What are some must-do things near Lincoln Beach?

Lincoln Beach (not to be confused with Lincoln City) makes a good base for exploring the Central Oregon Coast. My first choice for a day trip would be south to Newport. On your way, you can make a quick stop at the Boiler Bay Viewpoint and spend some time in the small town of Depoe Bay with its oceanfront seawall and Whale Watching Center. Just past the Rocky Creek wayside you can veer off onto the Otter Crest Loop Drive for a slow scenic drive emerging at the Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint on Cape Foulweather. You can then continue on the loop drive to Devil’s Punchbowl at Otter Rock before rejoining the highway just to the south. The Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area should be your first stop in Newport. It has great views, a scenic lighthouse, bird and marine life watching and a stairway to an exceptional intertidal area worth planning your trip for a low tide for. Afterwards, a visit to the historic bay front area is always fun. It’s a working waterfront mixed with shops and restaurants. Sea lions are usually seen (and heard!) on the docks there. Other options for your time in Newport are the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Nye Beach district’s shops and restaurants.

You might want to take another day for a longer trip south to the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area (Spouting Horn, Thor’s Well and Devil’s Churn) and further south to the Heceta Head Lighthouse. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to go as far as the Oregon Dunes, just south of Florence, where you could do a dune buggy tour or just check out the dunes at Honeyman State Park. The drive back to Lincoln Beach would be a little over 1.5 hours.

A nice day trip to the north could include a stop at Neskowin where Proposal Rock sits on the beach, then continue to Pacific City and Cape Kiwanda, following the Three Capes Scenic Route to Cape Lookout and Cape Meares. The return trip to Lincoln Beach would be about 1.5 hours.

Happy exploring!

Where can we sleep in a yurt, cabin or teepee in Southern Oregon?

You can find yurts at the state park campground between Medford and Grants Pass at Valley of the Rogue State Park, but they may be booked… they tend to book fast. For a really unique ‘glamping’ option right in Medford, I recommend Morriplum Farm Sanctuary. It’s between Medford and Jacksonville, and the couple who run it have their own small sanctuary of animals. On a hillside just above their small farmhouse, they’ve built pretty glamping cabins with beds and an outdoor shower and bathroom (open-air but private).

You can also find similar spaces (though I believe they’re canvas tents) outside Ashland at Willow Witt Ranch, though they may be seasonal.

Which mountain is the best to ski in mid-May?

The best place to ski mid-May (in my opinion) is without a doubt Timberline Ski Area. It is a short 1.5 hours from Portland. They do have a rental shop in case you don’t feel like traveling with your gear. Depending on what your free time looks like you can ski in the morning, hike in the afternoon, and be back in Portland for dinner.

Where should we stay between Salt Lake City and Seattle?

With the distance between Salt Lake and Seattle being around 832 miles, Baker City (464 miles) and La Grande (506 miles) both offer a close halfway point for the overall trip. Staying in Ontario (392 miles) would mean a shorter first day of travel, however, but depending how you want to break up the trip would be a viable option. Baker and La Grande are relatively small towns, but each offer some fine choices for stay and sights. As a resident of La Grande I may be a little biased to encourage a visit here, but I also visit close friends in Baker City at least twice a month and can promise equal treatment.

In Ontario the Clarion Inn is one of the only full-service hotels in the area. There is a great taproom nearby at Berts Growler Garage, as well as a range of local taquerias and pubs. In Baker City a popular place to stay is the Historic Geiser Grand Hotel, with close walking distance to a favorite local brewery Barley Browns. I also would highly recommend a quick stop for breakfast before you head north at the Lone Pine Cafe. In La Grande there is the recently opened Landing Hotel with accompanying Wine Down lounge and cafe. I would also recommend stopping in at Side A Brewing for a local pint and bite from the menu (I am a big fan of the fried chicken sandwich with its addition of pickled fennel). In each town there are of course a range of other places to stay and eat, including a selection of coffee shops, restaurants, taverns, drive-thru’s and bakeries to enjoy. Let me know if you have any questions, and best of luck on your travels!

 

Can you suggest some kid-friendly detours in Southern Oregon?

