Yet Another Revised Oregon Itinerary. Suggestions Very Welcome!
 

Thanks to your various very helpful suggestions, we’ve come up with yet another revised Itinerary for our October trip to Oregon, and I’d really appreciate your views. We are Seniors looking for an easygoing trip with some diversity of experience, scenery, architecture, history. Any comments on accommodations and great places to eat would be wonderful. Thanks again!



Day 1: Arrive in Portland from Philadelphia. Stay at Hotel Monaco Portland

Days 2&3: Tour Portland.

Day 4: Drive to Hood River, then to Timberline Lodge for lunch and return to Hood River. Overnight at Best Western Hood River and dinner at Celio.

Day 5: Cross over Hood River Bridge to Washington, cross back to Oregon at Bonneville Dam, back to Portland and west to Cannon Beach. Hotel: Schooner’s Cove Inn.

Day 6: In and around Cannon Beach, drive to Astoria, then overnight again in Cannon Beach.

Day 7: South to Newport, tour Newport and continue south to Yachats. Hotel: Overleaf Lodge.

Day 8: South to Florence, Dunes National Park, Coos Bay, & Charleston, then return to Yachats and overnight there again.

Day 9: North to Newport then to Eugene, browse in and around Eugene.
Hotel: Secret Garden B&B.

Day 10: Head north, browse vineyard country to McMinnville. Hotel: Hotel Oregon.

Day 11: Leave McMinnville, browse vicinity & eventually back to Portland.

Day 12: Fly back to Philadelphia

If you're planning to visit Astoria, why not take hwy 30 west on day 5, rather than waste time backtracking on day 6?

Same for day 8. Why not spend the night in Bandon, rather than backtracking to Yachats? Then take hwy 38 from Reedsport to Eugene on day 9; the most scenic route between I-5 and the coast.

I think this is an improvement over your previous itinerary, although I agree with beachbum's suggestion to go out to the coast via Astoria before heading to Cannon Beach.

I had suggested 2 nights in Yachats based on your previous post where you were only planning on going as far south as Florence; if you are going further south, then Bandon might make more sense (although I personally try to avoid multiple one-nighters in a row). You could still drive south on Day 9 and go via Rt. 38 which is definitely very scenic (be sure to stop just outside Reedsport at the elk refuge).

Ditto - take Highway 30 to Astoria, then on to Cannon Beach. (You can actually take I-5 part way to Kelso and cut back over to Oregon and pick up 30 again - slightly less scenic but can be a bit faster than having to drive through a couple of towns like St. Helens on Hwy 30.) While Hwy 30 isn't all that scenic, neither is Highway 26.

OK, we'll revise the revision to take Hwy 30 to Astoria & then down to Cannon Beach. We made that change originally because another poster suggested the alternate route, but it does make more sense via Hwy 30.

Bandon sounds like the way to go too-- we can live with the 1-niters.

I have a question about Hwy 38 from Reedsport to Eugene. I recall reading somewhere about a scenic highway that was so twisty that people prone to motion sickness become ill driving it. Looking at the map, I'm wondering if 38 is the culprit (I'm one of those people who get motion sick just thinking about getting motion sick).

What do you all think about our choices of places to stay? And if anyone wants to make suggestions about great eating places anywhere along the way, and more places to visit in the vicinity of our itin, they'd be very welcome.

Thanks yet again for all your help!

No, 38 isn't particularly twisty. There's another road further north (from Corvallis) that is--can't remember the route number off the top of my head though.

Love, love, love the Overleaf! Haven't stayed at any of the other places you mention however so can't comment from personal experience.

Just across the Columbia River from Astoria is Fort Columbia, a decommissioned military base that has been preserved as a historic site. It used to serve as the main point of protection at the mouth of the Columbia (ca 1890's, if I recall correctly) but was taken out of service after the second World War. If you have the time, it is a neat spot with a great view and a wonderful interpretive staff.

Hotel Oregon is fantastic, as is Hotel Monaco!

There is not a lot going on in Coos Bay. It is a former logging town being kept afloat by a casino, and is a place that is easily bypassed if you need to adjust for time constraints. There's not even much of a bay to see. Gold Beach and Bandon are a little further south, but MUCH nicer places.

