Freighttrain

Hi folks!

I'm heading up to Portland in a couple of weeks and need some advice. I'll be staying in Portland for 4 nights, and then I'll have 4 more days to explore the region before I fly home. I've never been to the Pacific Northwest before and really want to get a good introduction to the area. My question is, which of the following options do I do for the road trip:

1) The Olympic Penninsula. Lake Quinault, Hoh rainforest, and...? Not sure where the 3rd night would be. Maybe the coast south of the Penninsula to make the drive back to Portland (for the flight home) shorter?

2) The San Juan Islands. I've heard they're amazing. Is there 3-4 days worth of stuff to do there?

3) The southern coast of Oregon. This is the wild card. Supposedly gorgeous and remote, but I know nothing else about it.

So what do you think? This question really is about priorities, since I won't be coming back anytime soon. Which of the above (or some thing else!) has the greatest "can't miss" appeal?

Any and all other suggestions are welcome! Limitation: I don't really want to do much more than 2 hours of driving a day.

Bonus question: does the Columbia River gorge deserve an overnight stay? Or better to head back to Portland for dinner and hotel?

spirobulldog

There is so much right near Portland, I would stay in that area, since that is where you are. I would do the Columbia River Gorge and then spend the night at Mt. Hood Timberline Lodge one night, then hike a little in that area the next day. Or you could snow ski there. Mt. St. Helens deserves a day. Then you could even go to another part of MSH and hike areas (ape cave, etc). Coast is excellent, Silver Falls State Park, Crater Lake. Staying closer to Portland would cut down on your driving. Don't miss The Rose Garden, Powells Bookstore, and Stumptown Roasters coffeehouse while in Portland.

passerbye

What do I win for the bonus question? The logical place to stay in the Gorge is Hood River, about an hour from Portland. It's popular for windsurfing and kiteboarding, so if that appeals to you, maybe hang around for a night. Or, if you're planning any long hikes. But otherwise, either head back into Portland, or maybe as spirobulldog suggests, up to Timberline Lodge. Unless you're an expert, I wouldn't plan on skiing though.

The coast is easily Oregon's biggest tourism draw, so that would make the most sense to me for the other four days. But you don't have to go as far as the southern coast. Scenery on the central coast is spectacular as well, and there is actually more in that area to keep you entertained/busy than the south coast. Or, you could combine two nights on the north coast with two on the central.

But I'm not sure Crater Lake fits. It's over four hours from Portland. Maybe if you end up deciding on the south coast. And, with the Trailblazers already out of the playoffs, and not much going on there during the summer, I don't know why the suggestion of The Rose Garden.

San Juans are out of reach too. Combining drive times and ferry schedules, it's the better part of a day's travel time in each direction. Olympic Peninsula is certainly doable. The choice between that and Oregon's central coast would depend on your interests.

happytrailstoyou

Since you want to drive no more than two hours a day, you are lucky to have two great destinations that fit that bill: the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast.

On the Oregon Coast, concentrate on the area between Manzanita and Ecola State Park, which is just north of Cannon Beach--a perfect headquarters for your visit.

If you are interested, I can make suggestions for where to stay on the Columbia River.

The Southern Oregon Coast, the Olympic Peninsula, and San Juan Islands each require hundreds of miles of driving.

spirobulldog

passerbye,

You don't find the Roses amazing? Most travel books list them as one of the top experiences in Portland. The Japanese Gardens are just across the street and are very nice as well.

It is the International Rose Test Garden

http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/...6?source=pw980
link above is to our pics from Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Chinese Garden, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Coast, Crater Lake, Columbia Gorge--Eagle Creek Trail is the hike with all the waterfalls(12 miles but easy).

spirobulldog

In reading passerbye's post again. I guess they thought I meant the Basketball Arena. I meant an the actual garden. lol. I think the arena is named Rose Garden because of the prominence of the many Rose Gardens in the city. It is my understanding that several of them are great, but I have only visited the one I mentioned above.

Fodorite018

Spiro--Yes, the arena is the Rose Garden. When locals say the Rose Garden, they mean the arena. When they say the Rose Gardens, plural, then they mean the International Test Rose Garden.

passerbye

so does that make me a local mms?