I am struggling with the middle portion of our 2 week August trip. (Background info: couple traveling with 16 yr old son.) We have 4 nights between Seattle and Crescent City CA. We plan to spend 2 of those nights in Hood River, and 1-2 nights on the coast in Florence or Coos Bay.

If you had to choose between Mt Ranier and Mt St. Helens, which would you choose and why? Or would you choose to do both and only have 1 night on the coast? (We do have 2 nights on the Northern CA coast.)

Thanks in advance for all your help. This trip has been very hard to plan because of all the great things to and see in the Pacific Northwest. I wish we had more time.

Of Mt. Rainier and Mt St Helens, I would choose Mt Rainier--it is a more spectacular experience (and that's why it is the #1 day trip from Seattle).

It would be a long day but possible to visit Mt Rainier (Paradise) and Mount St Helens (the east entrance) and to drive to Hood River via WA 25, 51, 30, and 14--crossing the river from WA to OR at Bingen.

I would spend one night in Hood River at the Best Western in a room with a balcony on the river, and I would have dinner at Celilo.

On the Oregon Coast I would not stay at Florence or Coos Bay. Rather I would stay in Cannon Beach or Newport (if I wanted lots of things to do) or in Yachats (if I wanted a little quiet).

In Yachats, I would stay at Overleaf (if I wanted to go upscale) or at Fireside (if I wanted something simpler), and I would have dinner at Adobe.

HTTY

I'd personally day trip through the Columbia River Gorge (which is spectacular) and not spend a night there - spend the extra night on the Oregon Coast. I assume if you are heading to Crescent City that you will spend some of that time not "on the coast" but doing the Redwoods?

I recommend Bandon over Coos Bay if you need a coast stop-over night close to Coos Bay, which is an industrial port kind of town and not a great town for the "Oregon Coast Experience." However, if you can detour from Coos Bay out to Charleston Harbor, Sunset Bay State Park, and Cape Arago if you can (it's an alternate way to travel between Coos Bay and Bandon instead of 101, which runs more inland on that portion of the coast).

Pick up an AAA Oregon Coast tour map if you can (I think it's since been combined with the Washington Coast since I got my map). This map is great as it breaks down various scenic and historic spots on the coast that you may wish to check out.

This is something you all might enjoy. http://www.roguejets.com/rates.php It is out of Gold Beach on the coast on your way down to Crescent City. I know several people of all ages who have done this and they highly recommended it. We are doing the lunch trip out of Grant's Pass on our trip to OR this Sept.

There is also the Tillamook cheese and ice cream tour in Tillamook. Something different to do.

Thanks for the input. I am a little late in finding hotels, so that is dictating some of our plans.

Currently we are planning to stay at the Best western in Hood River for 2 nights. We are picking up our car rental in Tacoma, so hopefully with that jump start we will be able to see some of both Mts. (Or possibly hike in the Lava Tubes at Ape Cave) I made a 2 night reservation for Newport. My husband will enjoy seeing the Rogue brewery. We can stop at the Dunes for a few hours on our way to CA.

Thanks for the tip on the AAA Map. I plan to get one, when I pick up our trip tic. You are right the purpose for Crescent City is to see the Redwoods.

I hope you will at least stop briefly in Portland - it's a nice city. At very least, see one of the Rose Gardens. (Portland is the "City of Roses" in part because our climate here is perfect for growing roses.) Most visitors see the huge, amazing International Rose Test Garden in the west hills, but you could see the less visited smaller (but beautiful) Peninsula Rose Garden just north of downtown Portland. There's also a huge independent book store called Powell's downtown that is a big attraction to book lovers but it's probably not something you'd have time for if you are out here seeking natural beauty.

If you stay in Newport, do check out the Yaquina Head area (and Yaquina Head Lighthouse) just north of Newport. Besides the much-visited lighthouse, the area around it is very nice - you can walk down on the beach area and see wildlife like seals and sometimes pelicans. (If you like lighthouses, there's also the much smaller, older Yaquina Bay Lighthouse right in Newport - you can tour both of them.)

