We are planning a last minute trip (next week!) to Oregon. Never been before - we've always done more adventure traveling like Honduras or Costa Rica. My kids are 19, 21, 22. We're not big hikers (a mile or so would be fine). Any suggestions for fun things to do (boogie boarding, kayaking, or any other thoughts). It looked like Cannon Beach and the falls are good places to go. Any small cool towns with some rustic cabins, maybe near the ocean? Thanks so much.
Sally

NurseSally, I do not know about weather conditions at this time of the year, but windsurfing and kite boarding at Hood River on the Columbia River might interest your kids. I think it is known as the wind surfing captial of the world. We enjoyed just watching about two years ago. You will enjoy the scenery along the Columbia River Gorge and the viewpoint just up from Hood River is a great place to see Mt. Hood. Also the Oregon State Parks lists some cabins along the beach. Hope this is helpful.

Don't know if you have time to go further south, but last summer we took 2 of our kids ages 8 and 14 on a dune buggy ride over the sand dunes in Florence at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. They loved it and it was not tame at all. We stayed in Yachats, which was a very small beachy town at a great hotel, I think the name was Overland Leaf Lodge. We had an oceanfront 1st floor room which we could walk right outside to the rocks. Beautiful location!

Maureen is referring to the Overleaf Lodge in Yachats, and she's right, it has the best setting of any lodging on the coast in my opinion. But it is on the central coast, about a 3 hour drive from Portland, whereas Cannon Beach is half of that. Other coastal towns to consider: Manzanita, Pacific City, Neskowin, possibly Gearhart. All are smaller, less popular than Cannon Beach. But next week bumps up against Memorial Day, so I expect finding decent accommodations won't be easy. Cape Lookout State Park has some of those "rustic" cabins; you might get lucky.

Fun things to do.... hmmm...... Boogie boarding maybe, but only if you've got wet suits. The ocean here is bone-numbing cold. Kayaking would make more sense. I think you could rent them at Cannon Beach Surf Shop: http://www.cannonbeachsurf.com/index.php. But the most popular beach activities are sandcastle building, flying kites, tidepooling, fun-cycles, frisbee.... the kinds of things where you don't get wet. ;-)

As jrbnrnc says, Hood River is a windsurfing hot spot. I'm not out there enough to know if it goes on year round. But the forecast for at least the beginning of next week is promising, so weather should be on your side.

Any specific questions?

Would your kids like to learn to surf? There are Cleanline Surf Shops in both Cannon Beach and Seaside, they can equip you with wetsuits, boards and offer surf instruction. Short Sands Beach is a great place to learn! ***kim***

Whitewater rafting!!!! We had a GREAT time last summer with the Wet Planet outfitters: http://www.wetplanetwhitewater.com/

really fun with our 13 year old - well organized, friendly, great outfitters and this season should be terrific.

They are about an hour and 15 minutes west of Portland, along the Columbia River Gorge - they have full day and half day trips, we really liked the little town of Mt. Hood they are near . . . check it out.

Excuse me mp, but 75 miles west of Portland will put you near the coast! Good suggestion though. With all the snow we've had this winter, rivers should be huge. And most of them are east of the Cascades, where it's more likely to be warm and dry.

As for surfing, wouldn't that better be learned on a southern California or Hawaiian beach, kimamom? Or, can you speak from personal experience?

oh whoops. East of Portland. Of course . . . Thanks beachbum . . ..

Next week, my guess is even if it is warm at the beach, the water will be it's usual freezing cold and a full wet suit will be required, even if you just plan to wet your feet LOL

I have heard people say they surfed in Cannon Beach but all the times we have been there, we never saw ONE..

Did you look into the Gorge and the climbing by the falls ?
White water rafting sounds fun/scary/fun

Scarlett, Pup would love it . . . it is just scary enough - I'm a big babay and won't go on Ferris wheels, roller coasters or anything that goes higher than my height (and I'm short!) but I LOVE whitewater rafting - we've done it in Arizona, Oregon, and Colorado. Oregon was the best - class IV rapids and a 12 huge foot drop at the end - thrilling! Wetplanet was a really good outfitter.

I agree the dune buggy rides are very fun!! I always take visiting friends on that - and in Yachats there is also a sand boarding park-
Kids might like to give that a try

there are some nice hikes in the Yachats area that are not too long -
just hiking around the Heceta Lighthouse has several nice options
and the beach there is my favorite in Oregon -
looks like the weather is supposed to be great!!

thanks for all of your replies. It sounds like there is alot to do there and you have some great suggestions. You guys are the best!

Or you can go horseback riding on the beach in the Florence area

http://www.oregonhorsebackriding.com/