Portland, OR - Crater Lake NP summer sojurn
Feb 15th, 2005, 05:09 PM
#25
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What in the world is the Gilmore Girls and what do they have to do with Lorelai?? I knew I should watch more television ~
Lorelai was a nymph who sat on a cliff and lured ships to wreck against the rocks with her singing.
Lorelai was a nymph who sat on a cliff and lured ships to wreck against the rocks with her singing.
Feb 15th, 2005, 05:16 PM
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Scarlett, www.gilmoregirls.com will enlighten you! My daughter and I have watched this show every Tues. night together since she was around 10! For her last birthday we bought the entire first season on DVD! Now, how cool is that? 
It comes on right before One Tree Hill! Another great show! You know, Dan, Deb, Karen &Keith, Brooke & Peyton! ***kim***
It comes on right before One Tree Hill! Another great show! You know, Dan, Deb, Karen &Keith, Brooke & Peyton! ***kim***
Feb 15th, 2005, 09:31 PM
#28
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I'll suggest you go the eastside route to Crater Lake and skip I-5. I like the contrast between the dry east and wet west. Both sides of the Cascades are beautiful, and you get a sense of the great difference in climate, terrain, vegetation, when you visit both sides of the mountains. Plus you see the impact of the volcanos up close and personal from the eastside, which if full of lava rock.
You could easily stay in Bend for the night. Without stops, it's about 4 hours from Portland. You can choose to go over Mt. Hood, to get there, adn visit Timberline Lodge and the Native American museum that is along the way. Or you can go through the gorge and enjoy seeing the waterfalls. It's an easy drive either way. The next day, it is easy to get to Crater Lake (I can't remember how long - a few hours.) You can stop along the way at the lava cave or the lava butte. Spend one night at Crater Lake and drive to the Ocean the next day. The distances just aren't that great.
You could easily stay in Bend for the night. Without stops, it's about 4 hours from Portland. You can choose to go over Mt. Hood, to get there, adn visit Timberline Lodge and the Native American museum that is along the way. Or you can go through the gorge and enjoy seeing the waterfalls. It's an easy drive either way. The next day, it is easy to get to Crater Lake (I can't remember how long - a few hours.) You can stop along the way at the lava cave or the lava butte. Spend one night at Crater Lake and drive to the Ocean the next day. The distances just aren't that great.
Feb 16th, 2005, 07:40 AM
#29
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Kimamom: I, too am a Gilmore Girls fan. Clever dialogue, great acting...better than 90% of the stuff on TV. Lorelai and Luke need to get back together; I figure they had to split them up to stretch out the season
Orcas: Thanks for the specific recommendations. Looks like about 160 miles from outside Portland to Bend via Rt 26 to 97. I see the Lava Cast Forest listed at Newberry Nat'l Volcanic Monument outside Bend. Then after 2 days at Crater Lake, could go 138/I-5/38 to Reedsport and work our way back. I just have to make sure I leave time to do some hikes along the way.
Orcas: Thanks for the specific recommendations. Looks like about 160 miles from outside Portland to Bend via Rt 26 to 97. I see the Lava Cast Forest listed at Newberry Nat'l Volcanic Monument outside Bend. Then after 2 days at Crater Lake, could go 138/I-5/38 to Reedsport and work our way back. I just have to make sure I leave time to do some hikes along the way.
Feb 16th, 2005, 07:57 AM
#30
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I haven't been to the Lava Cast Forest, though I've seen pictures of it. It looks really interesting. This web site has information on some of the other activities and sites south of Bend:
http://www.nwsource.com/travel/scr/t...d=OR&cityid=78
The Lava River Cave is fascinating. Always cold and very dark, but you can walk through it. Also, the Lava Bute has glassy lava like in Hawaii and is quite unusual.
There are hikes galore everywhere, including on the coast. You may want to pick up a hiking guide.
http://www.nwsource.com/travel/scr/t...d=OR&cityid=78
The Lava River Cave is fascinating. Always cold and very dark, but you can walk through it. Also, the Lava Bute has glassy lava like in Hawaii and is quite unusual.
There are hikes galore everywhere, including on the coast. You may want to pick up a hiking guide.
Feb 16th, 2005, 08:06 AM
#31
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philsbert1, wouldn't you love to stay at a place like the Dragonfly Inn?
While you're visiting Southern Or, I hope you get a chance to see Ashland. It's such a quaint, interesting little place. ***kim***
While you're visiting Southern Or, I hope you get a chance to see Ashland. It's such a quaint, interesting little place. ***kim***
Feb 16th, 2005, 09:33 AM
#32
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Kimamom: I'm not sure I'd want to be at the Dragonfly Inn, but I'd like to hang out in town and at Luke's Diner for a day or two. What a bunch of characters.
Orcas: I am going to look into some hiking guides for the Oregon area. There's already been the suggestion of Cascade Head, and I found a website with a (written) description of others.
Orcas: I am going to look into some hiking guides for the Oregon area. There's already been the suggestion of Cascade Head, and I found a website with a (written) description of others.
Feb 16th, 2005, 10:06 AM
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Last week there was a thread about a planned trip to Oregon wherein the original poster hoped to build enough flexibility into the itinerary to minimize the "Wow! I wish we had reservations here and could stay two or three days..." regrets. With a 7-8 day itinerary that includes Mt. Hood, central Oregon, Crater Lake, and a healthy chunk of the Oregon coast, I'd be willing to bet my wife's pet rabbit's life that you will have a number of those "Wow!" experiences.
IMO, these are all great suggestions, and if you asked, we could come up with a bunch more just as good. But, you've got some choices to make.
IMO, these are all great suggestions, and if you asked, we could come up with a bunch more just as good. But, you've got some choices to make.
