Help me explore the Pacific Northwest!
July 26, 2010 8:23 AM Subscribe
Two days outside of Portland, OR... what to do?
I'm visiting my little bro in Portland, OR this August and I'd like to spend the last two days of my trip exploring on my own.
I don't mind driving several hours to get where I'm going, especially if it means interesting towns and beautiful scenery along the way. I'm especially interested in natural attractions, roadside oddities and a little bit of peace and quiet. Totally open to experiences that lean toward the adventurous, too.
Any suggestions?
I'm visiting my little bro in Portland, OR this August and I'd like to spend the last two days of my trip exploring on my own.
I don't mind driving several hours to get where I'm going, especially if it means interesting towns and beautiful scenery along the way. I'm especially interested in natural attractions, roadside oddities and a little bit of peace and quiet. Totally open to experiences that lean toward the adventurous, too.
Any suggestions?
Oregon has it in spades.
Do you like volcanoes? Good! Because Oregon has lots. Mount Hood is not far from Portland. Neither is Mount St Helens. Crater Lake is also amazing, though (much) farther south.
We did a drive-around-Oregon vacation last year, and it was fantastic. Started in Portland; headed east on 84, then south on 97. One of my favorite places was the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - the Painted Hills unit is a total knockout.
Astoria is also a cool little town (on the coast), and isn't far from Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark wintered, if that's your thing. Have fun!
posted by rtha at 8:42 AM on July 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
Do you like volcanoes? Good! Because Oregon has lots. Mount Hood is not far from Portland. Neither is Mount St Helens. Crater Lake is also amazing, though (much) farther south.
We did a drive-around-Oregon vacation last year, and it was fantastic. Started in Portland; headed east on 84, then south on 97. One of my favorite places was the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - the Painted Hills unit is a total knockout.
Astoria is also a cool little town (on the coast), and isn't far from Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark wintered, if that's your thing. Have fun!
posted by rtha at 8:42 AM on July 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
I would like to state for the record that I do know that Mt St Helens is in WA and not OR. I meant to write that there are lots of volcanoes in and near OR. I'm going to have more coffee now.
posted by rtha at 8:56 AM on July 26, 2010
posted by rtha at 8:56 AM on July 26, 2010
Bagby Hot Springs (featured in the indy film Old Joy) is about two hours southeast of Portland.
posted by at the crossroads at 9:08 AM on July 26, 2010
posted by at the crossroads at 9:08 AM on July 26, 2010
The Ape Cave near Mount St. Helens is really cool if you're up for spending the better part of a day hiking.
The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is in the other direction from St. Helens, but I thought it worth the trip if you're into flight museums at all. It has the Spruce Goose!
posted by owls at 9:11 AM on July 26, 2010
The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is in the other direction from St. Helens, but I thought it worth the trip if you're into flight museums at all. It has the Spruce Goose!
posted by owls at 9:11 AM on July 26, 2010
Nthing the coast. When I was in Portland, I spent the weekend going up & down the coast from Astoria to Newport. I liked the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria for an hour or two, Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock; I loved the wreck of the Peter Iredale, and the Three Capes drive. And driving back to Portland, munching on still-squeaky Tillamook curds.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 9:21 AM on July 26, 2010
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 9:21 AM on July 26, 2010
Another pro the coast has going for it is that in August, when Portland may very well be 95-100 degrees, the coast will be about 65-70 degrees.
posted by medeine at 10:17 AM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by medeine at 10:17 AM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
I recommend climbing up Beacon Rock in the Columbia River Gorge. It's a short hike up and you get a spectacular view from which you can ponder how Lewis and Clark felt as they knew their journey was coming to an end.
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:26 AM on July 26, 2010
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:26 AM on July 26, 2010
You MUST visit Multnomah Falls. It's the second tallest waterfall in North America, and it has its own exit and parking lot on I-84. (It's a left-exit. The parking lot is in between the lanes of the highway.) If you're into hiking, you can hike up to the top of it where there's a viewpoint that allows you to look down.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:33 AM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:33 AM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
Nthing Multnomah Falls (just about a 40-minute drive east from Portland on I-84).
