Oregon coast - cheap with an 8 year old
June 12, 2017 1:24 PM Subscribe
I'm planning a last minute trip to the Oregon coast with an 8 year old for next week probably and maybe a 2nd attempt in 2 weeks. We live in Seattle. We'd want to visit family in Portland for a day or two. We own no camping gear. I want to keep this cheap. Help!
I don't even know where to start with this but would welcome any recommendations, but most especially a suggested route.
As far as things to do, kid would probably love it if he could swim or play in water. We love hanging out on the beach. Cool weird stuff too!
I don't even know where to start with this but would welcome any recommendations, but most especially a suggested route.
As far as things to do, kid would probably love it if he could swim or play in water. We love hanging out on the beach. Cool weird stuff too!
I don't remember any specific spots, but if you can do a little research and time it right, tidepooling is a fantastic free activity. I saw some pretty cool stuff on a roadtrip years ago.
posted by ktkt at 3:38 PM on June 12, 2017
posted by ktkt at 3:38 PM on June 12, 2017
Tidepooling at Seal Rock. Check the tide charts beforehand and go at low tide. Bring clothes for both warm sunny weather and cold rainy foggy weather.
If you go after July 15, Cascade Head has a short family-friendly hike that is also incredibly gorgeous. They have a longer more challenging route open year-round.
posted by cnidaria at 4:18 PM on June 12, 2017
If you go after July 15, Cascade Head has a short family-friendly hike that is also incredibly gorgeous. They have a longer more challenging route open year-round.
posted by cnidaria at 4:18 PM on June 12, 2017
A friend of mine and I stayed at Sheltered Nook in January. It's a family-owned group of 4-5 tiny houses near Tillamook. Your kid might like being able to climb up into a loft to sleep. On TripAdvisor it looks like it's about $142/night right now - I don't know if that's in your budget.
Most of the tourist places and restaurants in the area have printed tide chart books for free so you don't have to keep checking the web.
posted by bendy at 5:38 PM on June 12, 2017
Most of the tourist places and restaurants in the area have printed tide chart books for free so you don't have to keep checking the web.
posted by bendy at 5:38 PM on June 12, 2017
There are numerous excellent kite festivals along the coast this time of year. The location and fair winds make for perfect kite flying.
http://www.oregoncoast.org/lincoln-city-summer-kite-festival/
posted by nickggully at 5:53 PM on June 12, 2017
http://www.oregoncoast.org/lincoln-city-summer-kite-festival/
posted by nickggully at 5:53 PM on June 12, 2017
The Oregon State Park system has yurt camping spaces all along the coast.
posted by humboldt32 at 6:17 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by humboldt32 at 6:17 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
2nding yurt camping at Oregon State Parks - it was $40/night when I went last summer, there's beds and heaters, just BYO sleeping bag or sheets. Each yurt has a fire pit, so you can roast hot dogs and marshmallows.
Unfortunately the Tillamook cheese factory visitor center is under construction, I imagine it would be fun for kids to see how cheese is made in a real cheese factory.
I'm not sure how far south you're going but if you're headed a ways down there:
- Fun in the sand at Oregon Dunes (try the Day Use site to avoid ATVs). Or go to the ATV part and rent an ATV :D
- Sea Lion Caves
- Thor's Well + Cape Perpetua Lookout
- A billion sea lions and seals at Cape Arago
Regarding route, the fastest and more scenic route is to take 26 N/NW from Portland to Seaside, and then just drive down the coast on 101 until you're sick of it. There's a ton of cool tiny towns, parks, beaches, so if you're open to spontaneity, it can be a really fun journey. Once you've had your fill, just cut east to 5 (there's an E/W highway every 30 miles or so) and take it north back to Portland.
posted by slagheap at 9:45 PM on June 12, 2017
Unfortunately the Tillamook cheese factory visitor center is under construction, I imagine it would be fun for kids to see how cheese is made in a real cheese factory.
I'm not sure how far south you're going but if you're headed a ways down there:
- Fun in the sand at Oregon Dunes (try the Day Use site to avoid ATVs). Or go to the ATV part and rent an ATV :D
- Sea Lion Caves
- Thor's Well + Cape Perpetua Lookout
- A billion sea lions and seals at Cape Arago
Regarding route, the fastest and more scenic route is to take 26 N/NW from Portland to Seaside, and then just drive down the coast on 101 until you're sick of it. There's a ton of cool tiny towns, parks, beaches, so if you're open to spontaneity, it can be a really fun journey. Once you've had your fill, just cut east to 5 (there's an E/W highway every 30 miles or so) and take it north back to Portland.
posted by slagheap at 9:45 PM on June 12, 2017
Consider your Washington options as well. Head to Long Beach from Seattle via Aberdeen and South Bend. You avoid interstate from Olympia (or even earlier if you choose). Stay at the Sou'wester in Seaview. They have loaner bikes with a nearby 12 mi of path, plus wide swathes of beach just a short way down the street (kite flying!). They have these tiny vintage trailers you can stay in—way fun if you're 8! Also unlimited showers, a common house with games, plus an outdoor kitchen shelter with full appliances and pots and plates and stuff.