I'm a bridge lover, and there's an amazing bridge (Yaquina Bay Bridge) in Newport over US 101, but you'll barely see it if you merely drive over it on 101. If you hang out at the bay front area of Newport you'll see the bridge. (Walk out to the docks on the bayfront to see if any of the sea lions are still hanging around.) I have a picture of the bridge hanging in my home. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is also in Newport, worth checking out.

There is a good Hampton Inn in Crescent City. We had a room with a balcony overlooking the ocean--very nice.

HTTY

Thanks for the responses. I would love to see the rose gardens, but do not think they would interest my husband and son. Unfortunately I do not think we will be going into Portland. (City time in Seattle and San Francisco this trip)

When we leave Hood River I think we will follow the gorge all the way to the Pacific. We are history buffs, so are interested in the Lewis and Clark trail. Have lunch in Astoria or Seaside depending on weather and mood. Possible stop at Tillamook for ice cream in the afternoon. However if we get a late start or do not feel like driving all day, we may stop in Portland for lunch and do a little exploring. Then drive straight down 5 and cut over to Newport

I just saw that there is a Pow Wow in Siletz the weekend we are in Newport. Thought this might be interesting. (The Crow Fair was one of the highlights of our Montana trip.)

We will definitely check out the light houses and bridges. They look beautiful. The rogue jetboats look fun. We did a similar trip in Niagara Falls to the Devils Whirlpool. I see that there are places to rent kayaks and possible surf lessons near Newport too. We may go white water rafting from the gorge area. So many things to do and not enough time!

Actually, the beautiful scenery along the Columbia largely ends west of Troutdale (we don't call the Columbia River area "The Gorge" west of there). If you follow US 30 west past Portland to Astoria, the scenery is either non-existent or hard to see for the last 90 minutes - not awful but nothing like what you see east, and much of it is industrial. As you drive on US 30 west of Portland, you go through mostly non-descript little towns like St. Helens (McDonalds, gas stations, etc.) which can be frustrating because you have to slow down all the time and hit the traffic lights. Sometimes when I drive out to Astoria, I take I-5 along the other side of the river in Washington and cross back to Oregon at Rainier, just because you can drive so much faster.

The International Rose Test Garden in Portland does require more time investment (even when you get up there, it's not always easy to find parking on a busy summer day - popular place), but the Peninsula Park Rose Garden is very easy to access from I-5 and easy to access and find parking. It's not a huge garden so you wouldn't have to spend more than a half hour there, but it would be a real shame if you'd drive through Portland and not even see the beautiful roses. Not sure what time you'll be driving through - only reason I would warn you off is if you hit rush hour traffic in Portland (bad idea anyway). You don't have to be a "flower person" to enjoy the beauty of the roses.

If I can modify Andrew's recommendation just a tad, if you opt to go west along the Columbia on the scenic Washington side, do not go over the bridge between Longview and Rainier but continue west on SR 4 to Cathlamet and take the ferry across to return to the Oregon side. The road is at near water level for most of the way (unlike US 30, which is high above the river, when you can see it) and the ferry is only three bucks for the car and all passengers.

... OR, if you DO drive to Astoria on the Oregon side, through "non descript little towns like St. Helens"... you can stop and see various scenery from the Twilight movies.

The number of girls the 16yo son could impress with a photo of himself in front of "Bella Swan's House" in Twilight (found in St. Helens, OR), may become a huge factor in your chosen route!

LOL

ROFLOL! That is too funny. While he is all about impressing girls, he is anti twilight. It seems to appeal to younger girls here (12-13).

Thanks for the tip about the ferry. For us midwesterners car ferries are fun, and $3.00 is a great deal.

Forgive me, I was projecting...

Consider that the world's first exposure to Bella Swan might have been back when your son was considerably younger, and perhaps more near to the wheelhouse of the Twilight-loving girls, who are STILL his contemporaries, even IF they have moved on.

(my friend who grew up in Forks assures that "the main difference" is that Forks "is full of teenage girls" now)

It couldn't hurt you to have the address of that original Bella Swan house handy on the chance that your gallavanting around northwest Oregon puts you nearby. It really wouldn't matter if your son is a fan... the girls, the girls, the girls... LOL

Were it me, I could get up and go there anytime... but those coming from far away should at least know their options.