Thanks for your question! It sounds like you’d like to stick pretty close to I-5 during your road trip, but if you haven’t seen it, I do recommend Crater Lake National Park, of course. It’s about two hours from I-5 via either Ashland or Medford. If that’s too far off-track, consider a stop in Ashland (just over the CA border) with a stay at Ashland Hills (nice for kids or just adults) and some family time in Lithia Park and downtown Ashland (filled with fun shops and dining experiences). For a more funky, fun stop, consider the Vortex at Gold Hill, just past Medford. Another nice stop is Grants Pass, where you can take a jet boat ride on the Rogue River or a day trip river rafting trip from Galice (just north of Grants Pass). In Roseburg, consider a drive up Highway 138 (the waterfall highway) with stops en route to walk to some of the most iconic waterfalls (short hikes, close to the highway). This detour will take you a few hours, but if you persevere, you could even make it to Crater Lake at this juncture.

Do I need 4-wheel drive for the Alvord Desert?

In terms of the Alvord Desert, many people travel to these remote campsites near the hot springs in campers and cars. While the roads are gravel, they are often in good condition, but keep an eye out on weather as your trip nears, as heavy rains can change those conditions. The Alvord is really a beautiful spot, and if you are traveling in Southeast Oregon, you will find a lot of available access to campsites in the region. Let me know if you have any other questions, and enjoy visiting the wilds of Oregon!

What is a good three-day Oregon Coast itinerary?

Three days to travel all 363-miles of the Oregon Coast would limit your stops to only the most accessible attractions and leave little time for hiking, long beach walks or to feel like you have really experienced the coast. It’s possible, but you would pretty much be limited to short stops, getting out of the car for views, then continuing on your way. I usually recommend a minimum of 5-7 days to include the stops you mentioned.

As for towns to stay in, a night in Brookings or Gold Beach offers you the opportunity to make a few stops in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor and Cape Sebastian. The Boardman corridor offers a few easy and rewarding stops including Whaleshead Beach, Arch Rock Viewpoint and Natural Bridges, but some of the best experiences are short hikes away. My favorite short hike is to Thunder Rock Cove and then continuing to Secret Beach (Miner’s Creek). Cape Sebastian is either a five minute stop for a couple of viewpoints or a few hours on the great trail. Nearby Meyers Beach is a great one to enjoy a long beach walk.

I would plan your next night (or two) in Bandon with stops at Port Orford and Cape Blanco along the way. Port Orford can be a quick stop at the Battle Rock viewpoint or you can visit the small, but unique port for an authentic Oregon Coast experience and spend an hour or two on the short trails at Port Orford Heads. Cape Blanco will likely be a stop just to visit the lighthouse, though there are some trails and beaches there too. You will want a full day for Bandon including the amazing beach and viewpoints of Face Rock and Coquille Point. The Old Town is worth a visit, along with its short riverfront boardwalk. I would make Cape Arago a day trip on a second day. Take some time at the three State Parks. There are majestic wonders to be seen and rushing would be a shame. In May, you should see seals with pups if you walk along the trails either direction from Shore Acres. I’d make this one of your places to linger and hike, then return to Bandon, hopefully for a sunset on the beautiful beach which is hard to get enough of.

I would make your next stop the town of Yachats, but you will need to plan time on your travel day for at least an easy stop in the Oregon Dunes (Oregon Dunes Day Use Area or Honeyman State Park), Florence‘s nice little Old Town, Sea Lion Caves and the Heceta Head Lighthouse (a short, but shouldn’t be missed hike). You’ll pass through the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area just before reaching Yachats and if you’re out of daylight, it’s okay because you will want to come back in the morning and spend some time in this area. Hiking between Cook’s Chasm and Devil’s Churn offers views of a truly breathtaking part of the Oregon Coast. Yachats itself has a nice oceanfront trail, great for a morning or evening stroll. Two nights in Yachats would offer you a great experience, perhaps with part of a day devoted to Seal Rock where great overlooks and the short, but scenic beach are the highlights.

