The Day in Between
 

This will be our first (and relatively short) trip to Oregon.

We're flying in to PDX and heading out to Cannon Beach (Stephanie Inn) for 2 nights. Then there's a blank day/night. Then we've got 2 nights in Bend (Mt Bachelor Village) for 2 more nights. Then the last night in Portland.

Question is about the middle day/night. Any suggestions? Candidates right now include a night in Yachats or a night in Sisters.

We more the type to take a hike than to go shopping, if that helps. And we're not adverse to driving several hundred miles if there's something really great to see. We considering going to Crater Lake, but figured that would be pushing the envelope a bit too much. :)

Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

Oops, sorry! Meant to post this in 'Oregon'. Will try again.

There is no "Oregon" board. All US posts end up at the same place - the US board. You now have two posts on the US forum.

You can easily do Crater Lake from Bend. It is only a 90 minute drive, and very much worth it!

Sisters is a nice enough little town, but you can see it on your way to/from Bend depending on your route.

What about using that extra night over in the gorge? There is a ton of hiking there and the area is beautiful.

Well, I'm confused. When I select 'Oregon' as a Topic, this thread does not appear.

I thought I made a mistake when I posted by not selecting the state topic.

Oh well...

mms...

Well, we'll be leaving that morning from Cannon Beach and wanted at least *some* driving down the coast... so, we'd have to get to the Gorge from the Florence area. We were planning to catch the Gorge and Mount Hood on the way back to Portland from Bend.

We *are* now re-evaluating the Crater Lake thing. That might be possible after all.

Thanks for the reply!

Ok, now that makes sense:)

Considering your taste, I suggest the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River.

If you select this option, you will see some of the most spectacular scenery is Oregon without running yourself ragged--as you would if you choose to go to Crater Lake.

Sorry, I wrote my response without reading that you will visit the gorge after Bend.

Thus, I now suggest a leisurely drive down the coast, spending the night at Overleaf Lodge in Yachats.

On the way to Yachats you might do the Three Capes Loop south of Tillamook, have a delicious Thai lunch in Lincoln City, and visit the world-class acquarium in Newport.

When you drive to Bend via Florence you will pass through one of the most scenic parts of the coast--Cape Perpetua--and you will have an opportunity to visit the Sea Lion Caves.

Moonstone--When are you arriving? The reason I ask is because Crater Lake has a great boat tour, but it ends sometime in mid September. Visiting DL would still very much be worth it if your trip is later, IMO. BTW, we did this from Bend about a month ago and it is an easy day trip:)

Count me in as a fan of Crater Lake.

Before booking a room in Portland, it is worthwhile to check hotel offers at www.travelportland.com

They often have good deals which include parking and continental breakfast.

We like to stay at 5th Avenue Suites or The Executive Tower at the downtown Hilton Hotel.

If you leave Cannon Beach early, you can drive south on 101 to Florence, then head inland on 126 to Eugene and I-5. Head South to either 138 or 227 and head SE.

You could stay here
http://www.prospecthotel.com/
then get up and head to Crater Lake,
or you could just head south on I 5 to Ashland for a night, the get up and do Crater Lake, then on to Bend.

Once again, thanks for all the replies! You folks are great! :)

We called Crater Lake and found that they actually had 2 rooms available for our night (they had none before) so we grabbed one.

happytrails - Noted your recommendations for the coast. Thanks. The trip will now be not quite as leisurely that day, but we'll still have enough time to check some of those out. We checked w/ 5th Avenue Suites too for our last day, but they're booked. Still have to work on that one.

mms - the day in question (to Crater Lake now) is the 22nd. Hope the weather is halfway decent!

bbqboy - Thanks for the recs but we were lucky to find a room at the lodge. We've been lucky like this in the past (GC's El Tovar & Sequoia NP, for example). We've really loved staying in the park lodges!

Once you get of I-5, it is slow going on those two-lane roads to Crater Lake.

From Cannon Beach the fastest way it is 320 miles (7 hours of driving), and most of the drive isn't very scenic.

To Crater Lake via Florence it is 365 miles--9 1/2 hours of driving.

I think you'd have a better time hugging the beautiful Oregon coast and going with your original thought of staying in Yachats. (I tried to resist saying, a MUCH better time....)

Hi Moonstone, just to help you with future posts. When you post on the US Board your post will show up on the US Board. But if you indicate Oregon in the title of a thread you start anyone (including you) will be able to pull it up by clicking on Oregon and doing a search. The title of this thread does not indicate Oregon so that is why you couldn't find it by clicking on Oregon etc.

Also, just in case you do not know, if you click on your name which is next to the "Welcome" (top of the screen on the left) you will pull up all threads you have started or posted on.

I was so confused when I first came on to Fodor's about all of this.

Have a wonderful time in beautiful Oregon. You will be visiting some very wonderful areas.

www.pova.com is also a good way of getting information and finding hotels and deals.

