Researched previous posts and was hoping for some updated suggestions.
We want to have a mix of solitude and beach and wine country. We prefer to cook our own meals with fresh seafood/vege (would need sugestions on where to buy cooler, fresh food for Fort Columbia, WA and Newport, OR) but would like some meals out.
Any thoughts would be appreciated

1st night Portland after fly in.
2nd & 3rd night Fort Columbia, WA.
4th & 5th nights Stephanie Inn Cannon Bch, OR
6-10th nights Starfish condos Newport OR with Wine country day trips
11th night drive inland wine country to Portland
12th Fly out
I am really excited..this is my husbands first trip/anniversary trip to Portland...so would like to make it special. Txs so much

It's fine to cook your own meals, but I'm not sure where you'll find tripe to cook in Oregon.

Would appreciate a helpful response

Gee, I would have given one if I had one, meanwhile I hope you aren't so lacking in any sense of humor that my post didn't at least make you smile.

I've lived in Portland most of my life, but have never heard of Fort Columbia. How and why did you pick there?

The best of Oregon's wine country is a looonnnggg haul from Newport, probably close to two hours. You'd be much better doing wine day trips from Portland, or spending a night or two in a place like Black Walnut Inn or Youngberg Hill.

I smiled Neo since I live in Portland and rarely hear much about tripe

I agree with beachbum, and from my experience, the "wine country" ( which is nothing like Ca wine country) should not take up more than a day for you. The Black Walnut Inn would be a wonderful spot to stay for a night or two.

When I travel, I prefer not to cook, so I am afraid I cannot help with that..except to say that Oregon has farmers markets all over the place and that would be a charming way to get your fresh produce. If you are in Portland over a Sat, you can go to the Portland Farmers Mkt in the South Park Blocks.

Beachbum... Fort Columbia is in Southwest Washington across from Astoria. I choose it because we wanted a mix of solitude, etc....and we can cook our own meals.
Washington and Oregon have several "retired Forts" in which they rent out the previous military homes. Since there is usually a limit on the number of houses...there is usually lots of solitude...and at a bargain rental rate of about 170.00 you rent the entire home...no one else to bother you...and a very large outdoor environment to explore.

Ft. Columbia sounds really nice, 1JAR. You've done your research!! Is it on the river or the coast? Or, do you care?

So... I feel like I've learned more from you than you probably did from me! Anything more we can do to help? Restaurant recs in Portland, Cannon Beach, wine country (notice, I skipped Newport, because other than Mo's, I don't have any)? Winery recs? Just don't ask where to find tripe. ;-)

Bottom line, though.. I do think you're shortchanging Portland, and could give up some of your Newport time. Depending on when you're coming, I'm thinking sand dunes, Oregon coast aquarium, a lighthouse or two, and maybe an overnight at Haceta Head: three nights, tops.

You've not said when you're planning

Sorry, hit "post" too soon.

"You've not said when you're planning" to come. It could make a difference in what we suggest.

Happy planning.

If Fort Columbia is across from Astoria,
by all means drive over to Astoria to
food shop and check it out. They have
a fabulous Maritime Museum!

Here is the Itinerary now:
7/14 fly in Portland
7/14 & 7/15 5th Ave suites
7/15 Portland State U Farmers MArket.
need cheap place sugestions to buy cooler/ice around PSU. Vendors you like at FArmers Mrket. Grocery store to p/u staples near PSU or next day on way to Atoria/Fort Columbia
7/16 & 7/17 Fort Columbia WA
7/18 & 7/19 Stephanie Inn Cannon Bch
7/20 & 7/21 & 7/22 Starfish Point Condo
Newport home base day trips etc
need someplaces to buy own food for nice dinners seafood?
7/23 Drive back to Portland thru wine co 1 night Marriott Downtown
7/24 Fly home

Any suggestions re: cheap parking near 5th avenue suites?

There is an upscale Safeway store
within a block or two of the Portland
Art Museum, at the base of a condo
tower.This is all near the PSU campus
and the Farmer's Market and you could
get all of your staples here easily.
They also have freshly cooked hot food
if you haven't eaten enough at the Farmer's Market!

Wish I could help more but you already know WAY more about the area than I do (my family lives in Corvallis), but I have two ideas/suggestions:

As someone mentioned the "wine country" isn't like Napa. I have visited several of the wineries along the old highway 99 which were very nice. but more a stop-over than a destination.

In summertime I always see cheap styrofoam coolers at any big grocery store (Safeway et al.) and they'd have ice. My better idea is to bring an inexpensive cooler (you could pack it with picnic blanket and other supplies) tape it up and put it thru as checked luggage. Leave it behind at the end of the trip. I'm thinking of a nice Colman I got on sale for about $15, way better than the disposable styrofoam type, since you hope to get quite a lot of use out of it.

I tend to enjoy the bakeries that show up at the Farmers Mkt, I eat something there , picnic style, as we people/pup watch. Pearl Bakery has a stand as well as Kens and I cannot remember who else..

http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/

Safeway is the best recommendation, just a couple of blocks west from the Market. There are surprisingly few markets in town, so Safeway on 10th and Fred Meyers on Burnside are the big ones to shop in.
From the 5th Ave Suites, just walk up to Broadway and go left and walk til you get to the Arlene Schnitzer and behind that are the South Park Blocks, full of roses and big leafy trees, very pretty.

You'll definitely find a cooler at Fred Meyer, but why not buy a decent soft cooler you'd like to keep, and bring it along.

Favorite vendors at Farmer's Market? You'll have trouble finding one you DON'T like, much more picking a favorite.

Lots of good things to do around Newport. One of my favorites is the short hike out Cascade Head, just north of Lincoln City. The view from the Head is one of the most spectacular on the coast. An obvious choice is Oregon Coast Aquarium. But you'd probably more enjoy finding a beach with tidepools, and seeing the creatures in their natural habitats.

Heading south past Yachats is Cape Perpetua, Haceta Head Lighthouse (one of most photographed spots on the coast), Sea Lion Caves (you'll see sea lions in downtown Newport too, though), and the Oregon Dunes.

You'll have no trouble finding good, fresh seafood in Newport. Just head down to the marina/wharf area.

One afternoon in wine country is just about right, and if the weather's right, will make for a great last day here. Allow yourselves at least 2 hours from Newport. Wineries open at 11:00am or noon.