oregon attraction suggestions

This is a very broad topic.I am planning a 2-week trip to oregon for next july.I will fly into portland .I plan on driving the pacific coast highway down to northern california, then coming back up through klamath falls %26amp; crater lake on the way back to portland.

Does anyone have any ideas of what are must-see attractions or restaurants along the way? I have done a lot of hiking %26amp; photography, but have never been to oregon.I am looking forward to it!

oregon attraction suggestions

Hi

Without having done the entire drive down the coast, I can only say that the small amount of coastline we have driven, requires sooo many stops for photos! You will no doubt take advantage of every single overlook :)

Since I am not really any help, I just wish you luck in your planning and hope you post the photos next summer :)

This is also Topping your post :)

oregon attraction suggestions

Hmmm...Definetly a broad topic- I%26#39;d look around the Oregon foum for ideas of what you want to do- take alook at ';Trip Report'; from emcole(sp?) and what they did in two weeks.

As far as must see attractions- the whole coast drive is pretty cool- I%26#39;ll give you some Southern Oregon Coast ideas-since we have some very knowledgable North Coasters that post frequently.

South Coast: I like Sunset Bay and Shore Acres State Parks near Coos Bay it is well worth the detour from hwy 101. Also if you have time go on a Jet Boat Ride up the Rogue River. The coast drive from Port Orford to Brookings is really cool. Humbug Mountain is pretty cool to hike up if you want a hike. Also I really like Pistol River Beach- nothing too unique(as far as Oregon Coast standards), but a great wide sandy beach that is not heavily used. Of course now that I%26#39;ve been telling everyone to go here it might not be! :)

If you are going up to Klamath Falls take Hwy 66 from Ashland to K-Falls. It is a historic highway and very scenic and curvy. you can also stop at GreenSprings and get some spring water.

I%26#39;d take Hwy 62 from Hwy 97 up to Crater Lake.

Crater Lake is awesome and if you have time-I%26#39;d take the boat ride around the lake- you can even stop at Wizard Island and walk around- and pick up the next boat.

As a photographer and a hiker, you are going to LOVE Oregon.

I agree with Scarlett01, stop at the little scenic pulloffs on the Coast drive. It%26#39;s kind of touristy, but I love all the views of Heceta Head Lighthouse. Strawberry Hill has sea lions and is worth a quick stop.

A beautiful quick hike we take visitors on is located at Cape Perpetua Campground (Siuslaw National Forest). You%26#39;re in coastal old growth Spruce forest here....great photo opportunites. There%26#39;s a quick 2 mile (roundtrip) hike - Giant Spruce Trail - from the campground and, as I mentioned, you%26#39;re immediatley in Old Growth Forest. Trail ends at a 400 yr old Spruce.

Another hike leads you up Cape Perpetua to the stone shelter (3 miles round trip) and, depending on the weather, offers stunning views. There is a Visitors Center there as well, touristy but will help you with trailheads, etc.

just one option among many....

teri

A friend from the east coast visited me recently (I live in Oregon)--we saw a lot of the state! One of the many things that she seemed quite enthralled with was the drive along the Columbia Gorge east out of Portland. We drove the historic highway; stopped at many of the waterfalls; roamed around Vista House; oohed and aahed at Multnomah Falls; we ended up in Hood River and roamed around there for a bit; had a quick bite to eat then zoomed back to Portland on the interstate.

This is one of those trips that could take you 2 hours; or a long day...depending on how often you stopped; how much hiking you did (or shopping in Hood River!). Great place for hiking and/or photography both.

I agree about the Columbia River Gorge, it is amazing. Multnomah Falls is absolutely gorgeous. We spent an afternoon there this past July and took it all in.

I would suggest the Tillamook Air Museum and the Cheese Factory in Tillamook. Both of these attractions are fun and educational. Cannon Beach has Haystack Rock and Seaside is fun with the prom and the scenic Necanicum River. Don%26#39;t miss the Taste of Tuscany here for a great Italian meal.

Fort Steven State Park is a nice place to spend time. The wreck of the Peter Iredale will give you a great photo subject. This beach is usually windy, so bring a jacket or sweatshirt.

