I'll be in Portland from 7/10-7/17 and want to get advice on my planned itinerary.
Arriveing Wednesday night from east coast.
Thursday: Japanese, Rose and Chinese gardens (not in that order), Powell's, shop, etc.
Evening: Cirque du Soleil

Friday: rent car - Old Scenic Hwy, Timberline Lodge, hike the falls
Friday night - don't know

Sat a.m. Saturday market
Sat p.m. Leave city for the coast. Spend 2 nights at Cannon Beach. During the days visit different towns along the coast.

Monday: either explore more coast or cheese factory eventually head back towards city.

Tuesday: Mt. St. Helens

Wed. back home

Any comments or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. We are not doing the wine country this trip. We do like to hike.

Donna, It is a great itinerary. It is ambitious with some long days, but it can be done. Bring hiking boots for muddy trails (eg. Don't ruin your sneakers).

When you go on the Mt. Hood loop, we usually go clockwise, starting with the Gorge. One of the first falls off the road is Latourelle Falls. It is seond in height to Multnomah Falls and is worth the 1/4 mile hike. It is not as developed as Multnomah Falls, which gets really crowded but is a must picture stop.
Lower Horsetail Falls is just a couple of miles farther and is not usually crowded. It's a great picnic spot, with tables. There is a nice 2 mile trail from there that takes you to Upper Horsetail Falls, which you walk behind, the falls in front of you. The trail winds up on the road just a little east of where you started, and you simply walk a few minutes back to your car.
There are some other interesting stops in the Gorge, like the fish ladders and museum at the Bonneville Dam and the salmon hatchery, but you won't have a lot of time if you want to also go around Mt. Hood to Timberline Lodge, which is well worth it if it is a clear day. Get an early start, as this is a full day.

Canon Beach. Great trails at Ecola State Park, which borders the town to the north. Go to the second beach, named Indian Beach. This is a beautiful (and cold) beach, with good tidepools and the trail over Tillamook Head is pretty, but can be muddy in parts.

The other great trail is on the Three Capes Loop at Cape Lookout. It goes out on a cliff into the water and is rainforesty. High chance of encountering serious mud. Great views of the ocean and the rocks on both sides.

Cheese factory is so-so. The Blue Heron, just south is more fun for me, anyways, with great tasties and wine tasting.

Mt. St. Helens is great. Count on a full day - at least 12 hours. Hike the new lake that you'll see from the second visitors center (You'll pass it on the way to Johnston Ridge), and you can picnic lunch there.

Have a great trip!

Just reread. Lower Horsetail Falls is just a couple of miles east of Multnomah Falls. Don't think I was clear on that.

Lisa has given good advice and recommendations. Perhaps you could stay at Timberline Lodge? It would allow more time in the Gorge which you could easily fill with hiking. (see the ancient sturgeon at the dam). Then the next day you could leave from there to the Saturday Market. I don't know how long it takes to get around the Mountain (LISA?).

The cheese factory is fun but will take maybe 2 hours max (including ice cream, Brown Cow is my favorite!)

I actually think the order of the gardens is pretty good. I recommend starting in the Japanese Garden when the air is clear before it gets hazy from the heat.

The weather right now is mid 70s. Beautiful but bring your sweatshirts it gets cold at night and the coast is cool (windy cold) all day.

Mt. St. Helens is wonderful. It will take lots of time, there is so much to see. Coldwater Lake is the name of the new lake and does have a nice path - one of the only we had time to do and we were there for a weekend!

You'll be tired but isn't that what vacation is all about! Have a great time!

Sara, I think the Mt. Hood loop, without stops, might be about 5 hours, give or take an hour.

But, if you go on the scenic hwy, through the Gorge (watch for signs. I think the exit is in Troutdale), and stop along the way, it will take a long time. First stop will be Vista House, on the scenic highway. Slow for deer as you wind through the forests.

From Timberline Lodge back to Portland is about 1.5 hours.

The weather is warming up after a cool fourth, but you can never tell. I'd guess it will be in the eighties or nineties in the day, except on the coast, where it will be in the sixties or seventies. Cool nights. Be ready for anything from the cool fifties on the coast, to the hot nineties.

I was in Portland last June and did everything you want to do except Mt. St. Helens. The hiking along the Columbia Gorge is fabulous and I'd spend more time there and skip the Timberline Lodge. We stayed at the Lodge but I was disappointed in the environment that high up the mountain. The food in the dining room was great but the rooms were small and shabby. I'd stay in Hood River instead.

Canon Beach and Ecola State Park were terrific. I'd skip the cheese factory. Even though there were no lines or people there when we went, it was touristy and not special enough to warrant the drive. We took the Three Capes Drive but the scenery didn't compare to Canon Beach or Oswald West State Park (a little south of Canon Beach) so if you're short on time, I'd recommend sticking to Canon Beach, Ecola and Oswald and not going further south.

It's beautiful and the people are terrific. I can't wait to go back! Enjoy yourself!