Portland/North Coast itinerary
Apr 4th, 2006, 08:11 PM
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Portland/North Coast itinerary
Our family of 3 (husband, 4-yr-old daughter, myself) is planning a short vacation to Oregon at the end of this month or early May and we have decided to focus on the northwestern portion of the state. Here's our proposed itinerary: Day 1 - early flight from LA, sightsee Portland; Day 2 - Columbia Gorge - Mt Hood scenic byway, return to Portland; Day 3 - Mt St Helens to ? (Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach?); Day 4 - tour coast to ? (Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Otter Rock, Newport?); Day 5 - return to Portland via McMinnville/wine country, late flight to LA.
We will be renting a car and our main interests are scenery and getting a good sense/flavor of the region. My questions are:
1. Suggestions for destination city on Day 3 and 4; we would like to spend some time beachcombing and/or tidepooling, in particular.
2. Is devoting a day to Mt St Helens worthwhile at this time of year (husband is kind of a volcano fanatic)?
3. Are we trying to do too much on any particular day?
4. Portland highlights - I know we aren't giving Portland much time. We are thinking of the children's or science museum for our daughter's sake, but would appreciate any advice on other must-see's/do's.
Thanks for any and all advice!
We will be renting a car and our main interests are scenery and getting a good sense/flavor of the region. My questions are:
1. Suggestions for destination city on Day 3 and 4; we would like to spend some time beachcombing and/or tidepooling, in particular.
2. Is devoting a day to Mt St Helens worthwhile at this time of year (husband is kind of a volcano fanatic)?
3. Are we trying to do too much on any particular day?
4. Portland highlights - I know we aren't giving Portland much time. We are thinking of the children's or science museum for our daughter's sake, but would appreciate any advice on other must-see's/do's.
Thanks for any and all advice!
Apr 4th, 2006, 08:26 PM
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Hi
From Portland to Cannon Beach is 90 min, I don't know if there is time to combine Mt St Helens and the Coast.
The Gorge/Mt Hood will take up a day, take a picnic, you will love it and so will your little girl..
I would definitely try to see Mt St Helens! The whole route if all the look-outs are open by then.
I am not sure what you are doing, lol, are you planning to go to the Coast twice? If so, the back and forth drive will be a waste of time for such a short trip, you should pick a town, like Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park and do that for a day..there is plenty to see and do, Haystack Rock and the beach and tidepools ..
On your return, that winery route might just be very slow and tiring.
I have to say that after touring the wine route our son a couple of weeks ago, I found it to be a bit disappointing and I think your child will be bored too. I would rather get on 26 and get back to town as fast as I can at the end of a beach day.
From Portland to Cannon Beach is 90 min, I don't know if there is time to combine Mt St Helens and the Coast.
The Gorge/Mt Hood will take up a day, take a picnic, you will love it and so will your little girl..
I would definitely try to see Mt St Helens! The whole route if all the look-outs are open by then.
I am not sure what you are doing, lol, are you planning to go to the Coast twice? If so, the back and forth drive will be a waste of time for such a short trip, you should pick a town, like Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park and do that for a day..there is plenty to see and do, Haystack Rock and the beach and tidepools ..
On your return, that winery route might just be very slow and tiring.
I have to say that after touring the wine route our son a couple of weeks ago, I found it to be a bit disappointing and I think your child will be bored too. I would rather get on 26 and get back to town as fast as I can at the end of a beach day.
Apr 5th, 2006, 03:01 AM
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Sounds like a fun trip. Here's my thoughts/suggestions:
Day 1 (Portland): The Children's Museum is in Washington Park, and sticking to that area will give you a full day's sightseeing. In the park, you've got not only the Children's Museum, but the Zoo, the Forestry Center (okay, but not high on my list), The Japanese Gardens, and the Rose Garden. All worthy stops, and a full day.
Day 3 (Mt. St. Helens): (good website for this area is http://welcome.tdn.com) Definitely worth doing. Traveling afterwards over to the coast via either Hwy 4 on the Washington side, or the Oregon side on Hwy 30 depends on your wants. Hwy 4 is probably more scenic, but more winding and will take longer. You can cross the Columbia at Longview, at Astoria, or halfway there you can cross at Puget Island, where there is bridge/ferry to go all the way across. Where you overnight would depend on what you are most interested in doing. Overnighting in Astoria might be a good thing to do. St. Helens can be a full day in itself, if you stop at all the centers (which you should).