You can easily do a daytrip to the coast -- if you just pick one or two towns to visit. If you want beach time, Cannon Beach and Seaside are about a 90-minute drive up Hwy. 26. Seaside's a bit crowded, but has that summer-beach-town feel. Cannon Beach is a little calmer, and you can see Haystack Rock. You could also go about 20 minutes south on 101 to Manzanita, a cute, smaller town with just one main drag (Laneda) and street parking somewhat close to the beach, or pay to visit Ecola State Park, which is close to Cannon Beach and is totally lovely. Further south, Newport has a the great Oregon Coast Aquarium, or you can see the Sea Lion Caves at Florence. In the other direction, Astoria is a bit north of Seaside -- it's not a beach town, but it's a cool historic older city. All will likely be cooler (temperature-wise) that Portland.
posted by lisa g at 11:38 AM on July 26, 2010
You can easily do a daytrip to the coast -- if you just pick one or two towns to visit. If you want beach time, Cannon Beach and Seaside are about a 90-minute drive up Hwy. 26. Seaside's a bit crowded, but has that summer-beach-town feel. Cannon Beach is a little calmer, and you can see Haystack Rock. You could also go about 20 minutes south on 101 to Manzanita, a cute, smaller town with just one main drag (Laneda) and street parking somewhat close to the beach, or pay to visit Ecola State Park, which is close to Cannon Beach and is totally lovely. Further south, Newport has a the great Oregon Coast Aquarium, or you can see the Sea Lion Caves at Florence. In the other direction, Astoria is a bit north of Seaside -- it's not a beach town, but it's a cool historic older city. All will likely be cooler (temperature-wise) that Portland.
posted by lisa g at 11:38 AM on July 26, 2010
Spend one day exploring the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah falls is big, but many are much more beautiful - and/or drive the old scenic highway there. Stop at a brew pub in Hood River for food and great beer.
Spend the other visiting the coast, Oceanside is my favorite town and it's just past Tilamook, so you can stop there for picnic supplies. Just be aware that the coast can be cold - so bring a rain jacket and be prepared for wind.
If you drive 3 hours south on the coast, you can visit a park full of carnivorous plants, which I think is pretty cool.
posted by jardinier at 11:45 AM on July 26, 2010
Spend the other visiting the coast, Oceanside is my favorite town and it's just past Tilamook, so you can stop there for picnic supplies. Just be aware that the coast can be cold - so bring a rain jacket and be prepared for wind.
If you drive 3 hours south on the coast, you can visit a park full of carnivorous plants, which I think is pretty cool.
posted by jardinier at 11:45 AM on July 26, 2010
The Dundee area has world-class wines, and it is a very pretty drive down HWY 99 from Portland.
posted by Danf at 11:46 AM on July 26, 2010
posted by Danf at 11:46 AM on July 26, 2010
Oregon Coast. Portland -> Astoria -> Florence -> Eugene -> Portland. On the way, grab some wine from the Nehalem Bay Winery, check out the Tillamook Cheese Factory, grab some trinkets from the various lighthouse/stores on the way down, check out the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, and relax. It'll be a great time of the year right now. Two pics I took while on vacation there back in 2006.
posted by tra at 12:36 PM on July 26, 2010
posted by tra at 12:36 PM on July 26, 2010
Head west to Astoria, via St. Johns through Scapposse and Rainier. Thera are lots of lavender farms and when you're in Astoria find the Bow Picker, just ask any local, and have the VERY BEST fish and chips in North America.
While in St. Johns stop and see the famous St. Johns Bridge designed by Joseph B. Strauss who also designed the Golden Gate Bridge. The story I heard was that the St Johns Bridge was his favorite. Then head to The John's Street Cafe, if you go for breakfast you can have some really good corned beef hash!
posted by Fuzzy Dog at 1:26 PM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
While in St. Johns stop and see the famous St. Johns Bridge designed by Joseph B. Strauss who also designed the Golden Gate Bridge. The story I heard was that the St Johns Bridge was his favorite. Then head to The John's Street Cafe, if you go for breakfast you can have some really good corned beef hash!
posted by Fuzzy Dog at 1:26 PM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
If natural attractions and peace and quiet are big on your list, Breitenbush Hotsprings is a pretty special place. It's a two hour drive from Portland, abutting an old growth forest with miles of trails. The place itself is gorgeous and unique. Food is amazing and organic and plentiful. Of their many tubs, my favorite is the Silent Pool, which overlooks a valley and is a great place to be during sunset.
posted by funkiwan at 2:20 PM on July 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by funkiwan at 2:20 PM on July 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
If you do go to Astoria, make sure to buy some salmon jerky. You won't believe how wonderful it is.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 2:44 PM on July 26, 2010
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 2:44 PM on July 26, 2010
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Both drives were beautiful and it was a fun, adventure-filled day for us.
posted by Kimberly at 8:37 AM on July 26, 2010 [2 favorites]