Ready for the state of Oregon...we only have a week...
 

Okay BayouGal...here goes...we know what we would like to see...coast..Crater Lake etc...now we hear how wonderful Portland is...thought about spending a day or two at the beginning or end of our week in Portland...but think we just want to strike out and see the natural sites...so..we have decided, unless others have a better idea...to rent a car at the airport...drive towards Crater Lake the first day...and do a loop to the coast and up the coast...and back eventually to the airport...via the gorge etc...

LoL. Here's your 2 responses from the thread below this that I started for you. Don't worry about it, let's just go from here! ;-)


Author: Scarlett
Date: 08/31/2006, 07:56 pm
Has a hotel been chosen?
Portland or elsewhere in Oregon?
In seeing "the area", do they want it to be day trips from Portland or are they planning on staying in different places.
Budget, BGirl, budget! There are a gazillion hotels here, what do they want to spend a night?

They can arrange for the car rental from their hotel, so they won't need to drive into town, if that is where they plan to stay, we need more details...

Scarlett

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Author: P_M
Date: 08/31/2006, 08:05 pm
Hello BG and Sumreknot.

Here is a link to my Portland trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34848158

Hi Sumreknot,

I've never been to Oregon so I can't help you there - have a wonderful trip though! I was wondering where in Michigan you're from? I live in Grand Rapids.

I live in Trenton...but do you know that you have a BIG Broadway star from your hometown? We just saw him..Brian D'arcy James, in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in NYC...he is the nephew of Brian Kelly (dec.) who was the Dad (Porter) in Flipper...a TV series in the early 60's I believe...small world...6 Degrees LOL!

oops..almost forgot to say..that "Porter" was my BIL's brother...

All I am good for is the city of Portland..I know that it is a 90 minute drive to the Coast (Cannon Beach) from town. I would recommend Cannon Beach and a drive South...The drive is nice, you get on one highway and it takes you to the coast, you drive past farms, farmstands, through forests with huge huge trees..very nice. You might want to stay at Cannon Beach for a night or two.
The Gorge and the waterfalls are a 30 minute drive from town, easy drive and once on the Scenic Highway/Historic Highway, it is a drive that takes you past breathtaking vistas, waterfalls that you can climb, stand beside, hike to the top of, cross on a bridge, so that requires a half day or more...
mms and beachbum and sunbum are the people that I got/get all my directions and advice from..they will post sooner or later :)

have friends in Bandon, visited a few years ago, beautiful place! If i didn't live in Hawaii, i'd probably live in Oregon. Have a great trip sumreknot, i'm sure you will!

The wierdest thing just happened. I wrote out a reply to this question, it showed up on my screen but not on this thread....hmmm. Fortunately, I saved it as I wanted to look something up. So I'll post it again. Hope it goes through, and please excuse me if it comes out twice.

Here goes, second try:

Hello sumreknot,

Oh, just thinking of Oregon's coolness makes me feel better! It's hotter'n blazes down here in Texas.

I have a brother who lives not far from that area, so we've had a chance to do some daytrips from his home. Crater Lake is awesome! It's amazing to think of how it formed, and now it's this beautiful lake. And of course, you know all about the big volcano that erupted (Mt. Saint Helens) which is only a short drive away! Amazing how things are starting to grow there again. The before and after pictures still get to me.

Have you checked for hotels on Priceline? There's a whole section on Portland that may help out with $$$ savings for you. If you haven't done a Priceline bid before, be sure to go to biddingfortravel.com first. They've got all the strategies spelled out to get a successful bid.

What's this about a gorge? I'm going to have to look that up right now. ((i)) Do you walk through it or is it a big bridge? hmmmmm...

Happy travels y'all! :d

Sorry I can't help with the planning but I'm looking forward to your trip report as the PNW is a place I'd love to visit.
My DH had a job offer which would have meant a move to Seattle but it wasn't quite what he was looking for....ah well maybe one day!

Here's the scoop I got from sumerknot. They are from the old school and like winging it, so they haven't made any reservations. Budget's not a big concern, but they are retired school teachers so don't want to break the bank.

They would love suggestions for places to stay along their route, special places to see, any "must sees" in the area, etc., then they'll play it by ear and have your great suggestions to guide them while they are there.

Thanks for all the help, gang!
You are the best!!!! :)

Wait....this opera just ain't over yet!!! :S-

No, of course not. I was just adding a little more direction so posters would get some idea of what sumreknot is looking for. :)

What was that crack about the "Opera" supposed to mean?????

LOL! That's just Kal. He doesn't want us to leave this thread. He wants more people to post, etc.

This opera's not over . . .

He's one of the good guys, sumreknot! :-D

Sounded a bit too caustic for me...think I will pull up my tent, cash in my chips and go elsewhere...

No, Kal just told me that's some kind of saying that the Oregon posters would get. Maybe one of them will explain it to us.

How could I have forgotten:

tillamookcheese.com - great self-guided tours through the cheese-making facility. Good recipes on the website, too!

oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/cape_meares.pdf - Three Capes Scenic Drive, very beautiful!

Depending how far you're driving, a couple hours away from Portland is the aqarium, only about $10 for entrance. aquarium.org

Hope this helps!

Kal, you meant, this ***opera's*** not over yet, right?? ;-)

sumreknot, I live in the Portland area, and except for Scarlett, haven't a clue what most of the rest of these posters are talking about. :-) Really though, sounds like you have a good plan. I did something similar last year with my family, except the reverse of what you describe.

When are planning to come? If it's this year yet, you better get here quick. It'll be snowing at Crater Lake before too long. From there, you might want to take a little detour to Ashland, where the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is held. Big deal, and it's a neat little town.

To get to the coast, take hwy 199 from Grants Pass, which takes you along the Smith River and through a couple redwood groves before dead-ending into 101 at the coast. Okay... it's California, but what can I say? ;-) Beautiful drive.

Heading up the coast, you'll particularly want to give yourself time between Brookings - Port Orford, and Florence - Newport. Just incredible scenery, and lots to do in those stretches.

If you're planning to see the gorge, I'm guessing you might want to stop your loop at Newport, and head back to Portland. But it would really be a shame to come all this way and not see Ecola St. Park in Cannon Beach. ;-)

Okay, let the ***opera*** begin! :-)

Darn..I keep trying to go to bed..and then along came beachbum...so zzzz...thanks to all, esp BayouGal...manana...getting up at 4 AM to look at more travel guides!!!LOL!