Advice on Route/ Plan for Portland to Washington Solo trip in Sept?
August 15, 2015 5:11 PM Subscribe
Am planning a solo trip early Sept to Portland then heading up to Washington and renting a car (Seattle?) possibly by Amtrak, with a stop at the Gorges).
Have a place to stay in Portland 4-5 days. I am thinking I will need a 2-3 day car rental in Portland, and 4-5 day car rental in Washington. And I should be hitting Washington just before Labor Day weekend- which means I should book accommodations now!
In both areas, I'd like to see some natural beauty- the coasts, mountains and forests. I don't need fancy digs, can even handle a camp and am just trying to do it all at a fairly relaxing pace and max out on the scenery and quirky fun places. I love art, good music architecture as well as nature. Hate super big crowds, but will inevitable spend a day in both cities trying to see the best of there.
Favorite driving routes in Wa or day trips from Portland? And charming reasonably priced B+Bs /hotels must sees or any other tips would be appreciated!
In both areas, I'd like to see some natural beauty- the coasts, mountains and forests. I don't need fancy digs, can even handle a camp and am just trying to do it all at a fairly relaxing pace and max out on the scenery and quirky fun places. I love art, good music architecture as well as nature. Hate super big crowds, but will inevitable spend a day in both cities trying to see the best of there.
Favorite driving routes in Wa or day trips from Portland? And charming reasonably priced B+Bs /hotels must sees or any other tips would be appreciated!
Response by poster: I was planning on driving and the rentals are more than double the price! I might have to rent a week and double back to Portland and Amtrak it to Seattle at that rate.
posted by TenaciousB at 6:48 PM on August 15, 2015
posted by TenaciousB at 6:48 PM on August 15, 2015
Best answer: I'd recommend a loop from Portland to Mt. Hood to Hood River and back through the gorge. Do one day hike up on Mt. Hood, stay the night — either in Hood River or in one of the many campsites in the gorge — then do another day hike in the gorge.
Eagle Creek is the most famous of the hikes in the gorge; it's also one of the ones without significant elevation gain. It also lacks the stunning views of the other hikes (the creek is lovely, though, and ends in a great punchbowl waterfall). If your legs are up for it, Angel's Rest and Dog Mountain reward the steep climb with spectacular views.
If you drive about 30 minutes past Hood River to The Dalles, the green forests quickly turn into high desert. It's a different kind of natural beauty — a little less conventionally pretty, but still striking. Tom McCall Point is a good hike for seeing that kind of scenery.
I think you'd enjoy kicking around Hood River for an afternoon. It's a small town with the arts and quirk that you're looking for.
The Ape Cave is a lava tube near Mt. St. Helens. It's a good day trip from Portland, or a stop-over on the drive up to Seattle. (Allow a few hours to walk through the tube; bring a flashlight and a light jacket.)
If you do end up driving between Portland and Seattle, take highway 101 along the coast between Astoria, OR and Aberdeen, WA. It's a pretty drive, with the occasional small town to stop in at.
You might also enjoy a stop in downtown Olympia. For me, it's not a place to go out of my way to see. But it's a nice place to explore for a few hours.
posted by Banknote of the year at 5:40 PM on August 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Eagle Creek is the most famous of the hikes in the gorge; it's also one of the ones without significant elevation gain. It also lacks the stunning views of the other hikes (the creek is lovely, though, and ends in a great punchbowl waterfall). If your legs are up for it, Angel's Rest and Dog Mountain reward the steep climb with spectacular views.
If you drive about 30 minutes past Hood River to The Dalles, the green forests quickly turn into high desert. It's a different kind of natural beauty — a little less conventionally pretty, but still striking. Tom McCall Point is a good hike for seeing that kind of scenery.
I think you'd enjoy kicking around Hood River for an afternoon. It's a small town with the arts and quirk that you're looking for.
The Ape Cave is a lava tube near Mt. St. Helens. It's a good day trip from Portland, or a stop-over on the drive up to Seattle. (Allow a few hours to walk through the tube; bring a flashlight and a light jacket.)
If you do end up driving between Portland and Seattle, take highway 101 along the coast between Astoria, OR and Aberdeen, WA. It's a pretty drive, with the occasional small town to stop in at.
You might also enjoy a stop in downtown Olympia. For me, it's not a place to go out of my way to see. But it's a nice place to explore for a few hours.
posted by Banknote of the year at 5:40 PM on August 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by fiercekitten at 6:10 PM on August 15, 2015