Coming back from Hood River, you can take the Historic Columbia River Highway, which is scenic and takes you by some amazing waterfalls and views of the Gorge. Tad's Chicken & Dumplings is tucked along the highway and is one of the Gorge's best-kept secrets! The food is hearty and oh-so satisfying.

Years ago a friend had been talking up Tad's for years before finally coaxing me to try it with a group of friends. I had never had a dumping before...yuck! I almost gagged. Among the group I was with, I was not the only one with that reaction. Needless to say, not everyone loves the place.

Tad's! No! No! No! Don't do it! Oh, the humanity!
It's awful, horrible, bland, sacrilegious. It's a culinary joke, the epitome of american bad cuisine being regarded as serious food.
I love my memories of chicken and dumplings but Tad's takes that memory, freezer burns it, stomps on it with plastic cowboy boots and sells it via the 7-11.
stevefrench, minus two points. Demerits, even. Flog yourself. Light candles and go to confession. Donate to OPB. Do something to compensate for putting that out into the world.

LOL pdx! Great post, but it actually makes me want to give Tad's a try.

Hahaha! Pdx, I am honestly crushed that Tad's gets such a low grade in your book! I've been going to Tad's since I was a youngster, though I have admittedly not been there in perhaps a few more years than I remember. I remember the chicken & dumplings being flavorful, fresh-tasting, and so very filling... What happened??

Here are my dining suggestions:
Florence- favorite on a nice day because you can eat on the deck with views of river and Florence Bridge- moderately priced with a variety of things - burgers, Mexican food, crab salad
Waterfront Depot is great for dinner- you will likely need a reservation.

Eugene-
Valley River Inn- nice dining room on the river- seating on outside deck on a nice evening

Northbank- also on the river with huge deck overlooking the river- burgers, salads,- not high end

King Estate Winery- if you are coming from Florence to Eugene you could detour to this winery - on a weekend you might want a reservation- open for lunch and dinner and fairly expensive- but a real treat- views are fabulous and food and wine very good.

Drain: if you are driving on 38 I have heard the "Road Kill" restaurant is pretty good - but havent eaten there

Enjoy

Hi, definitely go to King Estate, we have had two wonderful lunches there. We have a second home in Astoria and will be in the area again soon, can't wait! I would not miss the Maritime Museum, a ride on the riverfront trolley, the Flavel House and a meal at the Bridgewater Bistro by the Cannery Pier Hotel. Some other favorites of ours for good meals in Astoria: The Ship Inn, Cannery Cafe, T. Pauls' Urban Cafe, Drina Daisy and Fulio's for Italian food. Let me know if you have any further questions on Astoria! ***kim*** ((#))

kim, I thought you said your second home was in Seaside?

beachbum, or anyone, is 30 the highway you take instead of 26 out of Portland? more of a winding country road highway than 26 ?
We took that once, I think - we thought we were on the wrong road and turned back but the farms along the way with the flower and produce stands and one had a lot of friendly goats lol, that made the drive enjoyable from a sightseeing standpoint..

I wish we had known about Roadkill.... just to say I ate in a place with that name :D

Maybe that's the third home? :-?

Hey Scarlett,

Hwy 30 is the one that goes out past Sauvie's Island and ends up in Astoria; kinda follows the Columbia. There's another that leaves hwy 26 and ends up in Tillamook; the preferred route of those going to the Latimer Quilt Museum. You'll find roadkill on both. :-d

I think Kal's right (as usual). Seaside is the third home, after Astoria, and Clovis. Not sure it's accurate to call the place in Astoria "home" though, if one hasn't stayed there in years. I've known guys in similar positions who've referred to themselves as slumlords.

Thanks beachbum... We were like homing pigeons lol, we knew the road that we were told to take and followed that without exception, otherwise, you or mms would get that phone call, "Where Are We ??? "
We took #30 past Sauvie Island once to a ranch which was just wonderful, if anyone wants to board their dog ... the DDoubleDog Ranch :)


OK... thanks, having seen the Seaside place .. how large does something have to be before it is called a house? I understand the guys you've known using that term ...

oops- I just noticed on my post about some dining places that I didn't actually give you the name of the Florence that I suggested- It is Travelers Cove- cute little place on the River

Don't miss a meal at the Columbian Cafe in Astoria, we went last night and had a wonderful time sitting at the bar and watching Uriah cook, he is so sweet and such a talented chef. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Astoria, it is located across from the Pier 11 mall. ***kim*** ((#))