Visiting the PNW 2x this summer - what to see and do?

[deathpunk dan]

Hello
It looks like I will be heading to the pacific northwest twice this summer.

I have a conference in Seattle in July. I will have pretty much 2 free days and most evenings. Hoping to get some must see/do recommendations.

The other trip is tentative/still in the planning stages...My girlfriend and I are planning on flying to Portland in either May or June. We would do a one way rental car to Bend, where we would then pick up a 2.9l Boxster 6 spd for the next 5-7 days. The thought was to head west and drive up the coast on 101 (I think that's the name of the road?). Then spend a couple of days in Portland. What should we see and do?

Any chance I'll be able to get some skiing in around Memorial Day out there?

Thanks

Dan

[gwmac]

Northwest Historic auto races around July 4 In Kent.

[LWJ]

Sounds like a fun trip. Yes, skiing will be great around Memorial Day. The only place to have snow will be Timberline. That is on Mt. Hood. The lifts that run are not super challenging but I have never had a bad day in the Summer. It is a cool novelty. Mt Hood is 1.5 hours East of Portland.

Bend is 3 hours South East of Portland.

101 is a long slow road. Pretty sights. Don't expect to open up the throttle though.

Since you are starting in Bend, lots of things for all directions - with EXCELLENT roads.

May / June may be wet if you go to the West side of the State. Weather is not a given until after July 4th. Sorry. Its true. Weather will be very nice on the East side. Snow is possible in the Mountains.

We can fill your schedule but you need to ask your Girlfriend what she wants to see / do? She might not like exploring a ghost town or checking out a limestone cave.

PM me for specific questions. Oregon / Washington are great places to vacation in the Summer.
Larry

[Paul K]

Check out Timberline Lodge.

Very active Porsche community in Bend.

+1 to Larry's comment- we need more details.

Enjoy your trip!

[gtc]

Lots of stuff to do in Seattle... it just depends what you're into. We have lots of good beer, seafood and coffee, among other things. The EMP is cool if you're into music.

[ramonesfreak]

is Powell's books store still in portland? was there about 20 years ago and it was great. got a ton of used porsche books

when i was in seattle at the same time i took a ferry over to orcas island to visit a friend...that was fun too

[teenerted1]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Sounds like a fun trip. Yes, skiing will be great around Memorial Day. The only place to have snow will be Timberline. That is on Mt. Hood. The lifts that run are not super challenging but I have never had a bad day in the Summer. It is a cool novelty. Mt Hood is 1.5 hours East of Portland.

Bend is 3 hours South East of Portland.

101 is a long slow road. Pretty sights. Don't expect to open up the throttle though.

Since you are starting in Bend, lots of things for all directions - with EXCELLENT roads.

May / June may be wet if you go to the West side of the State. Weather is not a given until after July 4th. Sorry. Its true. Weather will be very nice on the East side. Snow is possible in the Mountains.

We can fill your schedule but you need to ask your Girlfriend what she wants to see / do? She might not like exploring a ghost town or checking out a limestone cave.

PM me for specific questions. Oregon / Washington are great places to vacation in the Summer.
Larry

maybe down south Hood will be all that is open for summer snow but up here Crystal and Baker and maybe The Pass plan on skiing till july this summer

skip 101 in the summer unless you enjoying fallowing rv's

historics at Pacific is a good choice for racing on the holiday weekend.
head east on hwy 30 toward hood river. take the old hiway if you want to see some twisties and a big waterfall

post on the NW board and you will get many responses on sugestions.

[Hugh R]

Drive over to I think its Fort Townsand and take the car ferry over to Seattle.

[willtel]

I think it is Port Townsend, there was a fort there.

I went to Seattle and Portland with my wife a few years back and we had a good time. We stayed a few days in Seattle and checked out Pike Place Market and the surrounding area. It was touristy but still neat to see.

Pike Place Market by willtel, on Flickr

Fresh Fish Neon by willtel, on Flickr

Head up to the park on Queen Anne Hill for a nice view of the Space Needle.

Space Needle @ Dusk by willtel, on Flickr

Seattle Skyline by willtel, on Flickr

The Gas Works Park is also interesting.

Seattle Gas Works Park by willtel, on Flickr

We went on a whale watching tour that left out of Port Townsend and got lucky to see some Orcas and Grey Whales. We even saw a pod of Orcas engage a Grey Whale and it's calf which is apparently rare, I thought the tour guide was going to come out of his skin.

Transient orca @ Port Townsend by willtel, on Flickr

From Oregon we headed out to Cannon Beach and it was awesome.

Moody sky over Cannon Beach by willtel, on Flickr

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach by willtel, on Flickr

I also recommend the drive around Columbia River Gorge, lots of great waterfalls and scenery.

Latourell Falls by willtel, on Flickr

[LWJ]

Nice photos! The Haystack shot is fantastic!

[pavulon]

If you're into space/aviation/history, these two are top-notch!!

Seattle:
The Museum of Flight Aviation History, Airplane and Spacecraft Collections, Aerospace Library, Education and Research Center | The Museum of Flight

Portland:
The Museum | Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum | Wings & Waves Waterpark | McMinnville Oregon

[herr_oberst]

(Hijack)

That is the best picture of haystack rock I have ever seen. All the images are spectacular, but the clouds, the reflections, the colors. NICE!

Dan, keep us posted, if nothing else, we may be able to get a little group together for a burger and a brew here in Portland.
Lots of the people who frequent this linky stay out of OT, but everybody here is great people:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/pacific-northwest-us-wa-id-ut-hi-ak/500446-oregon-pdx-beers-burgers-second-thursday-every-month.html

[Hoots]

Just a few ideas; Orcas Island. Fat Smitty's Burger in Sequim, Vampires in Forks. Hurricane Ridge, Hole in the Wall in La Push, Hoh Rain Forest.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Columbia River Gorge. Don't speed in Oregon. Not worth it.

[vash]

i have never been to seattle..but portland has some GREAT EATS!

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Drive over to I think its Fort Townsand and take the car ferry over to Seattle.

Port Townsend (I grew up there)....Ferry from there goes to Whidbey Island, you should have a reservation to ride the ferry in the summer.

3 "Forts" there: Fort Townsend, Fort Flagler, and Ft. Worden. The movie "An Officer and Gentleman" was filmed at Ft. Worden/Pt. Townsend. All worth doing.