Oregon advice?

[urbpan]

My brother, father, and I are going to spend next week (from Saturday on) in Oregon. We have no plan, except to rent a car and explore. My brother wants to see Astoria and some natural wonders thereabouts, I'd like to see the Oregon Zoo, and the city of Eugene. (I'd also like to see the northern Coast of California, but that may be beyond the scope of our trip.) We're theoretically staying near the coast.

Do you have any recommendations for things along the coast of Oregon?

Comments

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

the Tillamook cheese factory?

I have fond memories of Cape Lookout park.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Alexis and I enjoyed our visit to the Tillamook cheese factory in 2008, and in a strange turn of events I lost my souvenir from there (a hooded sweatshirt) on my last vacation with Andy and my dad (left it in a hotel or inn). But I'm not sure it warrants a return visit.

Cape Lookout looks good! My dad likes lighthouses, so we should stop by there.

Thanks for the recommendations!

[yummykit.livejournal.com]

I went to Oregon recently and my favorite place along the coast was Yachats. I'm not sure if there's a lot to *do* there, but it is a stunning area to see.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Looks pretty interesting! We might be there in time to see the La De Da Parade!

[yummykit.livejournal.com]

ahahah nice! I love random events.

[grrlpup]

If you're in book-browsing mode, the best hiking guides are by William Sullivan. He has one for the Oregon coast that will also point out some short hikes en route from Portland, but also a more vacation-oriented guide called Oregon Trips and Trails that has hikes plus attractions, museums, and eating & sleeping recommendations.

The Blue Heron French Cheese Company is another cheese factory to tour if you go through Tillamook. :D

Neahkahnie Mountain is a lovely 3-mile hike with a great view at the top. Trailhead is between Seaside and Tillamook.

Newport has both a historic/touristy bayfront (with sea lions hanging out by the docks) and an arty/Victorian neighborhood called Nye Beach. There's also a fancy aquarium I haven't been to yet because I go to the Hatfield Marine Science Center for free instead and visit the resident octopus.

I'm also very fond of the little harbor at Depoe Bay. It's right on highway 101 so it's easy to stop and watch for awhile.

I think it's pretty hard to go wrong at the coast, except maybe the Sea Lion Caves near Florence, which scream "tourist trap." Everywhere else you can just poke along with lighthouses and little hikes and tide pools.

[americanbeetles.livejournal.com]

^IGNORE THAT, THE SEA LION CAVES ARE AMAZING.

If you're not into pinnipeds, try hunting for agates on the beach at... Agate Beach (or any other beach).

Manzanita and Cannon Beach are kind of sweetly touristy-- a favorite vacation spot for a lot of PNW families and tons of beachcombing to do.

Fort Stevens has some wonderful, creepy WWII bunkers; great for exploring, and there should be nice seabirds as well.

If you're spending time near Portland, you'll be close to Mt. St. Helens, still pretty dramatically cratered. If that's not enough craters, there's also the unspeakably beautiful, Tolkeinesque Crater Lake south of Eugene.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

crater lake. it's at least a day trip unto itself iirc, but it boggles the mind. i first saw it from an airplane, went back later to hike it. amazing place.

(if you ever get to go east to mount hood, i will pressure you heavily about bagby hot springs :)

[hhw]

I don't know if I'd want to cram this much driving into a week, but this itinerary shows it's possible to do the Oregon & Northern Californian coasts (and more) in one week. Crater Lake is spectacular but it's not a quick side trip. Ditto Mt St Helens -- it's relatively close to Portland, but it still takes 3 hours to get to the viewing stations from downtown.

When trip planning, take into account that coast & mountain highways generally have lower speed limits (and lots more twists & turns) than the interstates.

I like the whole coast, but I think the views & terrain are more spectacular south of Newport. If you take 101 into California to Crescent City, you can return to I-5 along Rte 199 which goes through Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park in California.

[aemiis-zoo.livejournal.com]

The Sea Lion Caves. Also, you should check out Crater Lake. It's not on the coast, but it's not that far of a drive. It's definitely worth seeing.