On the Oregon Coast your best bet for art, beach, and eating well is probably Cannon Beach on the North Coast, or Newport on the Central Coast. I’m also partial to Astoria (where I live part-time) for everything you listed, except it’s about 10 miles inland from the beaches, on the south bank of the Columbia River (which is about 4 miles wide at that point, so it feels more like a bay). In all the above places there are plenty of hotels, motels, and beds and breakfasts.
You should have no problem finding something in Portland. I would recommend a downtown hotel – downtown is famously walkable. You may find some good deals on the Travel Portland.
The two events that come to mind are my two favorite events that hit the Willamette Valley in early September. I know you said you were visiting Oregon this summer, however, if you are able to extend your trip, it would be totally worth it!
First of all, Albany holds an event each year called, “Antiques in the Streets!” It is held Saturday, September 8, 2012 – all day long! This event is held every year on the Saturday after Labor Day. It’s huge and with that and all the other antique shops in town, you are sure to fill your entire Saturday.
Another great location for antiques is Coburg, Oregon. The small town also hosts an Antique Fair every September. This year it is on September 9, 2012 the day after Albany’s and it is even bigger!
We have several hotels in Albany, however, there is a very sweet B & B in Brownsville called the Brownsville House B & B. Cyndi and Bob have lived in Brownsville for over 30 years. The perfect place to go to after Albany’s Antiques in the Streets and a just a short drive to Coburg the next day for their Antique Fair! There are also a lot of B & B’s in Eugene just outside of Coburg for lodging as well if you choose to stay close to the Sunday fair.
I’d recommend you stick to the south and central coast, then, if you only have two or three days. I’d think you could enjoy the scenic Highway 42, from Ashland west to Bandon, then north on Highway, 101. If I had three days, two nights, I would probably spend the first night in Florence, see the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, have lunch in Yachats, then the second night in Newport, and spend the morning there (the Oregon Coast Aquarium, beautiful bridge, lovely bayfront) before heading west on Highway 20 to Interstate 5.
The town of Florence is known as the state’s center for rhododendrons. The annual rhododendron festival is May 18 – 20, 2012 this year. But the corridor of Highway 101 between Reedsport and Florence usually is awash in the flowers between May and June.
You’re in luck, as Oregon’s north coast has plenty of places to stay at the beach. You’ll find lots of rentals and hotels and lovely beaches in Pacific City, Rockaway Beach, Manzanita, Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Astoria (though Astoria is actually about a 10 miles inland, it’s the closes to Washington – right across the river!).
There are several routes you could take to Astoria from Portland. If you take Highway 30, there aren’t too many tourist destinations, but there are a few viewpoints over the Columbia River. Highway 26 is another option, and along that route you’ll find various viewpoints and parks that are worth visiting, also places like Camp 18, which is a strange but delightful restaurant/logging museum. And you can’t miss it – it’s right on the highway.
If you take Highway 6 to the coast to Tillamook, you should visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory! And then proceed up Highway 101 to Astoria. On 101 you’ll find lots of parks and towns that are worth visiting.
I’m not sure how far into Oregon you were planning on driving, but if you’re looking for atmosphere in the southern part of the state, Ashland is the town for you. Surrounded by mountains (Cascades and Siskiyous), its vibe is about as European as you’ll find almost anywhere in Oregon.
Just off Interstate 5 and just north of the California border, Ashland arguably is the region’s main tourist destination. The small, walkable downtown area is full of historical buildings, along with the Railroad District, which is an easy walk of several blocks. Lithia Park is one of locals’
favorite spots for easy, picturesque hiking. Ashland has a wide variety of restaurants and accommodations from bed-and-breakfasts to high-end hotels, plus the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Cabaret Theater and a vibrant arts scene.
Ashland makes a good home base for exploring the region’s other attractions. I couldn’t agree more that Crater Lake is a must. The drive from Ashland to the national park takes about two hours.
There’s one place that stands above all the other nationwide for viewing bald eagles. That’s the Klamath Basin region of Southern Oregon. While late winter is the prime time to see them, you stand a good chance during other times of the year. Here is a great story in the Mail Tribune about viewing bald eagles in the region. Contact the folks at Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge for more specifics. As far as inspiring landscapes, the region has plenty of lakes and mountains. The ocean is many hours’ drive away. You could fly to Klamath Falls by way of Portland or San Francisco on United Airlines.
I love your question because I have never considered “gold prospecting” but how fun that would be. I found this awesome site about Oregon Gold for you to check out! It looks like so much family fun so if you go, please let us know how it goes! Also checked this site out gold panning website. It looks like it gives some gold panning info on the “how to” and “where to go!”
I have to say that I am not a camper but my son is and he loves Foster Lake in Sweet Home, Oregon. Also, if you go to the Ranger Station in Sweet Home, they are always helpful and full of information for camping, hiking and many more outdoor activities in that area.
If it were me, I would definitely try South Beach State Park, just south of the bridge in Newport. It has both yurts and tent camping, an educational program and pretty easy access to the beach. It is also next to a paved path that will take you down the jetty and under the bridge to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, the Hatfield Marine Science Center, a bit of shopping and the Rogue Brewery. There’s also a glass blowing studio (might break your budget to do, but fun to watch) and a great crab shack, all on that side of the bridge. The distances might be far for the 6-year-old but you could conceivably bike or walk around. There’s also plenty to see and do on the other side of the bridge, including two lighthouses, the artsy Nye Beach Area.
Hello! I am not going to make any claims about “better” because I truly love this entire state, but Central Oregon is a great destination! Bend offers incredible recreation, great microbrews, fine and casual dining, shopping, resorts, hiking, biking, boating, golf, a great natural and cultural history museum, swimming, etc etc! We are just over the Cascade Range on the Deschutes River, so mountain and river views are standard fare around here.
