Thanks for Oregon help
 

We just returned from a wonderful 2 week trip to Oregon, our first. Thank you to everyone who helped with our itinerary. Most helpful advice: Stay in Bend on the way to Crater Lake, stay in Bend more than one day, hike Latourelle falls, stay in Yachats instead of Newport, and visit De Ponte Cellars, Domaine Drouhin and Domaine Serene for scenic wineries.
Our biggest surprise: Lava fields! We expected mountains and trees and lakes and river and oceans, but what a blast we had in the lava areas around Bend!
Hotels: Comfort Inn in Troutdale, a perfect spot for a late plane arrival and jump off point for Columbia Gorge.
Mt. Hood Inn in Government Camp
Riverhouse in Bend
Crater Lake Lodge
Sunset Motel (oceanside cabin) in Bandon
Shamrock Lodgettes (ocean view) in Yachats
McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove (an other world experience)
Hilton Tower in Portland ( used points)
We hiked at least once a day, ate wonderful food, and thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of Oregon. We are making our fellow Illinois residents jealous with our photos. Thanks again for the good advice.

Okay with Domaines Serene and Drouhin, but ssshhhh...... we locals have to have a few secrets! ;-) Interested in your "other world" comment about Grand Lodge. It's actually pretty typical of their (McMenamin's) places.

Glad you had a good time, and thanks for reporting back. The weather gods smiled on you! Those coming later this week won't be so lucky.

Actually we loved the Grand Lodge ( a former Masonic retirement home) but have never stayed at another McMenamins hotel. We arrived and there were millions of people everywhere; a wedding dinner, a new teachers gathering, the place was hopping. We were taken to Ed Reynolds' room with his story and picture painted on the walls. The bathrooms down the hall were huge and marble encased. There was a movie theater upstairs, a country singer downstairs in the garage, a restaurant outside on picnic tables, and a soaking pool outside. We had dinner and breakfast in the pub and played a bit of lawn frisbee before we left the next morning. It was quite an experience!

Glad you had such a great trip here. The lava beds around Bend are so interesting. Did you walk on the paths there at Lava Butte? I love McMenamin places. Last week we were in WA and stayed at another one for a night. They are so full of character which is really interesting.

Thanks for the report back, I love Domaine Drouhin and Domaine Serene Pinot Noir! ***kim*** ((*))