In the Astoria area, places the children in my family enjoy are: The Maritime Museum, Astoria Column, Fort Clatsop (their favorite).
With a child, I'd favor Seaside over Cannon Beach. It's your typical seaside town, with the cheesy entertainment that kids love. Mild rides, cotton candy, etc. The south cove is a nice tidepooling area. Cannon Beach is more the coast for adults, with art galleries, etc. But a very nice beach, too.
Further down the coast, Tillamook's their next favorite spot. The cheese factory and the blimp hangar (for some reason) are their favorites there. The Blue Heron cheese factory has wine tastings as well.
This website (http://www.oregoncoast101.com/recreation/recr-north.htm) has a good overview of the things to do on the north coast.
And that's about as far as we usually venture down the coast. So I can't offer suggestion further.
Traveling back up to Portland over Hwy 18 is a good choice. It does take you through the wine country (http://www.yamhillvalley.org/). It is a well-traveled road, though, so be prepared for traffic. Particularly around the casino, near the beach.
My final suggestion, particularly for traveling with a 4-year-old, is to think about Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com). It's a great activity that is great fun for families. They are all over Oregon, and stopping for a "treasure hunt" now and then is a lot of fun for kids (and adults)!
Day 1 (Portland): The Children's Museum is in Washington Park, and sticking to that area will give you a full day's sightseeing. In the park, you've got not only the Children's Museum, but the Zoo, the Forestry Center (okay, but not high on my list), The Japanese Gardens, and the Rose Garden. All worthy stops, and a full day.
Day 3 (Mt. St. Helens): (good website for this area is http://welcome.tdn.com) Definitely worth doing. Traveling afterwards over to the coast via either Hwy 4 on the Washington side, or the Oregon side on Hwy 30 depends on your wants. Hwy 4 is probably more scenic, but more winding and will take longer. You can cross the Columbia at Longview, at Astoria, or halfway there you can cross at Puget Island, where there is bridge/ferry to go all the way across. Where you overnight would depend on what you are most interested in doing. Overnighting in Astoria might be a good thing to do. St. Helens can be a full day in itself, if you stop at all the centers (which you should).
In the Astoria area, places the children in my family enjoy are: The Maritime Museum, Astoria Column, Fort Clatsop (their favorite).
With a child, I'd favor Seaside over Cannon Beach. It's your typical seaside town, with the cheesy entertainment that kids love. Mild rides, cotton candy, etc. The south cove is a nice tidepooling area. Cannon Beach is more the coast for adults, with art galleries, etc. But a very nice beach, too.
Further down the coast, Tillamook's their next favorite spot. The cheese factory and the blimp hangar (for some reason) are their favorites there. The Blue Heron cheese factory has wine tastings as well.
This website (http://www.oregoncoast101.com/recreation/recr-north.htm) has a good overview of the things to do on the north coast.
And that's about as far as we usually venture down the coast. So I can't offer suggestion further.
Traveling back up to Portland over Hwy 18 is a good choice. It does take you through the wine country (http://www.yamhillvalley.org/). It is a well-traveled road, though, so be prepared for traffic. Particularly around the casino, near the beach.
My final suggestion, particularly for traveling with a 4-year-old, is to think about Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com). It's a great activity that is great fun for families. They are all over Oregon, and stopping for a "treasure hunt" now and then is a lot of fun for kids (and adults)!
Apr 5th, 2006, 06:18 AM
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Sounds like a nice trip.
For Mt. St. Helens, take exit #49 and head all the way up to the last visitors center (where the road ends) at Johnston Ridge. That is the one that is an absolute must see, even though there are several centers along the way. The Forestry Center is good and has some hands on stuff for kids, and we also like the Coldwater center. But if you only stop at one, make it Johnston Ridge...and you have to see the short film.
As far as the coast, we prefer Cannon Beach over Seaside, even with children. Just a personal preference though. Seaside is like a carnival. Cannon Beach has Haystack Rock with great tidepools at low tide, and Ecola State Park on the north end of town. I have no idea what you are looking for regarding accommodations, but in Cannon Beach the Surfsand is a great place. They are very family friendly and we always get a room that faces the ocean where we have a great view right out to Haystack Rock. The hotel has beach toys for your use and an outdoor shower area to wash the sand off. It is also within easy walking distance of the core of downtown.
The ideas for the zoo/childrens museum/rose garden/etc is good. OMSI is also great, and since Portland is such a compact city it would be easy to add this into the itinerary.
