My wife and I are planning a week's vacation in Oregon from about
Friday, July 1 through Saturday, July 9 (we have some flexibility with
the dates). We are seeking a recommendation on the best way to spend
our week -- a suggested itinerary with recommendations on hotels or
B&Bs, restaurants, places to see, hikes to take, over-rated places to
avoid, etc.

We are in our late 50's and particularly enjoy hiking, gardens,
photography, and the arts. Right now we're thinking about renting a
car on arrival at PDX then spending 2-3 days in Portland. We want to
drive down the Columbia River and explore Mount Hood for a day or two,
then drive down the Oregon coast before turning inland to spend a day
at Crater Lake. We'll then drive directly from Crater Lake to PDX and
fly home to Texas. (We'd love to go to the Shakespeare Festival in
Ashland but it doesn't look like we'll have time.)

What's the best way to spend 8-10 days in Oregon? What are the best
places to stay? How much time should we allocate to different parts of
the trip? What have we not considered?

Dick --

You're not going to be able to do it all, so have to prrioritize
between Portland, Mt. Hood (Mt. St. Helens?), Sunriver, Crater Lake,
Ashland and the coast.  I don't think that you'll have time to do the
coast in any meaningful way -- so would skip it.  And I'd absolutely
make the jog up to Mt. St. Helens, as its recent activity is
astounding:
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/

Note that the resort at Crater Lake books a full year ahead of time. 
However, there are excellent accomodations nearby.  I'd probably try
to do a loop -- going from Mt. Hood into Bend-Sunriver, then south to
Crater Lake, then back through Eugene.  Make sure that you take the
daily cruise on Crater Lake.

If you have a particular interest (wineries, aircraft) please let
researchers know.  For years Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose was in San
Diego, but it's now at a museum in McMinnville.  You can also tour the
Vans' factory (they're the largest kitplane builder, outside Portland)
and the Columbia factory (at the Bend Airport):
 http://www.lancairusa.com/lancairstory.html

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Me?

I'd ask Omnivorous to take me up in his plane.

Wow! That would be really something.

Howdy ?my first comments ? hope I haven?t broken any secret protocol. 
I live outside of Eugene Oregon and can offer up these thoughts.  I
don?t want to cut into the researchers? territory, so I?ll just list
some of the stuff going on.   There?s a lot of fine stuff to
experience.  Can?t see it all, so you might as well slow down and get
a good look.  You could spend a unforgettable week going in any
direction (including into Washington).  Are you looking for the ?check
the great places off my list? vacation, or the quintessential
insiders? trip or just something comfortable in between?  There?s
quite a checklist of interests that a researcher could aid in planning
with.  River activities (fishing, white water rafting, excursions),
local festivals and antique fairs, eco-activities,
hiking/camping/waterfalls, sites-to-behold tour, culture/arts/music,
wineries, antiquing, alternative and organic communities, alpaca
insemination seminars, B&Bs, birders, and on (ok, ok maybe there was
only one alpaca artificial insemination seminar, but folks are still
talking about it).
After landing in Portland ? to stay
Lots of folks talk about this place: McMenamin?s Edgefield ? they have
other locations as well.   ? northwest experience thing
It?s a fine, historic drive along the Columbia Highway from Portland
east.   WPA construction and great views.
Reasonable hiking, stunning views, sweet waterfalls along the way,
especially Multnomah Falls.
In harvest season ? incredible fruits and berries.
Cut in past Mt. Hood and head south to Bend.
Lots of great hikes, calderas, high desert to mountain lakes.
Past Bend there is the most incredible storied pristine Waldo Lake
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/manage/waldolake/  - I had to put
in the link here.
Then Crater Lake or where ever ? it?s all fine, so it really depends
on your specific interests.
And there are various Native America run casinos if you run that way.

