Trip to Oregon - help with destinations

[Anonymous]

We are planning a trip to Oregon for next summer (2016). Planning far ahead so I can get reservations set for Crater Lake National Park set this summer when they open, but I realize we have plenty of time to still plan.

I've started some reading about it and feel overwhelmed with wanting to do "everything" that I read about. So any DCUM people want to throw out suggestions? Family will be DH & me (mid/late 40s) and kiddo (11 years old).

Already know we want to do...
Oregon Coast (but not sure if both Northern & Central Coast, or just Northern or Central).
Crater Lake

90% Likely want to do
Some time in Portland
Columbia River Gorge/The Dalles/maybe Mount Hood (at least to see, but not ski)

pretty sure we want to do
Bend
Lava River Cave
family bike ride

Pretty sure we don't want to do
Eastern OR

Trip would probably be 7-10 days. Most likely August 2016. We are fairly "adventurous" people and like things that we can't do here in DC. DH may be interested in some of the wine areas, but not sure how that would work with our kid.

We did a trip similar to this a couple of summer ago... flew into 1 city on west coast, stayed there for a few days, then took off in rental car and hit a couple of national parks and major destinations. That trip was 10-11 days and was physically exhausting, but really memorable.

[Anonymous]

I went to crater lake as a kid and had an absolute blast! One thing we were not prepared for was that there was still snow everywhere (this was July 4 weekend). So make sure you at least pack rain boots just on case or it might be a soggy trip.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't you want to do Eastern Oregon? It's absolutely beautiful and will make you wonder why you never knew about it before. You can go hiking, rafting down the Snake River through Hells Canyon, catch a rodeo, stay at a ranch and go horse back riding (and learn to lasso!), and see the actual ruts of the Oregon Trail.

There is much more to Oregon than Portland (though I agree that the city and trip through the Columbia Gorge is a must) and Bend. I find Bend highly overrated if you're not going to ski there.

[Anonymous]

Skip eastern Oregon. There is really nothing there and do bend/sisters if you want instead. I would do Portland, my hood, multnomah falls, whatever up there for a couple of days, then drive down the coast, hit evergreen aviation museum on the way, spend a couple of days driving down the coast to crater lake, maybe hit wildlife safari on the way. Bandon is worth a stop on the coast. Spend a couple of days at crater lake, then if you want head to bend/ sisters and spend a couple of days.

I've lived in Oregon most of my life and this is what I would recommend. It's a fun state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip eastern Oregon. There is really nothing there and do bend/sisters if you want instead. I would do Portland, my hood, multnomah falls, whatever up there for a couple of days, then drive down the coast, hit evergreen aviation museum on the way, spend a couple of days driving down the coast to crater lake, maybe hit wildlife safari on the way. Bandon is worth a stop on the coast. Spend a couple of days at crater lake, then if you want head to bend/ sisters and spend a couple of days.

I've lived in Oregon most of my life and this is what I would recommend. It's a fun state.

I'm the PP right above you and I've lived in Oregon most of my life too. I guess it's just a matter of perspective...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip eastern Oregon. There is really nothing there and do bend/sisters if you want instead. I would do Portland, my hood, multnomah falls, whatever up there for a couple of days, then drive down the coast, hit evergreen aviation museum on the way, spend a couple of days driving down the coast to crater lake, maybe hit wildlife safari on the way. Bandon is worth a stop on the coast. Spend a couple of days at crater lake, then if you want head to bend/ sisters and spend a couple of days.

I've lived in Oregon most of my life and this is what I would recommend. It's a fun state.

Sorry I didn't see the winery part. Either do that in the Portland area or skip bend/sisters and come straight up I-5 from crater lake and hit all of the wineries around Eugene/Salem/Portland. This would make for a lot less driving. If you do the bend leg, it kind of makes for a lot of driving. And wineries are fine for most kids, because they can always run around outside and pick wild blackberries and pet the resident dogs and snack on cheese and crackers.

King estate is nice and so is sweet cheeks, my two favorite wineries around Eugene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip eastern Oregon. There is really nothing there and do bend/sisters if you want instead. I would do Portland, my hood, multnomah falls, whatever up there for a couple of days, then drive down the coast, hit evergreen aviation museum on the way, spend a couple of days driving down the coast to crater lake, maybe hit wildlife safari on the way. Bandon is worth a stop on the coast. Spend a couple of days at crater lake, then if you want head to bend/ sisters and spend a couple of days.

