend called the Lava River Cave. Wear warm clothes. Also, Lava Butte is pretty amazing. You might enjoy staying at the Inn at the Seventh Mt. near Bend, where there are lots of outdoor activities, or in Sun River, and rent bicycles. Another favorite place people stay in Black Butte, but you'd need to relax awhile there.
It would be nice if you could drive across Mt. Hood, returning and see the vistas from Timberline Lodge. The Columbia River Gorge is also beautiful, but I think throwing in a great mountain is worthwhile.

I agree with the suggestion to swap Yachats for Lincoln City. Otherwise it looks like a fun if rather fast-paced trip.

A couple of lodging suggestions: Cannon Beach Hotel in Cannon Beach; Overleaf in Yachats (I believe they have some rooms under $200 but it's worth a bit of a splurge if not); Prospect Hotel near Crater Lake; St Francis in Bend. And I third the suggestion of Edgefield for your last night.

Thanks for all the ideas. Beachbum it seems like trying to go to California is a long haul that would require another 2 nights or so.

I have no problem considering Yachats over Lincoln City If not Bandon -- and I have no particular reason for that except it looked easy to 42 and over to Crater Lake. If we stopped at Yachats we are a bit further down the coast -- How long is the drive down to Crescent City area -- is it worth 2 nights? Or is there another place to stop along the coast that we should consider?

Is this too fast paced an itinerary?

I see the Oregon Caves National Monument that would be near 199 -- is that worth considering a stop?

Thank you all for your input

It's only a little over two hours from Bandon to Crescent City, so it wouldn't necessarily add any time to your trip, mpkp. Spend just one night in Bandon, drive to Brookings or Crescent City for the next, then up to Crater Lake through the park's southern entrance.

Can't comment on Oregon Caves other than to say I've heard/read that people enjoy stopping there. It's embarrassing to admit that I've not been, having lived in the state for a half century.

I agree with NWWanderer's lodging recommendations, especially Overleaf Lodge. I love the Cannon Beach Hotel too, but you likely won't get an ocean view room any where in town with your budget, so the higher rates of Cannon Beach Hotel may not add value for you.

Some accommodations that we enjoyed and were budget friendly last fall on a trip to Oregon were: Astoria Inn(Astoria), Ocean Cove Inn(Yachats), Old Wheeler Hotel(Wheeler), Prospect Hotel( Prospect, near Crater Lk), Ocean Suites(Brookings) and McMenamins Old St. Francis School(Bend). A very nice chain lodging was the BW Mill Creek Inn in Salem. Perhaps some of these could fit in with your itinerary.

mountainmary thanks for your input. Several of those places look interesting I like the look of the Old Wheeler Hotel -- that would be an alternative to Cannon Beach -- Sea Crest Inn takes the B&B certificates and I have a few so I am wondering about that place in Yachats as a splurge. Prospect Hotel and Old St Francis both look interesting.

I am thinking perhaps for a 12-14 day trip including air and car rental.

Question. Do we need to consider Aug 15 - Sept 5 time frame or is Sept 12-26 or so equally good for weather? I think it might be easier to get the September space.

Thanks all for your input.

C:) <i>tick...tick....tick....</i>

I've said it before and I'll say it again....if the timing works out for you, stop at the Bandon Bakery for coffee and luscious pastries. Go straight ahead under the "Old Town Bandon" arch and you can't miss it.

I was wondering if it made much of a difference to stay in Seaside instead of Cannon Beach. Would lean to the Echola Lodge if in Cannon Beach due to y'all's recommendation but looked at the Gilbert Inn in Seaside for the same or a little less money using the B&B gift certificates.

I sketched a tentative itinerary -- Instead of spenting the first night in Portland, I thought we would fly out on a Saturday morning and go straight to Cannon Beach or Seaside. Spend 3 nights there then 2 in Yachats; 2 in Brookings; 2 near Crater Lake -- probably the Prospect Historic Hotel; 3 in Bend and then stumped -- maybe 1 night Hood River or Government Camp area and one night within an hour of the Portland airport. Edgefield does not work as my husband will not stay anywhere unless the bath in ensuite -- not even a private bath across the hall -- and they do not have any availability of those rooms.

At the Prospect Historic Hotel, did you stay in the motel part of the hotel? And should we spend 2 nights here in order to spend one full day at Crater Lake or should we try to find a place to stay on the other side of Crater Lake on the way to Bend. We would drive to Prospect from Brookings and spend the night. Then get up and spend the day at Crater Lake -- to come back to Prospect and then go to Bend -- would it be better to stay in Chemult or Cheloquin after Crater Lake?

Thanks

One more question -- The Overleaf has been recommended in Yachats. I believe they have a sister property -- Fireside -- which is less expensive. Any input on that one? I also wondered about Sea Quest Inn because they do take those B&B gift certificates I have. Any feedback on that would be helpful.

Thanks

We stayed in the hotel B&B at Prospect Hotel. Rooms were nice but spent much of the evening on the front porch. Two nights at Prospect would be fine but a day at Crater Lake would give you plenty of time to make the drvie to Bend for the night if you choose. Lunch at the lodge is enjoyable. If you are into longer hikes you might want more time at Crater Lake but you can take short walks at the viewpoints in a few hours. We did not take the boat ride, however, which might be another consideration. A stop at the Rogue River on the way to Crater Lake is intersting.

Excuse me---interesting

You can easily do what you outline in two weeks. Cannon Beach to Brookings is 313 miles, and from Brookings Crater Lake is about 200 miles. Bend is less that 100 miles form Crater Lake, and so on.

Just north of Bend, on your way to Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge, is Smith Rock State Park--very much worth a visit.

I agree that the drive from Port Orford to Brookings is beautiful, but if you are concerned about too much driving, I suggest you drive no farther south and Bandon.

This thread sounds much more thoroughly considered than did your later effort. I posted a reply there, but I like that you seem to have considered so much more in this post than you did later, for the other post.

Anyway, I'm just posting here to alert you to my reply on the other one, so just click on my name or your name to find it.

We did something almost exactly as you described, except we did it in eight days. We went around the second week of September because we heard that was the best weather season for Oregon...and it was GREAT!

If you want an affordable place next to Portland airport, try the Staybridge. We stayed there the first night we arrived, and the last night before our morning flight back home. Quite affordable, looks new, decent size room. No view really, but you're just there to sleep. Easy to get to airport, maybe five minutes.

In Bend, and affordable place to consider might be the Ameritel Inn overlooking the Old Mill shopping area. We found it to be very nice. Huge room. Good complimentary breakfast every morning. If you stay there, try and get a room facing WEST. Great view of the mountains.

In Bend, you might also consider Smith Rock Park. Nice over look, and you can do some hiking there as well. Also the Metolious River around 3 Sisters is nice. We also enjoyed the outdoor wildlife museum just on the outskirts of Bend.

The roads in Oregon are GREAT! Just thought I'd throw that in. :)

So much nicer to stay in Cannon Beach as opposed to Seaside..just my two cents.
cheers,
CC

please read my trip plans on the forum. I added it tonight. Oregon Coast, Newport and see what you think. Too much to type again. Thanks