Feb 16th, 2005, 10:38 AM
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philsbert1: I don't know about Luke's Diner, but yes it would be fun to hang out in Stars Hollow! 
Will you be going out to the Gorge area on your 2-3 days in Portland? The Columbia Gorge Hotel is a very nice property. I know some friends who couldn't stay there, but went just to take some family photos on the grounds there. ***kim***
Will you be going out to the Gorge area on your 2-3 days in Portland? The Columbia Gorge Hotel is a very nice property. I know some friends who couldn't stay there, but went just to take some family photos on the grounds there. ***kim***
Feb 16th, 2005, 11:00 AM
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Thanks to Kimamom, I've learned something new. Not only those Gilmore women litter my TV channels, now they have their own website? WOW!
Scarlett, this nymph is probably sitting by the Treasure Island now to attract Kimamom and the like!
Scarlett, this nymph is probably sitting by the Treasure Island now to attract Kimamom and the like!
Feb 16th, 2005, 11:40 AM
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Beachbum: Agreed. I'm going to get some maps and hiking info and make some choices. I have bitten off more than I could appreciate in one trip before.
I will say, though, that I had a pretty successful trip from Seattle and around the OP last year. I definitely had to cut corners, but spent a day at Mt. Rainier, then that evening over to the coast. Then one day going up the coast, stopping for several short hikes (?Third Beach or something like that, and Hoh rainforest), then to Port Angeles. Two days there allowed a day trip to Victoria, and a day hike to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic NP. Then the next day to Sequim for the Lavender festival, a half day hike of the Dungeness Spit (awesome) while based at Port Townsend for 2 nights. I finished with a day trip/hike on Whidbey Island, an overnight at Mukilteo, and back to Seatac. It was a great visit!
I will say, though, that I had a pretty successful trip from Seattle and around the OP last year. I definitely had to cut corners, but spent a day at Mt. Rainier, then that evening over to the coast. Then one day going up the coast, stopping for several short hikes (?Third Beach or something like that, and Hoh rainforest), then to Port Angeles. Two days there allowed a day trip to Victoria, and a day hike to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic NP. Then the next day to Sequim for the Lavender festival, a half day hike of the Dungeness Spit (awesome) while based at Port Townsend for 2 nights. I finished with a day trip/hike on Whidbey Island, an overnight at Mukilteo, and back to Seatac. It was a great visit!
Feb 16th, 2005, 12:01 PM
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kimamom: we only ate breakfast at the Prospect Hotel. I don't remember if it was because the restaurant wasn't open for dinner the night we were there or if they had no reservations available. At any rate, we ate a diner-type place next door which was very forgetable. The breakfast at the Prospect was fine, I remember they had a speical granola of some sort and soft boiled eggs; nothing spectacular.
Feb 16th, 2005, 12:10 PM
#38
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Hi Tracilee, we also stayed at the prospect hotel several years ago, in their little motel behind the main building / house. What did you think of it? I have to say while i definitely like charming, quaint little towns, this wasn't one of them! It kinda creeped me out actually, not quite sure why.... And we must have had dinner in the same forgetable place next door, the ONLY other place with food available. (Although the hotel's dinner aromas weren't very appealing either.) Breakfast at the hotel was fine but i was reeeeally happy to leave and get to spectacular, stunning crater lake!
So to the OP, if at all possible try to get ressies in the park, preferably in the beautiful, lakefront lodge. Pricey but worth it IMO. The other lodging is similar to most other NP lodging, basic and clean resembling army barracks, but not too close to crater lake.
So to the OP, if at all possible try to get ressies in the park, preferably in the beautiful, lakefront lodge. Pricey but worth it IMO. The other lodging is similar to most other NP lodging, basic and clean resembling army barracks, but not too close to crater lake.
Feb 16th, 2005, 12:42 PM
#39
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We have been to the lava cave as well as the Lava Butte, it is full of obsidian. They are both very interesting, just remember it is cold in the lava cave(actually it is a lava tube.)
One more suggestion, which I know you don't need, but since you are avid hikers you must consider driving down I-5 to about Salem and cutting across on the Santiam Hwy (Hwy. 22 I believe) and drive through the Sisters/Camp Sherman area on your way to Bend. There are several trails to hike in the Camp Sherman area around the Metolius River (definitely one of the most beautiful spots in Oregon).
Or you could hike up one of the Sisters (there are 3 mountains, North Sister, South Sister, Middle Sister). Some are easier than others, although I can't remember which is which - I believe we hiked up South Sister - which would make it easy!!
Portland to Sisters is only about 2 1/2 hours and then another 30 minutes to Bend.
One more suggestion, which I know you don't need, but since you are avid hikers you must consider driving down I-5 to about Salem and cutting across on the Santiam Hwy (Hwy. 22 I believe) and drive through the Sisters/Camp Sherman area on your way to Bend. There are several trails to hike in the Camp Sherman area around the Metolius River (definitely one of the most beautiful spots in Oregon).
Or you could hike up one of the Sisters (there are 3 mountains, North Sister, South Sister, Middle Sister). Some are easier than others, although I can't remember which is which - I believe we hiked up South Sister - which would make it easy!!
Portland to Sisters is only about 2 1/2 hours and then another 30 minutes to Bend.
Feb 16th, 2005, 01:20 PM
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Just checked the Crater Lake Lodge and they are booked full from March to the last week of September! 
If you're set on staying around the lake, you may want to get some opinions on the Mazama Village Motor Inn, about 7 miles from Crater Lake. ***kim***
If you're set on staying around the lake, you may want to get some opinions on the Mazama Village Motor Inn, about 7 miles from Crater Lake. ***kim***
