Washington\Oregon guys, I need suggestions

[84toy]

This isn't technical so I guess I should ask that you pm me with responses. I am going up the coast with the P-Car through Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Those of you who live or travel above the California border and have suggestions on sites to see or things to do in the coastal areas, I would appreciate any info you send my way. The final destination is around Edmonds, WA

Many Thanks!

[PatrickM]

Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, Oregon.
Mt. Saint Helens in Washington.
Check out overnight lodging in one of the
McMenamins establishments in the surrounding
Portland area.


www.mcmenamins.com

www.innatcapekiwanda.com

[randywebb]

post a little about your interests
- wilderness?
- giant spruce forests?
- saline wetlands?
- rocky headlands?
- dunescapes?
- following RVs in near gridlock?

[84toy]

Thanks for the info. I like most everything especially nature related stuff. Don't care for art related museums and such. Probably forests, nice parks etc would be at the top of the list and indoor stuff and crowds (following RVs in near gridlock) at the bottom of the list Actually, it didn't even come to mind about Mt. Saint Helens. Sounds like something I would really like though.

If an attraction has a scenic twisty road going to it, all the better! I am planning on a full tour of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier while I am there. (son in the Navy)

We are just going up to see the grand-baby and some fun stops up and back would be nice.....

[alf]

If you cruise up 101 on the Oregon coast you will encounter RVs. But it is worth the scenery and twisties. Perhaps travel in the late afternoon and evenings to avoid traffic. Plenty of nice little small towns and by roads to take on 101 to see what ever strikes your fancy.

Mt. St Helens is a cool drive, but it is not a quick detour. If i remember correctly it is about 2 to 3 hrs round trip on the access road to the observatory.

There is no shortage of great roads and stuff to see in WA and a great time of the year here.

alf

[RSBob]

If you like the twisties, Drive HWY 1 from Bodega Bay up to Fort Brag and continue up 101 to Eureka.
Be sure to check out the amazing redwood forests on the way up to Eureka - then drive HWY 1 up the Oregon coast and cross to WA. In Oregon, check out Bandon, Depot Bay, the cheese factory in Tillimuck, the beautiful (touristy) town of Cannon Beach.

[Dantilla]

If you like airplanes, the Spruce Goose is in Oregon. Not on the coast, but worth it.

[rdane]

Do the Oregon coast coming up but around Portland turn right and go inland and drop off I5 at Woodland. 530 to Cougar and FR 25 to 12 and 123 and 410 around Rainier. 169 to 18 and wind your way to Edmonds.

Great views of St. Helens, Adams, Rainier and some of the best P car roads in the state. A 15 minute excursion to Chinook pass is worth it as well off 123.

Paradise and Sunrise worth the effort if you have the time inside Rainier NP. Cool old lodge at Paradise makes a good dinner and overnight.

[kg911]

If you can, take the time to travel inland to Crater Lake, Oregon. Back out to the coast check out the blimp hangars outside Newport. Up the coast Cannon beach and Seaside are pretty cool places. Would definately recommend highway 410 around Mt Rainier. If you stay on the coast through Washinton State Head up toward Long Beach. This is where Lewis and Clark ended there journey west.Lake Quinault and Lake Quinault lodge are pretty cool also. Swing around the penninsula you can pick up the Kingston ferry which will cross Puget Sound and drop you right in Edmonds.

[Doug&Julie]

Julie and I enjoyed our Oregon coast drive (too bad we weren't in a Pcar!).

We stayed in Newport for a couple of days.


Enjoyed the aquarium (maybe too "touristy" for you, but it's small so it's easy to do in a half day and is partly outdoors as well).


Newport has two or three picturesque lighthouses...


And some beautiful beaches...

[Scott Clarke]

Tillamook has an air museum that I've heard good things about. The one in McMinville is also nice (with the Spruce Goose). Do you like wine? There are many first rate wineries in the area that offer tastings. These tend to be on nice, uncrowded roads. If you want to avoid traffic, just come inland a little bit. Great, uncrowded, scenic roads.

[clarelaw]

I have done the trip from LA to Seattle a couple of times. Most recently in my 911 going south to north. My wife and I drove 101 the entire way. A great trip. We camped most of the time. A 911 will hold enough for two to camp if you camp backpacker style. We learned the hard way that when you stop at an outlet mall, you better make sure you have a place to store everything you buy.

On the trip we had one rule - only the passenger gets to look at the ocean. 101 is a great ride, but it is also a very dangerous, undivided highway. A cross-over head-on tends to spoil a good trip.

Have a great trip and don't forget to let the girl drive occassionallly.

Regards,

[Dantilla]

If you go to Mt. Rainier-

I found out last week that when leaving the Paradise parking lot, you can shut the engine off and coast for 12-13 miles or so, well past Longmire on the way down.

[rdane]

Views are good, roads incredible.

Mt. Rainier from the road, with the actual summit crater visable.





Rainier from Paradise Lodge




The lodge from the parking lot


Mt St Helens



Mt. Adams

[rdane]

Just some of the additional views along the way.







Sunrise meadows on Rainier





Sunrise on Chinook pASS.

[rdane]

15 minute hike from Sunrise parking lot.

[Superman]

Well as you can see, you're going to be in Heaven if you like the outdoors. Oregon coast is better than Washington, I'm ashamed to say. They've go the most rocks and lighthouses. It's a trip that's great in sunshine, and even greater in bad weather.

I rarely disagree with Dane, but I'd suggest staying on 101 to Astoria, one of the most quaint seaside towns on the planet and they've got a cool bridge there across the Columbia. Once across, sure, make your way inland to see things like Mt St. Helens, Mr. Rainier (spectacular..highest in the contiguous states), Mt. Adams, etc. We've got more extinct volcanoes than you can shake a stick at.

Then if you're going to Bremerton, the very very long way is through Hoquiam, Klaalock, Hoh Rainforest, Lake Quinault and Port Angeles where you can take a byroad up to Hurricane Ridge...very picturesque. It's your call...quite a detour but more bald eagles in northern Olympic Peninsula than you'll see anywhere but Alaska. You can even go to the NW point of the contiguous US, and there is a breathtaking lighthouse there (Cape Flattery). On Hurricaine Ridge, the deer just stand there like they know they're in no danger. They're correct....we've got quite a concentration of National Parks, and they're HUGE. (the parks, that is)

[rdane]

Jim, no disagreement from me....the mouth of the Columbia and the area around it are well worth the effort.

St. Helens from the view point on FR 25.

[Dantilla]

I bet there'd be a nice view if all those mountains weren't in the way.

[pwd72s]

Couple of food tips if going up 101. In Yachats, Oregon (pronounced Ya-hots) avoid the "nice restaurant" in town, La Sere...pretentious attitude & prices, and the food is less than so-so. About 15 miles North, the town of Waldport, look for a tavern on the main drag, set back from 101 a bit. Damn, can't remember it's name now...but it's in the middle of the main drag, on the west side. Every night of the week they have a different "special". Cindy & I knew we'd struck paydirt when the locals began filling the place just before the "special" began, around 6, if memory serves. The BBQ ribs are almost good enough for me to want to take the 130 mile round trip again. Actually, I don't like the coast much. When I was young, my parents built a cabin near Yachats. I spent too many weekends there as slave labor to like the place today...I seldom go there, avoiding the tourist trap coast until Cindy insists we go. Luckily, that's only every couple of years.