Pacific Northwest tourist questions

[Silent1CB]

Guess I'm going to have to try to shuffle some things so I can see if I can come up with an extra day at the end to turn Mt Hood & Columbia Gorge into 2 days. We had a day of rest planned mid-vacation like we usually do. Last resort would be to take that out completely, but hate to do that. You need a break from all that driving on such long vacations.

The more I look into things, the more I want to see & do. You would have thought 15 days would have been plenty. lol You pay so much to fly cross country that you want to squeeze in as much as possible while out that way.

 

[monkeybug]

Are you able to spend any time along the Oregon Coast?
We used to live in Astoria (where the goonies and kindergarten cop were filmed) there is some cool stuff to see and do there (column, cathedral tree, river trolley, maritime museum, goonies house)! Fort Stevens is awesome, and beautiful!
A bit further down is Cannon Beach and Ecola state park. And then there's Tillamook, and the cheese factory!!
And if you go to Astoria, the Urban Cafe is yummy stuff! (but if you go don't post about it here, 'cause then I'll cry)
Oh man! This thread makes me miss the Pacific Northwest soooo much!!!!

 

[RadioNate]

It was just a hotel choice. Brand new hotel in the hotel chain we usually stay at, and really good rate because its new. Actually its just next door to the Heathman Lodge that RadioNate suggested.

When you are doing a 15 day trip & flying cross country, you have to cut money some place. So brand new nice hotel at low price, and still near Portland got our vote. And we earn reward points too.

Put I can see if we are near hotel at dinner time, we might pop over to the restaurant at Heathman Lodge.

Going to Portland too....just not sleeping there.

That exit is really close to Portland. Rush hour can be traffic heavy obviously but the rest of the time it isn't bad. I used to work in the office plaza across from the Heathman Lodge and drove from south of Portland.

OK, that makes more sense.



That made me think you were going to spend the day in JUST Vancouver.

I like the restaurant on the Columbia called Who Song and Larry's. It's a wonderful place to eat at, especially on a sunny day. It's near the I-5 bridge between Portland and Vancouver and it sits right on the water front.

It's on the Vancouver side right? I took me a minute because I was thinking of the Who Song and Larry's on the Willamette, which was across the street from my DH's office.

I was going to laugh if this thread brought up locations by both our former offices!

I think I would like to tour the area more. We didn't do much when we lived there. Now we are so tied to our inlaws when we go we don't do much either.

 

[goofy's friends]

Just wanted to remind you that if you are planning any shopping, save it for Oregon.......tax free!

 

[ols386]

I just wanted to say to the op, have a great trip!!

We visited the Seattle area last year in June and fell in love with that part of the country. We had never been that far west before. There are lots of really cool restaurants to eat. We were not bothered by the 3-hour time difference at all, going out.

We did a fair amount of driving. Drove to Mt. Rainier, from Seattle, and it was a much longer drive than what we anticipated, but well worth it. We even saw an elk grazing alongside the road.

We also drove out to the coast and stayed at a place called Seabrook. They have cottages and houses that you can rent. It was absolutely beautiful along the coastline.

We also drove through Olympia National Park, and it was gorgeous, as well.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Are you able to spend any time along the Oregon Coast?
We used to live in Astoria (where the goonies and kindergarten cop were filmed) there is some cool stuff to see and do there (column, cathedral tree, river trolley, maritime museum, goonies house)! Fort Stevens is awesome, and beautiful!
A bit further down is Cannon Beach and Ecola state park. And then there's Tillamook, and the cheese factory!!
And if you go to Astoria, the Urban Cafe is yummy stuff! (but if you go don't post about it here, 'cause then I'll cry)
Oh man! This thread makes me miss the Pacific Northwest soooo much!!!!

An Oregon Coast tour could easily add 2 more days, at the least. But it's definitely worth it imo. I can't get enough of it and I've lived here all of my 22 years.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

That exit is really close to Portland. Rush hour can be traffic heavy obviously but the rest of the time it isn't bad. I used to work in the office plaza across from the Heathman Lodge and drove from south of Portland.



It's on the Vancouver side right? I took me a minute because I was thinking of the Who Song and Larry's on the Willamette, which was across the street from my DH's office.

I was going to laugh if this thread brought up locations by both our former offices!

I think I would like to tour the area more. We didn't do much when we lived there. Now we are so tied to our inlaws when we go we don't do much either.

Yes, that's the one I was talking about.

 

[flipturngirl]

Remember that if you are going to be in the Oregon area and you need gas you don't pump it yourself.. and 9 times out of 10 it is cheaper the washington

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We moved from NC to WA two years ago. We have had so much fun exploring our lovely area.

The Cascade Loop is breathtaking. I love the Mt. Baker, Artist Point area.

The Columbia River Gorge is beautiful too. We like the Dalles and Hood River especially.

There has been little snow here this year. They are forecasting a summer drought which will affect the waterfalls.

The distance is deceiving. Make sure to stop for gas or food when you see it.

 

[Silent1CB]

Remember that if you are going to be in the Oregon area and you need gas you don't pump it yourself.. and 9 times out of 10 it is cheaper the washington

Did not know that. Thanks.

I forgot that I have an aquaintance that is originally from Oregon & goes home yearly to visit family. I ran my plans by her also for distance & time. She thought I could do Mt Hood / Gorge in 1 day if I absolutely had to. The rest of the trip she said was fine.