The Columbia River Gorge offers towering basalt cliffs, temperate rain forest, cascading waterfalls, and an abundance of hiking trails. Mount Hood is a beautiful snow capped peak surrounded by National Forest, more hiking trails, and alpine lakes. Both would be well worth your time. I suggest taking a drive along the Historic Highway from Troutdale,…
You certainly can surf in Oregon, but you’ll need a wetsuit, booties and a hood as well as a board. You’ll also need to know a lot about the local swells and weather, so you should check in at the local surf shop before you go. They usually have full rental packages (between $100 and…
I think that four days is enough time, but you might consider taking the fast, inland route up 1-5 from San Francisco to Medford and Grants Pass, Oregon. Then, head west to Coos Bay — that would be a day’s journey by itself, but once you got there, you could slow down and really enjoy…
The Mount Hood Railroad website should give you all the information you need. Depending on where you are staying in Hood River, you can either walk, take a bus, or grab a taxi to the depot. Determine your route on the bus system in Hood River with their Trip Planner. Enjoy your train ride!
I recommend checking out the Travel Portland website, for sight seeing ideas around town. Also for events, check out my blog: Dave Knows Portland.
You are in luck because I have a few ideas to share with you! I happen to have a B & B in the Willamette Valley and we host many newlyweds so noting the locations our brides and grooms chose to “tie the knot,” can also be some of the most romantic places to “pop…
In Portland proper, you’ll find a number of nice hikes in that range in Forest Park, Mt. Tabor, Powell Butte, and Tryon Creek State Park. In the Columbia River Gorge, a short drive out of town, you’ll find numerous trail heads along the Historic Columbia River Highway, including at Multnomah Falls.
Five to six hours might be just enough time. You can get to Astoria on Highway 30 from Portland in about 2 hours. From there you can travel south on 101 to Seaside, Cannon Beach, etc., and return to Portland on Highway 26 – which is again about a 2 hour trip. On 101 you’ll…
I love that your grandson is so intent on seeing the University of Oregon! It’s a gorgeous campus so please be sure to take the whole tour! As far as baseball games go, check out the University of Oregon’s baseball website. Also, please see my friends at the Eugene, Cascades and Coast Adventure Center in…
Around Portland the not-to-miss stops probably include Multnomah Falls, Powell’s Books, Saturday Market, and the Portland Farmers Market. If you like beer, you have to visit some of Portland’s breweries and pubs. If you’re partial to wine, visit some wineries a short drive out of town in the Willamette Valley. On the North Coast I…
I think your girls would really enjoy spending some time hiking a few of the waterfalls along the Historic Highway in the Columbia River Gorge. I spend a lot of time there with my girls (5 and 11). We also enjoy visiting Bonneville Dam and feeding the trout at the fish hatchery there. Further out…
Glad to hear you planned a trip to Crater Lake, Oregon’s only national park. To clarify, it’s not closed. Some of the road and facilities are closed. But it’s well worth seeing in wintertime, when there are some unique opportunities for exploring the park. Snowshoe hikes on the weekends are free through April 29, and…
I’m fond of Three Corner Rock, right outside Washougal. In addition, Ride Oregon Ride is a great resource for finding trails. I hope that helps, and happy trails!
As the date approaches I recommend checking out PDX Pipeline and my site, Dave Knows Portland for Portland area events. The first week of May means you might also be in town during the Cinco De Mayo on Portland’s Waterfront – it’s a big carnival with rides, fireworks, etc. If the weather’s nice that weekend…
Mount Saint Helens is going to be pretty much out of the question. Due to the time you have available, the drive is too lengthy for you to enjoy yourself. Most of the visitor center’s don’t open until May 18th either and the dining options in the area are limited, to say the least. Mount…
There’s a coveted motorcycle route through the Wallowas on the 39 road (Hell’s Canyon Scenic Byway) from Joseph to Halfway—if you have the time. To get to the Wallowas from North Idaho, you’d come through Moscow and Lewiston over highway 82—another epic two-lane roadway—to Enterprise. That’s where you’ll find Terminal Gravity brewpub, one of the…
Wow… you won’t believe the list of family friendly recommendations in the Willamette Valley. Here are some places to check out: For camping I would suggest renting a yurt in one of Oregon’s beautiful parks. It’s camping without all of the work! In Turner, the Enchanted Forest is super cheesy but also super fun if…
In order to enjoy boating and easy docking, you’re going to have to find a place that is not oceanfront, but more like a bay, inland lake or river. I’m picturing a few places like that on the Nehalem River, and on the Nestucca River, both in Tillamook County. I just did a quick search…
I live right on this scenic byway and can attest to its beauty. It’s indeed worth a few days of your time. This byway is named for two rivers: the Rogue (in my backyard) and the Umpqua. Of the two, the Rogue is regarded more for its rafting. The Medford Mail Tribune readers picked Noah’s River Adventures as…
These kinds of questions are always rough to answer, but I’ll give it a shot. The trouble is, IPAs are so variable that opinions invariably vary. But you didn’t ask me to waffle, so here goes. I personally have three favorites, for different reasons: India Pelican Ale from Pelican. As an all-arounder, it’s hard to…