I've lived in Oregon most of my life and this is what I would recommend. It's a fun state.

I'm the PP right above you and I've lived in Oregon most of my life too. I guess it's just a matter of perspective...

Haha it is about perspective. I just think eastern Oregon is too dang far away. And you have to admit my route isn't bad. Especially since I added the winery bit.

[Anonymous]

I'd spend a day or two in Portland than take the Mt Hood route to central Oregon for Crater Lake and the Bend Area (try Sunriver!). In that vicinity you could go rafting on the Deuschetes, which I highly reccomend.

I don't think PP's suggestion of driving down the coast to Central Oregon works well in the time you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip eastern Oregon. There is really nothing there and do bend/sisters if you want instead. I would do Portland, my hood, multnomah falls, whatever up there for a couple of days, then drive down the coast, hit evergreen aviation museum on the way, spend a couple of days driving down the coast to crater lake, maybe hit wildlife safari on the way. Bandon is worth a stop on the coast. Spend a couple of days at crater lake, then if you want head to bend/ sisters and spend a couple of days.

I've lived in Oregon most of my life and this is what I would recommend. It's a fun state.

Sorry I didn't see the winery part. Either do that in the Portland area or skip bend/sisters and come straight up I-5 from crater lake and hit all of the wineries around Eugene/Salem/Portland. This would make for a lot less driving. If you do the bend leg, it kind of makes for a lot of driving. And wineries are fine for most kids, because they can always run around outside and pick wild blackberries and pet the resident dogs and snack on cheese and crackers.

King estate is nice and so is sweet cheeks, my two favorite wineries around Eugene.

New poster. My mom lives in Eugene, which is a nice place to visit if you have family, but if I didn't, I wouldn't vacation there. That said, it is an easy place to do the winery thing. Sweet Cheeks and King Estate are two of my favorites too. There isn't "stuff to do" for kids per se, but an 11yo would probably enjoy the mellow vibe even without the wine. My daughter is a lot younger and she mostly plays with toys in the grass when we go there. She hasn't been the only kid any of those times.

[Anonymous]

If you're going to Oregon and stopping at wineries, you have to check out their world class breweries as well. Portland, Hood River, and Bend would be your primary targets.

[Anonymous]

We are planning a trip to Portland for this summer (2015) and this thread is so helpful.

We definitely want to spend a few days in Portland because we are into food/restaurants. And then the coast and maybe the Columbia River gorge.

Since we only have a week, we were thinking about skipping Crater Lake because it is so far. Is that a huge mistake?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are planning a trip to Portland for this summer (2015) and this thread is so helpful.

We definitely want to spend a few days in Portland because we are into food/restaurants. And then the coast and maybe the Columbia River gorge.

Since we only have a week, we were thinking about skipping Crater Lake because it is so far. Is that a huge mistake?

Skip it if you want. It is amazing, but too far if you are planning a week up north.

[Anonymous]

If you go down the Columbia River Gorge (which I think you MUST), stop off at Multnomah Falls (literally an exit off I-84) and check out the town of Hood River. It's a very adorable little town situated at the mouth of the Hood River where it meets the Columbia River. Take the bridge over into Washington and then drive back. FANTASTIC views of Mt. Hood coming back towards Hood River!

[Anonymous]

OP back. Thanks for the suggestions.

Simply no interest in Eastern OR. Just too far based on having a major desire to see coast. Not into "dude ranch" type stuff, either. I know we like to see "different" things, but I'm happy to do ranch-type stuff in another sate and on another trip. My DH has also spent time in Eastern WA for work and really, really hated it. (A lot was due to travel time to get there.)

Would be interested in a stop in Eugene to see UO.

Thanks for the heads up on breweries, too. That's on the list.

I do want to see the state beyond Portland. Trying to budget how much time to spend in Portland versus the rest of the state.

If our coast time is limited, would you recommend Central or North?

[Anonymous]

Personally, I wasn't too excited Crater Lake and chose not to return on my next trip to OR. Liked Bend, and that would be a good place to do a family bike trip (look at Cog Wild) as well as explore some breweries.

I think Portland is best for food + the market, so schedule on days when you can do both (not Sunday night - perhaps fly in Friday, eat at good restaurants Friday and Saturday nights, go the market, stop at a museum, and explore the city on Saturday, and leave Sunday morning).