fall06

Thanks for the tip!

fall06

Thanks again for all the help. I stayed at the humongous Red Lion Inn at Jantzen Beach and did not miss The Sopranos. I paid $70 for a queen double.

I actually crossed the river to Washington (and back into Oregon) to get to and from the Portland airport. The hotel sits on the river, but is heavily hit by traffic noise from I-5.

I ate at Shenanigan's and think that if you stick to the basics -- salmon, tuna, steak -- and stay away from anything sauced or stuffed, the food is high quality.

Part of my trip allowed for sightseeing, so we went Crater Lake, parts of the shore (between Florence and Lincoln City) and wandered around the Umpquaa valley and poked around Oakland. I'll confess that the forested backroads of the valley, teeming with wildlife, were my favorite parts of the trip. Trying to get to and from the Oregon coast, and to be rewarded with only occasional glimpses of the ocean and shoreline itself, was my least favorite part.

By the way, I think I-5 between the California border and Portland has an undeservedly poor reputation. It's nice farm country.

trippinkpj

I agree about I-5 from CA border to Portland. Actually a pretty stretch of freeway.

bbqboy

From Redding to Eugene, you're in the Mountains,
From Eugene to Portland you can see the Mountains. It can't be bad.
Most tourists want to drive the coast, but the essence of the people and culture of Oregon
lies between the Mountain Ranges, North to South, Ca to Wa.
The secret about the coast is to know where the scenic drives/hidden spots are. Parts can be
less than stunning for sure.