If you weren?t going to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival 
Or the nearby Britt Music Festival (if it?s opened for the season by then)

You might enjoy the international Bach Festival in Eugene. There are a
variety of good restaurants and reasonable places to stay in town.
Texas, isn?t that a red state?  Better start practicing speaking like
you?re from Canada so as to not rile the local populace.
- regards ? synapse666b

go for a soak at Breitenbush Hot Springs

(if you like hippy-dippy)

http://www.breitenbush.com/gallery/gallery11.html

ts

Hello Dickgrote,

A few suggestions on the "trip to Oregon" as a former Oregonian and a
current Texan.

[1] You can certainly spend a few days in the Portland area. I would
actually suggest that if you plan on seeing Mount St. Helens. Be
flexible and go to Mount St. Helens on the first "clear day" you can
manage. I have gone to Windy Ridge twice (on the east side of the
mountain) and the views are tremendous. Going around the corner from
deep forest into a clearing (from the blast) was particularly moving
for me and my kids. Family has been from the main (West) entrance and
say that has striking views as well.

[2] In Portland, don't forget Washington Park and the Rose Gardens.
Other places you may want to visit include Mount Tabor or the Grotto
(walks, scenery). If you are a book nut, a trip to Powell's Bookstore
is also well worth it (Downtown on Burnside Avenue).
  http://www.powells.com/
or
  http://www.powells.com/info/places/burnsideinfo.html
The Columbia Gorge is certainly worth a day's visit as well. One
option for the Gorge is to turn around at Bonneville Dam - be sure to
take the "old road" and not just the Interstate. Another is to hit the
major stops (e.g., Multnomah Falls) and go farther (a loop with Mount
Hood or even Biggs - Stonehenge and the Maryhill Museum of Art).
  http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/
I am usually amazed at what the Maryhill Museum has to offer and try
to stop there when "going that way". Check the calendar for special
exhibits.

[3] Mount Hood is OK but for a mountain trip in the summer I actually
prefer a drive over McKenzie Pass for the views of several mountains
and the lava fields. It is a trip you can make from Portland to Bend
(via Salem or Eugene).
  http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2148/travel.html
I try to avoid US 20 - it is a much more windy road than the
alternatives. Century Blvd leading out of Bend is also a scenic drive
as well (but beyond what you could do in a single day).

[4] From Bend, a trip to Crater Lake is certainly feasible. As others
have noted, accomodations in the park can fill up early. Instead of
staying the in the park, you can stay in Medford after visiting the
park during the day. If the timing is right, you can do the whole rim
drive, a few short walks to vistas, the boat tour (takes a couple
hours or more...), and lunch at the lodge in a single day [been there
- done that]. From Bend it would be an early start - I have done it
the other direction (from Medford) without problem.

[5] If you like caves, the Oregon Caves is certainly a good stop.
Unlike most caves, Oregon Caves has a lot of marble in them (instead
of limestone). Tours leave every few minutes. From there you can go to
the coast (in California) and then up 101, staying in one of the small
towns on the southern Oregon coast. The sand dunes are pretty
interesting (Florence?) as well. The Sea Lion Caves are certainly a
"tourist trap" but my kids liked to see the Sea Lions.

[6] Going up the coast, I would try to stop at several places for
walks and scenery. There are several places around Newport (Aquarium,
various Lighthouses) so that could be an overnight stop as well.

[7] If running out of time, go back to Portland at any convenient
location - perhaps Lincoln City but if you have time, Tillamook has
some interesting places as well (wide beaches, cheese factory).
Astoria also has a lot of places to visit as well plus you travel up
the Columbia River some more - but do only if you have the time.

This certainly skips over several good sites in Oregon but should give
you several good ideas. I try to limit my road trips to about 200-300
miles a day and use Mapquest to make sure I stay within that limit.
With the time you have, what I described is feasible.