What are your plans for your daughter as far as driving through the winery areas? Most kids get pretty bored on that drive. The only real thing that might be of interest would be the visit the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville and see the Spruce Goose.
For Mt. St. Helens, take exit #49 and head all the way up to the last visitors center (where the road ends) at Johnston Ridge. That is the one that is an absolute must see, even though there are several centers along the way. The Forestry Center is good and has some hands on stuff for kids, and we also like the Coldwater center. But if you only stop at one, make it Johnston Ridge...and you have to see the short film.
As far as the coast, we prefer Cannon Beach over Seaside, even with children. Just a personal preference though. Seaside is like a carnival. Cannon Beach has Haystack Rock with great tidepools at low tide, and Ecola State Park on the north end of town. I have no idea what you are looking for regarding accommodations, but in Cannon Beach the Surfsand is a great place. They are very family friendly and we always get a room that faces the ocean where we have a great view right out to Haystack Rock. The hotel has beach toys for your use and an outdoor shower area to wash the sand off. It is also within easy walking distance of the core of downtown.
The ideas for the zoo/childrens museum/rose garden/etc is good. OMSI is also great, and since Portland is such a compact city it would be easy to add this into the itinerary.
What are your plans for your daughter as far as driving through the winery areas? Most kids get pretty bored on that drive. The only real thing that might be of interest would be the visit the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville and see the Spruce Goose.
Apr 5th, 2006, 06:58 AM
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We used to take the kids to Cannon Beach over Seaside, as well. We used to stay at the Hallmark Resort because it had a good indoor pool with a hot tub and a good pool deck to sit beside. This is great with kids as the weather is often not conducive to spending a lot of time outdoors.
Apr 5th, 2006, 08:32 AM
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Thanks for all the great advice and links! Just the kind of info I was looking for, esp. the MSH stuff and the Seaside/Cannon Beach comparisons. Wine country isn't a must - we just thought it would be a pleasant, alternate route, maybe even catching a covered bridge or two. We spend a lot of time in Napa and Santa Barbara wine country, so we always like to investigate other wine regions too. Our daughter would put up with one or two tasting stops, esp. if we could make it a picnic lunch somewhere. Any suggestions?
Also, somewhere in my web surfing, I saw pictures of a horse-drawn carriage in Portland and a "funcycle" somewhere (maybe in Seaside?) but now I can't find them again. Any feedback on these or other "specialty" (trolley etc) tours - where, how much, worthwhile?
Thanks again for all your help!
Also, somewhere in my web surfing, I saw pictures of a horse-drawn carriage in Portland and a "funcycle" somewhere (maybe in Seaside?) but now I can't find them again. Any feedback on these or other "specialty" (trolley etc) tours - where, how much, worthwhile?
Thanks again for all your help!
Apr 5th, 2006, 10:02 AM
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You can hire a horse drawn carriage, I think at the Hotel down on the River-Riverplace. I have not seen them in town though.
I saw no covered bridges a couple of weeks ago when we were on the wine route, but a lot of traffic and not very scenic drive..
Being in town is so entertaining, I think in your short amount of time here, you will find more than enough to do..add Pittock Mansion to your touring of town, Japanese Gardens, Chinese Gardens, Zoo...so much to do, so little time
I saw no covered bridges a couple of weeks ago when we were on the wine route, but a lot of traffic and not very scenic drive..
Being in town is so entertaining, I think in your short amount of time here, you will find more than enough to do..add Pittock Mansion to your touring of town, Japanese Gardens, Chinese Gardens, Zoo...so much to do, so little time
Apr 6th, 2006, 12:57 AM
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Most of the covered bridges in Oregon are in the mid to southern valley. There is one on the Gray's River on the Washington side of the drive to Astoria - fairly close to Astoria.
The carriages, to my understanding, can be arranged for ahead of time. Or, picked up on the street. I've seen them operating out of a parking garage across from the Benson Hotel, on Broadway. They seem to sort of operate from there to Riverplace, and back. Here's a website for a company (http://aprilscarriagerides.com/) but I'm not sure it's the one/only one. Because none of the images look like the carriages I usually see. Carriage rides I've taken elsewhere aren't exactly cheap, but I think they're great to do at night. Everything's much prettier lit up, and not so much else to think about doing.
The cyles are in Seaside as well (probably the same company). Here (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getawa...ttrips15.shtml) is an article that talks about them, and other entertainment there.