Astoria is full of charm and history. The Maritime Museum, the Astor Column, the Flavel house are all worth visiting. In July the Riverfront Trolley will be in full swing, you can ride it along the riverfront and there is a nice narration of the history of the town. Meals at Cannery Cafe or Wet Dog Cafe would be nice, they are both on the trolley run. Enjoy your trip and your photogrpahy. The Oregon Coast is a photographer%26#39;s paradise. :)

It%26#39;s clear we locals have done a lousy job (or good, depending on one%26#39;s perspective ;-) ) promoting Oregon when someone who claims to have visited regularly for 20+ years lists the Cheese Factory, Tillamook Air Museum, Seaside%26#39;s prom, the Necanicum River, and the wreck of the Peter Iredale as the ';must-see'; attractions of the north coast.

I suggest you rather start at the mouth of the Columbia River, photohiker, which is actually best viewed and photographed from Cape Disappointment State Park near Ilwaco, WA. You%26#39;d probably also like the North Head Lighthouse there. Heading south, other stops/things to consider are Ecola St. Park just north of Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock (best in early morning), Oswald West St. Park, Three Capes Scenic Loop, Cascade Head, Oregon Dunes, and other sights mentioned..... As Scarlett implies, almost an endless list really. Be sure to bring a wide-angle lens.

I suggest you continue down hwy 101 to Crescent City, CA before heading inland on hwy 199 up towards Crater Lake. Hwy 199 will take you ghrough a couple redwood groves and along the Smith River.

Why Klamath Falls? From a photography standpoint, with the beauty of Cascade Range peaks and surrounding landscape, I think you%26#39;d find time spent in the Bend and Sisters area more worth your while. Once you%26#39;re more settled on a route, we can help fill in the blanks.

For restaurant recs, the two that stand out most in my mind along your route are the Otis Cafe north of Lincoln City (for breakfast), and cocktails and appetizers on the deck outside Crater Lake Lodge at sunset near sunset. For both places, it%26#39;s as much the experience as it is the food I remember.

%26lt;%26lt; ....someone who claims to have visited regularly for 20+ years lists the Cheese Factory, Tillamook Air Museum, Seaside%26#39;s prom, the Necanicum River, and the wreck of the Peter Iredale as the ';must-see'; attractions of the north coast.%26gt;%26gt;

LOL, it only makes me doubt that anyone could have been here that many times and only have this as a recommendation. Like recommending the same winery over and over..

I agree with the posters who say go South..although Cape Disappointment and that lighthouse are worth the drive through the shabbier parts of the coast to see.

You will get some beautiful photos at Klamath Lake, north of KFalls - there is a lot of wildlife and we often spot eagles in that area. I don%26#39;t know of many attractions in the town so you might want to make this a day trip from somewhere? The Green Springs highway (to Medford/Ashland from KFalls) is also very scenic but not for the faint hearted.

There are plenty of good ideas already.

Personally, I do not like the highway 30 from Portland to Astoria. I%26#39;d rather take 26 to Seaside and go north, if Astoria was on your plate.

Hy. 6 to Tillamook is a nice drive, but can mess-up a nice smooth route, since you would have to drive north a lot, and come south again.

Part of this is speculative, not knowing your itinerary.

Astoria is nice, Seaside is fun, and most of the coast is fun.

I%26#39;ve never eaten at a good place in Tillamook, but the cheese factory is a good stop.

The highway 99 from Portland to Lincoln City has always been a drag for me, with slow downs in Mediocre communities, except that McMinnville does have the air museum. But I%26#39;d rather go from Portland to Seaside on 26, drive down the coast to Lincoln City, go east to the air museum, and backtrack the 1 hour to the coast again.

Obviously, you will see the Redwoods just past Brookings. The Oregon Caves are next in line, about 1 hour east, headed toward Grants Pass.

I%26#39;d take the highway through Prospect to Crater Lake anyday, over the Ashland area highway, only because the route through Prospect is also nice. But the Ashland area highway is nice. Top up with gas if you go that way.

On the way past Eagle Point to Prospect, in Shady Cove, is a Two Pines restaurant - western motiff.

On the way to Crater Lake, locate the Rogue River gorge, small, but very nice.

A few of my favorites are in this page...

http://www.mdvaden.com/oregon_hiking.shtml

You should find nice sites in all corners of the state.

photohiker suggest if you want more help you come back. You have many good responses with no reaction from you.