On your next travel day, you will want to make time for Newport area attractions including Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, the historic bay front and the nearby Devil’s Punchbowl, the Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint at Cape Foulweather and perhaps a stop at Depoe Bay for whale watching and the unique little town. Newport makes a convenient overnight with lots of lodging options. If you check all of those things off your list, I’d set sights on Cannon Beach for a day or two. Along the way, you might want to make a short stop at Neskowin for the short walk to the beach at Proposal Rock, then continue on to the Three Capes Scenic Route. Cape Kiwanda can be a short stop, though if you trudge up the giant sand dune the views become even more impressive. Cape Lookout is best if you have time to hike or linger on its beach, but I’d save the majority of time for Cape Meares and the short walk to the lighthouse that loops the cape.

On your way to Cannon Beach, you’ll pass through Oswald West State Park, but it’s easy to double back if you spend a night or two there. Oswald West has highway-side viewpoints on Neahkahnie Mountain that can be a short stop, but the park is best if you have time to hike. There’s a short walk to Short Sand Beach that is worthwhile and the Cape Falcon Trail is great for a longer hike. In Cannon Beach, you will want time for the beach and Haystack Rock and Ecola State Park that is worth half a day or more if you want more hiking, but the easy views are pretty amazing too. Staying an extra night in Cannon Beach would offer the opportunity to visit Hug Point or stretches of the beach north and south of the often busy beach at Haystack Rock. It’s also easy to do day trips to Seaside or Astoria from Cannon Beach and the town is fun to explore.

So, I hope this helps and that you have the flexibility to slow down and really enjoy the Oregon Coast. You have a long list of amazing places to see, but three days is too short to do them justice.

Which Willamette Valley town offers quaint inns and wineries?

Sounds like a fun trip you have planned. My top recommendation for a trip that has all of the above (out of the way pretty wineries, good food, interesting accommodations and a close flight) would be for you to focus your trip on the southern portion of the Willamette Valley.

The entire Willamette Valley is more than 100 miles long, with wonderful wineries throughout. I don’t know how long your trip will be, but if you don’t want to spend your entire trip driving, I’d say pick one portion of the Willamette Valley and focus your time a little bit. If you choose to explore the south Willamette wineries, you can fly in to Eugene, a smaller airport that’s a breeze to fly in and out of. You can be at a winery within 30 minutes of landing if you choose!

Here’s a guide to wineries in the south part of the Willamette Valley.

One of my favorites in this area is King Estate, which is absolutely beautiful and has a top-notch restaurant on-site (one of only a handful of wineries in Oregon to have a full on-site restaurant). Visit, take a tour, taste some wine and get a meal while you’re there–it’s a lovely experience from start to finish.

Another vineyard very close to King Estate but that offers a very different experience is Sweet Cheeks.Winery. This is a much smaller, more intimate winery. It’s also in a pretty spot, and it has a relaxed, friendly vibe that makes you want to linger with friends all day.

The south Willamette Valley also has some great options for unique accommodations. As a matter of fact, Sweet Cheeks Winery has a farmhouse or a vacation loft on their property that you can rent.

Another nice option is the Campbell House Inn, which is a B&B in the city of Eugene, walking distance from some delightful restaurants. A few of my favorite places to eat in Eugene:

  • Party Downtown: funky, unique, local cuisine. Try the chef’s tasting menu–the chef selects your menu for the evening, so your whole meal becomes one tasty surprise after another.
  • Marche: Classic French-inspired food with amazing attention to detail and fine local ingredients.
  • Oregon Electric Station: Beautiful food in a beautiful building–a renovated turn of the century train station

You also mentioned quaint shops. I’d recommend you visit the little town of Coburg. It’s a tiny historic town just outside Eugene that’s full of antique and vintage shops. I also love shopping at the Fifth Street Public Market in Eugene, especially the Provisions Market Hall. I love food, wine and cooking, and the Provisions Market Hall is full of all kinds of gourmet items, cookbooks, and gorgeous housewares.

This is just a little overview of things to see and do in the south Willamette Valley, but for even more info I’d suggest the South Willamette Wineries website I included above, or the Eugene, Cascades & Coast website for a really thorough look at attractions in the area.

If the south Willamette Valley doesn’t fit your travel plans and you want to explore some of the other parts of this region, feel free to write back for more recommendations, or check out www.oregonwinecountry.org — this site gives a great overview of all regions of the Willamette Valley and has a neat trip-planning tool that lets you map out routes that include wineries, food, lodging, and things to see and do.