  --Maniac

Dickgrote --

I'm going to try to fill in some details on one aspect of the trip
that several of us have recommended: Mt. St. Helens.  You can make it
a two-day trip very easily, particularly if you're interested in
hiking to the summit.  The area covered by the mountain is enormous
and the two visitors centers on the North side (in the blast area) are
a good place to start.  They're about 50 miles from I-5, as you'll see
from the maps here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/04mshnvm/maps/

There is ample lodging in the towns along I-5 (Woodland, Kalama,
Kelso, Longview).  The best hiking activities are on the South and
East sides of the volcano.  Climbing the mountain is limited to 100
people per day and requires a permit, sold at a local store late the
night before the climb.   It's a bit irrelevant right now because the
volcanic activity has cancelled all climbing on the S face but the
program may be resumed by the time you decide to go:
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/mount-st-helens/index.shtml

Our experience is that the climb from the 3,900' level to 8,400' in 5
miles takes about 4 1/2 hours.  (A beer in the backpack is mighty
welcome at the top!)  Luckily the trip down is only about 3 hours. 
From the summit you look directly into the volcano and also can see
downtown Seattle and Portland on a clear day.

If hiking to the top is not possible, the S side is still a great area
-- following Lake Merwin and the Swift Reservoir, where there's
boating and cabins.  We've also descended into the mile-long Ape
Caves, which are an underground lava tube.  Don't forget the
flashlights!  And, there's horseback riding on the S and E side of the
mountain.

On a separate topic, knowing the locations of Oregon's many fine
wineries can be a big help in planning travel.  The state's Wine Board
is here and they offer maps to assist in planning:
http://www.oregonwine.org/

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

I beg you to reconsider your decision not to go to Ashland. Ashland is
the nearest thing to heaven on earth that I can think of. Lithia park
is lovely... designed by the same Mr. Olmstead who designed Central
Park... the people in Ashland are unbelieveably friendly, and it is a
short hop to Crater Lake from this little town. In Ashland, you can
dine on French cuisine next to a babbling creek, get rosy from a glass
of Oregon Wine, and then see a Shakespean play outdoors on a warm
summer evening. No kidding... You will love it there! My suggestion to
fit it into your itinerary? Bag Mt. Hood and put Ashland in its place.
Southern Oregon also has rafting on the Rogue River, plus it is just a
small-ish drive to the Redwoods (two to three hours) on the California
Border.

Here is how I would spend my week if I were you folks:

Arrive in Portland and do some Portland things between arrival and
bedtime. (Powell's is neato...Plus, you'll be here for the Blues
Festival, I think.)
Next day, drive through the wine country along 99 (stopping for a
winery tour ot two) and out to the coast. Spend the night on the coast
somewhere like Lincoln City.
Next day, drive all the way down the coast to Cresent City California
goofing off the whole way. The days are long then, so use all the
daylight you can. Antique store and Chowder houses are everywhere...
plus it's an absolutely beautiful drive. Spend the night.
Next day, bright and early, go to Ashland (with a detour through at
least one Redwood grove on the way in.) Once there, enjoy the ambience
of the town plaza, and spend the night, with a play and dinner as your
evening.
Next day, trip to Crater Lake... Hike there, take a few pictures, then
home to Ashland and dinner.(Alternative day... rafting, but only on
the wildest parts of the Rogue with a guide. It'll take your breath
away.)
Next day, drive to the Salem area. If you left Ashland at 8:30 AM, you
could be at Silver Creek State Park outside Silverton by 1:30 PM, and
hike your fanny off on a trail that winds around and under ten
waterfalls. Spend the night in Salem at the New Convention Center.
Pretty hotel and it just opened.
Next day, Portland again. (Less than an hour from Salem)
Next day home.

Believe me... Once you've been to my beloved little Ashland, you'll
want to come back again and again. Cool things to see and do in
Portland include shopping on wacky Hawthorne Blvd., going to any
festival at Waterfront Park, hoity toity shopping and dining in the
Pearl district (right by Powell's), and the Portland Art Museum is
kinda cool too.

Hope this helps!