There's not all that much to do on the drive back through the wine country. There is the Evergreen Air Museum, which houses the Spruce Goose. And I don't know what their walk-in facilities are like, but the Brigittine Monks, in Amity, make and sell fudge to help finance the monastary (kind of a uniqe place). Balloon rides are big in the area, and it's farming country. There used to be lots of filbert/hazlenut farms there. And lots of roadside stands. But I haven't traveled that road for years, so not sure what it's like now.
The carriages, to my understanding, can be arranged for ahead of time. Or, picked up on the street. I've seen them operating out of a parking garage across from the Benson Hotel, on Broadway. They seem to sort of operate from there to Riverplace, and back. Here's a website for a company (http://aprilscarriagerides.com/) but I'm not sure it's the one/only one. Because none of the images look like the carriages I usually see. Carriage rides I've taken elsewhere aren't exactly cheap, but I think they're great to do at night. Everything's much prettier lit up, and not so much else to think about doing.
The cyles are in Seaside as well (probably the same company). Here (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getawa...ttrips15.shtml) is an article that talks about them, and other entertainment there.
There's not all that much to do on the drive back through the wine country. There is the Evergreen Air Museum, which houses the Spruce Goose. And I don't know what their walk-in facilities are like, but the Brigittine Monks, in Amity, make and sell fudge to help finance the monastary (kind of a uniqe place). Balloon rides are big in the area, and it's farming country. There used to be lots of filbert/hazlenut farms there. And lots of roadside stands. But I haven't traveled that road for years, so not sure what it's like now.
Apr 6th, 2006, 08:19 AM
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Yes, there are a couple of carriage ride companies, below is one that I have heard of a few times.
www.aprilscarriagerides.com
Here is a great site that might have answers to a few of your questions. I have only lived here about 8 months, so I still learn something new everyday about Portland and surrounding areas..it is a great place to visit and I am happy to be living here.
http://tinyurl.com/zg2y7
If you are here on the First Thursday of May-you can walk the Pearl and enjoy the open galleries and street entertainment..
www.aprilscarriagerides.com
Here is a great site that might have answers to a few of your questions. I have only lived here about 8 months, so I still learn something new everyday about Portland and surrounding areas..it is a great place to visit and I am happy to be living here.
http://tinyurl.com/zg2y7
If you are here on the First Thursday of May-you can walk the Pearl and enjoy the open galleries and street entertainment..
Apr 6th, 2006, 09:27 AM
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I would land and immediately head up the Gorge for day 1. You are already on that side of town.Gives you time for the lodge, Waterfalls and on to spend the night at Hood River.
Next day cross over to Washington and head towards Mt St. Helens, heading towards Long Beach, ending up in Astoria for night 2. Morning day 3-hit the Scandinavian Bakery in Astoria for
Rolls and bread, explore the column etc., then head down the coast.
If you are going slow, you could do the 3 Capes Route & Netarts Bay after hitting the cheese factory. Neskowin is a Superb beach for kids, as you can play in the creek that cuts through the sand, rather than in the Surf. Makes a difference in Sand Castle Technology, believe me.
here's one place-
http://www.innatcapekiwanda.com/home.html
Further down, Newport has the Aquarium.
My favorite town, sometimes slagged here for being rocky, is Yachats, 20 miles south of Newport, which has the tidepools filled with Starfish and other sea stuff. We've stayed here
http://www.trillian.com/rockpark/rock.htm
when our kids were small and it's so nice to walk to the beach nearby. You could use it as a base to tour Newport to Florence, Fish, Seals and Sand dunes.
Why not sample wines in Portland?
Next day cross over to Washington and head towards Mt St. Helens, heading towards Long Beach, ending up in Astoria for night 2. Morning day 3-hit the Scandinavian Bakery in Astoria for
Rolls and bread, explore the column etc., then head down the coast.
If you are going slow, you could do the 3 Capes Route & Netarts Bay after hitting the cheese factory. Neskowin is a Superb beach for kids, as you can play in the creek that cuts through the sand, rather than in the Surf. Makes a difference in Sand Castle Technology, believe me.
here's one place-
http://www.innatcapekiwanda.com/home.html
Further down, Newport has the Aquarium.
My favorite town, sometimes slagged here for being rocky, is Yachats, 20 miles south of Newport, which has the tidepools filled with Starfish and other sea stuff. We've stayed here
http://www.trillian.com/rockpark/rock.htm
when our kids were small and it's so nice to walk to the beach nearby. You could use it as a base to tour Newport to Florence, Fish, Seals and Sand dunes.
Why not sample wines in Portland?
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