Topping for Moonstone so the right thread gets answered :)

Moonstone--I think the bout tours are finished by then, but I am not 100% sure. Call and ask, because if they are still going they are great. Even if they are finished, there is so much to do and see there! A new visitors center just opened a few weeks ago also.

...of course, you could always do 1 day on Cannon Beach, 1 day in Yachats, and 1 day at Crater Lake.

Hey, bbgboy, there you go thinking outside the box. Somebody is bound to complain.

Hey everyone!

Thanks for all the additional advice! :)

Let's see...

We're still working on the last day in Portland. We called 5th and they, in fact, have no rooms (on a Monday night)! Checked with Vintage Plaza and they have a couple of rooms but we're still cogitating. May call 5th back each day for a few more days to see if anything opens up.

happytrails - I know it'll be a long drive on 1 day but we're actually looking forward to seeing CL. We've done a lot worse driving-wise in 1 day. This shouldn't be too bad for us. We *are* going to drive down to Florence from Cannon Beach, and then cut over on state roads 126/58/97. We've been called crazy before. :)

LoveItaly (I'll remember you when we get around to THAT trip!) - thanks for the tutorial on Fodors. I didn't know about the clicking-your-name thing. Very handy.

Scarlett - thanks!

mms - Yes, the boat tours are over. Maybe on the next trip.

Moonstone--Glad things are coming together for you. Looking forward to hearing about it all!

I don't think you're crazy, I think you don't know that the drive to Crater Lake isn't just time consuming, it is also tedious.

In contrast, one of the most satisfying days we had this summer was spent doing something of which we never tire--exploring the area between Cannon Beach and Cape Perpetua.

This year, for the first time, we also had a good time on a tour out of Newport to view Gray Whales.

The hangup is that 2nd day in Cannon Beach-if they could get closer on the 2nd night, say Yachats to Bandon, it'd be rollin'.
None the less, I would for sure go I 5 to 62, given the time deal.
It's about 3 hours, Eugene to Medford, another 2 hours to get to CL.

Is 58 to 97 to CL *that* bad to drive. My map program shows that it's 140 miles from Eugene to the Lodge that way. Surely that's a lot less than 5 hours?

I guess we'll find out! :)

Please do not worry about the drive, it is not bad at all:) Have a great trip!

bbqboys route is different, so that is why the time difference. For the route you are planning, figure around 3 1/2 hours. HWY 58 is not bad, a bit windey here and there, but then once you get onto 97 it is straight and super easy.

I'm watching this thread (and other Oregon threads) anticipating such a trip next year so...I have a question about access to CL. How is the drive (marked scenic on my road maps) between CL and I-5 via Route #138? Driving conditions? Time? Scenery? Do it or don't do it? We can play around the time factor if it is a worthy drive.

correction...we can PLAN not PLAY around the time factor...sigh! :-(

I get the impression that Happytrails is just not a CL fan. I'D make the drive. It's all just personal preference.

No, I think Crater Lake is one of the great places in the NW, which is best enjoyed with a room in the lodge overlooking the lake.

In my opinion, the lake requires at least one two nights and one full day to enjoy properly.

Moonstone is forfeiting a truly great day on the coast for a lot of driving and too little time to properly investigate the destination.

I had no idea it was that much closer by taking 58/97. Cool!
Since I live in the Rogue Valley I've never taken that way home from the Northern Reaches. Maybe I should.
I was mainly thinking the 4 lane aspect of I-5, I guess.

Wanted to let y'all know we had a GREAT trip! Thanks for all your help!

Some of the highlights, no particular order:

Canon Beach - loved the area, loved the stay.

Stephanie Inn - 5 stars!!! If you've stayed somewhere else (anywhere!) that was even close to Stephanie in... well... everything, I'd love to know it!

Wayfarer Inn for dinner - went twice.. loved it both times.

Elephant's Deli in Portland - great lunch place & close to Japanese Gardens which was another 5-star stop... even in cloudy, drizzly weather!

Crater Lake - defintely worth a visit, although 1 day was enough for us. Hike down to the lake - it's worth it for the differing views. Lodge w/ lake view was very nice. The bed and pillows were awful!! Bring your own pillow! The dining room was really wonderful for both dinner and breakfast... some of the best food on the trip, believe it or not.

Bend - overal, didn't really like it. Having the condo at Bachelor Mt. was definitely the way to go, though. We were able to kick back and relax for a couple of days. Excursion to Sisters was more appealing to us.

Typhoon in Portland - great dinner! Loved it. Especially convenient as we stayed at Vintage Plaza, also very nice.

Gorge - great views! Unfortunately, the road was closed about 3 miles in and it was late and we didn't have the time to go around.

Many more small things about the trip we liked. Oregon is a great place. We will defintely go back to Cannon Beach and Stephanie Inn!!

Ya'll be well!