We are traveling with our 8 year old and 4 year old children in August to the Pacific Northwest and need some help finalizing our itinerary. We are starting off with three days in Vancouver and then two days in Seattle, but we really want to experience more of the incredible sights outside of the city. After Seattle, we have three full days to explore before flying out of Portland. We are debating where to spend our time: ONP (staying in Forks or Port Angeles & seeing Hoh and Ruby Beach area), Mount Rainier, Columbia River Gorge, Cannon Beach. Our list is endless but our vacation time is not (darn!) so we are trying to make the most of our time. If you have any thoughts or helpful ideas, we would appreciate it! Thanks.

Welcome to Fodor's!

In my view the Olympic peninsula and the Oregon coast are both much too far given your timetable; accommodation in both areas is likely to be fully booked, and the sheer number of hours in the car would be way too much with young kids.

Since you're flying out of Portland anyway, I'd spend all three days in the Columbia Gorge/Hood River area. There are many, many things for the kids and you to do, from riding the summer chairlift from Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood all the way to the permanent snowfields, visiting Herman the Sturgeon and feeding the baby trout at the Bonneville fish hatchery on the Columbia, short kid-friendly hikes to waterfalls, "U-pick" orchards and farms along the Hood River "fruit loop," swimming on river beaches or on a lake, maybe a visit to the fascinating Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge replica 45 min. east of Hood River... the virtue of the area is that it has incredible variety, and it's VERY close to Portland Airport, meaning you'll have more time on the ground rather than in the car. To me it's a complete no-brainer.

agree almost completely with Gardyloo. except i mght take one of the three days and make a run to Astoria and Gearhart on the ocean. it's only 2.5 hours from Portland to Gearhart and Astoria is even closer. finding accomadations in that area may be difficult but it could be done as along daytrip from Portland. Gorge/Hood River is and outstanding area.

You could absolutely go to the coast, if you want to do both nights there (often a two night minimum especially on the weekends). It might not be that you score Cannon Beach at this point, as it has become kind of a media darling. IIthink for the age range of your kids, it would be fun to end yout trip playing in the sand.

There are many towns along the north and Central coast. Gearhart, Manzanita, Rockaway, the ones down by Tillamook, all have their own unique charm. It would also be possible to stay in Astoria and drive 20 min to the beach.

Many on this board are not fans of Seaside, but that is in part because it has a bit of a Coney Island atmosphere geared toward children. Seaside and Lincoln City farther south tend to have a lot of motels. Newport has a bit more and also has an awesome aquarium with a shark tank your kids would love.
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Point of fact: Gearhart is right next to Seaside. Right now it is making to 1 hour 36 minutes Pioneer Courthouse Square to Gearhart at 10 am.

You are looking at the 2 hours range to Lincoln City and south.

You may want to do some additional checking on the Columbia Gorge. I have read on other threads that some things may not be open or accessible due to the fires last year.

Thank you so much for the quick input, everyone!

The Oregon Coast won't work in addition to something, but it could work (either WA or OR coast) alone if you put your 3 days in between Seattle and Portland all to doing that.

The fires last year have resulted in limited access along part of the Historic Columbia Gorge Highway, and have limited access to hiking trails around several of the famous waterfalls along the Gorge. However, much of the most scenic part of the Historic Highway is still open, as are waterfalls like Latourell Falls and the lower observation area at Multnomah Falls. Areas farther east, such as Hood River, the Hood River Valley, the White Salmon/Trout Lake area on the Washington side of the river, and so on - are fully accessible.

well a large chunk of the coast would not work trying to include much else but there is no reason the north tip-Astoria/Gearhart isn't doable from Portland before or after OP visits the Gorge area. better yet, if you can find accomadations, go Seattle to Astoria for one night, visit coast following day, into Portland area for two nights using the next two days to daytrip out to Columbia Gorge sights. and as I sad before, not difficult to do these staying in Portland the whole time.