Five minutes away is the touristy Long Beach, with an arcade, ice cream shop, a totally wacky curio shop, and down the road is a cranberry bog you can tour. Not far in the other direction is Cape Disappointment, where you can walk way out the North Jetty, which is neat. Between here and Astoria just over the bridge, you've got one of your weeks totally covered.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 11:26 PM on June 12, 2017
Five minutes away is the touristy Long Beach, with an arcade, ice cream shop, a totally wacky curio shop, and down the road is a cranberry bog you can tour. Not far in the other direction is Cape Disappointment, where you can walk way out the North Jetty, which is neat. Between here and Astoria just over the bridge, you've got one of your weeks totally covered.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 11:26 PM on June 12, 2017
If you can swing a campervan rental, they come with all the camping gear you might need (and a little sink and solar-powered fridge!). I just did a roadtrip in one of these from Seattle to Portland to the redwoods and back. The van was easier to drive and park than an RV and got better mileage (around 20-22mpg). It was also cheaper than renting a car + staying in hotels + eating out. Feel free to PM me if you have other questions!
We used the Roadtrippers app & website to plan our route and find stuff to see and do. Highly recommended!
posted by acridrabbit at 6:57 AM on June 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
We used the Roadtrippers app & website to plan our route and find stuff to see and do. Highly recommended!
posted by acridrabbit at 6:57 AM on June 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you want a sandy beach, Seaside has a great one, as do Manzanita and Rockaway. (Seaside is further north and easy to access from Portland.)
posted by hydra77 at 10:09 AM on June 13, 2017
posted by hydra77 at 10:09 AM on June 13, 2017
The airplane museum at Tillomook has the Spruce Goose, and an SR 71 Blackbird.
A yurt would be great, but they're probably booked, and I can't find any way to check - I can only check one park at a time. Might be worth a phone call to the park service.
posted by at at 11:01 AM on June 13, 2017
A yurt would be great, but they're probably booked, and I can't find any way to check - I can only check one park at a time. Might be worth a phone call to the park service.
posted by at at 11:01 AM on June 13, 2017
I am biased as I have many fond childhood memories of it, but if you're looking for a typical and tourist-friendly Oregon coast town, Cannon Beach is a good bet. They have the infrastructure for visitors, but it's still charming.
The kids can play on the sandy beach next to Haystack Rock - lots of tide pools and a little creek to splash in. As seen in The Goonies.
Get burgers and sodas/beers at Bill's Tavern, where you might see local foragers come in with bags of mushrooms for the kitchen. For breakfast with kids, try the Pig n' Pancake. A nice grown up meal can be had at the Cannon Beach Hotel restaurant (also a good hotel). Don't go to Mo's, it's known locally to be no good. Sorry Mo's.
Lots of lovely nature hikes in the area that are gentle paths, easy for kids - Short Sand Beach at Oswald West State Park is a favourite. The path is brimming with magic, lots of natural gnome houses. The scenery is spectacular. Kayaking and horse rides on the beach are available in Cannon Beach environs.
If you'd like some louder fun, neighbouring Seaside, OR has Funland, a bunch of old timey arcade games like whack-a-mole, bumper cars, etc. Seaside also has a big aquarium filled with shouty sea lions you can throw fish to - I always found this gross (fishy hands!) but fun as a kid!
Caveat: these suggestions assume you have a car and are happy doing what for the PNW is a normal amount of driving. Say, 20 min btw destinations outside of Cannon Beach. The area is rural and things are spread out.
posted by Concordia at 2:34 PM on June 13, 2017
The kids can play on the sandy beach next to Haystack Rock - lots of tide pools and a little creek to splash in. As seen in The Goonies.
Get burgers and sodas/beers at Bill's Tavern, where you might see local foragers come in with bags of mushrooms for the kitchen. For breakfast with kids, try the Pig n' Pancake. A nice grown up meal can be had at the Cannon Beach Hotel restaurant (also a good hotel). Don't go to Mo's, it's known locally to be no good. Sorry Mo's.
Lots of lovely nature hikes in the area that are gentle paths, easy for kids - Short Sand Beach at Oswald West State Park is a favourite. The path is brimming with magic, lots of natural gnome houses. The scenery is spectacular. Kayaking and horse rides on the beach are available in Cannon Beach environs.
If you'd like some louder fun, neighbouring Seaside, OR has Funland, a bunch of old timey arcade games like whack-a-mole, bumper cars, etc. Seaside also has a big aquarium filled with shouty sea lions you can throw fish to - I always found this gross (fishy hands!) but fun as a kid!
Caveat: these suggestions assume you have a car and are happy doing what for the PNW is a normal amount of driving. Say, 20 min btw destinations outside of Cannon Beach. The area is rural and things are spread out.
posted by Concordia at 2:34 PM on June 13, 2017
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Pretty sure my fondest memories of Fort Stevens/Astoria area was from when I was around that age.
posted by furnace.heart at 1:43 PM on June 12, 2017