This is so fun and I love all the ideas. We will check out the crabbing. I looked up Waldport and it looks beautiful. Checked online for restaurants in Newport on the water and found Mo's, wonder if that is the one you are talking about Sunbum1944. We will try American Dream pizza (I looked it up and they have 16 microbrews) and Francesco's sounds great. We will only have one day in Portland so we will try The Floating Newport Bay. You should see all of my notes!!! This is going to be so much fun. Any suggestions on what to see between Portland and Corvallis? Thanks again everyone.

If you have time to take a slower drive from Portland to Corvallis try one of the Highway 99s. Hwy 99E - pick up on Aurora and go through Woodburn and end up in Salem. Or take Hwy 99W through the wine country. You can start in Tigard/Newburg slightly south of Portland and end up in Corvallis. If I had to pick one I think I would recommend 99W. You could make a short stop at a winery if that interests you, some might give tours for all ages.

Aurora also has some antique stores to bore a 12 yr old. Salem is in between but I can't think of anything better than what Portland or Corvallis has to offer.

The weather has been so nice the past few days, I hope it is nice when you get here. Even if it is wet it will still be pretty!

Sara

thanks Sara, do you know how long that route would take? Love the winery idea.

I agree with Sara. Take exit #279 off I-5 (Tualatin/Sherwood exit) and head west about 6 miles and it will intersect with 99W. That is pretty much where 99W starts to get pretty vs all the strip malls. The drive is about an hour and a half or so. You could also stop off at Champoeg State Park.

I have a 12 & 14 year old and live in SO. If you've made it as far as Waldport,(nowheresville) head 10 miles south to Yachats and explore the (tiny but charming) town. It's got a small state park right next to the beach with great access. Lots of marine life on the rocks, etc. Sea Lion Caves are about another 10 miles south and is a cool experience, riding an elevator down to the caves. You can explore lighthouses all along the coast too. There's a Ripley's at the bayfront in Newport that my kids love. Mo's is OK. Hit the salt water taffy place too.
For a unique to Portland seafood experience, you should go to Dan & Louis Oyster Bar in Downtown. 100 years old and the interior is like the hold of a ship. Oyster Stew made with Oysters from their own beds. A REAL experience, not a chain. Burgerville is a must do too.

Don't forget the Evergreen Aircraft Museum in McMinnville, home to the Spruce Goose. FYI, it's a good chance someone (aka flight instructors) will be around the McMinnville small airport who would be willing to give you and your son a ride in a private aircraft, possibly even a biplane (we did that several times...GREAT views of the Colubmia River and waterfalls as the pilots will fly you as low as they legally can). The area's pilots used to hang out at the private Evergreen airport in Vancouver, WA, owned by the late great Wally Olsen; after his passing and the sale of the airfield to property developers, the local pilots shifted their unofficial headquarters to McMinnville (and McMinnville is now the home of the antique aircraft show that used to be held at Evergreen).

http://www.wheretofly.com/evergreen/

Beachbum - LOL on a certain somebody referring to certain streets as Nobhill. She actually thought that the coastal resort that the movie, PARENT TRAP, was filmed at was Nobhill in SF because that's where they (the movie people) pretended it was. Too much pretension.

i noticed that someone was talking about haunted mazes around corvallis, i was just wondering if anyone knew about any haunted corn mazes that were actually in corvallis or closer than lebannon and eugene. let me know, my friends and i want to do something spooky this halloween weekend

Thanks everyone. We are back from our trip and had a wonderful time. Oregon is one of the most beautiful places in the United States. We stayed at the Kennedy School one night, went to the Rose Garden, hiked to the top of Multnomah Falls,stopped at Vista House. In Corvallis we checked out OSU and even were able to go on the football field. Ate at American Dream Pizza and had gelato at Francescos. Drove to the coast, saw a covered bridge, spent time in Newport, drove North and saw Devils Punchbowl and had so much fun in Depoe Bay, got soaked. Ate at the Pelican Brewing Co., walked on the beach and climbed to the top of the cliffs. We came home very satisfied with our entire trip.

Thanks for letting us know how the trip went. Sounds like fun, and you hit several of my favorite spots.

Hi beechbum! sounds like a great trip! I agree with you about Oregon being beautiful..I take SO many photos here!
So happy you returned satisfied with your trip, that is a great feeling!

Thanks for the info, BTilke, from a big fan of the Evergreen Museum. Can you explain more about how to arrange a biplane tour? I think that will be on my agenda for our next trip to Oregon!